The Art of Starting Over

Begin Again

After I got home from a day well spent with Noah, my mom and I spent the evening making calls about Ritchie violating his restraining order last night. We’re laying on the couch together watching tv when she looks at me and smiles. “Sevyn, I know it’s so soon but, I really like Noah. I’m so happy he handled Ritchie and he seems very sweet.” I smile back. “Me too mom but I’m scared.” I don’t want to get my heartbroken again, I don’t want to be disappointed by another guy.” She nods understandingly. “I get it honey, there’s nothing wrong with taking it slow at all but I’d say at this point you’re a little more than friends huh?” She asks and raises an eyebrow. “I’d say we’re a little bit more than friends, he’s not my boyfriend but there’s this girl.” I say rolling my eyes remembering Lauren. “She’s like determined to make him fall in love with him and shes super pretty.” I mutter the last part picking at a throw pillow. “I see the way that boy looks at you and have you looked at yourself lately? She may be super pretty but you’re a one of a kind beauty, you must take after your mom.” She winks and I laugh. “Now

lets invite Nadia over and open a few bottles of wine.” She says standing up and I text Nadia hoping now I can get the details about Jared.

“So.” I look at Nadia with a small smile and she looks at me puzzled. “Lets talk Jared.” I say and she blushes. “Jared?” My mom asks and looks at Nadia. “He’s one of Noah’s friends Nancy and he is definitely easy on the eyes he looks like Stephen when he was younger a real gym rat type, huge biceps.” She says biting her lip. “I’ve been texting with him since breakfast we actually plan on going out on a date tomorrow night after work.” My mom claps her hands and jumps up and down, I swear this woman acts younger than me sometimes. “Nadia this is sooo exciting, I’m so happy to see my girls finding some real good handsome men.” Nadia and I share a smile and we all open the second bottle. 20 minutes later and we’ve called Dad and Stephen downstairs to watch us as we put on a karaoke show for them, complete with silly outfits and dancing. “Bravo ladies encore, encore.” Dad claps from the couch. “Your ladies rendition of Dancing Queen could send ABBA packing.” Stephen laughs from the sofa. We do a couple more songs and then my mom calls it quits, Nadia and I pull a couple of duets and stop soon after we are winded, all that dancing really did a number on us.

Nadia and I end up going up to my room and are sitting on my bed listening to music and flipping through old yearbooks when I get a facetime from Noah. “Hey beautiful how are you?” He asks grinning into the camera and I stare in a drunken haze at his beautiful smile. “I’m great my mom, Nadia and I went through quite a bit of wine tonight and I’m feeling really groovy.” He chuckles. “Well I know I just saw you earlier but I just wanted to check in, I’m with Jared right now so I can’t talk long but I missed your sweet little voice.” He says and Nadia perks her head up at the mention of Jared. “Well I’m glad you called, I like seeing your smile.” I flirt and make a kissy face into the camera, he grins. “You’re going to make me come over there if you keep doing things like that.” He threatens playfully and I giggle. “Well you better hurry up because Nadia and I are gonna pass out pretty soon.” I say yawning as I put my head on Nadias lap. “Well as much as I would like to I have some business to finish at the boxing gym, Jared and I are going to officially become co-owners!” He says excitedly and Nadia and I congratulated them both. “So Sevyn, I was thinking maybe we could go on a real date, this wednesday, if you’re free.” He asks and I take him up on his offer, after we hang up I fall asleep with my head on Nadia’s lap dreaming of what surprises Noahs going to throw my way on Wednesday.

I can barely get through the week I’m so excited to see Noah again, and by Wednesday I can barely take the excitement. He comes to pick me up at 5:30 and I’m not all the way ready because I swore this man said 6 but he’s always right on time or early. I’m throwing myself together last minute, I decided on a blue cute short dress with a plunging v neck line and some baby blue heels to match I throw on my mothers old diamonds and leave my hair down and curly. “God you just get more and more beautiful the more I see you.” Noah says as I open the door this time he’s brought my mother and I 2 small prints of his artwork as a gift, and my mother squeals with excitement and gives him a hug. “I love this boy.” She says after she finally lets go and walks away mesmerized by his art, I laugh. “I’m so sorry by my mothers well Nancyness as my friends and I like to call it.” He smiles. “She’s absolutely great.” He says and leads me to his car. “So what are your plans with me tonight?” I ask and and he shakes his head. “Well that would ruin the surprise wouldn’t it?” He asks cheekily and puts his hand on my thigh.

I gasp out loud when we get there, it’s a beautiful garden with a vine archway with twinkling lights all over the place, it’s like a place out of a fairytale. Theres one table set in the middle with two chairs. “Do you like it?” He asks shyly and I look at him my eyes still wide. “Noah this is wonderful, it’s so beautiful and private.” He pulls my chair out and kisses my cheek. “I’m very glad, I actually rented the place out and hired a private waitstaff and kitchen to cater to us tonight.” And I grab his hand and squeeze from across the table. “You’re so thoughtful, there’s no way you’re real, handsome, smart, talented and the sweetest man alive, whats the catch?” I ask half jokingly but also kind of meaning it, he can’t be this perfect. “Ever since you told me about your ex, I made a promise to myself that I would show you how a woman like you should be treated, there is no catch, Sevyn, this is just what you deserve.” He rubs his thumb along my hand and I get goosebumps. We have an amazing dinner and then a small band comes out and starts playing slow music. “May I have this dance?” He asks and we sway in the lights from the garden all the beautiful flowers surrounding us, I feel like a princess. I look up to him and stand on my tippy toes to give him a kiss, he kisses me back happily and I lean my head against his chest and smile.

It’s been a month now since Noah and I have been seeing each other no other interruptions from Ritchie and I’ve been grateful, our friends have been getting along great and Nadia and Jared have even started dating casually but they really like each other. My mom and I have been busy planning her Stephen and dad’s 25th anniversary ball, its gonna be a huge event they’re inviting a bunch of big names from all around the city, Noahs parents are even going to come, I’m so nervous to meet them tonight but he’s been promising they’ll love me. I’ve already got the most beautiful dress picked out, it’s an floor length light green dress with a corset top, puffy long sleeves and embroidered flowers all over it, I’ve decided to wear my hair down but pin up the sides and go natural and light with my makeup. The only downside is the tables are separated by family so I won’t get to see Noah until after all the speeches, oh and Lauren’s parents are friends with mine so apparently she will be coming. But Nadia’s invited Jared and all my friends will be there so it won’t be bad. Nadia and I are helping my mother get ready and she looks beautiful she does 48 so well. She lays her hand on top of mine and Nadias and looks at us. “I feel like a princess.” She says smiling. “Nancy you look like one Sevyn did a damn good job picking out your dress and well I killed it with your hair.” Nadia says giggling and I agree.

We pull up to the ceremony hall early and Nadia and my mom gasp, I had handled the decorations and I modeled it after the garden Noah had taken me too on our first real date. It looks so beautiful, flowers and leaves hung off of all the chairs, twinkling lights were everywhere. “Baby this is, beyond beautiful.” My mom purred playing with a flower between two fingers. “The aesthetics here are just so wonderful.” Nadia whispered in awe still looking around and I blush and giggle. Soon Stephen and Dad show up in matching suits and people start spilling in. I’m almost scowling when Laurens family shows up but I already gave mom the run down, so she’s not too happy to see Lauren either. Jared has joined Nadia at her table and was meeting her parents who come to greet me after. “Heather! Curtis!” I exclaim as they pull me into a tight hug. “Oh Sevyn you look dazzling, our Nadia tells us you did the decorations?” Heather asks and I nod shyly. “Oh you’ve always been so creative and this is just beautiful.” I grin at them and hug them again and they walk back to their table. Finally after most everyone has arrived I see Charlie and Noah walk through the door, they’re holding it open for a woman with blonde hair a little older than them and then his parents walk through. His mother was tall and lean and didn’t look a day over 30 she’s got long brown hair in a braid down her back and an elegant gown, and his father look a lot like Noah and Charlie very tall a top with a bundle of brown curls on his head only his had some grays coming through, but he was very handsome.

Noah and I are making steady eye contact as they all walk over to where my parents and I are standing, I want to run into his arms he looks so handsome in a custom tux that fits his body so well. “Oh Sofia, Matteo you guys look stunning!” My mom greets them. “Me? Look at you and this place.” Noahs mom says in a thick italian accent, she’s got an intimidating energy about her I almost want to hide behind my mom. “Thank you my daughter Sevyn did all of this.” My mom says motioning her hand around. Our dads are shaking hands and Noah is almost close enough for me to touch but now not the time. “Sevyn?” She asks and looks at me with a huge smile, she pulls me into a tight hug I’m almost so shocked I don’t know how to react so I lightly hug her back. I notice Noah and Charlie are laughing behind us and I swear I’m gonna get them back later. “Ciao bellissima, oh you are just sooo gorgeous isn’t my son the luckiest of them all.” She says excitedly eyeing me over approvingly. “Matteo come meet Sevyn.” Noahs look alike leaves my fathers and kisses me on both cheeks, I just know my cheeks are both 50 shades of red as his parents swoon over me. They introduce me to Reneè who is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met I can tell we will get along very well. After I finally meet them I can finally talk to Noah who takes me in his arms after I say a quick hi to Charlie. “What did I tell you?” He whispered in my ear as he embraces me. “You were right, you were right.” I whisper back and I wish I could stay in his arms all night but its finally time to go to our tables to start speeches and dinner.

My father takes the stage first as a picture of my mother Stephen and my father all in their 20’s shows behind him. I really do look just like my mother. “Thank you all for coming today I am celebrating love, today I am celebrating memories and today I am celebrating 2 smoking hot people who have been putting up with me for the past 25 years.” My father says and lets the chuckles die down before continuing. “You know I met Nancy when I was 15 and I was awe struck I asked her out and she said absolutely no way, so I asked her out again and again, until one day she just said yes I think she lost a dare.” He raises his glass at my mother and winks. “And ever since then I knew I had found one of the loves of my life, she has given me a lot of crazy years, my wild babe and she continues to surprise me and capture my heart everyday.” A lot of aws and chuckles come from the crowd. “Then I was just 22 when I met Stephen, a real male model looking son of a b***h, and boy did he make my jaw drop when I first saw him, and I knew then I had met another one of the loves of my life.” Everyone is engorged in my fathers speech about my mom and Stephen and some of their crazy adventures like the time they had a threesome in a white house bathroom. I put my fingers in my ears at that one. “Then 4 years after that I met the last and no offense to the other two but the most important love of my life. Our beautiful daughter who we have all raised together and she has brought us closer through the years. We have been a blessed family, and I wouldn’t trade any of you for the world, I love you all.” He says into the mic looking directly at our table and I feel his love through the room. Everyone claps as he leaves the stage and comes to our table Stephen and my mom go up each to make their speeches. Finally we can eat.

The options were between a few seafood options, and a couple pasta courses, steak or plain chicken for people on dietary restrictions or people who have children. I got a steak and ordered a glass of wine. “Sofia seems to love you.” My mom said and we were cutting into our steak. “Oh yes she’s very sweet, his whole family’s so tall.” I mutter and close my eyes as I take a bite. “Yes, they are all tall.” My mom giggles her and I have both been 5’4 for most of my life most of my friends sprung past me but I got stuck. “I’m still waiting on my last growth spurt.” I joke and my mom laughs. “ But seriously they are very nice people and very talented. Now that Lauren I met is a real piece of work, Sofia told me privately earlier that she can not stand her, she’s always been hanging around.” I smile and roll my shoulders back when I hear this raising my head up higher. I’m relieved to know Sofia doesn’t like Lauren but likes me. My mom, Stephen and my dad head to the dance floor first after dinner and put on quite the show. Nadia and I make eye contact as they’re going on and we’re both holding in our laughter. People are starting to join them when I feel a comforting familiar hand on my shoulder. “May I have this dance?” Noah asks running his lips across my ear giving me goosebumps, I nod and he kisses my neck.