Read Online Letting Go by Ann O'Leary - Free Book Online

I’ll have to be strong about this.”
    Jude said simply, “You’re just scared to let go, and you’re 61
    making excuses.”
    Laura felt frustrated. She’d been sure that once Jude understood how close she was to falling in love with this woman, sixteen years her junior, she would understand and agree with her reluctance to allow things to go any further. She lit a cigarette.
    “Jude, how long do you think a relationship would last with her? I’m thirty-nine years old, for Christ’s sake! I don’t want to have to deal with a broken heart sometime in the next few years, because she’s met someone closer to her age, who shares more of her interests. I’m not prepared to take that kind of risk anymore. It wasn’t like this when I met Debbie. I didn’t feel like I was putting myself really on the line with her. But this attraction for Kate is so much like the way I felt when I met Alex, and you know how much I was in love with her. I couldn’t go through that kind of loss again. And I know it wouldn’t last.”
    Jude smiled, tugging on her ear. “Don’t you think you’re racing ahead just a bit? What about an affair with her? Maybe it’ll develop into something more, maybe not.”
    Laura drew on her cigarette and shook her head. “I know what you’re saying, Jude, but believe me, it would develop into more for me, even if not for her. I feel like for once I’m looking into a crystal ball and I’ve got the chance to bail out before things get out of control.”
    Jude shrugged, and sipped her coffee. “So what are you going to do about it? You’re still going to see her at work. That’ll make it a bit hard to forget about her, won’t it?”
    Laura looked down, concentrating on her hands, rotating the ring back and forth on her finger. “Well, I’m going to continue to spend time with Kelly. I’m sure she’ll help me to get Kate out of my system.” She glanced at Jude. 62
    Jude sighed and looked skeptical. “If you already feel this way about Kate, I think it’s too late. The fact that you agreed to go out with her last night, knowing how dangerous your feelings were, proves to me that you can’t really resist her.”
    Jude paused, looking at her.
    Laura avoided Jude’s direct gaze, fiddling with her old lighter on the table.
    “Wasting your time with Kelly,” Jude continued,
    “when a gorgeous woman you really care for wants you, seems crazy. I can understand your reticence with the age thing, but I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. You’re imagining problems that might ever happen, when you could be having a lot of fun.
    This wasn’t what Laura wanted to hear. She wanted her closest friend to tell her she was doing the wise thing. It was easy for Jude take it so lightly, she wasn’t in this position. What she was suggesting would involve taking big risks and a lot of courage. “Believe me, Jude, it’ll all work out okay,”
    she murmured unconvincingly.
    Tony rang her the next morning. He had just returned from his week in Sydney and while on vacation, he had procured some new business. He asked Laura to meet him at the office early on Monday morning so they could begin to work out marketing strategies for their two new clients. They would be making presentations the following week. This was good timing as far as Laura was concerned. She’d found that immersing herself in work always seemed to put other problems into perspective. Or at least, they receded comfortably into the background. She wouldn’t have much time to think about Kate.
    63
    Kelly had spent the night with her on Sunday and the sex was as wonderful as ever. This was followed by a very busy and creative day at the office, and so by Monday night, Laura was feeling better. She’d get over this emotional hitch with Kate quickly—no problem, she decided. Although she couldn’t prevent the pervading image of Kate’s pained, tearfilled eyes coming into her mind at unexpected times. She hoped that Kate had already