This Could Be Us

Judah takes his boys to the barber for haircuts from Preach, who knows how to deal with their sensory issues. A visitor shares a flyer about a porch drop that Soledad is doing of focaccia baskets. Judah doesn’t know what focaccia is, but he’s interested in anything Soledad is doing. The FBI recovered the money Edward stole, and he is serving an 18-month sentence in a low-security facility. Judah and his sons stop at a store for a toy Aaron wants. It is sold out, so Aaron has an autistic meltdown. Judah manages to calm him down and promises that they will be okay.

Soledad makes 100 focaccia breads, which connects her passion for homemaking to her new entrepreneurial spirit in positive and negative ways: “It’s hard to keep my home separate from my work when my home is my work. The food I prepare for my family, the systems I use to clean my house, even my skin care products—all of it has become business” (136). The girls have pitched in to help and have become part of her brand. However, Inez is having a very hard time with Edward being in prison and resents that he is not in their lives.

Soledad’s last delivery is to Judah’s house, where she encounters his sons. The attraction between Soledad and Judah still exists; Soledad teases him about stalking her. However, she isn’t ready to lean on a man yet. Inez sees them together, making Soledad feel guilty.

Over dinner, Yasmen suggests that Soledad host a meal at the Harvest Festival. Soledad tells them that she saw Judah. She has also realized how often Edward cut her down. Soledad gets a phone call from the exclusive restaurant where, months ago, she’d made a reservation for her and Edward’s wedding anniversary. It’s a restaurant she’s always wanted to try, so she decides to go alone.

Judah watches Soledad’s live video about getting dressed for her anniversary solo date. She asks her viewers whether she should wear a red or black dress. She discusses being married to a narcissist and states that she decided to partner with herself for a while instead of searching for a relationship. If one comes along, “it will be in addition to the love [she has] for [her]self, not replacing it” (157). She wonders what it would be like to unconditionally love and accept herself.

Soledad takes a table for one at the restaurant, reminding herself that no one is coming to rescue her—she has to save herself and her daughters. A married man looks her way, but Sol doesn’t feel desperate; she feels “powerful, like [she] no longer need[s] to squeeze [her]self into smaller spaces to clear room for others” (160).

Judah, Tremaine, and Kent take the twins to the Skyland Harvest Festival. Kent fits well into their family unit. Tremaine thinks that Judah should be looking for someone; he hasn’t told her that he’s attracted to Soledad. Judah buys a bookmark and then takes a flyer advertising Soledad’s Farm-to-Table Experience. It’s so popular that they’ve opened a nine o’clock seating.

As she prepares to host the second Harvest Festival dinner, Soledad reflects on the relationship between her friends Yasmen and Josiah. They are like a fairy tale, meant to be. Inez shows up to help. Soledad is collecting donations for Cora Garland, the mother of her daughter’s friend, who has cancer. Soledad serves her guests and is delighted to see Judah arrive for the meal. He is tall, broad, imposing, and safe: “After all the shit Edward put me through, safe is the new sexy” (172). She notices a woman at his table flirting with him.

As Soledad is cleaning up, Judah says hello. He acknowledges that she is on a self-partnering journey; while he doesn’t want to distract her from learning about herself, when she’s ready, he’d like to spend time together. He gives her the bookmark since she mentioned starting a book club.

Inez appears, upset that Soledad is flirting with the man who sent her father to prison.

Judah’s assistant informs him that the Callahans are getting the same caterer for the Christmas party that they always get—Delores’s cousin. Judah suggests that they hire Soledad instead. Delores agrees and says that his crush is cute.

Soledad takes the girls and their friend Deja to clean Cora Garland’s house. Soledad remembers how angry and sad she felt when her mother was sick. She reaches out to Cora’s son and then chats with Cora as she cleans her bedroom. Cora is reading All About Love by bell hooks, so Soledad suggests that they talk about it sometime. Delores calls to offer Soledad the catering job, and Soledad accepts.

Judah is at home during the weekend, not working for once but planning to watch football. Soledad calls and asks to talk. He invites her over, struck by how hungry he feels for her. He wonders if this is what Tremaine was talking about. Soledad thanks him for getting her the catering job but reminds him that she’s not dating. He is playing the long game and will wait until she’s ready. He says that if she wants him to stop, she should say so. Soledad tells him not to stop.

Working on her she shed in Edward’s former man cave, Soledad reflects that she’s in a new world, but she likes this one better. She makes a live video and talks with her followers about the “#datingmyselfchallenge.” The shed is on her “Me List.” Later, as she reads All About Love, Soledad is struck by all the ways it speaks to her. Hooks calls her house “soledad hermosa”—beautiful solitude (203). This feels like a sign to Soledad that she can be alone but not lonely. She thinks, “[M]y very name reflects this pursuit I’m on of renewal, understanding who I’ve been and who I’m becoming” (203).