In her latest memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, Ina Garten opens up about her long and seemingly perfect marriage to her husband, Jeffrey. The couple, married for over 50 years, faced a challenging moment when Ina embarked on her Barefoot Contessa journey.
As shared in an excerpt with People, Ina encountered difficulties when traditional marital roles began to feel overwhelming. With Ina busy in her career and managing her store, she and Jeffrey decided to take a break from their marriage.
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During this time, Ina lived in Washington D.C., while Jeffrey remained in the Hamptons, visiting her on weekends. “While I was still cooking, cleaning, shopping, managing at the store, I was doing it as a businesswoman, not a wife,” Garten explained. With her overwhelming responsibilities, she struggled to maintain her usual home life.
At one point, Ina even considered divorce. However, Jeffrey proposed they take a temporary pause instead. “It was the hardest thing I ever did,” she reflected, admitting she needed space to figure things out. In a supportive move, Jeffrey respected her wishes, packed his bags, and returned to Washington.
After some time apart, Ina returned to the Hamptons while Jeffrey went on a 6-week work trip. He later reached out to ask what he could do to keep their marriage intact. Ina responded that he needed to see a therapist first. Thankfully, Jeffrey agreed, which proved to be a turning point for their relationship.
“Jeffrey’s willingness to see the therapist was as significant as anything that might happen during their session,” Garten mentioned, highlighting his determination to improve their union.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens hits the shelves on Tuesday, October 1.