Page 16 of Suddenly Single

“Why is everyone blaming me?” I went to the pantry and found Mom’s special sauce, then went back in the kitchen and poured myself a well-deserved vodka on the rocks. I nearly choked on the first sip because my throat was so tight. Florida just stared at me, the judgment apparent in her eyes. “Stop it.” I snapped.

“What?” Florida crossed her arms over her chest.

“Judging me. Good God, you’ve known me my entire life and you always take Carter’s side over mine.” I drank the rest of the vodka and slammed the tumbler on the counter. “What do I have to do to make you understand this situation isn’t my fault?”

“Who’s fault is it?” Florida said, then poked me in the chest. “You’re the one who said you didn’t want to be married to Carter. I’ve got eyes and ears, boy, so don’t act all innocent with me.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing would come out. Damn it, she was right. Suddenly, a strange smell was in the air. Both Florida and I sniffed, then turned toward the door. Mary Jane and Granny were standing in the doorway with gunk in their hair. They must be touching up their roots.

“Whenever Lila Brooke and I argue, I just leave her be until she calms down. You might try the same approach, dear.” Mary Jane grinned, while Granny shook her head at me.

“Bless his heart,” Granny pointed at me. “Asher can’t understand why Carter is angry. Child, what do you expect Carter to feel? You tell him in front of the entire family that you don’t want to be married, and then you find out you aren’t. Of course, Carter’s feelings are hurt, and I don’t blame him one bit. He feels abandoned.”

“Amen to that.” Florida picked up her phone and placed a call. “Georgia? It’s me, Florida. I need your help with something.” She walked out of the room.

Mary Jane opened the refrigerator and pulled out a plate of cookies.

“May I remind you that Carter abandoned me. Are those for real, or edibles?” I pointed at the cookies.

“They aren’t laced, if that’s what you mean.” She pulled the plastic wrap off and handed me and Granny a cookie. “Though you could probably use something a little stronger to take the edge off.”

“I’m surprised none of us have been to rehab yet.” I bit into the cookie and smiled. Peanut butter cookies were my favorite.

“Unlike regular people, we don’t hide our guilty pleasures.” Mary Jane spun around and winked. “We celebrate them!”

“Do we ever.” Granny strolled into the pantry and came back with Mom’s vodka. “How much longer before we rinse, Mary Jane?” She pointed at her hair. Granny kept hers platinum blonde, while Mary Jane’s was a more natural looking light brown. Because the hair dye was only on the roots, both looked like they’d stuck their fingers in electrical sockets.

“About fifteen more minutes.”

“Want a top up, Asher?” Granny filled a tumbler and pointed at mine. I placed my hand on top of it and shook my head no. The simple thing to do would be to drink until I passed out and ignore my problems. But I knew it would more likely accomplish the opposite, and I’d hyper-focus on Carter until I was a hot mess.

“Darlings.” Mom swept into the kitchen, wearing a pink silk robe, with enormous curlers in her hair. She grabbed the vodka, poured herself a tumbler, then put it back in the pantry. “My date with Judge Gottwald was so marvelous we’re meeting for tea this afternoon.”

“Glad one of us has a decent love life.” I muttered, then grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

“Have you heard from Carter?” Mom asked. Her gaze met mine, then she grimaced. “That bad, huh?”

“Yes, it's a disaster.” I sat on a stool and brushed a tear away. I’d swear my tear ducts were attached to my bladder, because they wouldn’t stop. “Who knows where he is?.”

“Why? Why can't you fix this?” Mom sat next to me and rubbed between my shoulder blades.

“We were so stupid, Mom. The state of Colorado sent him the exact same letter they sent me. Then he figured out that I’d known about our marriage not being valid, and he went ballistic. Florida is the only person who knows where Carter is, and she won’t tell me.” I said, then Granny and Mary Jane sat down next to us.

“I dye my hair too, but I still hate that smell.” Mom waved her hand in front of her face. “Darling, I think both of you are being childish.” She patted my knee. “You agreed to marry him again, and now Carter’s having another hissy fit.”

“If he hadn’t said that he wished he never married Carter, Asher wouldn’t be in the doghouse.” Granny pointed at me. “Child, you’d better be prepared to grovel, because I suspect Carter won’t accept a simple apology.”

“I’ll do anything, I swear.”

Mom grabbed a napkin and blotted my cheeks.

“I’ve told him I love him, and that I’ll marry him again. Hell, I even told him he could have the biggest, grandest wedding of the century, and he’s still angry.”

“Where is Carter?” Mom pointed at Florida, who’d just walked back into the kitchen.

“I’m not telling.” She leaned against the wall opposite us and crossed her arms over her chest. “Carter made me promise to keep my mouth shut.”

Mom sighed dramatically. “You’re not helping the situation, Florida. Do you want to see the boys back together, or do you want them miserable?”

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