Page 49 of Audra: The Prequel

Her mother walked into the foyer carrying a paper sack with a handle, a local boutique’s name emblazoned on the front.

“Hi, Aunt Rose,” Joe said.

“Hi, Joe. How are you?”

“Getting by. This heat ain’t no joke.”

“You’re not working too hard, I hope,” Rose said with sympathy.

He laughed easily and placed a hand on Kerilyn’s shoulder. “Nope. I leave that for the younger ones.”

That wasn’t entirely true, but Joe was the kind of person who didn’t like to toot his own horn. He was the main reason the family had expanded beyond the stand and now included other ways to make money from the farm. He had suggested adding strawberry picking for next year, which would be another stream of income for the family.

Rose handed over the bag. “This is for your mother. It’s that new hand cream she wanted.”

He took the package. “I almost forgot she told me to make sure I brought it back.” Grasping the handle of the suitcase, he gazed down at Kerilyn. “Ready to go?”

She nodded, and Audra and her mother watched from the doorway as they descended the stairs and climbed into Joe’s truck. As they drove away, Kerilyn waved, her smile as wide as her entire face.

Rose shut the door. “She gets so excited about these trips, doesn’t she?”

“She loves the idea of working on the farm. If she had to do it for real, I doubt she’d have the same enthusiasm. Joe said they might have her help at the roadside stand this time—handing over purchases and taking money—that kind of thing.”

“She’ll learn a lot, that’s for sure.”

“I think she’s more excited about seeing her cousins and running around the property,” Audra added.

“You kids were like that when you were little too. You loved being on the farm.”

“I remember.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed. “Everything okay?”

Her mother was very perceptive, but Audra tried nonetheless to hide her feelings. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“You seem rather quiet lately, and you didn’t go to work yesterday. You’re not sick, are you?”

She had skipped work, unable to deal with all of her emotions and knowing she needed to make a decision about her and Damon before he returned to Atlanta.

“I’m fine. I…” Audra’s voice faltered. The concern in her mother’s voice and face was too much. Why fight it? She needed someone to talk to. Her shoulders drooped lower. “Can we talk?”

“Of course.”

Rose ushered her through the arches that led to the rear of the house. Leading the way into the great room, she sat on the sofa, and Audra settled beside her.

“What’s wrong?” Rose asked, her voice gentle.

“Promise not to say I told you so?” Audra asked with a self-deprecating laugh.

“Never,” Rose said.

Audra pulled air into her lungs and launched into the story about Kerry sending her the photos of Damon and Nami.

When she finished, Rose said, “That’s why you’ve been so quiet.”

“Yes,” Audra admitted. “I should have known better,” she said in a sullen tone.

“Has Damon tried to explain at all?” Rose asked.

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