Page 18 of One Southern Summer

“We went to the beach lots of times.”

“And stayed in a condo that my students’ families let us borrow.”

“Julene, Harper and I didn’t care. Those trips are some of my best memories.”

Mama’s chin wobbled.

“Please don’t cry.” Avery pressed her hand against the small of Mama’s back. “You’re an amazing mother. We’re so grateful for all the sacrifices you made for us, and I’m so happy that you and Greer found each other.”

“Thank you.” Mama blinked back unshed tears. “I know you are. Now, tell me what’s really bothering you.”

“I’m afraid I’ll fail. Cole’s put his trust in me. Not to mention the fundraising, grants and donations to make this all happen, right?” Despite the heat and humidity blanketing the park, a chill raked her spine. “I can’t let everyone down.”

“You will not fail,” Mama said. “Cole chose you as his partner. You’ll be a team.”

“Add that to the list of things keeping me up at night.” Avery’s attempt at humor fell flat. “It seems I’m a lousy teammate.”

“That is not true, and this is an extraordinary opportunity. Who knows? Sometimes friendships have a way of turning into something more.”

“Thatcannothappen.”

“Why not?”

“Because he needs somebody who...” she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Someone who isn’t living with her parents. Someone whose ex-husband didn’t leave her for a man.

“Avery, you are worthy of love. I want you to remember that. Don’t allow rejection and disappointment to shape your future.”

Avery’s knees threatened to buckle. Mama’s words landed like a truth bomb in the middle of her ransacked heart. “But this hurts so much.”

“I know.” Mama gently rubbed Avery’s arm. “But new opportunities and support from your family have a way of soothing some of the hurt. Maybe you can’t see it today, but someday not too long from now, you won’t feel so wounded all the time.”

Oh, she wanted to believe that. She really did. But she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that saying yes to Cole had opened her up to a whole new brand of heartache.

“Well, don’t that beat all.” Lucille examined the flyer Maribelle had plucked from the console table in the atrium downstairs. “You reckon his mama arranged all this?”

Maribelle huffed out a breath and snatched the flyer back. Words failed her. And that rarely happened. She was as mad as a mule chewing on bumblebees. Through the lenses of her reading glasses, she examined the announcement again. Pax would be in Camellia in a matter of weeks, hawking his wares in his daddy’s church. The notion soured her stomach. He had a lot of nerve, coming back to the place that had raised him and demanding that folks buy his book. She leaned closer and examined the professional photo of Avery’s ex-husband filling the middle of the page. Maribelle refused to admit it out loud, but he still looked as handsome as all get-out.

But not as handsome as that Cole Whitaker.

“The Oasis has a right nice sanctuary.” Lucille reached for her teacup and saucer. “I imagine he’ll fill the place up.”

“Bite your tongue.” Maribelle scowled from her red recliner beside Lucille. “That book is probably a dreadfully mediocre retelling of his uneventful childhood. Nothing good happened to that boy except for Avery.”

Lucille took a dainty sip of her tea in silent compliance.

Even though she’d invited Lucille over to discuss this horrid news, Maribelle desperately wanted to be alone now. She needed space and time to process this latest development and she always did her best thinking in the afternoon.

Lucille was good to her, though. And Maribelle didn’t have the nerve to ask her to leave, especially when she needed a loyal friend with decent eyesight and the freedom to drive. They’d be traveling hither and yon until this mess was all straightened out.

Sunlight filtered through the windows overlooking the courtyard outside Maribelle’s studio apartment at Westwood Manor. Her tea sat untouched on the mahogany Queen Anne coffee table. Lucille’s cup rattled against her saucer. Maribelle tried to make sense of what Pax and his partner were up to. Why a book tour? And why stop here in Camellia where his presence would only cause Avery more pain?

This only reinforced Maribelle’s confidence in her decision to intercede. His calculated plans for self-promotion couldn’t go unhindered. Not if she had anything to say about it.

“Maribelle, I wonder if—”

“Now, I know what you’re thinking.” Maribelle folded the flyer and tucked it inside the cover of her Bible on the side table situated between the chairs. “Nell already read me the riot act on the way back from lunch.”

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