Page 81 of One Southern Summer

His chin slumped with his shoulders. “That’s a fair question. Again, you’re right. There’s no excuse for cheating, especially when you had Addison and you were pregnant with Hayes. We took the easy way out instead of giving you the honest explanation and support you deserved.” He dragged his gaze to meet hers. “There’s nothing else I can say other than I’m truly sorry, Avery. I hope someday you can forgive me.”

His words shocked her. She could only stare at him, her jaw lax.

“Please. Say something.”

She shifted in the uncomfortable chair. “I accept your apology. Really, I do. But if I’m being honest, I’ve still got miles to go when it comes to forgiving you and Trey.”

“I understand.” Pax pinched the back of his neck with his fingers. “Going forward, I’d like to establish a home base here.”

“Wait. What?” Blood roared behind her ears. Their fragile truce was already fraying around the edges. “You’re moving back to Camellia?”

“You’re here. My folks are here. It’s a great place to raise kids. I’d like to be in their lives.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

“Well, we’re starting with one weekend. What if it was two weekends a month? Eventually I’d like to work up to co-parenting. An equal fifty-fifty arrangement.”

“Are you serious?” She sprang to her feet and paced the cramped walkway between their rows of chairs. Fifty-fifty?

“I want to make up for being gone for a year. Legally, there’s no reason why I can’t parent them. I’m their father and Trey’s my partner.”

She whirled to face him.

He’d kept his voice calm. When she’d popped out of her chair like a firecracker, he’d stayed sitting down, his expression so earnest.

“They can’t travel with you. I mean, vacations and outings, things like that are fine, but you can’t just scoop them up and haul them off to Kentucky for a long weekend because Trey wants to see a horse race.”

“I understand your concern.”

“It’s a legitimate concern, Pax. They’re too little to be dragged around the country.”

He worked his jaw in a tight circle. “I can promise you, we won’t be doing that.”

She massaged her forehead with her fingertips. “Do you have jobs? Something a smidge more ordinary than a book tour?”

“Trey’s going to sell real estate, and he’s agreed to seek professional help for his gambling addiction. I’m taking a job in pharmaceutical sales. We’ll have a steady income. Will Addison start school in the fall?”

“She’s starting with transitional kindergarten at a local preschool. If that’s okay with you.” She tacked on that last part. Frankly, it felt weird, asking his opinion, even his permission when it came to decisions regarding their daughter. She smoothed her sweaty palms on the legs of her shorts. The doors parted again and a bald man wearing green scrubs under a long white coat stepped into the room. “Family of Maribelle Lansing?”

“Here.” She lifted her hand and waggled her fingers. “I’m her granddaughter, Avery.”

“Dr. Knight.” His tired brown eyes turned toward Pax. “Are you family as well?”

Pax shook his head. “I’ll leave you to it. Hope everything’s okay. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.” He stood, gently squeezed her elbow then gave the doctor a brief nod before he left the building.

Avery shifted her attention toward the doctor. “How is she?”

“Stable and resting quietly. There’s no sign of head trauma. When they brought her in, they said her companion reported she’d been sitting on a bench, basically slumped over.”

“Did she have a stroke or a heart attack?”

Dr. Knight shook his head. “Everything looks normal. Blood pressure’s a little high and she’s severely dehydrated. We’re going to keep her overnight for observation. If all is well tomorrow, then she can go home, although I don’t believe I would leave her alone. Where does she live?”

“She lives at Westwood Manor, but she can stay with my parents until she’s feeling well. Can I see her for a few minutes?”

“If you’d like.”

“Please.” She scooped her purse and water bottle from the floor. Hopefully if Mama and Greer showed up they’d ask at the registration desk for instructions.

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