Page 32 of One Southern Summer

“Mama, my show.” Addison sat on the sofa, wrapped in a fluffy bath towel that Harper had pulled from the dryer. Evidently a warm towel, an episode ofDoc McStuffinsand a lime-flavored popsicle were all that she needed to forget her bee sting.

“Hang on, sweet girl.” Avery turned from the window and focused on the remote control.

What had just happened? She scrolled through the channels looking for the correct platform to stream the show and mentally replayed the afternoon’s events. Cole had seemed fine. Patiently tolerated Addison’s interruptions and Hayes’s crying during their meeting. If he hadn’t wanted to go outside, he would’ve said no. Right?

“That one, Mama. That one.” Addison pointed to the television screen, her popsicle dripping down her hand. She was thankful for that towel, otherwise Mama’s sofa would have new lime-green accents.

“Everything okay?” Her mother came into the room carrying Hayes. He wore a clean white onesie and navy shorts. Not the outfit he’d been wearing before Addison’s bee sting.

“Oh, no.” Avery grimaced. “His diaper?”

Mama nodded, kissed his cheek then handed him to her. “He’s all cleaned up and ready to eat. I tried the bottle again but he’s not having it.”

Hayes fussed and rubbed his chubby fist against his mouth as Avery scooped him into her arms. “Thank you for trying.”

“No problem, sweetie. I’m happy to help.”

“Grandma, watch my show with me.” Addison popped up from the sofa, bouncing on her knees, the half-melted popsicle dipping dangerously close to the white fabric.

“Addison, sit down while you’re eating that, please. Make sure you keep that towel on the sofa too.” Avery settled Hayes on her shoulder, trying desperately not to lose her patience.

“You feed Hayes. I’ll sit with her.” Mama skirted the sofa and settled beside Addison. “What are you watching?”

Avery didn’t argue. She strode toward her bedroom, shifting Hayes to her other shoulder, as his cries echoed down the hallway. Through the open door, Avery caught a glimpse of Julene sitting on the floor in her room, facing a full-length mirror. She tipped her head to the side. Quirked her lips. Puckered. Her phone sat propped against the dresser, while she and the young woman on FaceTime debated the merits of Julene’s lipstick.

An arrow of envy pierced her insides. Hayes’s crying escalated, earning her a concerned glance from Julene.

“Sorry,” Avery whispered then slipped into her bedroom and closed the door. Hot tears stung her eyes. If only her biggest problem was whether she’d bought the right shade of lipstick at the beauty counter.

As she settled in the rocking chair and fed Hayes, she let the tears flow. Wow, she was a mess. Home for less than a month and she was already jealous of both her sisters’ freedom.

Or maybe these tears were more about what she’d lost? And how far she’d fallen. She didn’t miss Pax. Not really. Not like she had when he’d first moved out. But she mourned the loss of being part of a traditional family unit. The sweet memories they’d built, celebrating Addison’s milestones and the growth of their business.

She swiped the back of her hand across her cheeks. Life looked nothing like she’d expected. A typical day in her former life was hectic. Demanding. She managed multiple projects, handled marketing all by herself and made sure their home ran smoothly. Now she couldn’t even take a simple meeting without unraveling. Worse, she relied on her mother and sisters to help care for her kids.

And how in the world would she ever help Cole with the expansion project? Especially if he flipped out every time her kids had a meltdown. She’d have to hire a babysitter. Or maybe a nanny. She couldn’t take kids to a construction site and she wasn’t ready to get a place of her own yet. Rent in Camellia was far more reasonable than in Raleigh, but covering first and last’s month’s rent plus a security deposit on an apartment felt too risky right now.

Her breathing grew shallow as her uncertainties pressed in, like a string of linebackers determined to sack the quarterback. She loved her children. And she’d find a way to provide for them. But how was she going to survive being a single working mother?

She forced herself to stare at the painting of a sailboat cutting through ocean waves hanging on the opposite wall above the queen bed.Breathe. Just breathe.Feed your baby. He needs you.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Avery sniffed and quickly mopped at her tears with a cloth diaper she found draped over the back of the chair.

“Come in.”

Her mother stepped into the room, Avery’s phone in her hand. “Sorry to interrupt but you had three calls right in a row. I thought they might be important.”

Her worried expression made Avery’s gut cinch tight. “Who called?”

Mama bit her lip and passed her the phone.

Avery glanced at the screen. One missed call from Whitney, and two from Pax. “I’d better call him.”

“Do you want me to take Hayes?”

Hayes stopped nursing and cried out.

“There’s my answer.” Mama smoothed her hand over the rumpled lavender and gray floral duvet cover on the bed. Lingering. A subtle offer of solidarity.

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