Once and Again: Petal, Georgia, Book 1 (6 page)

“You don’t approve of what? Me stepping in and doing your job ’cause you can’t keep your business in your drawers? Chris is your son, not that you act like it. If I hadn’t have come back to help, he’d be still failing his classes. As for whatever Nancy says, she’s not here unless it’s to borrow money so what does she know anyway? If you don’t approve of another person raising your child, you could do it yourself.”

“You’re my daughter. You will respect me.”

She shook her head slowly, wondering at what point it was where she finally saw him for the soulless, selfish asshole he was. “You aren’t owed respect, you earn it. Take your whore and get out. The house is in a trust. It’s not community property. She’s not selling it, even if she could. You’ll just have to send teenage Barbie here out to get a job and learn to live on your retirement. You don’t even respect yourself, why should I respect you? You crap all over your family and pretend to be moral? Get out.”

“You can’t tell me to get out.”

“As it happens, I can. You want to beat up on defenseless women, you’ve got a young one right there. You want his kids? Good luck with that. I hope you can keep him interested long enough to make it happen. You need money, ask her parents. You went to high school with them anyway. Oh, wait, that was her grandparents.”

Her mother snorted a laugh through the tears. “She’s right. You need to leave, Rodger. Don’t come in again without knocking.”

“This is my house!”

“It isn’t. You know it’s not even in your name. There’s a trust the house is held in. It’s not Mom’s. It’s not yours either. Go back to Atlanta and get your own house in order. You’re not selling this house and that’s final.”

“We’ll just see what my lawyer thinks about that.” He grabbed Barbie’s hand and stormed out. Nancy sent a dirty look over her shoulder.

“You drive him away!”

“You’re too old to have daddy issues. Hit the road, Nancy. You might miss the gravy train if you don’t rush. Though, he’s got a lot less than you calculated. You and the girlfriend. Ha.”

She put an arm around her mother and steered her into the living room.

“Sit. Let me get you some tea.”

Nancy scampered to catch up, screeching to their father to wait for her.

“I’m so embarrassed.” Her mother took the tea.

“Why? He’s the one who’s done wrong here.”

“I took a lot. Chris probably saw things he shouldn’t have. I tell myself I should forgive your dad. That if I really loved him I would. He’s the father of my children after all. I loved him a long time. Maybe I still do. What if I’m making a mistake?”

“It is entirely possible to forgive something, to truly let go and wish that person well while at the same time making sure they can never get close enough to harm you again. Forgiveness is a gift, but it doesn’t need to make you stupid. I can’t tell you how to live your life, but if a man makes you cry on a regular basis, I can’t think you’re meant to love that man anymore.”

“I don’t know that I’m strong enough for this.”

Lily took her mother’s hands. “Let me help you a little. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Her mother nodded and mopped her tears up. Lily wished she believed the nod meant her mother would try harder, but feared it would only get worse.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

Nathan barely held his smile back as he sauntered into the Honey Bear where Lily sat at a booth with a camera at her right hand and coffee at her left.

She looked up, smiled thinly and her attention shifted away just as quickly.

Gave him the time to send his brother William—a baker at the Honey Bear and the man who’d texted Nathan to say he should come on by the café to say hello to an old friend—a thankful tip of the chin.

His family had his back and they all loved Lily from when they were kids, so they were thrilled to help, and he was relieved to have it.

“This seat taken?” he asked as he took it anyway. She frowned at him momentarily and looked back down at the photos. “What’s that?”

“Work.”

He grinned and sipped. “What brings you out so early on a Saturday?”

“Work.” Less nonchalant and more annoyed. This pleased him for some sick reason.

“I had a run. Thanks for asking. After this I’m heading over to Tate and Matt’s for a barbecue later today. I’ve promised to be quizmaster. Beth said she invited you.”

She sighed and looked up, tapping her pen quickly. “Don’t let me keep you.”

“I like the glasses.” Ignoring her weak attempt to shoo him away, he raised his coffee in her direction. “Sexy.”

She tried not to smile, he saw her struggle and then she lost it, shaking her head. “She did invite me. I can’t because I’m taking Chris with me to Macon later today. I have some things I need to deliver to work.”

“He’s been showing improvement, Lil. You’re doing a good job.”

“
Lily
. And thank you. I hope so. Christ, the boy is going to make me start attending high school with him at this rate.”

He laughed. “He’s not cutting third period anymore I’m told.”

Snorting, she sipped her coffee. “For such a smart kid, he has no common sense at all. Drives me insane.”

“None of them do. I see it all day long. But the ones who get support from family snap out of it. They go to college and get good jobs. Start families. All the things you want for him. And because you care enough to sit in his class with him until he gets the message, he’ll make it too.”

She gathered her things. “I hope so. I’m off. Have a good day with your family.”

He would have offered to carry her things to her car, but she’d only say no and she didn’t have much anyway. She’d spoken with him, and not entirely about Chris, so things were moving in a positive direction at least.

She paused at the front door, turning back to face him. “Thank you. For all you’ve been doing for Chris. It makes a difference. A big one.”

He watched her leave. Loving those sexy little librarian glasses.

“She didn’t throw her coffee in your face.” William came out and dropped into the booth across from Nathan. “That’s a start.”

“Three weeks ago she would have left when I came in. Progress, bro, progress.”

“They don’t call you the bulldog for nothing.” William smiled at him over the rim of his mug.

“Oh God, I’d forgotten about that.” Tate started that one. When Nathan was a kid he’d scrapped when he needed something, worked and worked until he got it. She said he was like a bulldog when there was something he wanted.

And he wanted Lily.

William shrugged. “Big brothers never forget. Anyway, I’ll see you over at Tate’s later. I’m working here another hour or two and then I’ll get home. Cindy will have eleven thousand things she wants me to do in the yard before we go.”

Nathan adored William’s wife. Especially the way she handled his brother and accepted the insanity that came with being a Murphy.

“Thanks for the tip on Lily. Why don’t I stop over in a bit to help with the yard?”

“Damn, I’d have called you before today when she came in if I had any idea I’d be able to get some yard work out of you.”

William walked him out.

“It’s going to work. She already likes your family. We already like her. I’ve never known you not to get what you wanted.”

Nathan scratched his chin a moment. “I hope so. I hate that it’s my fault she doesn’t trust me.” Up until two weeks before, he’d only told Tate and Tim the specifics of what had happened. He hadn’t been proud of it. And he really hadn’t been happy when Anne and Beth had barged into his house early on a Saturday morning after they’d heard what he’d done the night before from Lily.

He’d been pissed she tattled until Beth smacked him upside the head and told him how the details had come out and that Lily had said he was a good man. And then his sisters had promised help on his plan to woo Lily back.

“It was years ago, Nate. A kiss. One. Not that you weren’t an ass, you were. But you’ve grown up and so has she. Take it slow. There’s no timer on it. Get to know her again and let her get to know you. She’ll see.” William clapped him on the back. “In the meantime, it’s awfully amusing to see you have to work for a woman. I’ll see you soon. Bring your gloves. I need to clear out some brush.”

Nathan groaned. “Fine. Thanks for the advice.”

Chapter Five

She pulled into the driveway too late to see Nancy’s car already there. Damn and double damn. Thankfully it was during the day so Chris wasn’t home. She had a hair appointment and she should have just gone straight there.

As if she were made of lead, she climbed out and went inside. It would be good to stand her ground from the start, but it was never fun to be around Nancy. Even when her sister was in a good mood, she was simply a vicious bitch. Self-centered. Lazy.

So it wasn’t a surprise to find Nancy with her feet up, smoking a cigarette. As her mother clearly hadn’t, Lily felt less than comfortable telling her sister to put it out. At the same time, one of the things Lily had just gotten under control was not only her own asthma but Chris’s.

“Hey, Nancy. Didn’t expect to see you here.” Keep it civil and brief. Over the years, Lily knew the best way to deal with her sister was to not let herself be goaded into a fight over nothing.

“I bet. I was just telling Mom that if you lived with me you’d have to do a lot more for your rent.”

But being civil didn’t mean she’d line up to be abused either. “Oh, bless your heart, hon. Guess it’s a good thing I’m here and not in your tiny little studio in Atlanta.” She smiled calmly. “By the way, please don’t smoke in the house. Chris’s asthma is just barely under control again.”

“I was saying the same thing.” Pamela looked to Lily and for the first time, she saw relief there.

“You should have said.” Nancy stabbed it out and turned her gaze back to Lily.

Before she could drag Lily into another verbal round of hurt your sister, Lily pulled her bag up on her shoulder, standing tall. “It was nice to see you, Nancy. Mom, I dropped off the stuff for the jumble sale. Merline says she’d sure love to see you on Saturday afternoons again.”

Pamela brightened a little. Lily wanted to see it more. Wanted her mother to get back to her activities and friends.

“I should call her.”

“You should. I know they’d love to have you helping over there. Caroline Cutler can’t find her behind with both hands.”

Pamela’s laugh was knowing and sadly rusty. It made it worth having to deal with Nancy just to get that response.

But Nancy didn’t want to let go of a chance to fight. “Rushing off so soon? Busy life of leisure you’ve got here?”

“Chris has an after-school thing with his tutor.” She pointedly ignored her sister. “But I’ll pick him up at four thirty from there.”

“Thank you, honey.”

“If you’re gone when I return, have a safe trip home.”

“I’m spending the night. Wish I’d thought of cleaning out the apartment over the garage. Must be pretty cozy up there.”

But that would have taken work. Effort. Never would have happened as her sister was a total loser, which went hand-in-hand with lazy.

“It sure is. Thanks for asking.” Her smile was forced, she knew, but she brushed a kiss over her mother’s cheek.

She escaped quickly, almost feeling bad for leaving their mother with Nancy. But not
that
bad. Anyway, she had an appointment at Tate’s salon to have Anne cut her hair, and she wasn’t going to miss that to hang out and trade insults with her sister.

“Hey, ladies. And you too, Beth,” Lily called out as she entered the salon.

Beth hooted a laugh and tossed a curler at her, which she caught handily. “Nancy’s in my mother’s living room. I need some prettifying to take my mind off that.”

Anne waved her to the shampoo station. “Come on then. I’ll massage your scalp with the pretty-smelling stuff and cut your hair. I’ve been telling Tate we should serve wine, I think this is one of those perfect examples why.”

She let her muscles relax, breathing out slowly. “I’m dumb to let her get to me.”

“Girl, Nancy wouldn’t be happy if Jesus hisself came down and handed her a five-dollar bill.” Beth sniffed and Lily laughed.

Anne draped her clothing to protect her from the water and excess hair and had Lily lean back. “Close your eyes and tell us about it.”

The shop was empty at the moment so Beth and Tate were standing nearby, listening.

The water was the perfect temperature. The scent of the shampoo was sort of tropical and lifted her spirits. “I think I love you, Anne Murphy.”

Anne laughed.

She filled them in on that day’s business with her sister.

“Why is she that way? I don’t get it. You’re not, and you had the same parents and the same upbringing.” Anne helped her up and to the chair where she towel dried Lily’s hair and began to section it off to cut.

“I don’t know. She’s always been this way. Closest to our father, so that probably explains most of it. But she’s never happy. Given the opportunity to smile or frown, she’ll frown. She will always choose to be casually vicious because I think it’s the only way she knows how to be.”

“You had a good stylist in Macon.” Anne met Lily’s eyes in the mirror. “Not as good as me, though.” She winked. “What are you looking for?”

“What do you suggest?”

“She’s got that vintage thing going and it works for her.” Tate cocked her head and looked Lily over carefully.

“Are you looking to keep it or do something totally new? I agree with Tate that the vintage thing works for you. I can take it shorter, like a chin-length bob. Keep it longer so you can do pin curls and that sort of thing.”

“I want it easy on most days with the ability to do something more when I have the time. It’s got a natural wave so it takes me forever to straighten when it’s very short.”

“Okay then. I’ve got it.” Anne began to work, and Beth perched next to them as Tate went to deal with a client.

“We’re on for Saturday night, right? I’m still pouting you didn’t come to the cookout last weekend. How was Macon?”

“Yes we’re on. I haven’t bowled in a million years so that will be my excuse for sucking. Just telling you that in advance. As for Macon? Looks like my condo is going to sell. Big relief there. Oh! I found out two of my prints sold so that’ll cover some bills. Spoke with my boss and he’s going to send some freelancing work my way again. I told him this move was permanent, and he’ll probably have to let me go to get a local. But he’s open to my doing contract work and that’s a plus.”