The Chocolate Garden (Dare River Book 2) (6 page)

Mama joined her and began to rearrange the coffee cups, turning the handles so they all pointed in the same direction. “See, that looks better, Tammy.” She ran a polished fingertip over the porcelain handle. “Marietta wanted me to ask you to return the Morrison family wedding ring. They want Sterling to give it to Erica.”

Her mama was relaying messages from Sterling’s family now? Tammy expected nothing but betrayal from her mother, but her stomach still burned with pain. She hadn’t thought about giving the ring back, and he hadn’t asked for it. Flushing it down the toilet had been impulsive, but it had elated her even though she’d needed to put her head between her knees to fight off the dizziness.

“It’s bad taste to use it on a second marriage, Mama. We both know that.”

Her mother’s smile could have cut bread, clean down the middle. “It’s been in the family for four generations, Tammy.”

“Giving it back was not in the divorce papers, Mama.” She wouldn’t tell her mother what she’d done with it, not in a million years. “Sterling will have to buy another ring.”

“Tammy Lynn, you are being petulant. It’s a Morrison family heirloom.”

“That’s unfortunate, Mama. Sterling should have had the foresight to ask for it back during the divorce proceedings. Besides, with all the money Rye paid him to give me a divorce and sole custody of the children, he should be able to buy Erica an even nicer ring.” Not that Sterling had ever been poor in the first place. Far from it.

“I don’t want to hear that gauche settlement mentioned ever again. It’s embarrassing and appalling.”

“Mama, the settlement was Sterling’s idea. If you have a problem with it, you should take it up with him. I can never pay Rye back—I know that—but the kids and I are better off than we’ve ever been.”

“Fine, Tammy Lynn, I can appreciate your perspective.”

Mama only demurred when she thought her tactics weren’t working, so Tammy braced for a new assault.

“However, Rory and Annabelle’s daddy is getting remarried at some point. You should let the children go to his wedding. Marietta enlisted my help in convincing you. A man shouldn’t be separated from his children, especially for such a big event. It’s just not right, and it would look terrible to outsiders.”

Tammy’s spine went rigid. She stared unblinking at the woman whom she so resembled. “The children will
never
see Sterling again, Mama. He sold his family for a million dollars, and he has never once tried to see Rory and Annabelle, thank God. Having you and Marietta try and put lipstick on that pig isn’t going to change my mind.”

“Such language.” Mama stared at her, her eyes hard. “I don’t know who you are anymore, Tammy. Of all my children, you were the one most like me. I don’t know what’s happened to you. Do you actually think you have a better life now? People
pity
you back home.”

The muscles in her face tightened, and the burn of embarrassment spread along the collar of her yellow linen suit. “I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks, Mama.”

It wasn’t completely true, but she was trying, and it felt good to say. The silver tray shook when she picked it up. She wedged it against her stomach, the fluted edges digging in. “Our life
is
better now, and that’s all that matters.”

She was halfway across the kitchen when Mama said, “If that’s how you feel, you are even more lost than I let myself believe. Do you think you’re the only woman whose husband has ever stepped out on her? Affairs are not about you, honey. That’s what you don’t understand. Sterling always provided for you and the children. Now, you’re living on your brother’s charity without a man of your own to take care of you. Your children don’t even have a father. What are you going to do? Live here for the rest of your life with Rye and that Simmons woman?”

Feeling light-headed, she said, “I’m starting my own gardening business, Mama, so trust me when I say I won’t be living on anyone’s charity.”

“Your daddy mentioned that, and it’s nothing but a waste of his time. You’re only playing around with flowers and nothing will amount to it, you mark my words. It’s
pitiful,
Tammy.”

Pitiful?
Pitiful?
The shaking in her fingers bounced the china on the tray, causing the cups to crack together and ruin the perfect arrangement. The serving tray clattered to the tiled floor, sending coffee and shards of china everywhere.

Daddy appeared in the doorway then, and when he met Tammy’s eyes, his face darkened like a thundercloud. “Margaret, what have you done?”

Mama fingered her pearls without looking up. “Hampton, I can’t imagine what you mean. Go back to the dining room, darlin’. The kitchen is no place for a man.”

Crouching down, Tammy fumbled to pick up the broken china with shaking hands. Dear God, they would need new china. Nearly every cup and saucer was broken. And the coffee…

Her sister appeared beside her. “Why don’t you go freshen up for a moment, Tammy?” she said in a hushed voice. “Tory and I will finish this and get dessert on the table.”

Tammy shook her head. Was everybody in the kitchen to witness her shame? “But it’s her wedding breakfast. She’s the guest of honor.”

Tory, who had walked up behind Amelia Ann, crouched down and wrapped an arm awkwardly around her shoulders. “No, it’s fine. Go take a moment.”

It was then Annabelle shuffled forward and hugged Tammy. She clutched her daughter, pressing her face into the girl’s soft, silky hair, trying to hold it together, but all she could hear was that venomous word.
Pitiful.

“It’s okay, Mama. It’s just broke. Nothing serious.”

That’s what she always told her babies when they had an accident, and it made tears well in her eyes.

She inhaled the sweet perfume Annabelle had begged her to spray on her wrists this morning. “Thank you for reminding me, sweetheart. I need to freshen up a bit. Will you help Aunt Amelia Ann and Aunt Tory for me?”

Her little girl nodded, her eyes huge in her face.

Tammy slowly stood, her bones aching. She quivered when she saw Rye’s angry face. He stood in the doorway to the kitchen now, his hands fisted at his sides. Rory stood beside him with the same expression.

“It’s all right,” she said to him gently, hoping to avoid further disaster.

Daddy led Mama across the kitchen, his hand gripping her elbow. Mama’s eyes bit into Tammy as she fled the room. She chose her own bathroom for an escape, needing the privacy. Sinking onto the toilet seat, she grabbed a towel and pressed it to her mouth. The pressure stopped the cries that were clamoring to get out. If she fell apart now, it would help no one, herself included.

She wet a washcloth and ran it over her hot neck, waiting for her pulse to level out. It took her a while to catch her breath, but she managed. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she admitted she was out of practice at holding in misery.

Part of her thanked God for that.

The dining room was as quiet as a wake when she returned. Rory was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, and he led her back to the table, a mutinous scowl on his face. She clutched her boy’s little hand and looked at her lap, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. Instead she concentrated on arranging the napkin on her lap and smoothed it three times until it was perfectly straight. Then she raised her head and forced fake cheer into her voice.

“Shall we have some dessert?”

Everyone played along. Tory took the lead in conversation when Daddy went mute. He pulled his éclair apart without raising any to his lips. There were hard lines around his mouth and eyes, and he looked older than he had since his recovery from the heart attack. Everyone ate sparingly. No one asked for seconds.

Even Mama was quiet, a relief.

As if by pre-arranged agreement, everyone quickly rose from the table after a polite amount of time had passed. Mama announced she was heading to the powder room. Yes, her mama still called it that.

Everyone else took off for the family room, but Tammy hung back. Rye waited too and put a protective arm around her, then kissed her cheek gently. The gesture made her want to weep.

“Thank you, darlin’. It was a lovely gesture, hosting our wedding breakfast.”

They had come so far over the past year. He’d done everything he could to help her and the children. Yet, in the space of minutes in the kitchen, Mama had raised a spotlight on all the dark corners still inside Tammy, shadows she couldn’t escape.

Well, no one was going to pity her, least of all herself.

“I should have stuck to my guns and insisted Mama couldn’t come this morning,” he said. “What did she say to you?”

“It’s of no account. I love you, Rye,” she said, embracing him, voicing the words she’d only said to him a few times.

“I love you too, darlin’,” he whispered.

She forced herself to step back and meet his troubled gaze. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for everything you’ve done for me and the kids.”

He grabbed her slight shoulders. “Don’t you dare let Mama affect you this way. I mean it.”

“But, Rye—”

“I won’t hear any more. There’s no need to say thanks. We’re family. You and the kids mean…everything to me.”

God, were those tears in his eyes? She had to blink furiously so her own wouldn’t spill over.

“I’m afraid this has ruined the beginning of your honeymoon.”

“Like that could happen with my beautiful bride.”

She let out a shaky breath. “I’m so glad. I only want the best for you and Tory.”

“We know it, and we feel the same about you. Come on now. Let’s finish this charade.”

When they reached the family room, Tory was playing with Rory and Annabelle on the floor. She and Rye exchanged a look that spoke volumes.

Amelia Ann popped off the edge of the couch and rushed forward. “Daddy said he and Mama are leaving right now. I’ve never seen him more upset. He all but dragged her upstairs to pack.”

Even though it was a relief, Tammy gripped Rye’s arm. “This is all my fault.”

“I don’t want to hear any more of that talk,” he said. “Mama is to blame for all of this. Heck, I should never have allowed her to come to the wedding in the first place.”

“We were trying to keep that channel open, Rye,” Amelia Ann reminded him. “For Daddy’s sake.”

He scoffed. “Like it did any good.”

Her sister hugged her and asked, “Tammy, do you want to talk about what happened in the kitchen?”

No. She didn’t want the rest of her family to know people thought she was pitiful.

“It’s nothing out of the normal, honey,” she forced herself to say. “You know Mama. Rye, I just want you and Tory to go off and have the best honeymoon ever.”

No one moved, so she walked over to the children and clapped her hands. “Rory. Annabelle. You ready to go outside and play?”

Annabelle jumped up. “Will you push me on the tree swing before you go, Uncle Rye?”

He picked her up and tucked her close. “You bet.”

Rory approached her with one of his red trucks fisted in his hand. “Mama? Are you okay?”

She forced a smile. “Of course, sugar. I have the best family in the world.”

Fifteen minutes later, they were playing with the children out on the lawn, Rory and Annabelle taking turns on the swing hanging from the giant oak tree. When Daddy came out to join them, Tammy couldn’t help but wonder where Mama was.

“I’m sorry to leave so abruptly,” Daddy said, “but your mama and I need to get on the road. It’s for the best.”

“We really appreciated having you here, Daddy,” Rye responded.

“I wouldn’t have missed it! You’re so lucky, son. I can’t imagine finding a better woman than Tory.” And with that, he gave his daughter-in-law a kiss and a hug, and then did the same with Amelia Ann.

When it came time for him to say goodbye to Tammy, he smoothed the hair back from her brow like she was a child again. “I’m sorry about your mama. More than I can say. I don’t want you to listen to a thing she said. This new confidence of yours is bright as a freshly coined penny, and it makes me so happy to see it. And I can’t wait to help you move things forward with your new business, starting first thing tomorrow. You’re going to knock the socks off your clients, honey. I just know it.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” she whispered, struggling not to cry.

“I love you, Tammy. You’ve done right by the kids and yourself. When you doubt that, I want you to look at them. They’re happier than I’ve ever seen them.”

She rubbed her cheek against his. “I do look, Daddy. Every day.”

“Changes are a good thing, even if they’re hard. I plan on making more of my own. I’ll call you soon.”

And with that he headed off to kiss and hug Rory and Annabelle. The hair on Tammy’s neck rose, making her feel as though she was being watched, and she turned to see her mama standing beside the gardenia bush at the edge of her gardens. Her silhouette was rigid, and after a moment she walked over to where the car was parked without a single wave goodbye. Not that Tammy had expected any different.

Daddy finally headed back across the lawn with a wave, and they all watched as he and Mama drove off. No one waved as they left, not even the children.

Rye slung an arm around Tammy’s shoulders once the car had disappeared in the distance. “Come on, honey. You need some cheering up. I’ll push you on the swing. It’ll be fun.”

“Ah…okay.” She’d never been allowed to swing growing up. Mama had always said it wasn’t ladylike or that boys might look up her dress.

Well, it was time to start doing everything her mama had ever warned her against—all within reason, of course.

Her brother steered her over to the wooden seat, and she wrapped her hands around the thick rope. The push he gave her was gentle, and she rocked forward in a slow, easy arc.

Annabelle giggled then, and the sound seemed to break all of the earlier tension.

“Mama, isn’t swinging the funnest thing ever?”

The wind rushed over her face as she flew closer to the blue sky with each push. Tammy knew it was upsetting her perfectly coiffed hair, but she didn’t care right now, not with the wind in her face and the world swinging beneath her feet. With one hand, she pulled out the clip that held her hair up and threw it across the yard, just because she could. It would scandalize Mama if she’d seen it, and that thought made her pump her legs for the first time.