Southern Sunshine

by Natasha Madison

"I was hoping I would see you out," she says. “Do you have a couple of minutes?" she asks.

  "I do,” I say, and she smiles.

  "Follow me,” she says, and I walk with her across the small parking lot to the vacant new stores I saw when I was driving into town. She takes the keys out of her pocket and opens the door.

  I walk in and see an empty space, the big windows in the front allowing the sun to come in. "Now, before you say anything,” she tells me, “I want you to picture a long wooden counter on this side." She points at the side of the room. “With a huge display case in the back." I turn, watching her walk across the room. “Wooden beams everywhere, and I want it to be like your grandmother's kitchen," she tells me. “I’d love to put a couch in the back of that corner for when people come in and there are more than six." She smiles now, her eyes lighting up. “A homey feel. There are going to be little round tables everywhere. I was thinking we can have coffee cups for sale in a wooden hutch."

  "I think it would be amazing,” I say honestly. “You are going to get the older crowd, and also you might even touch the younger kids in high school who want to come and just get some chill time." I shake my head. “I think you have an amazing idea."

  "Good,” she says. “I need a partner." I’m about to tell her something, and she puts her hand up. “I don’t know how to bake, but I know how to run a business."

  "I don’t know how to bake,” I say. “All these things are just—"

  "It’s a talent you can’t teach." She laughs. “Do you know how many times Charlotte tried to teach me how to make apple pie because it was Ethan’s favorite?" She puts her hands on her hips. “And Olivia, she’s started more kitchen fires than she cares to admit."

  "It’s just … I don’t," I start to say. “I don’t live here." Also, I think of the money I have in my savings that I don’t want to dip into.

  "You can change that," she tells me. “I’ll put up all the capital, but we would still be fifty-fifty partners."

  "Um," I start to say.

  "I’ll take back five percent yearly until it’s all paid back,” she says.

  "What if it doesn’t make it back?" I ask her. “What if you invest all this money and it’s a flop?"

  "Oh …" She shakes her head. “Ye have little faith." She looks around now. “Ye have little faith."

  Chapter 23

  Reed

  "Ready?" I ask Sofia as she puts on her Rubber boots. After Hazel left, I finished cleaning the kitchen while Sofia colored. She made sure to tell me what needed to be done. I was just the adult supervisor. She got dressed and made sure she brushed her teeth before walking down the stairs.

  "Ready, Freddy,” she says, turning to look at me. She slips her hand in mine, and I walk out of the house and open the back door to the truck. “Where is my seat?" she asks, and I look at her. “I need a booster seat," she tells me, “or else I’ll fly out of the car and die." I almost laugh because I can see Hazel telling her that.

  "I don’t have one. But we can walk over to my house,” I say. “And then take the golf cart to Grandpa’s." I look at her, waiting for her to okay this plan.

  We start walking toward my house. “You have a house here?" she asks.

  "Not really,” I say. “It’s my mom and dad’s." I look over at her as we walk, her little legs moving fast.

  "We don’t live here either," she tells me. “We live in a condo."

  "Do you like living in a condo?" I ask, trying not to laugh that she knows that word.

  "It’s okay. Sometimes we go to the beach," she tells me, and you can tell from her voice that she’s excited about the beach. She goes on and on about how she swims and that she took swimming at home. When we make it to my house, she looks up at the house. “You live in a big house." She looks around and walks toward the golf cart.

  I pick her up and set her down, then get into the driver’s seat. I put my hand over her hand when I start to drive. She looks around, and when we get closer to the barn, she starts to fidget in the seat. When I stop the golf cart, she squeals out in excitement. “Are we going to ride horses?" she asks, and I can tell she likes the horses better than the beach.

  "I think we can,” I say, getting out of the golf cart and holding out my hand for her. She grabs my hand, and we walk into the barn. She walks past the stalls, and I stop at the stall where her horse is in. "What do you think of this one?" I ask, and the horse comes toward us. I pick her up in my arms as the horse sticks her snout out of the stall.

  "She’s pretty," Sofia says, and she follows my lead when I rub the horse’s snout.

  "Well, well, well." I look over to see my grandfather coming toward us. “If it isn’t the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen." He stops in front of us. Sofia just smiles at him as she rubs the horse.

  "Uncle Reed said we can ride horses," she informs him, and he just nods his head.

  "Is that so?” he says, putting his hands on his hips. "This is interesting,” he says, and I just look over at him. Sofia is not even noticing what he’s saying.

  "Hazel asked me to watch her." I avoid looking into his eyes. Instead, I watch Sofia. “We were friends before I left." I look at him and see the questions in his eyes. “It’s fine."

  He just nods. “So are we going to saddle her?" he asks me, and Sofia just puts her hands together and laughs.

  "I think that’s a yes." She smiles and nods her head. I put her down now. “Don’t move,” I say, walking over to the wall and grabbing a saddle. I keep one eye on her the whole time, making sure she’s okay. "Now," I say, walking to her. “We are going to saddle her so we can take her out."

  She jumps up and down now as I walk into the stall. “This is better than the tractor,” she says and then looks up at my grandfather. “I still like the tractor." She tries not to hurt his feelings, making him laugh.

  "Now you are going to behave," I tell the horse once I throw the saddle on her back. “And you are going to be gentle with her or else," I whisper to her, and the horse looks at me as if she knows what I’m saying. “No funny tricks."

  "Is it ready?" Sofia asks, and I look at her and walk out with the horse. Grandpa places her behind him in case the horse bucks or kicks her.

  "She’s pretty," Sofia says as we walk out. She walks over and slips her hand in mine. “What’s her name?"

  "I don’t know,” I say as we walk toward the fenced area. “What do you think we should call her?”

  "Caramel,” she says. “’Cause she looks like the caramel candies Momma gives me."

  "That’s a perfect name," my grandfather says.

  "Let’s go,” I say, walking into the fenced area with her. "I’m going to put you on, and I want you to hold on tight,” I say. She raises her arms for me to pick her up and put her on the horse. "You good?" I ask her, and she holds the front of the saddle, smiling. “Now I’m going to walk her around, okay?" I walk her around two times, and by the third time, I can tell that she wants to pick up the pace. She is my daughter, after all. I never was one to have patience.

  "I knew I’d find you here." I look behind me to see my father coming in. He’s dressed in jeans and a shirt, his hands filthy. “Is that the new horse?"

  "She’s Caramel," Sofia says to my father, and she smirks at him. He looks up at her, smiling and then looks back at me.

  "I’ll take her out there,” my grandfather says, taking the reins from me. "Let’s go and work her out."

  "Not too fast," I tell my grandfather, and he just smiles at me.

  I watch my grandfather walk the area with Sofia as he explains things. "Son." I hear my father. “Is there something you need to tell me?" he asks, and I wonder if he noticed that she smiles like me.

  "I don’t know what you mean,” I say, avoiding his eyes. “I’m helping Hazel." The lie eats at my stomach. I hate lying, always have. But then to lie about what she is to me, that is just … I fucking hate it. There are no other words to describe it.

  "You haven’t been around kids," he says as we st
and against the fence watching.

  "She’s five,” I say. “She is basically babysitting me."

  "She’s a natural," my father says, watching Sofia on the horse now after my grandfather handed her the reins.

  "Must be the country girl in her,” I say, walking into the area before my father asks more questions. I have to walk away from him before I lie to him.

  "I can gallop," Sofia tells me, smiling. “Can we go fast now?" I look over at my grandfather, who shakes his head.

  "She’s been asking me this for the last ten minutes,” he says.

  "Okay," I say, putting my foot in the stirrup and getting on the horse with her. “Why don’t we take her out?”

  “See you two later,” he says, walking to my father. Both of them watch me. I lock her in and start for the trail when my phone rings.

  “Hello,” I say when I answer it.

  “Hey.” I hear Hazel’s voice, and a smile fills my face. “It’s me."

  "Hi, it’s me," I joke with her, and she laughs.

  "Where are you guys?" she asks, and I hear the car door shut.

  "Going for a ride,” I say. “Sofia named my horse."

  "Oh, good God," Hazel says, laughing. “Do I want to know?"

  "I’ll let her tell you,” I say as we ride out of the area.

  "Well, if it’s okay with you, I’m going to go home and bake Amelia some scones, and then I’ll come by and get her,” she says.

  "Yeah, that’s fine,” I say. “I’m going to take her for a ride anyway."

  "Um, okay," she says, hesitating. “If you need anything …"

  "I’ll call,” I say. “See you later, Hazel." I hang up now and get up to tuck the phone in my pocket. “Okay, you ready?” I say, and she just smiles up at me and nods her head. I kick the horse with the side of my foot. “Get,” I say, and she opens up and races. The whole time, I have Sofia in my arms. I ride until I can feel Caramel is tired, and the sun is soaking through my T-shirt. I pull it over my head now. “We are going to need a shower after this." I look down at Sofia, whose eyes sparkle with happiness. "Let’s get back and see if Grandma will give us something to drink and a snack. My favorite is chocolate chip muffins."

  "Me, too,” she says, and I throw my head back and laugh, pretty sure that she would have said anything was her favorite.

  "Let’s go," I tell the horse.

  "Caramel, take me home,” she says and mimics my kick on the side.

  "You really are a natural." I kiss the top of her head as she leads us back to the barn.

  Pulling up, I see her right away. She stands there with a basket over her arm as she talks to my grandfather, and he eats whatever is in the basket. She looks over and puts her hand over her eyes to see us without the sun blinding her.

  "There they are," I hear my grandfather tell her. “Thank you for the scone."

  "It’s my pleasure,” she says and looks back at us. “Why are you not wearing a shirt?" she asks when I get closer to her. The sound of my grandfather’s laughter fills the air.

  "He’s trying to be your Romeo." He winks at Hazel, and she rolls her lips as he walks away now.

  "Momma, I rode Caramel," Sofia says. “Fast fast."

  "Did you?" Hazel says, and I get down from the horse and then reach for Sofia as she leans to me. "Was it fun?" Sofia shakes her head, and I see my grandfather opening the fence.

  "Let’s go get her some water," my grandfather says, holding out his hand for Sofia and then the other hand for the reins.

  Grabbing my shirt, I put it over my shoulder as I walk closer to her. I can tell that she has mischief all over her face, and when she opens her mouth, I know why. “What’s up, Romeo?”

  Chapter 24

  Hazel

  “What’s up, Romeo?” I joke with him and throw my head back when he groans out.

  “It was hot out there,” he says, and I look at him with his shirt off. He’s definitely filled out since the last time. A scar on the lower right side of his stomach has my eyes lingering there. My fingers itch to touch it.

  "Momma." I hear my name being called and turn to see Sofia running out of the barn. Her overalls are dusty, and her Rubber boots are wet. “I gave Caramel water,” she says, and the smile on her face makes her eyes a light brown almost green. "Now Grandpa Billy says I can feed her," she tells me and then turns to run back into the barn.

  "I don’t think she’s been this excited in her whole life,” I say, turning now and seeing that Reed is standing really close to me. I can smell his musky woodsy smell. “Today was good?" I ask, pretending that standing this close to him does nothing for me. Meanwhile, I want to lean into him and slide my tongue into his mouth.

  "It was great,” he says, looking at me and then the barn where Sofia just ran into. “It’s crazy how it’s so natural with us."

  I smile at him. “I don’t think I’ve seen her this happy."

  "Did you get all your errands done?" he asks, and I nod.

  "I did, and then I saw your aunts and Amelia and Chelsea." I leave out the conversation I had with Savannah.

  "What’s in the basket?" His eyes glimmer just like Sofia’s, the smirk on his face making him dangerous.

  All the words leave my head as I watch him stick out his tongue and lick his lower lip. "Um," I say, clearing my throat and blinking my eyes to get myself out of the daze. “I made some blueberry scones, and then I had some orange and cranberry, so I made those scones also."

  "Ohh,” he says, his hands going for my basket.

  "Don’t you dare touch my scones with your dirty hands, Mr. Romeo,” I say, laughing and then see his eyes turn a darker brown.

  "If I can’t touch your scones with my dirty hands," he says and steps closer to me. “What can I touch?" It’s my turn to stick my tongue out of my mouth and lick my lips. My stomach tightens, shooting sensations all the way down to my toes.

  "Momma," Sofia says, running back to me. “I’m done." Reed takes a step back now. “Can we go eat?"

  "Sure,” I say, holding out my hand and then handing Reed the basket. “Those are for you."

  "For me?" he asks, shocked.

  "It’s the least I could do for helping today,” I say, and he smiles.

  "Hopefully, we can do it again." He looks at me, and I just nod.

  "Let’s get you home and in the bath." I swing our hands. “Say thank you."

  "Thank you, Uncle Reed,” she says, pulling from my hand and walking to him to wrap her little arms around his waist. "It was the bestest day ever."

  He blinks away the tears in his eyes, squatting down in front of her when she lets him go. “It was my bestest day ever." He taps her nose with his finger. “I’ll see you later." He gets up when she turns and runs to me.

  "I’m making chicken potpie for dinner,” I say over my shoulder when I walk away. “There may be a serving for you." He smirks.

  "I’ll see you soon, then." He watches us get into the truck, and only when we drive away do I see him walk back into the barn.

  "So how was your day?" I ask her, looking into the rearview mirror.

  "We had so much fun,” she says with her hands raising up in the air. “I rode Caramel by myself," she tells me. “And then I wanted to go fast fast." Her voice is so full of life I can’t help but smile with her. “So Uncle Reed came on the horse with me, and we went super-duper fastest,” she says, clapping her hands.

  I pull up to the house, and she’s already out of her car seat and jumps out of the truck when I open the back door. "In the shower,” I say as I open the door, and she nods at me while she kicks off her Rubber boots. I kick off my ballerina shoes and follow her up the stairs to the bathroom while she is going on and on about Caramel. I start the shower for her and then walk back to the bedroom and pick up some shorts and a shirt for her.

  Dressing her and combing out her hair, I braid it for her, and she asks to go sit on the couch to watch television. I set her up and walk back to the kitchen, putting the chicken potpie into the
oven to bake.

  “Momma!” I hear her yell my name. “Do you think Caramel is going to miss me?”

  “Yes,” I say, smiling. “But I’m sure she’ll be fine."

  "Stay here and build something amazing with me." I can hear Savannah’s voice in my head. I couldn’t even say a word to her when she told me that. All I could see is getting up every day and walking into the shop, greeting people who I knew when I was a little girl. It was the whole reason I wanted out of this town, but now having Sofia here, I wonder how much she would flourish living here. Seeing her at the barbecue with the kids was everything. Seeing her with Billy and Charlotte was enough to make me burst into tears. They love her, and they don’t even know that she’s theirs.

  My mind lingers, trying to think back to when we are at home. Surely, there was a time when she was as happy as she is here.

  She has never smiled as much as she has here. Coming here, I knew it would be hard on me, but even I have had more smiles than I think I did at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life. I love our life. But after being here for three weeks, I have to admit something was missing.

  I was going through the motions every single day, but I was empty inside. It was a routine—wash, rinse, repeat. I would go to work because that was my job, but I wasn’t over-the-moon excited to be there. In my head, that was how it was supposed to be. No one really loves what they do every single day.

  Cutting the lettuce and then tossing it into the bowl, I think of the last time I woke up with a sense of dread. I haven’t had to force one smile since I’ve been here. It’s all been natural. I haven’t had to give myself pep talks either or bribe Sofia once to do anything.

  The knock on the door has me turning, and Sofia gets up, looking at me. “Can I open the door?” I nod at her, thinking that I would have put her behind me back home and walked to the door to see who it was before I even thought of opening it.

  She turns the handle of the door, and it’s not even locked. "Uncle Reed,” she says, and I look over at him as he stands there with two bouquets.