“I’m the mother,” she reminded him. “No court is going to be in your favor.”
He knew she was likely right, but he ignored that fact. Whatever it took, he’d make it happen if it would protect his daughter.
“Please. You name the terms.”
“What about your girlfriend?”
He closed his eyes and let an image of Avery drift into his mind. After the visit from the mayor, Gray had tried to track down both Carrie and Meredith, but it appeared they’d gone to California, as well. No one seemed to know—or at least be willing to share—why the three sisters had left together or when they were returning. If Avery was coming back with them.
He’d screwed up big-time by pushing her away. He loved her, and his daughter loved her. Nothing else mattered. Life would never be perfect, but he understood now he had to be willing to face the damaged parts of himself to have the life he wanted.
The life he wanted included Avery.
“My relationship is none of your business.”
Stacy placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward. “I’ll make it my business if you don’t back off on custody.”
He shrugged. “It won’t stop me. Why can’t you see that this is what’s best?”
“What makes you think I don’t?” She took a step toward him, then shook her head. “Don’t you think I know I’m not a good mother?” she asked, her voice cracking on the last word. “It’s like I have no maternal instinct.” She dashed a tear from her cheek with a violent swipe, as if angry to be showing any measure of vulnerability. “It’s always come so damn naturally to you.”
“I don’t think you’re a bad mother.”
“Liar,” she muttered. “I can’t be perfect the way you are, Gray. I couldn’t live up to your standards when we were married, and we both know I’m failing miserably now. But I love my daughter.”
“I know.”
“How is that girlfriend of yours so fantastic with Violet? She seems about as motherly as a box of crayons.”
He chuckled. “Avery isn’t worried about being perfect or maternal when she’s with Violet. She’s just herself and that’s enough. It would be for you, too. Our daughter needs the best of you, Stace. Not some arbitrary mom standards that you’ve read about on social media or you think that I expect of you.” He took a step forward and gentled his tone. “This wasn’t how either of us planned things to go, but we have to figure out how to make it work.”
She sniffed and looked away. “You think changing custody will do that?”
“I think it would make things easier on all of us. I promise I’m not trying to push you out of her life. But if you make a commitment to her, honor it. We can come up with a generous visitation and make it flexible if that’s what you need. You and I will submit a parenting plan together.”
A muscle worked along Stacy’s fine jaw. He could see how difficult this was for her and he remained silent, giving her the time she needed. Finally, she lifted her face to meet his gaze. “Those things I said about Avery weren’t all true.”
A dull ache spread through his chest. Not because Stacy had lied to him. The blame was with him for believing her and doubting Avery. Damn, he hoped she’d give him another chance. He couldn’t imagine what he’d do without her in his life.
“I’m sorry if I messed things up for you.”
“I’ll fix it,” he answered, sending up a silent prayer that was possible.
Her features softened. “It’s what you do.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I’ll have my attorney call yours in the morning to set up a time to meet. If we can come up with a plan that works for both of us and is right for Violet, I’ll agree to submitting the custody change.”
He let out a slow breath. “Thank you.”
“Good night, Gray.” She turned and let herself into the condo, leaving him alone in the dark. He looked up at the stars dotting the night sky like a blanket woven from a thousand pinpricks of light.
Where was Avery at the moment? In California or returned to Magnolia or someplace in between? Was it possible she was gazing up to the same starry sky?
As relieved as he felt about Stacy’s willingness to work with him on the custody change, a weight still settled on his heart. Now that he’d had a taste of a full life with Avery at his side, he wasn’t going to give up on his chance at love.
Not without a fight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
AVERY SPENT AN additional day in San Francisco with her sisters. Neither of them had ever been to California so they’d toured the city’s most famous sights and then had dinner with her mother. She’d thought it would be strange, but her mom seemed to enjoy getting to know both Carrie and Meredith. Okay, it was still strange, at least for Avery, but she’d come to realize her rigorous pursuit of some ideal existence had cut her off from appreciating the good things in the life she had.
Maybe her mother finally understood that, as well. Melissa hadn’t batted an eye at Meredith’s snarky asides or the awkward pauses as Carrie tried to steer the conversation from potential emotional land mines. On that count, it felt like they were walking through a war zone.
But they’d managed it, and Avery had even texted Gray while they were waiting to board the red-eye home. She’d typed in and then deleted at least a half dozen messages before settling on a simple can we talk? His answer had been an immediate and succinct yes. She’d waited for more and, when nothing came through, she’d sent a thumbs-up emoji. The little icon seemed wholly inadequate, but everything she wanted to tell him needed to be said in person.
They were all tired and slightly punchy by the time they touched down in Charlotte the following morning. Carrie had driven to the airport, so they piled into her Volvo station wagon and started the drive toward Magnolia.
“It feels like the seasons changed while we were gone.” Avery turned her head to gaze out the car’s passenger window at the bright orange and gold leaves of the trees lining the highway. “How does that happen so fast?”
Meredith thumped a hand against the back of the headrest. “Don’t forget, you were out of commission for a while before we coaxed you back from the brink of heartbreak.”
“That wasn’t coaxing,” Avery said over her shoulder. “That was being hit over the head with a sledgehammer.”
“It worked,” Carrie reminded her. “I wouldn’t call it the brink of anything. You were writhing in the depths of despair.”
“Dramatic much?” Avery muttered but chuckled just the same.
Meredith leaned forward as much as her seat belt would allow. “You’re just lucky we’re not only your sisters, but also your bosom friends.”
Carrie lifted her gaze to the rearview mirror. “You’re an Anne of Green Gables fan?” she asked Meredith.
Avery turned in her seat just as Meredith made a face. “Isn’t everyone?”
They both looked at Avery for confirmation. “Depths of despair and bosom friends,” she repeated. “I get it. I’m not going to color my hair green in solidarity, but I read the series.”
“We should start a book club,” Meredith said, sitting back again.
Avery blinked, keeping her gaze trained on the front window. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Carrie try and fail to smother a smile. “I’d like to wrangle an invitation to one of Julie’s toys for women parties,” Carrie said.
“You need it,” Meredith agreed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Meredith draped one foot across the console between the two front seats. “You’re uptight.”
“I am not,” Carrie argued and slapped at Meredith’s flip-flop. “Get your foot off there. It’s dirty.”
“You only think that because you’re uptight.”
“I am not.”
Avery’s mouth curved into a smile as she listened to her sisters’ affectionate
bickering. Having been raised an only child, she had no means to compare their nutty dynamics to siblings who’d grown up together, but she figured they were doing okay. Meredith and Carrie gave her a sense of belonging to something bigger. They might each have an individual history but they’d remain connected going forward, no matter what life threw at each of them.
As they drove into Magnolia, Carrie turned at the water tower and headed into downtown.
“Are you stopping at the gallery?” Avery asked.
“The bakery,” Carrie answered. “I’m hungry.”
“Me, too,” Meredith offered from the back seat. “I hope she has the carrot-cake muffins today.”
Carrie pulled into an open parking space and turned off the car.
“I’ll wait here,” Avery told them, unwilling to return to life in Magnolia until she spoke with Gray. “I’m more tired than hungry.”
She frowned as her sisters shared a look.
“We’re going to eat inside,” Meredith told her. “It will take a while.”
“How long does it take to eat a muffin?” Avery asked. “Besides, you can order everything to go. I miss Spot. I want to get out to the rescue and see her.”
The other two women climbed out of the car, and Meredith immediately opened the passenger door. “You need to come in with us. People will talk if we’re not together.”
Avery laughed softly. “No one expects us to be together all the time.”
“Come on,” Carrie coaxed in her gentle voice. “Meredith has been particularly annoying today. I need a buffer.”
“What you need,” Meredith said as she nudged Carrie’s arm, “is someone to stop me from reaching across the table to smack your pretty face when you say something stupid.”
“See?” Carrie held up her hands in entreaty.
“Codependent much?” Avery unbuckled her seat belt. “I’m sure you could have managed ordering breakfast without my supervision.”
She darted a glance up and down the street after slamming shut the car door. It was Saturday morning but the sidewalks seemed particularly quiet. There was no reason to think she’d run into Gray so soon. Of course, part of her was desperate to see him but she needed to gather her thoughts, come up with all the reasons he should give their relationship another chance.
Yes, she’d had over four hours in the air on the way back to think about her list but the possibility of rejection still made nerves flutter across her skin.
Carrie and Meredith flanked her as they headed for Sunnyside’s entrance, each of them looping an arm with one of hers. “I’m not a flight risk,” she said with a laugh. “You two are acting weird.”
“You have no idea,” Meredith answered as she held open the bakery’s door.
What was that supposed to mean? Avery was preoccupied studying her youngest sister as she entered so it took her an extra moment to register what waited for them inside the bakery.
“Welcome home!” a chorus of voices shouted.
Avery felt her eyes grow wide as she took in the crowd of people staring at her. From Malcolm to Josie to a host of other residents she’d gotten to know throughout her time in Magnolia. They were smiling at her, eyes shining with affection like she’d just returned home from some holy crusade instead of a few days on the West Coast.
“What did you two do?” she asked her sisters, who’d stepped forward to face the crowd at her side.
“Not us.” Carrie grinned. “Our only job was getting you here.”
Her brain working overtime to figure out why she was on the receiving end of all of this fanfare, Avery’s gaze snagged on a tall figure making his way to the front of the crowd.
“Hey,” Gray said as he came toward her. That one syllable sent longing fluttering through her belly.
“Give her something better than hey,” Malcolm shouted with a laugh.
“You complete me,” a voice from the back called.
“You make me want to be a better man,” Mary Ellen suggested with an enthusiastic nod.
“You have bewitched me, body and soul,” Joe from the diner added.
“Jane Austen didn’t write that line,” Julie Martindale informed him, shaking her head. “It’s not in the book.”
“Works for my wife,” Joe shot back.
Avery pressed her lips together to keep from grinning as Gray squeezed shut his eyes in evident frustration. “This was a terrible idea,” he said softly.
“It’s working for me,” she told him, restating Joe’s words in her own way.
As he drew closer, Meredith and Carrie stepped away. “Is it?” he asked, hope filling his gaze.
She nodded.
“But you’re going to need to do better than what they said,” Meredith told him before Carrie yanked her toward the crowd.
“I’m sorry,” Gray said, glancing over his shoulder and then back at Avery. “For acting like an idiot.”
“Forgiven,” she answered immediately.
He massaged a hand along the back of his neck, gazing at her with a sexy half smile that made her toes curl. “You’re going to let me off that easily?”
“Only if you’ll do the same.” She bit down on her lip, then said, “I’m sorry for being scared to stay and fight for us. I should have told you everything about my past at the start.”
“I should have trusted you.” He reached out and smoothed a strand of hair away from her cheek. “I know you, Avery. I know who you are in your heart, and I know you’re one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
She shook her head. “Violet is the best.”
“I love you for saying that.”
“I’d never hurt either of you. You mean the world to me.”
“You are my world,” he told her. “You make everything better, brighter. I love you with every bit of my imperfect heart.”
“Imperfect?” she whispered with a laugh. “Are you sure that’s the right word?”
“You meant to say perfect,” Malcolm called, earning a round of laughter from their audience. “Women want a perfect love.”
“Imperfect,” he repeated, ignoring everyone else. His eyes darkened, the intensity in his gaze stealing her breath. “I’m not going to list my imperfections for you but I have plenty. I’m going to make mistakes but the one thing I can promise is that I’ll never stop loving you or working to be the man you deserve.” He laced their fingers together. “If you’ll give me another chance?”
Emotion swelled in Avery and she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a kiss to the base of his neck. It was difficult to find the words to speak but he had to know she’d give him a million chances. She’d missed Gray so much. Missed being in his arms, talking to him and sharing the tiny moments of their days. Magnolia was the place she belonged, but he was her home. She’d never let him go again.
* * *
GRAY DREW BACK, waiting for Avery to respond to his question. Based on the way she’d nuzzled against him, he was betting on a yes. He still wanted to hear it out loud.
“Answer the boy,” Julie hollered from the front of the crowd. “He’s so nervous I can see his butt cheeks clenching.”
“Why didn’t I do this in private?” He let out a put-upon groan as Avery giggled.
“Are you nervous?” Her eyes danced as she stared up at him. “And how tight are your pants?”
“Is it time, Daddy?”
Gray smiled as Violet tugged on the hem of his shirt. She stayed behind him even as she peeked around to look at Avery.
“Don’t start with the shy act,” Avery said, crouching down and opening her arms. “I know it means you want something.”
Violet launched herself at Avery with a laugh, and the certainty of his love settled over him like a warm blanket. “I did my own braids,” she announced. “Crisscross and everything.”
Avery
pretended to examine them closely, then nodded. “They look pretty darn good, kiddo. I suppose this means you don’t need me anymore.”
“I still like yours better,” Violet answered, almost cautiously. Gray understood that for his daughter, those words were as close to a grand gesture as she could offer.
“I’ll braid your hair anytime you’d like.” He watched as Avery dabbed at the corners of her eyes, knowing she must also realize the significance of the words.
Suddenly there was a high-pitched yip from behind him and he turned to see Spot come barreling toward them. Lucas was supposed to be holding the dog until Gray gave him the release signal, but clearly the animal wasn’t going to be separated from her human any longer.
“Look at my pretty girl,” Avery said as the dog rose up on her hind legs to bestow sloppy kisses on her cheeks. “I missed you. Have you been a good girl while I was away?”
So far he’d been heckled by his friends and upstaged by his daughter and a dog. This romantic gesture wasn’t exactly turning out the way he’d planned, but Avery didn’t seem to mind.
Her smile stretched from ear to ear and she radiated the kind of happiness he’d hoped to give her. That he wanted to offer her every day for the rest of their lives.
“What’s this?” she asked as she reached for the small velvet box attached to Spot’s new collar.
“Daddy, now,” Violet screamed as if he were across the room and not standing two feet from her.
Avery paused, her fingers frozen in midair, and he could almost hear the collective gasp go up from everyone watching.
Nothing about their love affair had gone according to any sort of plan he might have created, so he was used to winging it by now.
He dropped to his knees in front of Avery, pulling Violet onto his knee and scooping up Spot into his arm like she was a furry football.
“I have something to ask you.” He cleared his throat when Violet elbowed him in the ribs. “We have something to ask you.”
The Magnolia Sisters Page 26
