Tangle of Strings

by Ashley Farley

  Heidi smiled, and Annie saw something of herself in her mother’s heart-shaped face and full rosy lips. “You most definitely are not like most teenagers. You are wise beyond your years.” Suddenly struck by the irony, she added, “What am I saying? You are wise beyond my years.” She moved from the chair to the edge of the bed. “My offer still stands, if you’d like to come live with me. On a trial basis, if that makes you feel more comfortable. I know nothing about being a parent. We’ll just take it one day at a time and establish our boundaries as we go. How does that sound?”

  “No strings attached?”

  “No strings attached,” Heidi repeated. “You’ll be seventeen in May. In another year, you’ll be free to live on your own.”

  “I’m not sure I can wait a year. I only have to be seventeen to apply to culinary school. I’m thinking about getting my GED, and applying at CIA for next fall.” She’d already thought about how she could earn money for tuition over the summer. And if it wasn’t enough, she knew Mike would loan her the rest if she asked him. But she didn’t want to ask.

  “I’d prefer you finish up high school, but if that’s what you decide to do, I have some money socked away for your education.”

  Annie experienced a surge of anger. For years, most of her life actually, she and her father had barely gotten by. And Heidi had been saving toward her college plan? “Thanks, but I already have some money saved. I’ll work this summer, two jobs if I have to. The institute offers scholarships and financial aid, which will help. I’ll make it happen somehow.”

  “We can talk about the logistics later. In the meantime, I have a summer job for you if you’re interested. I’m expanding my business. I recently purchased a renovated warehouse. I’m opening up a gourmet shop in the front and using the commercial kitchen in the back for catering. I could use your help managing the shop and organizing events. I already have several weddings booked for the summer.”

  Annie blinked hard. She’d eaten beans and franks five nights a week for most of her life while her mother had been earning enough money to buy a building, start a business, and send her to college. Let it go, Annie, she told herself. It’s all in the past. She’s offering you a place to live on a trial basis. If it doesn’t work, you can bolt. No strings attached.

  “In that case,” Annie said, “I’d love to apply for the job.” She’d enjoyed planning Sam’s wedding with Heidi. They’d made a good team. If nothing else, she’d have a productive summer, maybe earn enough for her tuition if she didn’t have to pay rent. Based on the photo album, Heidi’s portfolio, she stood to learn a lot from her mother.

  “Consider yourself hired.”

  “Congratulations on your new business,” Annie said.

  “Thank you. One day, when you’re ready, I hope you’ll consider it our business.”

  Annie dozed back off to sleep while Heidi was still in the room. When she woke again, Cooper had taken her place in the chair beside the bed.

  He brought the recliner upright. “Hey there, beautiful. How’re you feeling?”

  “Like I got shot in the back.” Her lip quivered. “I’m sorry about the baby, Cooper.”

  “Me too.” He moved to the edge of his chair, closer to the bed. “I’ve had a lot of time to think during the past twenty-four hours, and there’s one thing I’m sure about—we would’ve made it work. Someway, somehow, Annie, we would’ve brought our baby into the world and raised it to be a kind and honest human being. But we didn’t stand a chance with everyone pressuring us the way they did.”

  Annie gnawed on her lip. “They were pretty hard on us. No doubt.”

  “Especially my mother. She feels terrible for being such a bitch. But that’s Mom. The fangs come out when she feels cornered.”

  “Remind me never to corner her again.”

  “Seriously.” Cooper rolled his eyes. “I was wrong about a lot of things, Annie, even before I found out about the baby. I pushed you away because I wanted to be free to make choices about my future based on my career goals. But I was wrong. Being with you inspires me to work harder. What’s the point in being successful if you can’t share it with the girl you love? And I do love you, Annie. That was never in question. I know now that we can still have a relationship while we are chasing our individual dreams.”

  “I’m moving to Charleston, Cooper, to live with Heidi.”

  His blue eyes widened, “You are? Really? That’s great!”

  She stared at him. “That’s not exactly the reaction I expected.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be happy for you? You have your whole life ahead of you. That’s a lot of years you get to spend with Heidi. Which will help make up for the ones you missed growing up. When we have our baby, and we will have a baby, Annie, a whole litter of them if you want, Heidi will be our baby’s grandmother.” He chuckled. “The free babysitting alone is something to consider. You and Heidi belong together. You’re family. You might not have a conventional mother/daughter relationship, but yours will be one based on friendship. Which is better anyway, since we’re about to be adults.”

  “That’s where you and I are different, Cooper. I already consider myself an adult. Because I never got to be a child.”

  “I know, Annie. But maybe now, with Heidi, you can relax a little and let someone else be the responsible one for a change.” He took hold of her hand. “Charleston is only forty minutes away. We can see each other all the time. I can crash at Mom’s carriage house, and you have plenty of places you can stay here. We don’t have to live in the same town to be together. We might not see each other every day, but we can text and video chat. It will give us practice for next fall when I go off to school.”

  Annie removed her hand from his and cupped his cheek, rubbing her thumb across his lips. Cooper was such a dear person—still a boy in some ways, already a man in others. She didn’t know what the future held for them, but she looked forward to finding out. She was closing one of her life and starting another. The first sixteen years had presented challenges most kids should never have to face. But these hardships prepared her for the real world. While she was devastated over losing the baby, she knew in her heart the timing was wrong. Cooper and Heidi were both right. They would have more babies, on their own terms, when they were ready. Having Cooper in her life, and a career that made her happy, and a grandmother—two, actually—for her children was more than she’d ever dreamed she’d have.

  Cooper brought her fingertips to his lips. “What’d you say, Annie? Will you give us another chance?”

  With a big smile and no hesitation, she replied, “Well, Cooper, I’d like that very much.”

  <<<<>>>>

  A Note to Readers

  I am dedicating this installment of the Sweeney Sisters Series to you, my faithful readers and Women’s Fiction Fans. I am humbled by your continued support. You brighten my day with your emails, Facebook posts, and continuous stream of tweets. Your appreciation of my work inspires me to work harder to improve my writing skills and create intriguing characters and plots you can relate to. We travel over hills and through valleys during our journey in life. The friends we meet along the way are the blue skies and flowers that brighten our days.

  While I love Richmond, Virginia, my home for the past twenty years, I miss the easy-going way of the folks who reside in the Lowcountry. Writing about these quirky characters and their unique way of life is the next best thing to experiencing them on a daily basis. I love the beauty of the area—the marshlands and moss-draped trees—and the southern accents and local cuisine. While this is the last installment in the Sweeney Sisters series, at least for now, look for more from the Lowcountry from me in the months ahead.

  I love hearing from you. Feel free to shoot me an email at ashleyhfarley@gmail.com or stop by my website at ashleyfarley.net for more information about my characters and upcoming releases. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. Your subscription will grant you exclusive content, sneak previews, and special giveaways.

&n
bsp; Acknowledgments

  I am blessed to have so many supportive people in my life, my friends and family who offer the encouragement I need to continue the pursuit of my writing career. I am forever indebted to my beta readers—Mamie Farley, Alison Fauls, and Cheryl Fockler—for the valuable constructive feedback, helping me with cover design, and promoting my work. And for my Advanced Review Team whose honest reviews and amazing support help me launch my new releases.

  I wouldn’t survive a day in the world of publishing without my trusted editor, Patricia Peters, who challenges me to dig deeper and helps me to make my work stronger without changing my voice.

  A special thanks to Damon Freeman and his crew at Damonza.com for their creativity in designing stunning covers and interiors.

  A great big thank you to my family—my husband, Ted, mother, Joanne, and my amazing children, Cameron and Ned, who inspired me every single day. And to my friends for your continued support. I’m so very grateful to each and every one.

  About the Author

  Ashley Farley is the author of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters Series. Ashley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you’ve read the last word, then she’s done her job.

  After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save.

  Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.

  Ashley loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to visit her website at ashleyfarley.net.