Home in Carolina

by Sherryl Woods

  Just then, Flo walked in, leaning heavily on her new cane. “You were good with that boy,” she said to Helen. “I suppose I never thought about how much of your work involved listening and counseling.”

  Helen regarded her mother with surprise. “You were eavesdropping?”

  “I’d just made my way downstairs when he arrived.” She grinned. “I didn’t have it in me to try to go back up, so I stayed out of sight. Tyler’s grown into quite a handsome man, hasn’t he?”

  “He has,” Helen confirmed. “And he’s already paid a heavy price for this mess he’s in.”

  “You mean losing Dana Sue’s daughter?”

  Flo had once again surprised her. “Had I mentioned that?” Helen asked.

  “Never had to. From the time those two were in their teens, I could see which way the wind was blowing. It’s a shame it didn’t work out.”

  “It still could,” Helen said, not sure why she was feeling relatively optimistic about the possibility. Maybe it was being married so happily to Erik. It had rubbed the edges of her natural cynicism until they were all smoothed out. She saw possibilities she hadn’t believed in a few short years ago.

  She looked at her mother and realized that Flo was looking a little pale from her jaunt down the stairs. “Mom, did you come down for something in particular?”

  “Just some company,” Flo said. “There was nothing on TV worth watching.”

  “Would you like a little wine?”

  “Maybe just a sip or two of yours,” she said. “I do have to get back up those stairs.”

  “I’ll get you your own glass. Erik can carry you up, if need be.”

  “Just like a knight in shining armor,” Flo said, her expression filled with unmistakable longing. “I always wondered what that would be like.”

  “Me, too,” Helen confided, then grinned. “And now I know.”

  Flo touched her hand as she headed for the kitchen for another wineglass. “I’m so happy you two found each other,” she said sincerely. “I really am.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  When Helen came back with the wine for her mother, Flo had drifted off to sleep. Feeling oddly maternal toward the woman who had given birth to her, Helen draped a light throw across Flo’s legs, then closed her own eyes.

  Neither one of them woke when Erik came in and carried them, one at a time, up to their beds. In fact, Helen didn’t wake until he slid into bed beside her. She snuggled against all that wonderfully familiar heat and strength.

  “Knight in shining armor,” she murmured.

  “What?” Erik asked.

  “You’re mine.”

  Though he still sounded faintly bemused, Erik pulled her close. “Indeed I am,” he whispered. “All yours.”

  Content for the first time in her very long day, Helen went back to sleep.

  14

  Annie had skipped too many breakfasts at Sullivan’s lately. For once she’d been avoiding the unspoken questions about Ty, rather than food, but that didn’t stop her mother from making subtle remarks expressing her concern. To prove there was no reason to worry, she headed to the restaurant on her lunch break, planning to grab one of Erik’s excellent grilled sandwiches and eat in the kitchen while he, Karen and her mom worked.

  When she arrived, though, she spotted Ty’s car in the parking lot. Entering through the front door, rather than going around back to the kitchen, she glanced around the dining room and spotted him in a booth with Helen and a young woman she didn’t recognize. The conversation appeared to be heated.

  Any thought she might have had about stopping by the table died when she realized that the woman might very well be Trevor’s mother.

  Lingering in the shadows, she took a closer look. Dee-Dee, if it was her, looked to be in her early twenties with professionally highlighted blond hair, flawless makeup and an engagement ring so huge she could barely lift her hand. Her clothes were trendy but sedate. Annie regarded her with surprise. This woman looked more like a young socialite than some impetuous wild child who’d abandon her own baby. Had she really made such an amazing transformation, or had Annie’s jaded impression been wrong from the beginning?

  She saw Helen glance her way and froze, praying that she wouldn’t mention Annie’s presence. When Helen turned back without acknowledging her, Annie took that as a sign that an interruption definitely wouldn’t be welcome, and slipped into the kitchen. Her mom looked up and gave her a distracted smile, then took another look at Annie and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” Dana Sue asked at once.

  “Ty’s out there,” Annie admitted. “With Helen and someone else. I think it might be Trevor’s mom.”

  Dana Sue winced. “Damn. I forgot about that. I would have called and warned you, but I had no idea you were stopping by. You haven’t been around much lately.”

  “I decided to come for lunch,” Annie said. “I had a craving for one of Erik’s grilled Italian sandwich specials.”

  He acknowledged her with a wave. “Coming right up,” he told her, and continued arranging the day’s catfish special on a row of plates that were ready to be served.

  Annie turned her attention back to her mom. “So that’s Dee-Dee?”

  Her mother nodded. “Helen introduced us when they came in. I have to say she’s not what I envisioned.”

  “Me, neither,” Annie said glumly. “You know she wants to be involved in Trevor’s life. I suppose that’s why she’s here. Ty’s furious about it, and scared, I think.”

  “Believe me, Helen will protect his interests,” Dana Sue said. “You know what a pit bull she is when anyone tries to harm one of her own. As far as she’s concerned, Ty’s family.”

  Annie recalled how vehemently Helen had fought for Dana Sue when Annie’s dad had cheated on her. She’d even convinced Ronnie that Annie and Dana Sue would be better off if he left Serenity. Instead, that had been a disaster and a key trigger for Annie’s anorexia. It had also been proof that Helen wasn’t infallible.

  Still, despite how that situation had turned out, Annie was reassured for Ty. Having Helen in his corner was definitely a good thing.

  She had to admit, though, that seeing Dee-Dee in person and not in some hideous tabloid photo had thrown her. She’d always told herself Ty was an idiot for getting involved with someone so far beneath him. In some ways, that thought had consoled her. Now she had to question if that was true. For all she’d been able to tell by seeing the self-possessed young woman just now, Dee-Dee could have better breeding than anyone Annie knew. Not that social standing was what mattered. It certainly couldn’t change what she’d done.

  Annie barely noticed when Erik slid a plate onto the counter in front of her. Even so, the aroma of Italian salami, prosciutto, cheese and tomato, grilled to gooey perfection, tempted her. She bit into the thick sandwich. “Delicious,” she called out, her mouth full. “When are you going to put this on the menu all the time?”

  “It doesn’t fit in with your mother’s Southern cuisine ideas,” Erik said. “I have to sneak it on when I can.”

  “Because it’s an Italian sandwich,” Dana Sue retorted, in what had clearly become a familiar argument.

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake, just call it a grilled cheese special and be done with it,” Annie said. “Those are universal. Isn’t that what you do, interesting spins on Southern comfort food?”

  “She has a point,” Erik said, clearly delighting in Annie’s take on the controversy.

  Dana Sue frowned at Annie for taking Erik’s side. “Okay, I’ll think about it,” she conceded grumpily.

  Just then the kitchen door swung open and Ty walked in. Dana Sue turned her frown on him. “You’re not supposed to be back here,” she told him.

  Ty didn’t appear to be daunted by her tone. “Neither is she,” he said, pointing at Annie.

  “She’s my daughter,” Dana Sue reminded him. “That gives her special privileges.”

  Ty crossed the kitchen and snuggled up to Dana Sue’s side,
stealing a sliver of carrot while he was at it. “And you’re one of my moms,” he said, giving her his most roguish smile. “You know you love me.”

  Annie lifted her glass of tea in a silent toast, congratulating him for his smooth move.

  Dana Sue gave him a considering look. “Some days not so much,” she told him. “And why are you in here, anyway, when you have a guest out there?”

  Ty pulled out the stool next to Annie’s and sat down, stealing the other half of her sandwich and taking a bite. Annie scowled at him. “Were they not serving in the dining room?”

  “Sitting there with Dee-Dee pretty much killed my appetite. I needed a break before I said something that might ruin Helen’s delicate negotiations. The meeting started off well enough in Helen’s office, but then she suggested continuing over lunch. I argued against it and especially against coming here, but Dee-Dee said she’d read something about this place online and she wanted to see for herself if the food was as great as the article had said.”

  “How are the negotiations going?” Annie asked.

  Ty shrugged. “Early stages. Right now they’re just trying to work out a very quick meeting between Dee-Dee and Trevor today. I’m all for her driving by and waving. She and Helen are negotiating for something slightly longer.”

  “She’s not what I expected,” Annie blurted before she could stop herself.

  “Trust me, she’s not exactly the woman I remember, either. I don’t think I ever saw her wearing anything besides tank tops and shorts.”

  “Which one do you think is the real Dee-Dee?”

  “Either. Both.” He shrugged. “Maybe people really can change.” He finished off the half sandwich he’d taken from her plate and stood up. “I guess I should go back. With any luck, I’ll be able to keep my temper in check a little longer. I just have to keep telling myself I don’t want Trevor to miss out on knowing his mom, as long as she’ll be a good influence in his life.”

  “Good luck,” Annie said.

  “Thanks. See you at the gym tonight?”

  “You’ll still be able to get there?” she asked, wondering if Dee-Dee’s visit would be dragging on.

  “That’s my plan,” he said, “but if anything changes due to circumstances beyond my control, I’ll call you.” He started away, turned back and planted a kiss on her cheek, then winked. “For luck, and before you say anything, we’re not at the gym.”

  After he’d gone, her mother immediately took his place on the stool next to Annie’s. “Mind telling me what he meant by that?”

  “He kissed me the other night,” she admitted. “We agreed he wouldn’t do it again.”

  A smile spread slowly across her mom’s face. “But this agreement only applied at the spa?”

  Annie nodded. “That was the loophole,” she confirmed.

  Dana Sue chuckled. “I know another man who’s sneaky like that.”

  Annie met her gaze. “Dad?”

  “Exactly.”

  For some reason the comparison improved Annie’s mood considerably. Knowing her mom hadn’t been able to resist a scoundrel like Ronnie Sullivan made her feel a whole lot better about her weakening resolve where Ty was concerned.

  Ty was just about at his wit’s end. Dee-Dee had managed to convince Helen that an hour-long visit with Trevor was not unreasonable. It was to take place in a neutral setting, such as the park, and Ty would be present throughout. There would be no alone time between Dee-Dee and their son. Even so, Ty was on edge about the ramifications. Once Dee-Dee had a toehold in Trevor’s life, would things ever be the same again?

  To top it off, because they’d sent Trevor away for the day with Maddie, they could only meet in the early evening. Since Ty had no idea how Trevor was likely to react to spending time with his mom, Ty had to stick around afterward to answer any questions he might have. That meant canceling his workout.

  Worse, if all went well, Helen had suggested another meeting in the morning—breakfast at Wharton’s—before Dee-Dee left town.

  After Dee-Dee had gone back to her room at the Serenity Inn to await the scheduled meeting time with Trevor, Ty had expressed his dismay to Helen. Once again she’d reminded him of the importance of appearing reasonable and cooperative.

  “Besides, if the judge does grant Dee-Dee some rights to spend time with Trevor, you want them to be acquainted. You don’t want it to be traumatic for him, like going off with a stranger.”

  Ty scowled at the implication. “Trevor isn’t going off with anybody,” he reiterated. “I draw the line at that.” He met Helen’s gaze, then sighed. “Okay, I know it may come to that, but not for a long, long time, not till we’re absolutely sure that this transformation of Dee-Dee’s is real.”

  “She definitely makes a good impression now,” Helen reminded him.

  “She may have a little more class on the outside, but the reckless, irresponsible Dee-Dee I knew is still in there,” he said, unwilling to believe she’d changed so much.

  “Well, I think you’re going to have to face that this isn’t a ploy to get money from you, Ty. Judging from the size of that ring she’s wearing and her designer clothes, she has all the money she needs.”

  “Everyone wants more money,” Ty said cynically. “Even people who have plenty.”

  “Well, she’s going to have to be the one to ask for it,” Helen warned. “Don’t you dare even hint that you’re willing to pay her off to get rid of her. She’ll use it to destroy you, especially if I’m right that she only wants to have her son back in her life.”

  “Okay, okay,” he said, regretting that the situation couldn’t be resolved that easily.

  After Helen left, he walked over to The Corner Spa and found Annie with a client. “Can you meet me on the patio when you have a break?”

  Annie glanced at her watch. “It’ll be about fifteen minutes,” she told him. “And I won’t have long.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll grab a couple of glasses of tea.”

  He stopped to speak to Elliott, then got the tea in the café and went outside. It was blessedly deserted. Though the temperature had climbed along with the humidity, a breeze made it bearable in the shade. He settled down to wait. It was only a minute or two before Annie slipped into the chair next to his. He lifted a brow questioningly.

  “You looked upset,” she explained. “My client told me to come on out. She’ll finish up on her own.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s not a problem. What’s up?”

  “I have to cancel tonight.”

  “Dee-Dee’s staying,” she guessed right away.

  “Yes, and I have to take Trevor to the park to meet her.” He shook his head. “It sounds weird just to say it. Kids shouldn’t have to be introduced to their own mothers.”

  “This is an unusual circumstance,” Annie said. “I can’t even imagine how you must feel. Or even Dee-Dee, for that matter. She’s probably scared out of her wits.”

  “Don’t waste any sympathy on her. She looked pretty together when she insisted on this,” Ty said.

  “Sure, but come on, Ty, you know she must wonder what’s going to happen when they meet. What if Trevor hates her on sight and screams his head off?”

  “Trevor doesn’t take an instant dislike to anyone,” Ty said.

  Annie gave him a knowing look. “And that’s what really scares you, isn’t it? You don’t really want them to get along.”

  Ty flushed guiltily. “That’s awful of me, isn’t it? When I’m being rational, even I can see that.”

  “I’d say it’s human.” Annie started to cover his hand with hers, then withdrew. “I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I wish I could help.”

  Ty met her gaze. “You mean that?”

  “Of course.”

  “You could come along.”

  Annie stared at him incredulously. “Are you crazy? I’ve only been around Trevor twice, and for about two seconds each time. You don’t want him dealing with two strangers.”

&nbs
p; “Is it really that, or do you not want to get drawn into my drama?”

  “That, too,” she said candidly. “I’m on your side, that’s a given, but I can’t be in the middle of this fight, Ty. I just can’t be.”

  Ty was disappointed, but he understood. He’d been asking too much. Still, it would have been nice to have Annie in his corner, not just figuratively but literally.

  “I guess I’ll just have to deal with this like a grown-up,” he said grimly.

  Annie smiled. “Guess so.” This time when she reached for his hand, he turned his over and clasped hers. She didn’t pull away. “You’re a great dad, Ty. You’re going to do what’s best for Trevor. It’ll be fine.”

  As scared as he was about how the whole situation was going to play out, her words comforted him. “Thanks. I’d better get going. Too bad about those painkillers, because I sure wouldn’t mind a drink.”

  “Before taking your son to the park? Wouldn’t that be pretty?” she chided.

  “What would I do if I didn’t have you to be my conscience?”

  Annie regarded him with absolute confidence. “The right thing,” she said softly. “Always.”

  Ty wished he were half as certain about that as she seemed to be. Her faith in him, despite the way he’d failed her, left him humbled.

  After two hours of commiserating with Sarah about the time Ty was off spending with Trevor’s mom, and drinking three margaritas, Annie giggled, her bad mood lost in a sea of tequila.

  “What?” Sarah demanded, looking a little dazed herself.

  “Do you suppose it was like this all those times my mom got together with Helen and Maddie?” Annie asked. “Why am I even asking? Of course it was. They let me come to one of their Sweet Magnolia margarita nights not long ago. Did I tell you that?”

  “Several times,” Sarah said, leaning back against the sofa, her eyes half closed. “You and me, we’re kind of like the Sweet Magnolias. We’ve known each other since grade school, just like they did.”

  “That’s right. We’re the new generation of Sweet Magnolias,” Annie said, lifting her glass and waving it around precariously. Amazingly, only a few drops of her drink sloshed out. “You know what? I think we should call Raylene. She can be a new Sweet Magnolia, too.”