by Liz Talley
Sunny snapped her head around. “Was it positive?”
Henry chuckled. “Didn’t take you long to fall back into small-town gossip.”
Sunny frowned. “I’m not gossiping. So was it?”
He laughed and then stopped abruptly. “Oh damn.”
“What?” she asked, following his gaze across the restaurant. “Oh.”
Henry’s parents sat at a table with his two children. They hadn’t spotted them yet, but knowing Annaleigh Delmar the way Sunny did, it wouldn’t be long. The woman was always looking for something and never content to just be.
“Daddy!” Katie Clare shrieked, drawing everyone’s attention. Sunny felt the question in everyone’s eyes. Were Henry Todd Delmar and that Grover’s Park trash back together again?
Henry threw up a hand in acknowledgment before giving Sunny a pained look. “Hey, you’re the one who chose this place.”
“Obviously I suck at making choices,” she whispered as his shoulders slumped and he started toward his parents and children.
She followed him as he made his way through the crowded place, waving at people who said hello. Fred and Nancy Odom sat at one booth with their daughter Victoria. Little Tory had definitely turned from a chubby girl into a slim, capable-looking woman. Sunny waved to Nancy, who waved back. Fred tried to get up, but his daughter caught his elbow and gave him a look of warning. Thank God for small favors. The chatty mailman on top of Henry’s parents might have done her in.
Sunny fought against the apprehension gathering in her stomach. She’d not seen either of Henry’s parents since she’d returned to Morning Glory. They shouldn’t have any power over her, but old insecurities were sometimes hard to hide. She was good at hide-and-seek, but not that dang good.
“Daddy! We didn’t know you were coming here. We went to see the movie with the dinosaurs. What’s it called again, Lan?” Katie clambered out of her chair and ran around to clasp her father around his thighs. “And Sunny’s here too. Is she your girlfriend now?”
“Uh, no. We were… uh… Hi, Mom and Dad. Y’all remember Sunny, right?” Henry looked about as comfortable as a seal surrounded by sharks. Coming to Sal’s had absolutely been a bad idea. She should have risked going back to Henry’s even if it meant she ended up in bed with him. Screw her good intentions. She could be having toe-curling sex, but instead was on display in front of all of Morning Glory… with Henry’s parents.
Mr. Delmar was an older version of Henry with fading brown hair that was silver at the temples and dusted with salt and pepper. His craggy face dissolved into a familiar smile as he rose and held out a hand. “Of course. Hello, Sunny. So nice to see you again. It’s been a while.”
Sunny slid her hand into his and shook it. He seemed to decide he should be more familiar, so he pulled her into a hug.
“Hello, Mr. Delmar. I’ve been out of town for pretty much fifteen years so, yeah, a long time.” She drew back and tried to smile.
“Good to have you home. I know your mama’s happy to have you with her.”
“I wouldn’t say happy. Betty’s rarely happy, but it’s nice to be back for a visit.”
“Oh, just a visit?” Annaleigh asked, lifting an overly groomed brow. She didn’t rise. Instead, she extended her hand like the freaking queen of Sheba. Charmed, I’m sure.
Sunny, uncertain whether she was supposed to bow or kiss the woman’s honking diamond ring, settled for giving Annaleigh’s hand a quick wag. She noticed the older woman had sun spots dotting her white hands, and for some reason she took pleasure in that. The woman had always been nuts about maintaining her lily-white complexion, slathering on anti-wrinkle creams and sunscreen like a fiend. Hey, Sunny had to take pleasure in the small things because the rest of Annaleigh Delmar looked amazing. She was still trim, poised, and dressed in only the most tasteful and expensive clothing.
“I’m not staying,” Sunny said, answering the woman’s question rather than giving her any greeting.
“Why not?” Katie Clare asked, looking traumatized. “Don’t you like us?”
Sunny looked down at the child, not sure how to answer that. “Of course, I do, but I don’t live here.”
“Where do you live?” Katie challenged.
Sunny turned to Henry for help. He merely lifted his eyebrows like he, too, was interested in her response.
“I used to live in North Carolina, and I’ll be moving to California.”
“That’s where Disney World is,” Katie Clare breathed in awe. “Can we come see you and go?”
“It’s Disneyland, moron,” Landry drawled, tapping at something in his lap.
“Don’t call your sister a moron, Landry. We’ve talked about that,” Henry said, snagging a chair from a recently vacated table and dragging it over. He parked it between Landry and his father and gestured to Sunny.
They were staying? Please. No.
Dread parked itself in Sunny’s gut. She didn’t want to have coffee anymore. The total discomfort of Henry’s parents paired with the too-familiar questions of his daughter had her wanting to run for the door. But she sat because it would be rude to actually run. But she thought hard about it. Maybe she could fake an upset stomach. Or pretend her mother had called and needed her to come home. That last one had merit.
Henry sat in Katie’s chair, pulling her into his lap. “Tell me about the movie, chicken.”
“But I saw a picture of the castle and everything, and that was in California. I want to go there and meet Cinderella… and Elsa… and Moana… and all the princesses. Plus Goofy.” Katie Clare had fastened a most intent gaze upon her father. “Don’t you?”
Annaleigh lifted her cup and looked at her granddaughter. “Darling, Disneyland, which was the original park, is in California. I went there when I was a girl. I rode the Matterhorn eight times.”
“What’s a Matterhorn?” Katie Clare asked, her attention now focused on her grandmother.
“It’s a roller coaster,” Annaleigh said, sipping what looked to be straight up espresso. Sunny was certain that’s what all wicked witches drank. “Disney World is in Florida. Different ends of the country, dear.”
Landry tucked his phone away and turned to Sunny. “So what did y’all do tonight? Dad actually put on cologne, so…”
Sunny smiled at the thought Henry’s son had noticed his father actually trying to impress her. “Well, we tried to go on a picnic. Your father took me to this place we used to go, but the rain chased us away.”
Annaleigh’s attention shifted away from her granddaughter. “You went on a date?”
Sunny lifted her chin. “That’s what they call it when two people put on cologne and go to dinner.”
Henry’s mother didn’t blink. “It’s always nice when old friends can catch up with one another.”
Sunny started to say they weren’t old friends. That they’d had hot sex in the woman’s carriage house not so long ago, but there were children present. “Yeah, it’s nice to pick up right where we left off.”
Wasn’t exactly a lie, but Sunny wasn’t going to let this ass of a woman get her goat. Annaleigh had never thought Sunny was good enough for a Mississippi Delmar and took every opportunity to downplay all that Sunny and Henry had been. When Sunny had been younger, she’d mistakenly thought the older woman had taken her under her wing when she offered fashion advice or booked Sunny with her hairdresser for highlights. At seventeen, Sunny hadn’t realized the woman was trying to prevent herself from being embarrassed by her son’s girlfriend. She’d never allowed Sunny to dine with them at the country club or attend church with them at Morning Glory First Baptist Church.
Henry’s eyes sparked. “We’re definitely catching up, but I would categorize it as a date. I even had Jocelyn make chocolate-covered strawberries and petit fours. Sunny always loved strawberries as much as I do.”
“So is she your new girlfriend, Dad? Will you get married? ’Cause I want to be the flower girl. Can I?” Katie Clare’s eyes danced as she practically dro
oled over the opportunity to strew petals down a merry path of matrimony.
“We’re not getting married, sweetie,” Sunny said, smiling at the girl. “Your father and I are friends. We’re taking things slowly.”
“Define things.” Annaleigh pursed her lips and lasered Sunny with amber eyes of dislike.
Sunny narrowed her eyes at the older woman. “Something that’s none of y—”
“Well now, Henry asked about the movie. I thought it was pretty darn good myself,” Henry’s dad said, his gaze settling on his wife and sending a clear message. Back off.
“Yeah, Katie Clare, tell me about the movie.” Henry jiggled his daughter on his lap.
Sunny arched an eyebrow at Henry’s mother before looking away. She wasn’t giving that woman the satisfaction. Hell, if Sunny wanted Henry, all she’d have to do was crook her finger.
Or maybe that wasn’t true. Yeah, Henry wanted her, but she didn’t know to what degree. In his bed? Yes. To stay in Morning Glory? Probably. But was he truly serious about her? Or was he wrapped up in the memory of what they’d had? Because if Henry wanted her forever, he could give her what she’d always wanted on a silver platter—a home, a place to belong, a family—and that was very, very tempting.
No. I can’t let my thoughts go there. Just can’t.
Her doubts were interrupted by Landry. “So there was a dumb girl dinosaur that lost a magic stone she was supposed to keep safe. I mean, of course she did. And there were bad dinosaurs and a caveman who helped her. The plot was stupid and predictable. I give it two thumbs-down because halfway through, I thought about killing myself.” He mimicked stabbing himself with his spoon.
“It wasn’t stupid.” Katie Clare shot her brother a disdainful look, finally chasing the rabbit of thought Henry had first plopped in front of her. “Rosie the dino was really cool, and she had a cool bow. I want to get one just like it. It had flowers on it.”
“Daisies,” Annaleigh remarked.
Sunny glanced back at the door.
Please God. Get me out of here.
“That’s right. White flowers. If I get to be a flower girl, I can throw those guys on the floor.” Katie Clare slid a glance at Sunny and then smiled—a big gap-toothed, adorable smile that made Sunny wriggle in her seat.
“Give it a rest, kid,” Henry said, tickling her and making her shriek.
Sunny glanced away and saw Grace making her way toward them. Here was the escape she had been searching for. Thank God.
“Hey, Sunny,” Grace said, stopping at their table. Her eyes widened when she noticed Henry and his family were at the table with her. “And Henry.”
Henry smiled but also looked alarmed. Which was weird.
Grace said hello to everyone before zeroing back in on Sunny. “I tried to call you earlier.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer. I, uh, was busy and thought I’d call you back later. Everything okay? I sent the graphic for the volunteer T-shirts.”
“Yeah, I got that, but I have some good news. We have someone who is leasing us some land for a temporary shelter. It’s going to be perfect.” Grace slid a glance toward Henry before returning her gaze to Sunny. “And the Boltons called. They want to adopt Fancy.”
Sunny felt her heart drop into her stomach. “Oh.”
“You’re sure you’re good with this? I mean, you said you wanted to foster, not adopt.”
Sunny’s heart felt like it was breaking, but a place with a lot of land and a loving family was what she wanted for Fancy. She didn’t need a dog, not when she would be leaving Morning Glory. But even as she had that thought, she wondered if she should leave. Maybe the West Coast wasn’t such a great idea. Who needed sunshine, palm trees, and mild temperatures? Because Californians also endured mudslides, fires, and earthquakes. Surely smothering humidity and mosquitoes the size of small birds was preferable to dying. Besides, if she stayed in Mississippi, she could keep Fancy. And—she glanced at the man bouncing his daughter on his lap—Henry.
But staying was insane. She couldn’t. Sunny had a plan for her life.
Nothing about Morning Glory was a fresh start. Too much history here. Bad history that one date with Henry couldn’t erase. Yeah, it had been a good date—wildly romantic and almost orgasmic—but letting those old feelings carry her away wasn’t a good enough reason to change everything she’d planned. She and Henry were flirting with disaster. She could feel that in her bones. You can’t go back…
“I’m sure.” She blinked away the threat of tears. “Actually, I’m positive.”
“Okay, then. I’ll come get her tomorrow. I think it would be easier if I transported her out there.”
“No. I want to do it,” Sunny said, hoping like hell she could surrender the dog she’d grown to love to the “happy” family. Surely if she could endure sitting in Sal’s Pizzeria with Henry’s family, she could survive giving Fancy her own new start.
Grace looked unconvinced, and Henry looked concerned.
“Wait… you’re giving Fancy away?” Katie Clare said, her big eyes filling with tears. “You can’t do that. I’ll never see her again.”
And then Katie Clare started crying.
Sunny swallowed the unshed tears in her own eyes and caught Henry’s glance. His eyes mirrored her own thoughts. What a shitty ending to a date.
Henry watched as Sunny helped his daughter buckle into the back seat of her mother’s handicapped van. Fancy sat on the front seat, a special treat since she was going with Sunny to the Bolton’s place. He’d encouraged Sunny to take his daughter with her so she would have some distraction from the heartbreaking task in front of her.
The Boltons had asked for Sunshine Animal Rescue to wait a week while they prepared to receive the dog, and that had turned out to be a nice reprieve for Sunny, who had admitted she’d spent the time doting on the Australian cattle dog mix and soaking up as much doggy kisses and cuddly snuggles as she could get. He knew Sunny was sad, but she was also determined that Fancy deserved a loving home. He admired her for that.
Of course, over that week he’d also spent rewarding time with her. They’d gone on another date—this time a restaurant in Jackson. No rain. Which meant no making out in the truck. But they’d ended on a sweet note—a hot kiss on her newly constructed front porch. She’d also taught him how to drive her motorcycle, and they’d spent an evening thankful for daylight savings and spectacular Mississippi sunsets as they twisted through country back roads, the wind whipping their hair and loud rock music blaring over the headsets in their helmets. They’d stopped at a roadside café in Charming, Mississippi, and had apple pie while reminiscing about JAG episodes, which had been their favorite TV show when they were in high school.
Sunny had also spent some time with Landry and Katie Clare when they’d gone fishing yesterday on a nearby oxbow lake that had good fishing. They’d taken his dad’s old bass boat, the one they’d had for too many years. Though the engine wouldn’t start, they’d used the trolling motor and caught an ice chest of fish they’d proceeded to fry and eat last night.
Henry had been pleased that Sunny seemed loose and open to hanging with his kids, something many women didn’t like. But Sunny seemed to genuinely like his children. And they liked her. Even Landry, though it had gotten awkward when Landry had asked about their dating in high school. They’d just finished cleaning up the mess created when they’d filleted the large white perch and hand-sized bream they’d caught when Landry brought up the “old” days.
“So, like, when did you and my dad date?” Landry asked.
Sunny was sitting in a lawn chair on the small deck just off the carriage house, thumbing through a huge sticker book with Katie Clare.
“Pretty much all through high school,” she said absentmindedly as she helped Katie Clare find the appropriate spot for the ballerina sticker she’d peeled off.
“Like, even when my dad went to college?” Landry asked.
Sunny looked up then. “No. We broke up.”
; “We were on a break,” Henry said as a follow-up.
“Like on that show Mom used to watch? Friends? I remember the one where Ross slept with another woman when he and Rachel were on a break. Didn’t seem like a break on that show.” Landry watched them intently.
Sunny’s eyes widened, and Henry didn’t know how to respond to his son. He knew where the boy was going but didn’t know why he wanted to poke a stick in that ant hill. He and Jillian had been honest with their son several years ago when they’d divorced. Landry knew his parents had gotten pregnant with him when they were freshmen in college. He knew he was an oopsie, but they’d shown him nothing but love and gratitude that he was in their lives. They’d told him God didn’t make mistakes and that had been the path they were meant to take… just as they’d discovered they needed new separate paths that had nothing to do with not loving him or Katie Clare. But now his son was digging around, suspecting that he was the thing that had kept Henry and Sunny apart, which bothered Henry.
Mostly because the truth was that Landry probably had kept them apart… but that didn’t mean Henry wanted his child to know he was the main cause of their split.
“Our break wasn’t a break like that,” Sunny said, sliding the sticker book over to Katie Clare and tapping the page they were on. “Your father and I broke up before he left for college because that was the sensible thing to do. I was a senior at Morning Glory High and had a lot of responsibilities. I needed to concentrate on my studies the same way your dad needed to concentrate on his. He deserved the opportunity to be a college freshman without feeling guilty or beholden to a girl back home, and I deserved to enjoy my last year of high school. We stayed friends, of course, but we thought it was best to break up.”
Henry caught her glance and held it. Her words weren’t entirely truthful because they’d always been more than friends. Thing was that even when they were broken up, he’d never believed it would be forever… and neither had she. Yeah, after that one fight, he’d thought that they were truly done. But not really. He’d landed himself in a drunken pickle and screwed up… but he’d always wanted Sunny. Always.
