Once and Again: Petal, Georgia, Book 1

  Her mother snorted a laugh through the tears. “She’s right. You need to leave, Rodger. Don’t come in again without knocking.”

  “This is my house!”

  “It isn’t. You know it’s not even in your name. There’s a trust the house is held in. It’s not Mom’s. It’s not yours either. Go back to Atlanta and get your own house in order. You’re not selling this house and that’s final.”

  “We’ll just see what my lawyer thinks about that.” He grabbed Barbie’s hand and stormed out. Nancy sent a dirty look over her shoulder.

  “You drive him away!”

  “You’re too old to have daddy issues. Hit the road, Nancy. You might miss the gravy train if you don’t rush. Though, he’s got a lot less than you calculated. You and the girlfriend. Ha.”

  She put an arm around her mother and steered her into the living room.

  “Sit. Let me get you some tea.”

  Nancy scampered to catch up, screeching to their father to wait for her.

  “I’m so embarrassed.” Her mother took the tea.

  “Why? He’s the one who’s done wrong here.”

  “I took a lot. Chris probably saw things he shouldn’t have. I tell myself I should forgive your dad. That if I really loved him I would. He’s the father of my children after all. I loved him a long time. Maybe I still do. What if I’m making a mistake?”

  “It is entirely possible to forgive something, to truly let go and wish that person well while at the same time making sure they can never get close enough to harm you again. Forgiveness is a gift, but it doesn’t need to make you stupid. I can’t tell you how to live your life, but if a man makes you cry on a regular basis, I can’t think you’re meant to love that man anymore.”

  “I don’t know that I’m strong enough for this.”

  Lily took her mother’s hands. “Let me help you a little. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

  Her mother nodded and mopped her tears up. Lily wished she believed the nod meant her mother would try harder, but feared it would only get worse.

  “Fancy seeing you here.”

  Nathan barely held his smile back as he sauntered into the Honey Bear where Lily sat at a booth with a camera at her right hand and coffee at her left.

  She looked up, smiled thinly and her attention shifted away just as quickly.

  Gave him the time to send his brother William—a baker at the Honey Bear and the man who’d texted Nathan to say he should come on by the café to say hello to an old friend—a thankful tip of the chin.

  His family had his back and they all loved Lily from when they were kids, so they were thrilled to help, and he was relieved to have it.

  “This seat taken?” he asked as he took it anyway. She frowned at him momentarily and looked back down at the photos. “What’s that?”

  “Work.”

  He grinned and sipped. “What brings you out so early on a Saturday?”

  “Work.” Less nonchalant and more annoyed. This pleased him for some sick reason.

  “I had a run. Thanks for asking. After this I’m heading over to Tate and Matt’s for a barbecue later today. I’ve promised to be quizmaster. Beth said she invited you.”

  She sighed and looked up, tapping her pen quickly. “Don’t let me keep you.”

  “I like the glasses.” Ignoring her weak attempt to shoo him away, he raised his coffee in her direction. “Sexy.”

  She tried not to smile, he saw her struggle and then she lost it, shaking her head. “She did invite me. I can’t because I’m taking Chris with me to Macon later today. I have some things I need to deliver to work.”

  “He’s been showing improvement, Lil. You’re doing a good job.”

  “Lily. And thank you. I hope so. Christ, the boy is going to make me start attending high school with him at this rate.”

  He laughed. “He’s not cutting third period anymore I’m told.”

  Snorting, she sipped her coffee. “For such a smart kid, he has no common sense at all. Drives me insane.”

  “None of them do. I see it all day long. But the ones who get support from family snap out of it. They go to college and get good jobs. Start families. All the things you want for him. And because you care enough to sit in his class with him until he gets the message, he’ll make it too.”

  She gathered her things. “I hope so. I’m off. Have a good day with your family.”

  He would have offered to carry her things to her car, but she’d only say no and she didn’t have much anyway. She’d spoken with him, and not entirely about Chris, so things were moving in a positive direction at least.

  She paused at the front door, turning back to face him. “Thank you. For all you’ve been doing for Chris. It makes a difference. A big one.”

  He watched her leave. Loving those sexy little librarian glasses.

  “She didn’t throw her coffee in your face.” William came out and dropped into the booth across from Nathan. “That’s a start.”

  “Three weeks ago she would have left when I came in. Progress, bro, progress.”

  “They don’t call you the bulldog for nothing.” William smiled at him over the rim of his mug.

  “Oh God, I’d forgotten about that.” Tate started that one. When Nathan was a kid he’d scrapped when he needed something, worked and worked until he got it. She said he was like a bulldog when there was something he wanted.

  And he wanted Lily.

  William shrugged. “Big brothers never forget. Anyway, I’ll see you over at Tate’s later. I’m working here another hour or two and then I’ll get home. Cindy will have eleven thousand things she wants me to do in the yard before we go.”

  Nathan adored William’s wife. Especially the way she handled his brother and accepted the insanity that came with being a Murphy.

  “Thanks for the tip on Lily. Why don’t I stop over in a bit to help with the yard?”

  “Damn, I’d have called you before today when she came in if I had any idea I’d be able to get some yard work out of you.”

  William walked him out.

  “It’s going to work. She already likes your family. We already like her. I’ve never known you not to get what you wanted.”

  Nathan scratched his chin a moment. “I hope so. I hate that it’s my fault she doesn’t trust me.” Up until two weeks before, he’d only told Tate and Tim the specifics of what had happened. He hadn’t been proud of it. And he really hadn’t been happy when Anne and Beth had barged into his house early on a Saturday morning after they’d heard what he’d done the night before from Lily.

  He’d been pissed she tattled until Beth smacked him upside the head and told him how the details had come out and that Lily had said he was a good man. And then his sisters had promised help on his plan to woo Lily back.

  “It was years ago, Nate. A kiss. One. Not that you weren’t an ass, you were. But you’ve grown up and so has she. Take it slow. There’s no timer on it. Get to know her again and let her get to know you. She’ll see.” William clapped him on the back. “In the meantime, it’s awfully amusing to see you have to work for a woman. I’ll see you soon. Bring your gloves. I need to clear out some brush.”

  Nathan groaned. “Fine. Thanks for the advice.”

  Chapter Five

  She pulled into the driveway too late to see Nancy’s car already there. Damn and double damn. Thankfully it was during the day so Chris wasn’t home. She had a hair appointment and she should have just gone straight there.

  As if she were made of lead, she climbed out and went inside. It would be good to stand her ground from the start, but it was never fun to be around Nancy. Even when her sister was in a good mood, she was simply a vicious bitch. Self-centered. Lazy.

  So it wasn’t a surprise to find Nancy with her feet up, smoking a cigarette. As her mother clearly hadn’t, Lily felt less than comfortable telling her sister to put it out. At the same time, one of the things Lily had just gotten under control was not only her own ast
hma but Chris’s.

  “Hey, Nancy. Didn’t expect to see you here.” Keep it civil and brief. Over the years, Lily knew the best way to deal with her sister was to not let herself be goaded into a fight over nothing.

  “I bet. I was just telling Mom that if you lived with me you’d have to do a lot more for your rent.”

  But being civil didn’t mean she’d line up to be abused either. “Oh, bless your heart, hon. Guess it’s a good thing I’m here and not in your tiny little studio in Atlanta.” She smiled calmly. “By the way, please don’t smoke in the house. Chris’s asthma is just barely under control again.”

  “I was saying the same thing.” Pamela looked to Lily and for the first time, she saw relief there.

  “You should have said.” Nancy stabbed it out and turned her gaze back to Lily.

  Before she could drag Lily into another verbal round of hurt your sister, Lily pulled her bag up on her shoulder, standing tall. “It was nice to see you, Nancy. Mom, I dropped off the stuff for the jumble sale. Merline says she’d sure love to see you on Saturday afternoons again.”

  Pamela brightened a little. Lily wanted to see it more. Wanted her mother to get back to her activities and friends.

  “I should call her.”

  “You should. I know they’d love to have you helping over there. Caroline Cutler can’t find her behind with both hands.”

  Pamela’s laugh was knowing and sadly rusty. It made it worth having to deal with Nancy just to get that response.

  But Nancy didn’t want to let go of a chance to fight. “Rushing off so soon? Busy life of leisure you’ve got here?”

  “Chris has an after-school thing with his tutor.” She pointedly ignored her sister. “But I’ll pick him up at four thirty from there.”

  “Thank you, honey.”

  “If you’re gone when I return, have a safe trip home.”

  “I’m spending the night. Wish I’d thought of cleaning out the apartment over the garage. Must be pretty cozy up there.”

  But that would have taken work. Effort. Never would have happened as her sister was a total loser, which went hand-in-hand with lazy.

  “It sure is. Thanks for asking.” Her smile was forced, she knew, but she brushed a kiss over her mother’s cheek.

  She escaped quickly, almost feeling bad for leaving their mother with Nancy. But not that bad. Anyway, she had an appointment at Tate’s salon to have Anne cut her hair, and she wasn’t going to miss that to hang out and trade insults with her sister.

  “Hey, ladies. And you too, Beth,” Lily called out as she entered the salon.

  Beth hooted a laugh and tossed a curler at her, which she caught handily. “Nancy’s in my mother’s living room. I need some prettifying to take my mind off that.”

  Anne waved her to the shampoo station. “Come on then. I’ll massage your scalp with the pretty-smelling stuff and cut your hair. I’ve been telling Tate we should serve wine, I think this is one of those perfect examples why.”

  She let her muscles relax, breathing out slowly. “I’m dumb to let her get to me.”

  “Girl, Nancy wouldn’t be happy if Jesus hisself came down and handed her a five-dollar bill.” Beth sniffed and Lily laughed.

  Anne draped her clothing to protect her from the water and excess hair and had Lily lean back. “Close your eyes and tell us about it.”

  The shop was empty at the moment so Beth and Tate were standing nearby, listening.

  The water was the perfect temperature. The scent of the shampoo was sort of tropical and lifted her spirits. “I think I love you, Anne Murphy.”

  Anne laughed.

  She filled them in on that day’s business with her sister.

  “Why is she that way? I don’t get it. You’re not, and you had the same parents and the same upbringing.” Anne helped her up and to the chair where she towel dried Lily’s hair and began to section it off to cut.

  “I don’t know. She’s always been this way. Closest to our father, so that probably explains most of it. But she’s never happy. Given the opportunity to smile or frown, she’ll frown. She will always choose to be casually vicious because I think it’s the only way she knows how to be.”

  “You had a good stylist in Macon.” Anne met Lily’s eyes in the mirror. “Not as good as me, though.” She winked. “What are you looking for?”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “She’s got that vintage thing going and it works for her.” Tate cocked her head and looked Lily over carefully.

  “Are you looking to keep it or do something totally new? I agree with Tate that the vintage thing works for you. I can take it shorter, like a chin-length bob. Keep it longer so you can do pin curls and that sort of thing.”

  “I want it easy on most days with the ability to do something more when I have the time. It’s got a natural wave so it takes me forever to straighten when it’s very short.”

  “Okay then. I’ve got it.” Anne began to work, and Beth perched next to them as Tate went to deal with a client.

  “We’re on for Saturday night, right? I’m still pouting you didn’t come to the cookout last weekend. How was Macon?”

  “Yes we’re on. I haven’t bowled in a million years so that will be my excuse for sucking. Just telling you that in advance. As for Macon? Looks like my condo is going to sell. Big relief there. Oh! I found out two of my prints sold so that’ll cover some bills. Spoke with my boss and he’s going to send some freelancing work my way again. I told him this move was permanent, and he’ll probably have to let me go to get a local. But he’s open to my doing contract work and that’s a plus.”

  “Have you given any serious thought about doing portraits for people?” Beth shifted and put a mug of tea into Lily’s hands. “Not wine, but chamomile. It’ll help some.”

  “I used to do it on the side for extra money. I may again. Right now, especially until the end of the school year, my focus is Chris. But then I’ll have to re-evaluate my long-term job stuff.”

  She did feel better after the tea. Mainly it was being surrounded by her friends and being able to vent about Nancy. But the new haircut was good too. She felt younger and lighter.

  “What do you think?” Anne stood back, holding the mirror up so Lily could see the back. She’d styled it into big, lush waves. “I know you know how to do this one. I’ve seen you in it. But even when you don’t want to do the waves, you can still do a quick style and go.”

  “I like it.”

  He could not be there.

  But he was. Her heart skipped a few beats as she took Nathan in from the tips of his boots up to that face of his. Lordamighty he was a good-looking man.

  A good-looking man who seemed to show up everywhere she was in town.

  “I’d say, fancy seeing you here. But I get the distinct feeling it’s not a coincidence at all.” She cut her gaze to Beth, who busied herself tidying up.

  “Don’t have any idea what you mean.” He grinned, and her panties tried to jump from her rear end at the sight. “I was just stopping in after school to say hello to all my sisters. Your being here is a bonus.”

  She paid and ignored Anne’s squawking about the tip being too much. “Thank you, Murphy ladies, for the tea, the sympathy and the hairdo. Yes, Beth, I’ll see you Saturday.” She tried to rush past but he followed her out.

  “Have dinner with me.”

  “Nathan, we can’t have dinner. I’m due home for dinner. I’ve got to run to the school to pick Chris up, and then we’re getting a pizza to bring back home.” She should probably order extra since Nancy was around.

  “Tomorrow then.”

  She wanted to say no, punch him in the stones and walk away. But she wouldn’t, because the part of her that wanted to say yes was far greater.

  “Look, we’ve said all we need to say.”

  “No we haven’t. And it’s not about that anyway. Not entirely. I want to catch up. Talk about Chris. It’s just a dinner. The Sands? Five? It’ll still be broad dayli
ght. Full of seniors getting the early bird special, but the pie will be fresh. I haven’t forgotten how much you like peach pie.”

  She sighed. He made her weak. Made her wish for things she tried to convince herself not to want.

  “It’s not a date.”

  He grinned, triumphant, reminding himself to send a huge bouquet of flowers to his sisters the following day.

  “Of course not. Just dinner between old friends.” He’d work on the date stuff later. But when he’d fallen for her originally, it had been after he’d gotten to know her as a friend. It had a certain lovely rhythm that he’d get to know her again and hopefully get that second chance.

  “I’ll see you at five.” She walked down the steps and toward her car. “Not. A. Date.”

  Feeling like an idiot, he looked at himself in the mirror for the dozenth time. He’d actually changed clothes already. Twice. This was approaching utter fail status, and he needed to get his head into the game or he’d blow this chance.

  Before, when they’d been together he never would have been this nervous. She’d always felt natural to him. They’d been friends a long time and when it moved to something else, it had been easy.

  But now. He checked the mirror. Now he knew just how he approached this thing, how he handled himself with all the right groveling and wooing was integral. No time to rest on being handsome or charming. She’d been there and done that.

  Beth breezed in like he didn’t have his front door closed for a reason. “Hey.” She looked him up and down, ignoring his annoyance. “Nice. Don’t wear that jacket. You look like you’re going to a funeral in that thing.”

  “Is your hand broken?”

  She gave him the finger. “I don’t need to knock on your door because I’m here to give you some advice.”

  He looked at her warily and she laughed. “Is this like that time you came to the movies and sat behind me and my date and kicked my seat the whole night?”

  She grinned again. “Ah, good times. If I recall correctly, Lily was with me that day. Anyway, I’m not here to torment you for your bad choices. Not tonight at least. Look, as annoying as you are and all, you’re a good guy and Lily is a great woman and even though you screwed up big time you both deserve a second shot. If you mess it up I’m telling Tate on you.”