The Magnolia Sisters (Magnolia Sisters #1) - Michelle Major Page 0,67
“How many women does it take to get one gimpy man from a car to the house?”
“We don’t need help,” his mother insisted.
If they heard the protest, Carrie and Meredith ignored it. They simply joined the group, and their presence gave Avery the confidence she needed to take control again.
She instructed Meredith to get the folder with the discharge papers and prescriptions from the back seat while she helped Gray out of the front seat. Carrie stood a few feet away, ready if he needed additional help, and Violet took his hand. Avery avoided eye contact with his mother, gratified when he whispered “Thank you” against her ear as she supported him.
They were almost to the house when his mother spoke behind them. “If you don’t need me, I suppose I should go home. I need to get dinner started and let out the dogs.”
Avery saw Gray’s shoulders stiffen. He’d been through enough today without having to deal with attitude from anyone, even his mom. She didn’t understand Lila’s animosity. As he eased himself away from her, Carrie reached out and squeezed her arm, another bit of unexpected comfort.
“I appreciate you coming over.” He walked slowly toward his mother. “I’m going to be fine.”
Lila stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. Emotion pulled at Avery’s heart. As much as Gray was a grown man, he was still this woman’s son and his job wouldn’t stop being dangerous.
“Your injuries will heal,” Lila said, cupping his face in her delicate hands. “I’m worried about the rest of you.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you later,” he said, then looked over his shoulder. “Vi, give your gram a hug goodbye.”
“Bye, Gram.” The girl hugged her grandma as instructed.
He moved slowly toward the house as his mother walked down the driveway, nodding at Carrie and offering Meredith a friendly wave but not looking back toward Avery. What had she done to earn this woman’s ire?
“Come on,” Violet urged, grabbing her hand. “Daddy’s gonna need you.”
Oh, no, Avery wanted to protest. He wouldn’t need her. Suddenly, she wanted to call back his mother.
“We should go, too,” Carrie said. “I’ll pick up the prescriptions and drop it back off.”
“I can’t do this,” Avery whispered urgently.
Meredith sniffed. “Seriously, how many women does it take to deal with one injured man?”
“I need you,” Avery blurted. It was one thing to have stayed with him at the hospital but this moment felt more intimate than she was prepared to handle on her own. She felt color rush to her cheeks. “I mean—”
“We’ll stay,” Carrie said, and even Meredith nodded without hesitation.
Violet’s hand felt soft in hers, but also steady. For a woman who had sworn off getting involved with anyone, Avery found herself entangled in these people’s lives in a way she couldn’t have imagined.
Gray paused at the back door, looking over his shoulder. His gaze found hers. He looked exhausted, in pain and vaguely unsure of what to do next.
“Violet, will you open the door for your daddy?” She turned to her sisters. “Thank you.”
“You’re not alone,” Carrie told her, and they walked toward the back of the house together.
* * *
GRAY GRITTED HIS teeth against the pain in his chest hours later. He’d heard Avery send her sisters to the pharmacy to pick up his prescriptions, and the inhaler and orange pill bottle sat on the coffee table, mocking him. He’d taken a dose of over-the-counter pain medicine when he’d first arrived home and had no intention of adding narcotics to the mix, no matter how much he hurt.
He hurt like hell.
“Do you need anything?”
He glanced over to find Avery on the chair across from him, concern shining in her blue eyes. The evening had been surreal, with the three Reed sisters fussing over him like a trio of hens.
He should feel guilty for sending away his own mother but couldn’t manage it. She’d made her disapproval for his work clear from the moment he’d joined the fire department. He could only imagine how this day would