The Magnolia Sisters (Magnolia Sisters #1) - Michelle Major Page 0,72
in deep breaths of the sticky morning air. There was no reason for her to feel ashamed or guilty but the emotions flooded her anyway. She was back in California with Tony’s wife confronting her. Her stomach knotted like she could feel the weight of the condemning stares of people she’d thought were her friends.
“Was that a bark?” She tried for a concerned tone, hoping to distract the girl.
“What’s a tramp?” Violet asked, reaching back to touch the unfinished braid. “Oh, no. It’s ruined.”
“Easily fixed,” Avery promised. She decided to ignore the question.
She’d been labeled much worse but somehow Stacy’s coarse assessment cut her just as deep. Maybe because she’d promised herself she’d never be in that position again, and here she was in a similar predicament through no fault of her own.
No fault other than caring. She should have learned her lesson. When Avery cared, people got hurt. That didn’t stop her from caring about Gray and his daughter.
She could move in with Carrie. Her father’s decrepit, overstuffed house had plenty of available rooms. She’d just have to clear out layers of junk to find a potential bed. Who knew what else she’d find.
Meredith lived on a ranch at the beach outside town. She hadn’t been there, but it was past time to change that. There had to be an extra bed.
She tried to come up with a plan as she toasted another piece of bread for Violet and then rebraided her silky hair. At the same time, she kept up a continual stream of conversation. No chance Violet could ask difficult questions if she couldn’t get a word in.
The girl was just finishing the last bite of her cinnamon-and-sugar-sprinkled toast when a knock sounded on the door.
Avery swallowed hard as she opened it, expecting to see Gray’s ex-wife on the other side, ready to claw out her eyeballs.
Gray stood there instead, his gaze giving away nothing.
“Thank you again.” He ran a hand through his hair, lowering his voice. “I’m sorry this morning turned into a shit show.”
“Is your wife—”
“Ex-wife,” he corrected tightly but nodded. “Stacy is in the house. She’s going to drive Vi to school.”
Disappointment lanced through Avery. There was no reason for her to feel possessive toward the girl, but she did anyway.
“I had sugar bread,” Violet reported as she appeared next to Avery.
“Cinnamon toast,” Avery explained. “With just a tiny bit of sugar added. I don’t have much in the way of quick breakfast items and—”
“Don’t worry about it.” Gray held out a hand to his daughter. “Your hair looks nice.”
“I know.” She gave Avery’s leg a quick hug but didn’t make eye contact, almost as if she were embarrassed about the sentiment. Avery understood the feeling.
“Are you going to thank me?” she asked, tapping a finger on the top of Violet’s head. “Your manners need some work, kid.”
That earned a smile and her heart lurched in response.
“Thanks,” Violet said with a cheeky grin. “Your breakfast making needs some work, too.”
“Violet.” Gray sounded both shocked and exasperated, but Avery laughed.
“Have a good day at school, Violet. Tell Margo hello from me.”
Violet giggled as she slipped her hand into Gray’s. He shook his head and mouthed, “I’m sorry,” to Avery. She knew he was apologizing for far more than his daughter’s attitude.
She shut the door behind them and leaned her forehead against it. Emotions pummeled her from all sides, clamping down on her chest. She struggled to draw in a normal breath. There was no reason to be so affected by the scene with Stacy, but she couldn’t seem to get control of herself. It galled her, because she’d vowed never to lose it again. She’d left San Francisco with the intention of keeping herself out of any emotional entanglements. At this moment, the mess with her father’s estate and her jumbled feelings about that seemed like the least of her worries. Not when her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.
Spot trotted over and scratched at her leg. She lifted the dog into