Once and Again - By Lauren Dane Page 0,10

room.

“We’ve got sour apple and lemon drops made so far. Want one?” Beth indicated the counter lined with pretty martini glasses and two pitchers.

A lemon drop in her left hand, she managed to nod a lot at the stuff people said as she made her way to the couch to sit.

“You know everyone, right?” Beth asked.

“Let’s see.” She looked around. “Yep. I met Cassie a few days ago at the bookstore. I know everyone else from school or town.”

Beth hugged her side. “I’ve missed you so much. I’ve hated living in two different places. And when you come back to visit, it’s…”

“Awkward. It’s all right. It put you in an odd spot and I didn’t want to make things worse after we broke things off. But I’ve missed you too.”

“You’re back for good, right?” Maggie passed over a tray of something yummy looking so Lily took two. Just to be neighborly and all.

“I had thought it would be temporary, but Chris is going to need me. He’s too much for my mom and he’s nervous enough about people leaving him. I made a promise that I’d be here for him and I will.”

Tate smiled, nodding. “Nathan says he’s seeing a big difference since you’ve been back. It’s good you can do it. I know he’ll appreciate it in the end.”

“Not so much when I take his car away and he starts with how I’m not his mother.” She laughed and raised her glass.

Tate laughed. “Chris will take a while. But I think your being here for him is exactly what he needs.”

“What’s your job situation?” Beth snuck one more of the little meatball things off the tray and winked at Lily.

“I can do my job remotely. For a while anyway. Eventually they’re going to want someone based in Macon, and I get that. Once upon a time I made an okay living with my freelance work. I don’t know if that’s the case anymore. But I have some other ideas as to how I can pay the rent.”

“You’re living with your mom?”

“Above the garage, which is the same really. But it’s close enough, and I can be around to make sure Chris gets to school and that he’s not sneaking around and cutting class. My mom is… Well I’m glad I’m nearby.”

“I was sorry to hear about what your dad did. How is she recovering from that? How are you?” Beth’s voice was low enough that it wasn’t a loud public statement. Conversation picked up all around them and Lily let herself relax.

“He didn’t cheat on me and drop our marriage and child for some twenty-year-old. What I have to deal with is nothing compared to that. At the same time, this isn’t his first trip to another woman’s bed. I know it makes me uncharitable, but he’s always been the center of the universe and everyone was supposed to be a satellite around him. My mother made that choice to live that way. I didn’t. So she’s a wreck. I hope she snaps out of it and can be a better and more present mother for Chris, but I don’t know if it’ll happen. I sure know Chris doesn’t have the time to wait around for it or for our father to get his head out of his rear and remember he’s got other things in addition to his too-young girlfriend to support.”

“Well, you know my history. If you want to talk about it, I’m around. I love your mom, but even I can see she’s sort of given up.”

Beth’s parents were far worse than Lily’s ever could have been. For her, it had been neglect, but mainly benign. The Murphy parents were a living nightmare.

“Nancy has been sniffing around.”

Beth made a sour face. “You need another drink for that, and then you and I are going to talk about Nathan.”

Lily put her hands over her face, but laughed anyway.

“What? What are you embarrassing her over? You have to share so we can snicker too.” Cassie leaned in, smiling.

“Nathan and Lily used to be together back in college.”

“Seven years ago. It was nearly seven years ago.” Her face blazed.

“Ha. Clearly you’ve forgotten all about it since you know exactly how long ago it was.” Beth handed her another drink. “And you need to try those little popover things there.” She pointed to another plate.

“What’d he do?” Cassie asked. “What?” She looked around, laughing. “You all might know but I don’t. I wager most of you don’t know and want