“It’s Clinton. You almost ruined my marriage,” he said.
“Want to explain?” she asked coldly.
“Kayla just walked in on me in a hotel room with another woman.”
“And that’s my fault, how?” Paula giggled. “Maybe karma has finally bitten you on the butt. You are a horrible husband.”
“She said that she saw you in a baby shop and that you suggested she could stay with me,” Clinton said. “So thank you for trying to tear apart my family.”
“Hey, that’s not on me, big boy. You told me you were separated and you never mentioned that you already had a son. I didn’t tell Kayla that to hurt your marriage, but to help it. Goodbye, Clinton, and don’t call here again.” She hung up the phone and slumped down on the nearest sofa. The baby kicked, and she laid her hand on her stomach.
“We can do this on our own, baby girl. We’ll do just fine with your aunts Mitzi and Jody.”
The drive from Celeste to Dallas had been so much fun that Mitzi completely forgot that Rita would be at the wedding. So it was a shock when she looked up and saw Rita coming across the parking lot toward the van. Wearing high-heeled shoes and a cute little strapless red sundress that barely reached her knees, she looked downright beautiful. Mitzi’s blue-and-white checked shirt and white capris that had looked pretty cute that morning suddenly felt dowdy.
“Hello, Rita,” Mitzi said cheerfully as she opened the passenger’s door. “You probably don’t remember me. I was just a freshman when you and Graham were seniors. I’m Mitzi Taylor.” It wasn’t easy to be nice to that witch, but she could do it for the girls’ sake. After all, Rita was their mother, and if this new relationship between Mitzi and Graham was to go anywhere, Mitzi needed to be an adult, not the mud-slinging hussy that she so wanted to be right then.
“I remember you well.” Rita’s eyes started at Mitzi’s sandals and traveled slowly all the way to her red hair. “You’ve always been . . .” She paused a second before she said, “Tall.”
“Never was accused of being petite.” Mitzi grinned and turned her attention to the twins, who’d gotten out on the other side of the vehicle. “You girls need some help?”
“And now you’re kind of like the girls’ nanny, right?” Rita sneered.
“I’m their friend and they work for me.” Mitzi turned her attention back to the girls. “Your dad and I’ll help you get all this inside. Don’t try to take care of it all on your own.”
Rita followed Mitzi to the back of the van and barely glanced at the girls. “Those are nice dresses. I didn’t know what you might choose, but they’ll cover up . . .” She covered a fake cough with her hand before she said, “They will look good on you.”
Mitzi moved over to stand closer to the girls. “They helped with the design. And they’re teaching themselves to sew. They made the cutest little shirts for the Fourth of July fireworks. They’ve probably told you that they’ve been making all kinds of corsages and bouquets for us at the shop.”
“I haven’t talked to them in a while,” Rita said.
Mitzi was glad she had both hands full so she couldn’t slap the woman.
Tabby pulled out a tote bag and a small suitcase on wheels. “We love going to the shop every day. It sure beats sittin’ at home all day, redoin’ our makeup and fingernail polish.”
Dixie was right behind her with her suitcase. “Daddy, if you’ll get my makeup bag with all our makeup in it, that’ll just leave the shoe boxes for Mother. Wait until you see the shoes that Mitzi dyed to match our dresses, Rita—I mean, Mother.”
Neither girl had made an attempt to hug their mother, but then she didn’t try to hug them, either, or even ask to help them. That left one reason she’d come out in the heat that morning—Graham.
“I’m sure they’re lovely.” Rita ignored the shoes and looped her arm into Graham’s. “I was going to ask if you’d like to stay for the wedding.”
“No, thank you.” Graham picked up her arm and dropped it. Then he moved close enough to Mitzi to drape an arm around her shoulders. “Mitzi and I’ve got plans for today.”
Oh, yes we do, Mitzi thought. And they do not involve being anywhere near you.
“I see. So that’s the way it is?” Rita grabbed the