just once more and now she wouldn’t.
After pulling on her shirt and fastening her jeans, she picked up her socks. “I’m going to go to my room.”
“Don’t you want dinner?”
“I’m not hungry.” She held up a hand. “I’m all right. I just need some time alone.”
“Okay. I’ll be here if you need me.”
They looked at each other. Tears filled Rhys’s eyes again. Her own burned.
She wanted to throw herself at him, to have him hold her and tell her everything was going to be fine. Only she couldn’t. Not anymore. And if he said the words, he would be lying. So instead, she hurried out into the hallway and made her way to her own bedroom. Once inside, she carefully closed the door behind her, then collapsed onto the floor and gave in to the pain. Cries turned to sobs, shaking her entire body as, deep in her chest, her shattered heart broke into a thousand pieces.
seven
Stephanie pulled the small glass jar of ginger-infused simple syrup from the refrigerator. She and Mackenzie went all out when it came to their monthly Girls’ Nights. Drinks, snacks and plenty of honest talk. Tonight she would be confessing the interview debacle and letting her best friend’s sympathy and caring help heal the lingering disappointment. Mackenzie would tell her she wasn’t trapped and right now she needed to hear that.
“So you’re going out but I can’t?”
Stephanie looked up as her daughter walked into the kitchen. Avery had always been a pretty child, but in the past couple of years, she’d turned into a real beauty. She had dark hair and big brown eyes. Apparently the Barcellona chubby-female curse had skipped a generation because Avery was thinner than either of her aunts.
Not that she would say any of that. Avery had been nothing but annoying all week.
“You know the rules,” she said instead. “No boy-girl parties unless I talk to the parents and confirm there will be supervision.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It is to me.”
Avery flipped her long hair over her shoulder and glared. “You’re a terrible mother.”
“You used to be a wonderful kid. I really miss your My Little Pony stage. You were so sweet and we had so much fun together.” She smiled. “Disappointment is multigenerational. That should give you comfort.”
“Not enough. I want to go to the party. Alexander said it’s going to be the best party of the summer.”
Alexander was Avery’s current boyfriend. They’d lasted past two months, so it was serious. Something else Stephanie got to worry about.
“No party unless I talk to the parents. Give me their number or resign yourself to staying home.” She picked up the small tote with the drink supplies. “I’ll be back by eleven.”
“Whatever.”
Avery flounced out of the room. Stephanie sighed, knowing it wasn’t the last time she would have to say no to a party. It was going to be a very long, difficult summer. She could only hope that her daughter would be distracted by her new job working on the retail side of the Bel Après gift shop.
She carried her small tote through the house and out the front door. From there it was only a few steps to Mackenzie’s house, where they had their evenings. The kid-free zone made it easy, and while Rhys was usually home, he pretty much stayed in his office.
She let herself in the unlocked door and called, “It’s me.”
“In the kitchen.”
Stephanie walked through the large two-story foyer and into the spacious kitchen. It was the mirror image of her own. Her house, Mackenzie’s and Four’s were variations of the same floor plan. Four’s had an extra bedroom and a big workspace over the garage while Mackenzie and Rhys had fewer bedrooms but two offices.
Mackenzie stood at the refrigerator, pulling out a prepared cheese plate their chef had left for them. Betsy always put together delicious snacks for their evenings, including appetizers that could be heated in the oven and then served.
“Hi,” Stephanie said, dropping her tote and holding out her arms. “I need a hug.”
Mackenzie smiled, then obliged, holding her tight. “Bad day?”
“Just some snipping from Avery. She’s such a teenager.”
“She’ll outgrow it.”
“I hope so. We don’t actually fight, but there’s sure plenty of bickering.” She stepped back. “You’re lucky. Your grapes don’t talk back.”
“I know, but they can get mold, which is hard to deal with. Carson and Avery seem mold-free.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind the next time she makes me want to scream.”
Stephanie put the simple syrup on the island. Mackenzie already had