Page 73 of Ten Beach Road

“I was thinking we could get more of the doors out of the way if we set up an actual assembly line. Nicole strips,” Avery said, nodding Nicole’s way. “I sand and repair. You apply the finish. We’ve got plenty of sawhorses and we can set up in the shade of the reclinada.” She nodded out the window toward the triple palm to the west of the pool. The doors waiting to be refinished were stacked on the loggia. “I’ve got a mask you can wear and some heavy gloves.”

“Sure,” Kyra said at the same time Maddie said, “No, she can’t.”

Chase sighed as he reached for a granola bar and Maddie waited for him to object to Avery organizing his grunts, but all he said was, “I was hoping someone else had made the doughnut run. These bars are way too small.” He held up the shiny wrapper with pastel script lettering. “And . . . girly.”

“Feel free to eat before you come,” Avery said. “But just for the record, granola bars are not gender specific.” She turned to Madeline. “Why can’t Kyra do the finishing?”

“Yeah, Mom.” Kyra taunted. “Why not?” She threw her an angry look, but it was laced with hurt.

“Because Kyra can’t work with chemicals right now.” Maddie wished she could simply walk out the front door and head out to the beach, which she’d discovered was far more soothing than the “downward dog” she’d practiced in yoga. She’d hoped to keep Kyra’s pregnancy to themselves for at least another few weeks; could she face this conversation on top of the ultimatum she’d launched at Steve? They all stared at her expectantly. Did she have a choice?

“Because she’s pregnant,” Madeline said into the questioning silence.

“Oh!” Avery and Deirdre exclaimed.

“Wow,” Nicole said.

Chase reached for and unwrapped another granola bar.

“It’s not a good idea to expose the baby to chemicals,” Maddie said. It was her turn to stare at Kyra. “I imagine the doctor must have mentioned that.”

“Congratulations,” Chase said easily. But then he was not only male but the father of sons.

“Yes, I guess congratulations are in order?” Avery looked between Kyra and Maddie.

“Yeah, that’s, um, really great,” Nicole said. “When are you due?”

“In November,” Kyra said, accepting hugs from both of them.

Maddie frowned. Where would they all be at Thanksgiving? Would this chapter be over? The house finished and sold? The money deposited and their debts paid off?

“As you can see by her expression, my mother’s not too excited about the whole idea.” Kyra was going for flip, but her voice wobbled.

“Oh, Kyra that’s not fair. I just think . . .” Maddie began.

They all waited to hear what she thought, but the right words, if they existed, didn’t come. She so didn’t want to introduce Daniel Deranian’s name into the conversation or mention that her daughter was living in the land of denial. “It’s just that she’s not married and she’s so young.” Maddie was no longer sure who she was trying to convince. “And she has no idea what she’s in for.”

Chase snorted. “No one ever does.”

“No,” Deirdre agreed. “It can be so overwhelming. I was twenty-one when I got married and twenty-two when Avery was born. I wasn’t ready for . . . any of it.”

Avery’s jaw tensed. “I didn’t realize there was an ‘optional’ clause in the parenting contract,” she said. “But Deirdre always did know how to work the fine print.”

“I understand that you’re not wild to have me here,” Deirdre said. “I freely admit I haven’t been much of a mother, and certainly not the mother you deserved.”

She paused, looking at her daughter.

“If you’re waiting for an argument from me, you’re going to be waiting a long damned time,” Avery said. “I don’t know why you’ve pushed your way into this project, but you’re not going to be able to design yourself back into my life, Deirdre. It’s way too late for that.”

Maddie watched Avery toss salvos at her mother and wondered if they hurt Deirdre as much as Kyra’s hurt her. The designer didn’t flinch, but that said more about her self-control than her feelings.

Madeline had always been Kyra and Andrew’s mother first; it was how she’d thought of herself and how the rest of the world had defined her. She’d been there for her children and always would be. But did that mean she had to pretend that she was unequivocally happy that Kyra was pregnant? Did being supportive demand that she also keep silent?

“I just don’t think Kyra realizes how huge a responsibility this is going to be or how completely it will change her life. And to do it all alone . . .” Maddie’s voice trailed off at the enormity of it.

Kyra’s face closed, her shoulders stiffened.

“Your mother’s right,” Nicole said quietly. “Being a single parent is one of the hardest things there is. It’s huge.”

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