Page 100 of One Southern Summer

“I’m just glad I was able to say them to you out loud.”

“I forgive you, son,” she whispered, her mouth trembling.

He sank to his knees beside her chair again and she wrapped him in her arms. They wept together.

Her boy. He was back. She held him tighter and turned her eyes heavenward. Oh, how she’d longed for this moment. To see Keith and hear his voice and savor that mischievous smile. Despite all of her missteps and her meddling, God had graciously brought them full circle.Thank You, Lord, for Your tender mercies.

The door opened and Avery stepped inside.

“Oh, my darling girl, come here.” Nana motioned for Avery to join them. “Did you find my son and bring him to me?”

Avery crossed the room, her chin wobbling. Tears clung to her lashes as she sank down beside her father at Nana’s elbow. “I drove him here, Nana. That’s all. Visiting you was his idea.”

“Oh, look at you. Deflecting the credit. You’ve always been so humble.” Nana reached for her hand and clasped it between her own. “Sweetheart, I am so very sorry. You were so upset with me and I didn’t take your feelings seriously. Please forgive me. But more importantly please forgive that sweet Cole Whitaker. He’s brokenhearted without you.”

Avery leaned closer and gently kissed Nana’s forehead. “That’s sweet of you to say, Nana, and I forgive you. I’m so glad that you and Daddy can be together again.”

Nana swiped at her tears again with her crumpled tissue. Oh, Mylanta, would she ever stop crying? Avery hadn’t mentioned forgiving Cole, but that was a problem to be solved another day. She had her boy back and Avery had forgiven her. Those were two precious gifts from above so she’d have to try her best to be grateful.

Chapter Eighteen

The icy wind kicked up, sending brittle leaves skittering across the asphalt. An unexpected December storm loomed in the forecast. Rumors of an epic snowfall had spread through Camellia. Avery was skeptical, but the granite-gray skies overhead and tangy bite in the air made her wonder if perhaps the forecast was right.

Thankfully, she’d had worn something sensible. Skinny jeans tucked into her knee-high brown boots and a beige cable-knit sweater layered underneath her green double-breasted jacket. At the last minute, she’d found gloves in the hall closet and brought them along.

She opened her handbag to double-check that she hadn’t forgotten her notebook with her brief prepared speech. The edge of the infamous napkin peeked out from between the last page and the back cover. Her heart pinched. She slipped the napkin from the notebook and held it carefully with both hands so the wind didn’t snatch it.

How could a note scrawled on an old napkin cause so much drama?

Man, she missed Cole. Hopefully they’d have a few minutes to talk after the ceremony ended. They’d both turn thirty-two in the spring and although they wouldn’t be married like they’d pledged on the napkin, she couldn’t deny that her friendship with Cole had changed her life for the better. She’d always be thankful for the way he believed in her when she couldn’t believe in herself. She tucked the napkin back inside the notebook and closed her handbag.

Her curls bobbed against her shoulders as she stomped her feet to keep warm. Mayor Caldwell had invited her to do the honors at the ribbon cutting for the new manufacturing site, but the event was not about her. This might’ve been her vision initially, but the board of directors had taken the concept for a product line of home goods and toiletries and knocked it out of the park. Moving forward the products would be created on-site by the women who lived at the residence.

“Hey, Mama. Hey!” Addison’s little voice rang out and Avery smiled then waved. Addison stood with Mama and Greer. Julene held Hayes. He kept trying to pull his red knit hat off. Harper joined the small crowd gathering on the street, along with Pax and Trey. Hayes spotted them and squealed. Pax smiled and reached for him. Hayes was moving at top speed these days. It would take every single one of her people to keep her kids entertained until the ceremony was over.

Her family might be unconventional, and her kids might make a scene, but she wouldn’t want to do this without them. Today was a celebration of a vision she’d tentatively shared, never imagining it could become a reality. Much less a reality in less than six months. The facility represented a new chapter for so many women. Including her. After all she’d been through, she was learning to see the blessing that had come from her deepest wound. If she hadn’t endured a divorce, she might never have come back to Camellia and become involved with the foundation.

She let her gaze wander, hoping Cole was among the fifty or so people fanned out in front of her. The mayor stood nearby, speaking to someone on his staff. She kept waiting for Cole to come forward. But there was no sign of him. His absence planted a hollow ache in her midsection. They never would’ve pulled this off if it weren’t for his passion and commitment.

“Keith, slow down. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m using a walker these days.”

Oh, dear. Avery bit her lip. Leave it to Nana to make an entrance.

Several people turned to see what was happening.

A feeling of warmth spread through Avery’s chest when her father came into view, slowly walking beside Nana. Olive, Nell and Lucille made up the rest of Nana’s entourage. She had broken her hip shortly after Thanksgiving. Evidently her recovery hadn’t kept her at home. Avery smiled, waved and blew her nana a kiss. She supposed today wouldn’t be possible without Nana, either. For all her foibles and her mistakes, Nana loved her family. And if not for her generous donations—and yes, her meddling—the product line wouldn’t have been possible.

“Are you about ready, Miss Avery?” Mayor Caldwell handed her the biggest pair of silver scissors she’d ever seen.

“Yes, sir.” She carefully took the scissors from his hands. A wide lavender ribbon had been strung across the front doors of the new manufacturing place anchored on either side by silver stanchions.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention please,” the mayor said. “We are delighted to have Miss Avery Lansing Crawford here to celebrate the opening of Camellia’s newest achievement, which will directly benefit the women who live at Imari’s Place.”

A shiver of anticipation raced down Avery’s spine.

“Miss Crawford, if you wouldn’t mind saying a few words.” The mayor stepped back with a flourish, officially giving her the opportunity to speak. The crowd wasn’t all that grand. She didn’t need a microphone or her prepared notes after all. Her words mattered not nearly as much as what was going to happen behind the closed doors and four walls of this incredible facility.

“Thank you all for coming. It means so much to us to see you here,” she said. “As you may have heard, I returned to Camellia because my life took an unexpected turn.”

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