Page 11 of One Southern Summer

He politely waited, giving them both one last opportunity to retract the invitation. Harper elbowed Avery in her side. “Exchange phone numbers with Cole so you can text him the address and code for the gate.”

Over a decade had passed since he’d exchanged texts with Avery. The thought of having her number again made his palms sweat.

Avery retrieved her phone from her purse. The device pinged repeatedly. She stared at the screen, her smooth brow furrowed.

“Everything all right?” Cole asked, discreetly swiping his hands on the legs of his chinos.

“Yeah, it’s just...” she trailed off then glanced at Harper. “Julene’s post.”

Harper grinned. “She showed me the picture. Spectacular shot. So people are responding?”

“The most notifications I’ve had in quite a while.” Avery swiped her fingertip across the screen then scrolled. Nervous laughter bubbled from her lips. “This is wild.”

“How about that.” Harper turned toward Cole. “Avery’s been on a social media hiatus. Julene posted a stunning photo of the lake this morning. Evidently Avery’s audience is glad to see she’s back.”

Cole studied Avery as she passed him her phone. Her expression didn’t quite match her sister’s enthusiasm.

“Put your number in my contacts, please.”

His fingers skimmed hers. That brief encounter sent his mind into a tailspin. Super. Just like old times. Could his heart handle that romp down memory lane? Probably not, but the check from Maribelle he’d already deposited made the decision easy.

“Thanks for the invitation.” He entered his number then gave Avery her phone. “I’ll see you around six.”

Chapter Three

“I’m guessing after today’s encounter with Whitney you probably changed your mind about applying at her boutique.” Harper sat across from Avery on Mama’s screened porch, her phone in one hand and a plastic tumbler full of sweet tea in the other.

Avery had fed Hayes and now he’d almost fallen asleep in her arms. She rocked in the white rocker, hoping to lull him into a pre-supper nap. “I’m going to have to look elsewhere. I don’t feel comfortable asking her for a job.”

Harper offered an empathetic look. “For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. That was a tense scene. You handled it with grace and class.”

“Thank you. Whitney and I have struggled to communicate well. Even when Pax and I were married.”

“Tough to share the spotlight?”

Avery stopped rocking. Harper’s question touched a still-tender wound. “Sometimes I wonder if she knew that Pax felt conflicted. Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I can see how she might’ve had some insight into her only son’s dilemma. Our business had taken off, but he must’ve been wrestling with honoring his commitment to our family and wanting to pursue a relationship with Trey, but...”

“But she didn’t know what to do about it.” Harper finished the sentence for her. It was still hard to wrap her mind around all that had happened to their family. A family she would’ve described to anyone as satisfied and content. Her ignorance about Whitney owning the boutique served as another painful reminder of her failed marriage and the lack of honest communication.

“There’s no manual for how to navigate a complex situation like this, right?” Harper shifted in her seat. The ice in her drink clinked against the side of the plastic tumbler. “I’m sorry for all that you’ve been through. You are so brave and resilient, and we’re all thrilled that you’re here. Take some time and find your lane.”

“I don’t feel brave,” Avery whispered, lowering her voice to keep her words from traveling through the porch’s screens and out into the neighbors’ yards. “I’m scared to death. How am I supposed to provide for these kids?”

Harper’s eyes widened. “Say what now? I thought Pax and Trey were promoting Pax’s new memoir? Don’t book tours help sell books?”

“They’re on a tour, as far as I know. But we couldn’t agree on filming another season of the show, and Pax won’t receive a royalty check for several months. Trey spent almost every dollar we had in our savings account on horse races.” She swallowed against the familiar sour taste clawing its way up the back of her throat. Being honest and vulnerable and saying the words out loud gave in to the panic, gave her fears all the power, and she hated that.

“I’m so sorry,” Harper said. “What are you going to do?”

“That’s the problem. I truly have no idea. It about killed me to ask Mama and Greer if we could move back in. Not that I had much choice. Rent for an apartment in Raleigh is unaffordable without a steady income. After the house sold and I paid off the loan, I have enough to cover expenses for about six more months.”

“You could create a cookbook.” Harper grinned. “That’s the next logical step for a lifestyle blogger, right?”

“That’s cute,” Avery said. “Except I can’t cook.”

And she was done pretending to be something she wasn’t.

“You’ve always been good at making things pretty.” Harper stared out at the lake. “In a perfect world, what would you do for a living? Design clothes?”

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