Page 28 of One Southern Summer

Oh, my. Maribelle shook her head in dismay. “Lucille, I can’t take you anywhere.”

“Good afternoon, ladies.” Greer stopped a respectable distance from Lucille’s side of the car and greeted them with a polite smile. “How can I help you?”

Maribelle leaned across the console and offered her sweetest smile in return. “Hello, Greer. This is my good friend, Lucille.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lucille. I’m Greer Huntington.”

“We thought we’d drop by for a quick visit. I wanted to give Avery plenty of time to get settled before I brought Lucille by to see my great-grandbabies.”

“Is that right?” Greer gave her a long look then angled his head toward the house. “Are they expecting you?”

Maribelle chuckled then unbuckled her seat belt. It took all her concentration to step out of the car on her first attempt. She tried to smile over the Cadillac’s expansive hood at Greer, but feared it looked more like a grimace. “They opened the gate, didn’t they?”

“And they also sent me out here to investigate.”

Smart girls. Maribelle smoothed her blue-and-white-patterned tunic over her white slacks. She was going for an effortless chic summer vibe, but this outing was proving to take more energy and careful thought than she’d anticipated. Determined to talk her way past Greer, she clasped her handbag tighter to hide the trembling in her fingers. “Please let them know that Nana comes in peace.”

His veneer cracked and a smile hitched up one side of his mouth. “Now, Maribelle, you and I both know that’s not true. Come on inside.”

Well, that was uncalled for. She motioned for Lucille to come along. Holding her head high, she followed him toward the house. He wasn’t about to discourage her with his misguided opinions. She only had her family’s best interests at heart. She was here to make sure Avery could see the way forward and give her a little nudge in the right direction.

“Well, that wasfun.” Julene came inside the house, her face flushed and hands balled into fists at her sides. “Before they drove away, Nana told me that I’m too old to wear a miniskirt and cropped top. Because boys don’t like girls who dress like floozies.”

“Oh, my.” Avery grimaced and sank onto the sofa in the living room. “Mama, has she always been so—”

“Insufferable?” Harper chimed in as she scraped the remnants of their lunch with Nana and Lucille into the garbage disposal.

Avery smothered a laugh and then checked on Hayes, strapped into his infant bouncer seat nearby. The motor hummed along, slowly lulling him to sleep. Addison had taken to her bed for a nap without argument. Maybe all the commotion of Nana and Lucille’s visit had worn her out too.

Mama carried empty glasses from the table to the counter beside the sink. If Nana aggravated her, she rarely vented. Mama had always been classy that way.

“I’ve never been so thankful for a bingo game in my life,” Julene said, crossing to the fridge. The tiered fabric on her black cotton skirt flounced as she walked. “I don’t know who the activities coordinator is at Westwood Manor, but remind me to take them some treats. Their bingo game must be quite the event.”

“I think it’s Hank who’s the main attraction.” Harper loaded plates into the dishwasher. “I heard them talking about getting back in time to sit with him.”

“Who’s Hank?” Julene pulled two cans of flavored sparkling water from the refrigerator. “Does Nana have a man friend?”

“I hope he knows what he’s getting into,” Avery said. Lucille was nice and all, but Nana had been a real handful today. Going on and on about Cole and his work at the foundation.

“Why does she care so much, Mama?” Avery tucked her legs up underneath her. “I can’t figure out why she’s adamant that I help Cole. I’ve already said yes, but obviously I’m not moving quickly enough to suit her.”

Mama ripped a sheet of aluminum foil from the dispenser and covered the leftover chess pie. “Maribelle has always cared more than she should about what people in this town think.”

Ouch. Avery could hardly criticize her for that. Hello pot, meet kettle.

“Ever since your daddy left I think she’s felt ashamed, so she’s done her best to make sure that things go well for our family. Not just for me but for each of you girls too.”

“But she’s not all up in Harper’s business.”

“Not yet,” Harper said. “Give her time.”

The comment sent a ripple of quiet laughter through the room.

Julene handed Avery one of the cans of sparkling water. Blackberry lemonade. Her new favorite flavor.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” Julene sank down beside her on the opposite end of the sofa. “You good?”

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