Page 45 of One Southern Summer

“Thank you for your honesty, Liza MacGregor.” Avery resisted the urge to neutralize all those “likes” with a comment of her own featuring only the angry face and barfing emojis. “You didn’t seem to think I was sketchy when you hired us to redecorate your home two years ago, now did you? And I didn’t hear any complaints when the project was featured on the cover ofAlabama Living, either.”

The MacGregor project had been one of the few where Trey hadn’t monopolized their creative pitch or dismissed her design ideas. To her surprise, he’d seemed content to play a supporting role. Avery shook her head in disgust but still she kept reading, appalled at the venomous judgment oozing from every word. Didn’t any of these women have strained relationships with their extended family? Wasn’t that part of normal life?

Maybe that was where she went wrong. Assuming a normal life was even possible anymore.

Just goes to show you can’t have it all. Sure, she’s rich, famous and gorgeous, but she obviously can’t keep her husband satisfied. #Justsaying.

Avery gasped and pressed her fingertips to her mouth. Rich and famous? And now the intimacy in her marriage was up for debate? She shouldn’t be surprised. Of course it was. The crass words and flippant observations cut deep, though. What did people hope to gain from commenting publicly on her family’s demise? And why was Pax’s decision to step outside their marriage her fault? Her stomach twisted. She was about to abandon the app when the name of the next commenter caught her eye.

No.

It’s a real shame that people refuse to admit when they’ve let their careers take precedence over their families. I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’ve seen this coming for years.

“You have?” Avery smacked her palm against the table. “Then why didn’t you say something, Genevieve? If you knew my husband was gay, it would’ve been super helpful if you’d mentioned it to me, because I had no idea!” she ranted at the screen.

“Avery, who are you yelling at?” Julene swept into the room, clutching her phone in one hand and an iPad in the other, her perfect brow marred with concern.

Tears slid down Avery’s cheeks as she held her phone toward her sister. Genevieve ran the children’s ministry program at The Oasis. They’d known each other since high school. Avery had vacationed with this woman, belonged to the same youth group and attended numerous dinners at Pax’s parents’ home with Genevieve and her family. Until now, Avery would’ve considered her a close friend.

“Is this how we treat each other now? We shame people publicly then tell them we always suspected they were failures?” Avery swiped angrily at the moisture on her cheeks.

Julene studied the screen, scrolled quickly then powered off the phone and set it on the table.

“Unbelievable.” She sank to her knees beside Avery’s chair and flung her arms around her. “I’m so sorry. I’m the one who posted that first picture when you moved back home and told you to get back out there, and now this happened.”

Avery sniffed and leaned her head against Julene’s. “This is not your fault.”

“But I feel partly responsible for your suffering. People in this town love to tear each other apart. They use social media as a way to say things that they would never say to you in person.” Julene pulled back. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Listen to me. You are smart, your children are amazing and you have a tremendous gift of sharing beauty with the world. Don’t let the haters get you down.”

The front door opened. “Mama?” Addison’s voice echoed through the house, followed by her flip-flops slapping against the hardwood.

Avery’s breath caught in her throat. She fumbled for a tissue in her handbag then quickly swiped at her cheeks. Addison came into the kitchen, her face flushed and a telltale ring of chocolate surrounding her mouth. “Mama, are you crying?”

Avery nodded. “Just a little.”

Julene smiled then stood and turned to Addison. “Sometimes grown-ups are mean, sweet girl. But don’t you worry. Your mama is strong and she’s going to be fine. How was the ice cream shop?”

“Good.” Addison grinned then pushed past Julene and climbed into Avery’s lap. “I had chocolate with rainbrow sprinkles.”

Avery smiled at her cute mispronunciation and breathed in her sweet, sugary scent. “Sounds delicious. Did you bring me any?”

“No silly. Too melty. You’ll have to get your own.” Addison leaned forward and studied Avery’s drawings. “Whatcha making?”

“I’m helping Mr. Cole decorate a nice house for some ladies to live in.”

Addison settled on Avery’s lap, craning her neck to study the magazine spread open on the table. Glossy pages featured a stunning kitchen with a white subway tile backsplash and sage green cabinets. “This is pretty.” She licked her finger then flipped the next page. “I’m not a big fan of those lights.”

Avery pressed her lips together to contain her laughter. She and Julene exchanged smiles. Evidently Addison had been paying close attention to all the home decorating shows they’d been streaming lately.

“Me, either.” Avery had never accepted design ideas from her preschooler. In this case, she had to give Addison credit. The vintage style chandelier suspended above the island in the photograph wasn’t the best fit. She made a mental note to choose lighting for Imari’s Place. There was still so much to do.

Addison softly hummed a song while she kept flipping through the magazine.

“You’re like two peas in a pod,” Julene said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Avery gently undid the barrette pinning Addison’s hair out of her eyes and attempted a do-over.

“No, Mama. I don’t like that clippy anymore.” She slid from Avery’s lap and out of her reach. “I want to color.”

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