“Well, it could have been room service or housekeeping. I’ve known you my entire life, I wouldn’t trust a hunch of yours.” He was laughing, but I could tell I struck a nerve.?
“I’ll find out one way or another, you can believe that.”?
Charlie watched me with sad eyes for a few moments, working through something on his mind. “Lee, I love you, but when you and my sister broke up, you weren’t here to see her heart shatter. You didn’t hold her when she fell asleep at night screaming in agony. You didn’t find her, shit-house drunk on the floor of your bathroom, clutching a picture of you and listening to your demo tape—she knew every song you wrote was about her. And it killed her.”?
He crossed the room quietly, pulling open his fridge and yanking out a couple of beers for us, and handed me one. Still keeping his eyes on the ground, he was no doubt remembering how his sister was in relentless, gnawing pain. Because of me. I looked up at my oldest friend’s face, slightly more weathered now than it was when we first met—but he was still that fiery, freckled redhead kid—and I realized that my leaving must have hurt him, too.?
Charlie took a deep, cleansing breath before going on. A faint smile began to play on his lips. “You weren’t there when she started picking up the pieces, either. When she started coming out of her room, fixing herself up, strapping on a smile whether it was real or not. The first time I heard her laugh, like, really laugh, after you left, it was like music to my ears. I actually went into my room andIcried. And then, when we lost Uncle Cole, I saw bits of her chipping away again, but she was so strong at that point, it didn’t break her completely.”?
He sprang up from his stool and crossed the room again, this time heading to the canvas shrouded with Magnolia’s likeness. He studied it for a moment before turning to me with a weary look.
“Look, Lee, I trust my sister. She’s stronger than both of us put together.Whatever decision she makes, I’ll stand by her. But if you’re thinking that telling her about Dane possibly cheating, on top of all the other crap he’s pulled, is going to change her mind, you should absolutely do it. Just don’t expect it to have the effect you’re hoping for.”
I listened, nodding as his words sank in. He was right—Maggie was strong, no doubt about it, but she also deserved to know everything, even if it wouldn’t change the outcome.
Chapter thirty-three
MAGNOLIA
On Christmas Eve, our whole group had assembled for brunch in the bar. I was keeping the doors closed to patrons for twenty-four hours, and in between obligations of church and cookie swaps with his momma, Lee and I had plans to slap a fresh coat of paint on everything during the brief break.?
“So, Dane’s really not coming home for Christmas, huh? Did he at least send flowers?” Doyle was hovering over me as I whipped up pitchers of cinnamon-spiced Sangria.?
“He did and a lovely vase from Tiffany’s, which I promptly had to re-box and shelve before Pickle smashed it into a thousand pieces.”?
“Speaking of the devil herself, who’s going to take Pickle when you move in with Dane?”?
I shrugged, casting a sideways, confused glare at him. “Why wouldn’t I take her?”?
“Um, honey, the Drayton is strictly pet-free. And besides, Dane hates Pickle.”?
“Everyone hates Pickle,” I countered, stealing a glance at Lee who we all knew loved her to death.?
I hadn’t given much thought to moving in with Dane with everything else going on. But with the wedding approaching, things like furniture and the fate of my possessed cat all hung in the air.?
What Ihadthought about—more than I wanted to admit—was that night on the bar floor, Lee’s voice shaking as he told me he’d loved me his whole life. It wasn’t just his words; it was the way he looked at me, like nothing else in the world mattered but me and him and the space between us. I could still hear the catch in his breath, feel the weight of his hand on my wrist, steady and warm,like he was anchoring himself in the moment. Anchoring himself tome.
I should have said something—anything—other than running upstairs and pretending I hadn’t felt my entire world tilt. But I did. And now, with Dane’s ring on my finger and a million plans I couldn’t unravel, I wasn’t sure how to make it all feel right again.
“Well, I’m not taking her. My sister Tally’s permanently moving in with me and Jordan. Don’t tell him yet. He’s going to murder the both of us. But she’s got this insane poodle named Nancy Reagan who would shred Pickle up like lettuce… Actually, now that I think about it, that’s a showdown I would love to see.”?
I giggled and handed Doyle two full pitchers and sent him on his way.
Sutton took his spot at the bar.?“I didn’t get you in the Secret Santa, but I wanted to give you this at any rate,” she said, sliding the bowed box toward me.?
“Oh! I got you something, too, but you’re not my Secret Santa pick, either. It’s just something small.” I pulled out a gift bag from behind the bar, and we both dug into our gifts.?
Because of my notoriously lazy wrapping job, her gift from me was revealed first. I’d gotten us matching Alex and Ani bracelets that saidSisteron them. I dangled my wrist to show her mine.?
“Bestie bracelets! We haven’t had these since we were kids.” She slipped hers on and leaned over the bar to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.?“Finish opening yours,” she said, nodding toward the gift.?
I pulled off the rest of the shimmery wrapping paper to find a white box. Inside was a framed picture of all of us, taken selfie-style from our impromptu brunch the weekend Lee came home.?
“I figured you could use an upgrade of the gang, including the newest editions to the Savannah Sweethearts.” She smiled, peeking over to see her handiwork.?
“I love it. Dane’s missing, though.”?
Sutton grimaced and leaned back in her seat. “Sorry, I had a feeling you were going to say that. But I feel like Dane’sbeenmissing since you two got together, to be honest.”?
