“Oh, for heaven’s sake. You’re such an overreactor. My phone’s just been glitchy lately, that’s all. Come in. I wasn’t expecting company, but I might have some tea left.”
Heat flushed Maggie’s entire body as she entered. She’d left for Seabrook only four days ago, but she’d forgotten how terrible being around her mother felt. The thought brought an instant pinch of guilt.
She slipped off her sandals in deference to the pristine hardwood floors and welcomed the cool breeze of the overhead fan.
“I didn’t realize you’d brought company.” Mom reopened the storm door for Josh and Zoey.
She was still very attractive at sixty with thick hair and long legs. Maggie had inherited her mother’s dark hair and tall, lean physique. She hoped that was all she’d inherited.
As Josh entered, Mom greeted him in such a way as to maintain civility while still making him feel unwelcome. It was a special gift.
Maggie gave her head a sharp shake. That was so unkind. Why did she let her mother bring out the worst in her?
“Where’s Cleo?” Zoey glanced around the room.
“Well, that’s a fine how-do-you-do,” Mom said to her granddaughter. “Haven’t you got a hug for your grandma?”
Zoey wrapped an arm around her grandmother’s waist while the woman patted her shoulder. “Why don’t the three of you have a seat? I was just heading out, but since you’re here, I can offer you a glass of tea.”
“Don’t worry yourself on my account.” Josh took a seat on the sofa.
Maggie sat beside him. “We’re fine, Mom.”
“Nonsense! I’m nothing if not hospitable.”
As Mom swept off to the kitchen, Cleo entered the room from the hall, heading straight to Zoey. The tabby wound between Zoey’s legs. “She missed me, Mommy.”
“She sure did.” The cat was unusually affectionate, especially with Zoey, who treated her with great care.
Josh tugged at Maggie’s hand, and only then did she realize she’d been chewing her nails. Old habits.
“Did she say what happened?” Josh whispered.
“Some mini crisis with Cleo. And her phone has beenglitchyso she didn’t get my messages.”
His lips tightened.
“I know, I know. What can I do?”
“If I didn’t think that was a rhetorical question, I’d have a whole list for you.”
“It’s complicated.” When her mom was left as a struggling single mother, she’d done her best by Maggie. At least, that was what Maggie told herself.
Maggie hadn’t exactly escaped her father’s abandonment unscathed. She’d missed having a dad in her life. Had wondered what was so wrong with her that made her father take off and never look back. Her mother had also planted plenty of doubts in Maggie’s mind. Doubts that had led to deep-rooted insecurity.
That insecurity had caused problems between Ethan and her. It took a lot for Ethan to get past her defenses. A lot of patience, a lot of reassurance. Every change in their relationship felt to Maggie like a threat: when he left for college, when they began talking marriage, when he left for the military. All of it scared her. Loving him scared her. Losing him scared her.
And ultimately, she’d done just that. Her fears had come to fruition, and losing him had been even more awful than she’d imagined.
Now Maggie was a single mom—something she’d been so determined to avoid. Her daughter was supposed to have a motheranda father. She was supposed to experience the safety net of two loving parents. So much for that dream. It had died right along with Ethan.
If Ethan had died at all.
She quickly squashed the thought. Couldn’t go hoping that. She wished she could open up to her mom about the mystery man. But where her mother was concerned, she’d learned to keep her thoughts to herself.
“I had to use my small glasses since I’m almost out of tea.” Mom handed the glasses to Josh and Maggie, who each took a sip.
Her mother did have a way with sweet tea. “It’s very good, Mom.”
