A Magnolia Homecoming by Anne-Marie Meyer

Author:Anne-Marie Meyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anne-Marie Meyer

11

SHARI

Thank goodness it was Friday. The week had moved by like a snail. When the final bell rang at school, I helped get the kids out of the hallway, and then Bella, Tag, and I said goodbye to Cassidy, climbed into the car, and headed home.

It was a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining, and the air smelled like summer. The salty breeze hit my senses, and the memories of my adolescent time at the beach washed over me. Back then all my worries consisted of what bikini I was going to wear or which boy liked me.

It was a simpler time, even though back then I hadn’t felt that way. I’d been convinced my world was going to end if anything embarrassing happened. Or if the guy of the hour didn’t smile at me.

Little did I know, adulthood held the same disappointments.

After our family dinner on Monday, Craig slipped back into old habits. He spent more time away from the house than he did in it. His conversations with me were short and curt. Whatever had happened to change his mind on Monday must have worn off because we were right back to where we’d fallen. Distant and alone.

I’d managed to avoid Jake like Craig avoided me. Finally, last night, he came over and said he was taking the kids to the arcade to give me the night off. It was amazing. I ordered Chinese, took a bath, and binge-watched a K-drama that Clementine had got me hooked on.

It was heaven, and I was grateful that Jake had helped me out—even though I’d been mean to him. When he brought the kids home and helped me put them to bed, he stuck around for a few minutes, letting me know about a homecoming party that Clementine had planned for him.

I was shocked to hear that Clementine wanted anything to do with Jake, but when I texted her later, she said she was offering an olive branch. With the way Craig felt about Jake, the last thing I needed was for my best friend to hate him too, so I decided to look at this like my life just got a tad easier.

A truce was better than a battle. I was already facing so many battles on my own that I didn’t want to impede the process of one resolving on its own.

So this morning, when Clementine texted and asked me if I wanted to help her plan the party, I agreed. After all, I wasn’t going on any sexy date tonight. Margaritas and Pinterest sounded like a good time to me.

I settled the kids down with a to-go pizza and a movie right at five. The doorbell rang three minutes after that, just as I pulled the ice from the freezer.

“Come in,” I called toward the door.

But Clementine hadn’t waited for my response and was already heading into the kitchen as the last word left my lips. I laughed as I shook my head. “Why do you even ring

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