“You’re going to be amazing baby girl. I’m so lucky to have you.”
He kissed her forehead and moved to get up from the chair. When he saw me standing in the doorway he blushed. It was something I hadn’t seen often, but I was totally enchanted every time it happened.
“I love you so much,” I whispered.
He laid Harper down in her bed and came over to the door. His arms wrapped around my waist and I kissed him soundly. I took his hand and led him down the hallway to our bedroom.
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
“I don’t, but I’m glad you think so.”
“Watching you with Harper every day makes me so happy. That little girl is incredibly lucky to have you as her dad.”
Jax tugged me down on his lap. “I think she’s even luckier to have you as her mother.”
“We are so freaking sappy. Mine is hormones, what can you blame yours on?”
His lips captured mine.
“I can only blame it on how much I love you.”
I smiled against his lips. This man would be my undoing.
Six weeks later, I was grateful Sophia and Connor bought the house two doors down from us. I could have kissed them; they had been so amazing to us. Alice had stayed with us since we’d been released from the hospital, and she planned on staying for another two weeks. Jaxon and I were thrilled.
I was exhausted, but I had never been happier. Harper slept like a champ. Alice started her sleep training as soon as we came home from the hospital. Taylor came over every day to help keep the house clean for me and to check on her favorite niece. Jaxon had left for work two days ago, and I already missed him.
Harper was sleeping on my chest when my phone rang next to me. The area code was from back home. This couldn’t be good news; nothing ever was when it came from Georgia.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Vi.”
“Sidney?”
“Yeah, sorry I called from my office phone. I’m calling about the estate,” she paused before adding, “Your mom is contesting the will.”
“I figured she would. Honestly, I’m surprised it took her this long.”
“The rumors flying around say that it didn’t take long for her start. What took a while was finding a judge that would hear her out. Your dad had great relationships with every judge in the circuit. Everyone understood what he wanted and denied your mom’s appeal.”
“Dad inferred it in his letter, but he didn’t come right out and say it.”
“What sucks for us is that a new judge was appointed a few months ago because one of our good ol’ boys retired.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, exactly. The will is ironclad, but you will have to be out here to go in front of the judge. I talked to him and if you can get out here by Thursday, he’ll see you before his dockets fill up; otherwise we will have to get worked back into his schedule.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Let me know if you need anything, Vi.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I get into town.”
I called Jaxon as soon as I hung up with Sidney. He wanted to fly out and meet me, but it was time for me to face my mother by myself. Dixie needed a wakeup call, and I was going to fly back home to give it to her. The woman that claimed to be my mother had always been self-serving. She tried to make my career into something she could control instead of encouraging me to become a strong, self-sufficient woman.
Jax chartered a plane while I packed bags for me and Harper. Alice and Sophia were confused, but supportive. They asked if I wanted them to come, but I told them no, just like I had Jaxon. My real family was here to help take care of me when I came back home to California.
Taylor hated that I wouldn’t let her come, but if there was any way for her to salvage her relationship with our mother I wasn’t going to wreck it. My relationship with my mother was over and I knew it, I had also accepted it, but Taylor still had a fighting chance.
Harper slept through the flight, giving me a chance to rest too. The next few days would be busy, so sleep would be impossible. My luck seemed to be holding because no one recognized me as we drove back to the condo. Jax and I still hadn’t released the information that I had given birth. Eventually the information would get out, but we were selfish and wanted Harper all to ourselves.
Once we were settled, I called Sidney to tell her we were there. She said she would stop by after she left the office. Glancing at the clock told me it was almost eight o’clock. I didn’t envy her job. My stomach grumbled, and I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. From her bouncer, Harper watched me as I opened a yogurt. I smiled at my baby as I realized we made the trip across the country all by ourselves. The help everyone offered was amazing, but it was exciting to have some alone time, just me and my girl.
There was a soft knock on the door a few hours later. Sidney stood in front of me looking like hell.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t realize it would be so late. I should have called, but my brain isn’t working.”
“Sidney, its fine. Harper’s asleep, and I was reading on the couch. Are you okay?” I offered her a glass of wine and she nodded.
“I’m exhausted. My partner is out of town and I’m taking care of everything at the office. I already work a million hours a week, but it’s been worse than normal.” She took a sip of wine. “Your dad doubled my business before he passed away. Which is great, but I need to hire another attorney to help me handle it.”
“You’re stressing me out just talking about it. Come in, sit down, and drink your glass of wine.”
“I’ve really missed having you here, Vi.”
“I’ve missed you too, but I’m not looking forward to this visit.”
Sidney flinched and took a long drag of her wine. “I can’t say it will be fun, but I’ve met this judge a few times. He will take one look at the paperwork and tell Dixie to get lost. I’m a little surprised he even said he would let her present her case.”
“It’s a relief for you to say that. I don’t want my mother to sell everything in the house to support her drinking habit. She’s such a bitch. So how did work get so out of control for you? You said my dad doubled your caseload, but why are things so bad?”
I watched in horror as a tear slid down her face. She wiped it away quickly, almost angrily. In all the years I’d known her, I had never seen Sidney cry.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Well, I need to hire on another attorney, but I don’t know when I will get to do that. I don’t have time to eat, let alone try to do interviews. My partner is a complete douche, but I’m stuck with him for the duration of our contract. I would buy him out, but I can’t handle the workload I have now.”
“This might be out of left field, but why don’t you ask Mason? You know your cousin who was at the top of his class when he graduated from Duke?”
“He’s going through something with Emmy. I’m not sure he’s the right guy to bring in right now. He might end up in New York. By the way, Emmy’s in town this week if you want to see her, you should call her tomorrow. How long are you staying in Georgia?”
“Only a few days, Jaxon gets home soon and I miss him. I just want to get this crap with Dixie wrapped up first. And when she gets pissed off at me at least I’ll have Jaxon’s mom to be there for me.”
“I’m glad you have her around, your mom is really fucking awful.” Sidney slapped her hand over her mouth and looked shocked at what she just said. I laughed until there were tears running down my face. “Oh my god, Violet, I’m so sorry. It’s the wine, I swear.”
“Dixie is awful. You have nothing to be sorry for. She’s been a horrible mother and I’m sure she was an even worse wife. I’m going to tell her where she can shove it when I meet with her tomorrow. Life is too short to deal with people’s bullshit.”
Sidney hung out for another hour. We gossiped about people we went to high school with and she told me more about her issues with the prac
tice. Her father really screwed her over when he retired. I wanted to help, but I didn’t know what to do other than let her vent.
I was thrilled that in the six weeks since I had given birth, I had lost all my baby weight. My pre-pregnancy clothes fit perfectly. If I ran into anyone I didn’t particularly want to, at least I would feel great about how I looked.
A text lit up my phone as Emmy texted me back saying yes to lunch. After Sidney told me she was in town, I texted her early the next morning. It had been forever since we spent any time together other than the two seconds at the funeral.
Walking into the restaurant at the country club, there were several acquaintances having lunch. Some of them were old friends of the family, others friends from school, but they all looked up at me as I entered the room. I nodded to a few as I walked by, only stopping to actually talk to a select few.
Everyone commented on how beautiful Harper was and gave me condolences for my father. He’d been gone for two months, and I was positive most of these people hadn’t bothered to pick up a phone after his death to call my mother, but they would all pretend that his passing affected them personally. It was done this way in the south though, so I politely accepted their empty words.
Before I reached the table where Emmy sat waiting, Aaron stepped into my path. I gripped the carrier tighter in my hands and tried to sidestep him. He was never easily deterred, but today he was damn near impossible.
“Well, well. What are you doing in town, Violet? I thought you were too good for us now.”
He smelled of expensive scotch. It made my stomach sour.
Not all of you, just you.
“I have business with my father’s estate. If you’ll excuse me, Emerald is waiting.”
I tried to step by and he grabbed my arm that didn’t have the carrier.
“You can’t talk to your ex-husband for one minute? It’s been years since we’ve had an actual conversation. I thought you might miss me. You look fucking hot, Violet.” He stumbled as he spoke. “Have you left the Aussie yet? Remember what I said at your dad’s wake? I would be more than happy to take you back.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and pulled my arm from his grasp.
“There are so many things wrong with what you just said I’m not even going to try to name them all. You should remember the reason we don’t talk anymore Aaron, her name is Stacy. You are my ex-husband. Emphasis on the ex part of that equation. I’m quite happy with my current husband, thank you very much.”
“Oh come off it, you know he’s fucking Silver Cunningham. Apparently you just can’t keep a man.”
My hand itched to slap him across his smug face, but I couldn’t do that in front of Georgia’s high society. Daddy wouldn’t have wanted it that way. My issues with my father changed after his letter; all I wanted to do was make him proud. So I hit Aaron where it would hurt.
“So how’s Stacy? Is she pregnant with your third child yet? Hopefully you will still be able to support them.” I leaned in closer. “I heard all about your money issues.”
“What do you know?” he asked angrily.
I leaned back, trying to act innocent. “Nothing, nothing at all, but my Daddy told me he left a parting gift for my cheating, son of a bitch, ex-husband. Your financial troubles are just starting Aaron. With one word, I could ruin you. I’m not sure what my Daddy did, but he was quite happy to be the one to take your family down after you shamed the Montgomery name.”
“I did nothing to the Montgomery name!”
I clicked my tongue at him. “Tisk, tisk. Don’t make a scene here. Your momma would be so ashamed. Better run along Aaron; make sure your new wife isn’t messing around on you because you know once a cheater always a cheater.”
Aaron’s face turned bright red and it was a little worrisome that he might throw a hissy fit in the middle of the Savannah Country Club. But it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I had to get in one final dig. My voice rose just enough that the surrounding tables could hear.
“Oh bless your heart, Aaron. If your family needs any help, just let me or my momma know.”
Take that asshole.
Aaron stormed out of the restaurant and I had to fight to keep the smug grin off my face. Emmy had a look on her face that said she didn’t believe an ounce of my innocence. There was a reason we always got along so well.
She stood up to hug me as I approached the table. Emmy peeked into Harper’s carrier as I sat it down in the chair next to me. Harper was out of it and into Emmy’s arms before I was even settled in my chair.
Emmy had always loved children. It surprised me that in the decade she and Mason were together they hadn’t had any kids of their own. Maybe it was a blessing since their marriage only lasted a few months. She had been offered an amazing job in New York and when Mason said he wouldn’t move with her she followed her dreams and left him.
“So tell me why you ‘blessed his heart’,” she said grinning.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Emerald Carter.”
“Cut the shit, Violet. This is me you’re talking to.”
I hadn’t told Emmy about how Aaron cornered me at the wake before Jaxon punched him. We’d both been busy, and we hadn’t been able to catch up in the weeks before I had Harper. She sat back in her chair when I finished.
“Wow. Aaron makes Mason look like a saint.”
“Aaron makes the devil himself look like a saint,” I mumbled.
“True, but I haven’t told you my story yet. Mason didn’t file the divorce papers. Technically, we’re still married.”
“Huh? What the hell?”
“Exactly.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope, I found out a week ago. I confronted him about it yesterday; let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.”
“We’re a fucking pair. My ex wants me back and you can’t get yours to divorce you.”
“We are, but at least you have an incredibly yummy husband to show for your issues. I have Mason Davis,” she deadpanned.
We laughed and then I told her more about my yummy husband and incredibly adorable baby.
Emmy never put Harper down while we talked. She wanted a baby, and I hoped that it happened for her soon. Lexi told me that Em was having a rough time in New York, but things were starting to get better. Thinking about the nightmare it was to divorce Aaron, I hoped that still being married to Mason didn’t screw everything up for her. She had a good career and from the sound of it, a very yummy, successful doctor of her own that was trying to get her to date him.
Emmy offered to watch Harper for me while I went to talk to my mother and I took her up on it. Harper would be in good hands and I didn’t want to take her anywhere near my toxic mother.
I used my key to let myself in the ostentatious front door. The echo of my heels on the wood floors made me cringe.
“Mother, I think we need to talk,” I called out.
“So, the prodigal daughter returns.”
My mother stood at the top of the stairs, holding onto the banister so she wouldn’t fall face first.
“Hello, Dixie.”
“Why are you here, Violet?”
“You summoned me to Georgia when you contested the will.”
“No, I meant my house.”
“Technically, it’s my house and I’m very graciously letting you stay here even though you’re a huge bitch.”
“This will never be your house!”
She grasped the banister and slowly descended the stairs. I wanted to turn around and leave because this conversation wasn’t worth it. My mother had let go of reality years ago, but I needed to try one more time.
“Dixie, unless you get the will overturned, this is my house. I wanted to sit down and have a conversation with you, but that’s going to be difficult since you’re drunk.”
“Fuck you, Violet. It’s your fault I’m like this.”
“Why are you blaming me for being drunk in the middle of the day? I hadn’t been back to
Georgia in three years before Daddy’s funeral. So explain to me how it’s my fault you’re drinking yourself into an early grave.”
“I told you that you couldn’t leave. You should’ve stayed with Aaron. He loved you and the baby. I told you I would cut you off if you started acting again.”
“Dixie, can you slow down? I’m not able to follow your crazy train right now. You need to actually finish a thought before moving onto the next one. Also, it might help if you tried not to slur your words so much.”
To my horror, my mother threw herself into my arms and started sobbing. I had never been so confused in my life. Dixie just told me to go fuck myself, blamed her drinking on me, and told me I should have stayed with my cheating ex-husband. Now she was sobbing uncontrollably into my chest.
Why did I think coming here would be a good idea?
Why didn’t I realize Dixie would be drunk? Dealing with her sober was hard enough. Maybe coffee would help. Dragging her across the house in her semi-conscious state was damn near impossible. When we reached the kitchen, I perched her on a bar stool at the island and hoped she wouldn’t fall over while I made the coffee.
At the sound of the percolator, Dixie finally stopped crying. She eyed me, weary of what I might say next.
“Why are you really here, Violet?”
“I truly came to try to talk to you.”
“But I’ve been awful to you and Magnolia.”
“I won’t argue with you on that, but you are still our mother. You’re missing out on a lot. My daughter was born two weeks ago. Taylor bought a house, and she plans on staying in California. Do you get how big that is for her?”
“I do. Is the coffee done yet?”
I slid a cup over to her and poured another for myself. A few years ago she would have belittled me for making myself a coffee because ‘Montgomery’s have hired help’. The woman in front of me was weak and broken. Her bloodshot eyes closed, and she rubbed her head.
How was I supposed to talk to someone like this? Where do I even start?
After a few minutes, she didn’t look any more sober, but she did look more composed. She started before I did.
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