The one-night stand I had was my first and last.
Because that morning, my life changed forever ... in more than one way.
Magnolia
Present day in Beaufort, South Carolina
Bridget’s curls bounce like they have a mind of their own. I don’t know where she gets the light brunette color from, but those curls are all mine.
She doesn’t even look back to say goodbye to me; all I can see is a head of golden curls as she races to sit down in the circle on the bright blue rug. I think taking her to the library for weekly readings was exactly what she needed to transition to daycare. She knows all the little songs by heart and plops down next to Sandra’s little ones like she belongs right there. Autumn told me it would help the shift in her routine and she was so right.
And to think I thought today would be hard on Bridget and not me. A long, slow breath leaves me, my cheeks puffed as I wave goodbye to Trent, the owner. I grew up next to him and his mom ran this daycare before he did.
“It’ll be good for her,” she says and Renee doesn’t try to hide the amusement in her voice in the least as she pushes open the front door. A little beep went off just before and I turn to look over my shoulder to say goodbye again.
“I know, knock it off,” I say then hip bump her as our heels click on the sidewalk. It’s only 9:00 a.m. and we’re late for Bridget’s first day here, but the court hearing was earlier. Everyone in town knows that. And court took precedent. Thank goodness Renee loves watching Bridget in the morning. I know Autumn or Sharon would help out with Bridget if they could, but their mornings on a good day are even more hectic than mine was today.
“Let’s grab drinks tonight and celebrate this mess being over,” Renee says, taking the lead with her suggestion as she opens her driver side door and I climb into the passenger seat.
I feel drained and emotional and I wish I had half the energy and confidence Renee has right now.
The sound of her keys clanging together isn’t followed with the start of the engine. It’s quiet, too quiet, and I tilt my head, leaning it back against the seat to see her big hazel eyes staring back at me.
“Wine Down Wednesday with the girls?” I ask but she shakes her head.
“Something tonight.”
“I don’t know about tonight …” I want to crawl in bed and sleep for a decade after what I just went through. She must read my thoughts in my expression.
“Maggie, it’s done and over with. You can breathe now.”
I make a show of puffing up my cheeks again and blowing out an annoyingly long breath just for her. I would have kept going but she laughs and that makes me laugh.
“That’s better,” she says and gives me a shit-eating grin.
“You know I love you, right?”
She hesitates to back out of the parking space after starting the car, and the music from the radio fills the small space. I have to reach over to turn it down before I add, “I couldn’t do this without you.”
Renee swipes a wild strand of her auburn hair out of her face then says, “Yes you could. And I love you too.”
I roll my eyes at her nonchalance and buckle up for whatever she has planned.
I’m not working today since it’s Bridge’s first day at daycare. Although I told my boss it’s because of the court hearing.
“She got nothing.” Renee places a singsong cadence on the last word.
“She didn’t deserve anything,” I say and stare straight ahead as we pass Main Street. The bakery’s sign is getting a fresh coat of bright white paint around the script letters that read Melissa’s Sweets.
I roll down the window and the faint smell of fresh mulch and spring flowers fills my lungs. Resting against the seat, I take in all the small-town shops that have been here since I was a child. From way back when my mother was still alive and my father still pretended to be a good man.
“I’m sorry you had to go through it all,” Renee says and this time she sounds serious.
My throat’s tight as I smile at her and give a little nod. “It’s done now.”
“Still …” she trails off then huffs, and the wind from her own rolled-down window blows back her hair. “To go through the scandal, the breakup, your dad dying. All at once and not getting closure for three years.” She shakes her head slightly.
“A small sum of money isn’t closure,” I say, correcting her. “I lost my dad a long time ago. Four freaking years. The scandal isn’t mine, even if everyone acts like it is.”
“He tainted your name. Williamson used to hold a certain regard in this town. Your family was a good family with a trusted name.” Even though the car comes to a halt at the stop sign, she keeps talking.
She’s not saying anything I don’t know but instead of looking at her as she rants, I watch Mr. Henderson tend to his garden in his front yard.
“Your father destroyed your family name, left you with nothing after embezzling and stealing from practically every family in this town. Nothing but a money-hungry ho who fought you for four years over the pennies he left behind.”
The way she says the last sentence under her breath makes me chuckle. It’s been more than three years, the settlement is final and now I can finally breathe. I just need to shake off all this bad energy.
“And the bastard had the nerve to die of a heart attack when it all broke.”
My father was an asshole for what he did, but I still hate that he died so suddenly. I hate that I have no family. Especially in a small town like this. Tears prick, but I keep them back.
“I’m sorry, Mags.” Renee’s no-nonsense attitude is what I need ninety-nine percent of the time. Maybe today I should take some time alone, though.
“Today’s just an emotional day,” I say, giving her the lame excuse and dabbing under my eyes as we move forward. I focus on the scenery of the town I grew up in as it passes us by. Beaufort is a beautifully maintained small town with Southern charm.
Anyone who comes here for a visit would fall in love.
They don’t see that it’s filled with old secrets. Grudges passed down from generations long past. And judgment from literally everyone. This town talks and four years ago, the name Williamson became synonymous with scandal.
I was a debutante and heir to an enterprise my father built. In one night, I became a pariah. Add in the pregnancy conception that night too and well, no one wanted a thing to do with me.
I had debt I couldn’t cover. An education I couldn’t continue with … having the rug ripped out from under me didn’t exactly make perfect sense at the age of twenty-one.
“I’m happy I have you and Robert.” I come to the conclusion at the same time I speak the words. I have my two other girlfriends too, but as we’ve gotten older, our time together is less and less. Four years ago, when shit hit the fan, I didn’t want to be around anyone. Renee insisted on helping me, and Robert, much to my surprise, did too. I didn’t realize how much I needed them to get through it all. I don’t know how I would have survived without them.
Renee’s brow raises at “Robert,” but she bites her tongue.
“You know I couldn’t have stayed here if he hadn’t helped me.” She knows that’s true. Not a single soul who was capable of helping offered me any assistance. Renee is my best friend, but she didn’t know a single thing about the charges and how the legalities would play out, let alone have the money to pay for everything up front. Robert did, using his local family connections, and he stood by me when no one else with his background would.