Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(23)

Relieved to have the focus off her mental state and off Carter, Raylene merely grinned. “I thought it might be fun.”

“Are you crazy? Rory Sue and Walter?” She shook her head. “If he ever took her home to Alabama, both his parents would wind up in the cardiac-care unit of the local hospital.”

“Like I said, fun,” Raylene repeated. “You can’t possibly expect me to believe you actually care about what those two awful people think.”

“No, but I don’t necessarily want them dead.”

“Well, their state of mind and health are no longer your concern, and Walter’s life needs shaking up. It’s time he stops pining for what he lost when the two of you got divorced.”

“Walter has hardly been pining for me.”

“Of course he has. He just knows he doesn’t stand a chance now that you have Travis in your life, though frankly, the fact that you haven’t set a wedding date yet must be giving him hope.”

Sarah regarded her indignantly. “You know perfectly well that there are a lot of reasons we haven’t set a date yet. Getting the station up and running has been a lot of work. With such a small staff, we couldn’t both be gone for even a brief honeymoon, and we agreed we want a big wedding. That takes time to plan. And then there are my folks. My dad’s health hasn’t been good, so he hasn’t been up to traveling.”

“Okay, I get it,” Raylene said. “But does Walter?”

“He certainly ought to by now,” Sarah said. “The two of us were always a terrible match, anyway.”

“True enough,” Raylene said. “He fed your insecurities. Not intentionally, maybe. It’s just the way things were as long as you were living under his parents’ thumb.”

“Let’s get back to Rory Sue,” Sarah said, once again looking bewildered. “Seriously? You honestly think those two belong together?”

“They’ll have to figure that out for themselves,” Raylene said. “But I do think she’s self-confident enough to give him a run for his money. Walter needs a challenge.”

“Meaning I’m a wimp,” Sarah said, looking disgruntled.

“You were a wimp,” Raylene concurred without hesitation. “And now you’re not. You are the woman you were meant to be—strong, confident, comfortable in your own skin. Watching the transformation has been amazing. You’re amazing!”

Sarah’s expression brightened at her words, but then Raylene realized the change had nothing to do with her. Travis opened the kitchen door and at the sight of him, Sarah practically glowed with happiness. It was that way whenever he dropped by, which was most nights and weekends. For a man who lived blocks away, he was underfoot a lot.

“Hey,” he said in his low, sexy drawl, his gaze on his fiancée. Raylene might as well not have been in the room.

“Hey,” Sarah said, equally oblivious to the fact that they had company.

“I’ll just go and check on the kids now,” Raylene said, backing out of the kitchen. “Don’t let the casserole burn.”

She shook her head as she left. She doubted they’d heard a word. It was a toss-up whether her friends or dinner would go up in flames first.





6




The following Saturday the kids had gone to the ball field with Sarah and Travis, and Raylene was alone in the house, when Carter’s truck pulled up out front. Two teenagers climbed out. Raylene guessed these were Carter’s sisters. The girl who appeared older wore the sulky, bored expression of someone who wanted to be anywhere else but here. The other teen was gazing around with frank curiosity as her brother led the way to the front door.

Filled with a mix of anticipation and annoyance, Raylene held it open as they approached.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” she said, her tone light but chiding.

The younger girl frowned at Carter. “You didn’t call to say we were coming or to see if she’d be home? What is wrong with you? That is so rude.” She grinned at Raylene. “You have to make allowances for him. Our parents did try to teach him some manners. Honest.”

Raylene smiled. “I’m sure they did. Do you suppose he’ll remember to introduce us? I’m Raylene.”

“And I’m Mandy,” the young teen replied. “Sourpuss here is Carrie.”

“That’s no way to talk about your sister,” Carter scolded.

“Oh, come on,” Mandy protested. “She’s been cranky all day.”

“I can wait in the truck if you find my company so objectionable,” Carrie snapped, then glanced apologetically at Raylene. “Sorry. You shouldn’t have to listen to our family squabbles.”

“I don’t mind,” Raylene said, feeling an unexpected sense of camaraderie for this girl who’d lost her parents just when she was entering the vulnerable teenage years and needed them the most. “Come on inside, all of you.”

“I wanted the girls to see the garden and to check to see if it needs watering or weeding,” Carter told her. “I hope that’s okay. We won’t stay long.”

“Of course it’s okay. How about some lemonade or sweet tea before you go outside again?” Raylene asked. “Even for June, it’s miserably hot today. And I baked sugar cookies yesterday.”