Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(40)

“Still, we should have spoken up when we did realize what was happening,” Sarah said. “If Annie had died…” She shuddered, much as Raylene did when the same thought occurred to her.

“She didn’t die, thank God,” Raylene said fiercely. “But it certainly taught us all a valuable lesson about not ignoring possible eating disorders.”

“You’re right,” Sarah agreed. “Are you sure you can handle all this by yourself on the Fourth? Travis and I will be at the radio station all morning covering the parade.”

“Not a problem. I’m sure some of the others will pitch in to set things up in the backyard. I’ll just have to cook and coordinate everything.”

“Maybe you’ll be able to come onto the patio by then,” Sarah suggested, her expression optimistic. “These little two-minute forays have gone pretty well. In another couple of weeks, who knows how long you’ll be able to stay outside.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” Raylene said, though her own optimism had grown with each step she’d taken back into the outside world. “But, like you said, who knows? Maybe I’m due for a minimiracle.”

That’s certainly what it was going to take for her to spend a whole evening on the patio. Still, this barbecue wasn’t about her. Right now she needed to focus on Carrie and what she needed.



As soon as Raylene described her fears about Carrie Rollins, all of the Sweet Magnolias were immediately on board with moving the Fourth of July event to Sarah’s house.

Dana Sue seemed especially upset by the possibility that Carrie was anorexic. Annie moved to her mother’s side.

“I’m right here, Mom. Fit as a fiddle,” Annie told her.

Dana Sue squeezed her hand. “But you almost weren’t. Just look at all you would have missed—being married to Ty, raising his son, having Meg, your career as a sports-injury therapist and fitness instructor.”

“It’s not as if the world couldn’t live without another fitness instructor,” Annie said half-jokingly.

“Stop it,” Maddie chimed in. “You provide an important service to a lot of women who need help staying fit. They might complain bitterly while they’re exercising, but all of the women you work with at the club leave there feeling better about themselves.”

“I know that,” Annie conceded. “I suppose I’m trying to diminish it out of guilt. I was out on maternity leave for months. I felt as if I’d abandoned them. Some of them worked with Elliott, but a lot of them just quit. I failed them.”

“If they quit, it was their choice,” Maddie reminded her. “You didn’t even stay away half as long as we were expecting you to. You couldn’t wait to get back to work.”

“Yes, she was anxious to get that gorgeous body of hers back into shape right away,” Sarah said. “Of course, Ty’s so taken with her shapeliness, she’ll probably end up pregnant again!”

Annie rolled her eyes. “Let’s try to concentrate on Carrie, okay? Do you think I should sit her down and have a talk with her?”

Raylene shook her head. “I thought about that, but it’s not our place to charge in to the rescue. If we decide there’s a problem, I’ll tell Carter and then offer to have you or Dana Sue talk to Carrie or set up something with Dr. McDaniels. Carter will have to take it from there, unless he wants more help from us. Agreed?”

Annie frowned. “What if he’s in denial? If Carrie’s like I was, she’s probably pretty good at covering up what’s going on. And if he asks her directly, she’ll only lie. I did.”

Dana Sue nodded. “Then we have to gang up on him and insist he get help for Carrie. If we honestly believe there’s a problem, we can’t just turn it over to him and walk away. I can’t, in good conscience, do that. Not when I know the possible consequences of doing nothing. I had to almost lose Annie before I realized just how deep my own denial was.”

“Carter will get her help,” Raylene said confidently. “He takes his responsibility as her big brother and guardian very seriously.”

Helen had been quiet most of the evening, but she’d been studying Raylene with a penetrating gaze. “Mind telling me how this turned into your problem? Last time I was over here, this was a man who was threatening to have you charged with child neglect.”

“Times have changed,” Sarah said, grinning. “Haven’t they, Raylene?”

Raylene blushed furiously. “We’re getting along okay now.”

“He’s kissed her,” Sarah confided.

“Sarah!” Raylene protested, her cheeks heating.

“Well, we’re your friends,” Sarah retorted. “We all care about what’s going on in your life, especially the fact that you have a very sexy guy who’s hot for you.”

Helen continued to look troubled. “Are you really ready to have a man in your life?”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Raylene admitted. “But he doesn’t seem to be going away. His persistence is actually kind of sweet, to say nothing of flattering.”

“And he understands the situation? Not just that you can’t go out, but why?” Helen persisted.

“Even I don’t know why,” Raylene said irritably.