The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(4)

“We’re fine.” I know my sister’s the nurse and I’m not, but I’m not incapable of taking care of our mom and she has enough on her plate without worrying about what’s going on here.

“Maybe I could drop by after my shift with some fast-food or something.”

“Just let me know.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up. The kitchen is spotless once more, so that leaves me with no choice but to take the plate of cupcakes over to Thayer.

I know it shouldn’t, but it annoys me learning he’s been friends with my mom. He spoke to her and never reached out to me.

Asshole.

I plate the cupcakes and cover them with saran wrap. The frosting gets smashed a bit, but I don’t care.

Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself to face Thayer for the first time in years.

I can do this.

I’m a strong, powerful woman. I won’t let any man make me feel down.

Only, when I go around the side of the fence, there’s no vehicle in his driveway.

That’s good … I guess.

But as long as I’m staying at my mom’s place it doesn’t matter. I’ll run into him eventually and I’m not sure how that makes me feel.





Georgia comes in the side door with bags of food. Her scrub top is stretched over the swell of her belly, and I can’t help but smile.

“Oh, look at you,” I coo. “Can I feel?” I ask, taking the bags from her and putting them on the table.

She sighs, jutting out her belly. “Go for it. This one is just like his dad. Never still. I’m exhausted. He keeps me up all night kicking.”

“You found out it’s a boy?”

She grins from ear to ear. “Yeah, just the other day. Three boys, can you believe it? I always thought I’d be a girl mom, but you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She places her hand on her stomach by mine. “Don’t you want another?”

“I think I’ve got all I can handle right now.”

“I don’t know how you can stand being away from her,” she goes on, “I know your reasonings, but…” We both look to where our mom still sleeps in the living room. She’s slept ever since she laid down.

“It’s killing me being away from her, but she doesn’t need to see her grandma like this.” I motion to all the medical equipment and our mom’s sleeping, frail form. “She’s too young. I know she’s in good hands with Caleb anyway and we FaceTime any chance we get.”

Georgia shakes her head and pulls out a box of fries from Wendy’s shoving around five in her mouth at once. “I was shocked when you said you guys were getting a divorce. I always thought you had it together so well. I mean, that boy stepped up to the plate and married you when you had someone else’s kid.”

I lower my head. It was no secret to any of our families that my daughter wasn’t Caleb’s. We didn’t want to lie to them or to her either about her parentage, but no one except Caleb and Lauren know who her real father is.

I still remember the hate Caleb’s mother spewed at him when we told her. She couldn’t understand him taking me back, marrying me, when I was having a child that wasn’t his.

She stopped talking to him right after that. Didn’t even come to the wedding.

I’ve never forgiven myself for that. I was never her biggest fan, but she’s Caleb’s mom. I haven’t had the heart to ask him if she’s contacted him since our divorce.

“Caleb’s a good man,” I tell her, rifling through the bags of food. “But he’s not the right man for me.”

She shakes her head, clucking her tongue. “Forgive me, but you’re stupid.”

I laugh, pulling out a wrapped burger. “I know.”

Believe me, I’m all too aware of my mistakes and sins. Caleb being at the top of the list. The worst part is, he’s still my best friend. But I guess that makes things easier in a way with Seda involved. My daughter is just as much his as she is mine. It’s not only DNA that makes a parent, it’s how you behave, and Caleb is the best daddy to our little girl. He’s never, not once, treated her like she’s not his.

She lowers her voice to a whisper, “Do you think you’ll stay here or move back to Boston after mom…?”

“I won’t stay in Boston,” I answer quickly. I’ve never been a city girl and I’ve had enough of them in the past few years. “But I don’t know if I’ll stay here either.”

She looks around, pondering. “This is a good house. If you decide to stay.”

“I don’t think I could live here.”

It’s not just about Thayer, though he’s a factor, but this is our mom’s house, and I don’t think I’d ever feel like it was mine.

“Yeah.” She lowers her head sadly, eyes flicking to where our mom slumbers in the next room. “I understand. I’m not sure I actually could either.” Pulling her hair over one shoulder, she says, “Christy, one of my nurse friends said she could stay with mom for a day and night this weekend. I thought you might want to use the time to see Seda, but I wanted to run it by you first before confirming with her.”

“That would be great,” I tell her honestly, feeling relief flood my chest.