Her mother snorted a laugh through the tears. “She’s right. You need to leave, Rodger. Don’t come in again without knocking.”

“This is my house!”

“It isn’t. You know it’s not even in your name. There’s a trust the house is held in. It’s not Mom’s. It’s not yours either. Go back to Atlanta and get your own house in order. You’re not selling this house and that’s final.”

“We’ll just see what my lawyer thinks about that.” He grabbed Barbie’s hand and stormed out. Nancy sent a dirty look over her shoulder.

“You drive him away!”

“You’re too old to have daddy issues. Hit the road, Nancy. You might miss the gravy train if you don’t rush. Though, he’s got a lot less than you calculated. You and the girlfriend. Ha.”

She put an arm around her mother and steered her into the living room.

“Sit. Let me get you some tea.”

Nancy scampered to catch up, screeching to their father to wait for her.

“I’m so embarrassed.” Her mother took the tea.

“Why? He’s the one who’s done wrong here.”

“I took a lot. Chris probably saw things he shouldn’t have. I tell myself I should forgive your dad. That if I really loved him I would. He’s the father of my children after all. I loved him a long time. Maybe I still do. What if I’m making a mistake?”

“It is entirely possible to forgive something, to truly let go and wish that person well while at the same time making sure they can never get close enough to harm you again. Forgiveness is a gift, but it doesn’t need to make you stupid. I can’t tell you how to live your life, but if a man makes you cry on a regular basis, I can’t think you’re meant to love that man anymore.”

“I don’t know that I’m strong enough for this.”

Lily took her mother’s hands. “Let me help you a little. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Her mother nodded and mopped her tears up. Lily wished she believed the nod meant her mother would try harder, but feared it would only get worse.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

Nathan barely held his smile back as he sauntered into the Honey Bear where Lily sat at a booth with a camera at her right hand and coffee at her left.

She looked up, smiled thinly and her attention shifted away just as quickly.

Gave him the time to send his brother William—a baker at the Honey Bear and the man who’d texted Nathan to say he should come on by the café to say hello to an old friend—a thankful tip of the chin.

His family had his back and they all loved Lily from when they were kids, so they were thrilled to help, and he was relieved to have it.

“This seat taken?” he asked as he took it anyway. She frowned at him momentarily and looked back down at the photos. “What’s that?”

“Work.”

He grinned and sipped. “What brings you out so early on a Saturday?”

“Work.” Less nonchalant and more annoyed. This pleased him for some sick reason.

“I had a run. Thanks for asking. After this I’m heading over to Tate and Matt’s for a barbecue later today. I’ve promised to be quizmaster. Beth said she invited you.”

She sighed and looked up, tapping her pen quickly. “Don’t let me keep you.”

“I like the glasses.” Ignoring her weak attempt to shoo him away, he raised his coffee in her direction. “Sexy.”

She tried not to smile, he saw her struggle and then she lost it, shaking her head. “She did invite me. I can’t because I’m taking Chris with me to Macon later today. I have some things I need to deliver to work.”

“He’s been showing improvement, Lil. You’re doing a good job.”

“Lily. And thank you. I hope so. Christ, the boy is going to make me start attending high school with him at this rate.”

He laughed. “He’s not cutting third period anymore I’m told.”

Snorting, she sipped her coffee. “For such a smart kid, he has no common sense at all. Drives me insane.”

“None of them do. I see it all day long. But the ones who get support from family snap out of it. They go to college and get good jobs. Start families. All the things you want for him. And because you care enough to sit in his class with him until he gets the message, he’ll make it too.”

She gathered her things. “I hope so. I’m off. Have a good day with your family.”

He would have offered to carry her things to her car, but she’d only say no and she didn’t have much anyway. She’d spoken with him, and not entirely about Chris, so things were moving in a positive direction at least.

She paused at the front door, turning back to face him. “Thank you. For all you’ve been doing for Chris. It makes a difference. A big one.”

He watched her leave. Loving those sexy little librarian glasses.

“She didn’t throw her coffee in your face.” William came out and dropped into the booth across from Nathan. “That’s a start.”

“Three weeks ago she would have left when I came in. Progress, bro, progress.”

“They don’t call you the bulldog for nothing.” William smiled at him over the rim of his mug.

“Oh God, I’d forgotten about that.” Tate started that one. When Nathan was a kid he’d scrapped when he needed something, worked and worked until he got it. She said he was like a bulldog when there was something he wanted.