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I giggled as I bumped into Joanie and chanted along as best I could while falling apart in a fit of laughter. Billie held a sign in her hand and hiked it higher when she spotted us. Pointing up at it, she gave us a thumbs up and cackled. Her sign read, This is my favorite picketing sign.
My mood had shifted entirely thanks to the women of Lilyfield. I felt I could take on the day after going to a protest first thing in the morning. At least I did, until I happened to glance over and see my parents standing in front of the diner, staring at me and my rowdy group of bandits.
CHAPTER 31
Violet
“Everyone, run! He’s got a hose!” Brenda screamed and pointed at where Mayor Stevens stood in front of city hall with a water hose kinked in his hands.
Joanie and I ran into each other in our panic and then we were all screaming as cold water blasted us. Well, to be fair, Mayor Steven’s spray nozzle was set on shower, so the water wasn’t all that terrible. None of us wanted to be wet, though, so we all cleared out of there as fast as we could. Joanie and I ran across the street together, damp and laughing like we were teenagers. Even though I knew my parents were waiting on me, I couldn’t help the smile on my face. There was nowhere like Lilyfield.
Joanie cleared her throat when she saw who she thought were customers standing outside of The One and Only. She fought to keep a more demure smile on her mouth as she held open the door for my parents. “Welcome to The One and Only. Come on in and Violet here will get you taken care of.”
I caught her hand and squeezed. “These are my parents, Joanie. Rose and Steve Channing. Mom, Dad, this is my boss and friend, Joanie Cartwright.”
Chase stepped into the open door and looked at Joanie’s damp state. “A word, Joanie?”
Joanie rolled her eyes. “And that’s the man who thinks he’s my boss. It’s nice to meet you guys. Breakfast is on me.”
“Now, Joanie.” Chase stormed off and left Joanie mumbling about what she thought of him as she followed him.
I laughed awkwardly and gestured for my parents to go inside. “Well? Come on in and I can get you some coffee and something to eat.”
Mom hesitated and looked up at my dad as she clutched her hands together. “Well, your father and I aren’t staying for breakfast. We were up very early this morning and we took a drive to clear our minds. We got breakfast on the road.”
I wrapped my arms around myself and waited for the verbal punches. “Okay.”
“It’s clear you’ve set up a life here already. You… You look very happy, Violet. You have friends and…family. I don’t know what you ladies were protesting, but you looked like you were having so much fun.” Mom sighed like she was struggling with how okay I was. “You were never happy in Kansas with us. Was that our fault? We were harsh. Maybe even judgmental.”
I swallowed a lump of emotion and stepped closer to them so we weren’t blocking the doorway. “I don’t want to make you feel guilty. I wasn’t happy in Kansas, but I could’ve changed things. I just didn’t know how. Lilyfield gave me a place where I can be myself. No one expects anything of me here. I’m disappointing anyone. I’m so happy here and Forrest is, too.”
“Do you think it would be okay if we stayed around for a while? We really do miss Forrest and we’d like to meet you as yourself and not someone we wanted you to be. We won’t be perfect. I still don’t understand being with three men, but if you can just give us a chance, we’ll give them a chance.”
I looked up at Dad. “You feel the same way?”
Mom sighed dramatically as he chuckled. She swatted him and reached for my hand. “Your Dad has been telling me for years that I’m pushing you away. He’s over the moon he was right. We both want this. We both want to try to be better parents for you.”
I searched both of their faces and then looked down at my feet. “You always get another chance with me. I love you both. Forrest loves you guys so much. I know he’d love having you closer.”
Mom squeezed my hand. “And you?”
“If it’s this version of you, I want you here.”
She nodded. “Message received. Loud and clear. We’ll try our hardest, Violet. It can be hard when you think you know what your child’s life should look like to make them the happy. We clearly didn’t know, though. We didn’t have a single clue what you needed.”
“I can’t say I did either, for a while.”
Dad yawned and then scoffed when both of us gave him disbelieving glances. “What? I didn’t get much sleep. I’m tired.”
“Why don’t you guys go back to your motel and get more rest? You can pick Forrest up from school at three and maybe we can have a family dinner tonight.” I hoped I wasn’t putting my foot in my mouth. “The guys, too.”
After taking a deep breath, Mom nodded. “Okay. I’d like that. We got off on the wrong foot with your guys. It’ll be nice to set things straight.”
I laughed and pulled her in for a hug. “Aww, Mom. You don’t have to fake anything. Your eye twitched when you said the word ‘nice’. Don’t strain yourself.”
Dad laughed. “She’s an easy read.”
I hugged him next and then stepped back and took them in as a whole. They looked hopeful. It wasn’t a look I recognized on them, but I liked it. “Dinner tonight then. I’ll call and let the school know you’ll be picking up Forrest today. There’s only one elementary school. You can’t miss it.”
