Melanie left us, promising to return with our ice teas.
“Does it bother you that Hunter’s constantly in Nashville?” I asked.
“He’s notconstantlythere. Maybe once a month. And no, it doesn’t bother me. I understand the life of an artist. Anyway, it gives me time to work obsessively while he’s gone so that when he comes home I have more time to spend with him. It works for us. We have mutual understanding of what our professions demand.”
Hunter Sloan, Seraphina’s new husband, was a country music songwriter. Up until he and Seraphina started dating, he’d worked as a bartender at The Pelican. No one had known at that time how many hit songs he’d written before coming to live in Willet Cove. Now that he and Seraphina were married, he was back to writing again.Good for them,I thought, even though it made me feel kind of jealous and mean.
“Anyway, I’m sorry I made you mad,” Seraphina said. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ve lost a few nights of sleep over it.”
I smiled in spite of myself. “That does make me feel a little better.”
“I only want the best for you and Annie. I hope you know that.”
“I do. Of course I do.” Anger lifted from me like the fog over our local beach at mid-morning.
“Why does it bother you that she wants to go to one of these groups?” Seraphina asked.
I was saved from having to answer because Melanie arrived with our ice teas. After she left, Seraphina asked me again. “Seriously, why? Do you know?”
“I don’t like the idea that she has to get help from outside the family,” I said.
“Right. The whole Delphine Delacroix independence thing. Even when relying on others could be in your best interest.”
“I rely on the four of you,” I said.
“Not as much as you should,” Seraphina said. “It won’t cost you anything to share what’s really going on in your head, you know. Or to admit when you need help.”
“I don’t need help. That’s just the point. Which is why I don’t need you interfering with Annie. I’m her mother.”
“I’m sorry.” Seraphina’s green eyes misted over. “I didn’t know what to do. She begged me. When I think of what she’s gone through, what she saw—it just breaks my heart.”
“Yeah, I know. It does mine too.” I ripped open a bag of sugar and dumped it into my tea. “I’m going to let her go to the teen one.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Seraphina dabbed at her eyes with a napkin.
“Did you know Dorian Flynn attends the support group?” I blurted out.
One auburn-hued eyebrow shot up. “Annie mentioned it. Why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
“Did Annie tell you he was there?” Seraphina asked.
“Yes.”
“And?” Seraphina prompted.
I told her the story of discovering the book and Annie’s confession, then my hot, mad dash to the Ink & Anchor to give Dorian a piece of my mind. “He apologized right away.”
“For what exactly? Talking about a book that was helping him?” Seraphina asked. “Allowing her to buy it?”
Anger flared. Mostly because I knew she was right. “It’s not as simple as that,” I said.
“Sure.”
“Seraphina, you’re totally insufferable since you got married.”
She smiled, her eyes sympathetic. “I know. But back to Dorian. How did he handle scary Delphine and her fury?”
