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“I highly doubt that.”
“No, really. It’s pretty obvious.”
He stilled. “The two of you talked about me?”
“Of course not. But a woman can always tell when another woman is interested in something she’s had.” Lauren wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“This conversation isn’t natural.”
“But then we aren’t the typical divorced couple, are we?”
“I like to think we’re friends.”
“Oh, we’re more than that, Tommy. I’m crazy in like with you.”
“You’re just not in love with me,” he said, repeating the worn out cliché she’d used when she’d asked him for a divorce.
“Just like you’re not in love with me. Besides, crazy in like is better than love. It lasts longer.”
Before he could respond, she waved a hand through the air. “I know how uncomfortable all this makes you. Talking about feelings and emotions and all that stuff. Let’s get back to something more interesting. Let’s talk about sex.”
“How about we talk about money, instead?”
She gave him a look that said she knew exactly what he was doing. He might be uncomfortable discussing his emotions, but she was equally as uncomfortable when it came to more practical matters. Like how she planned to pay the rent each month.
“You still haven’t cashed any of my checks,” he said.
“Your child support goes directly into my bank account. I don’t know what other checks you’re talking about.”
He glanced once more around the shop. This time noting the lack of customers. “How are you paying for the overhead on this place? Because I know for a fact you’re not taking any money from your parents.”
A flash of anger shot through her baby blues. But only for a second. Her daddy didn’t call her his Sweet Tea for nothing. Lauren Handy Donalan couldn’t stay mad for longer than you could slice a hot knife through butter. Even when you stuck your nose where she didn’t think it belonged.
She straightened back her shoulders and gave him a debutante smile her momma would be proud of. “I’m doing just fine, Tommy. I’m all grown up now. I can take care of myself.”
“Just because you didn’t ask for alimony doesn’t mean you don’t need it or deserve it. Girl, we were married for eleven years. You don’t think I worry about you?”
She stood up on tiptoe once more and kissed him on the cheek. “Please stop sending those checks, Tommy. I don’t need them. And I don’t want them. But I’ll make you deal. If you ever need any money, just ask. I’ll be happy to bail you out.”
Tom knew when he’d been outplayed. Might as well get on with why he’d stopped by in the first place. “So I know it’s short notice, but do you think you can take Henry for the night?”
“So you can spend the night at the senior center? With Allie Grant? Why didn’t you say so in the first place? Of course—” Her face clouded over and took on a serious look. “I almost forgot, Momma and I are taking Daddy to Pensacola this evening. He has an appointment with a neurologist at eight a.m., so we’re driving over to spend the night.”
“How’s your daddy doing?”
“Not great. But I’m hoping this new doctor might have a few tricks up his sleeve.”
As an only child, it had been hard for Lauren living away from her parents, especially when her daddy had begun to show early signs of dementia. After their divorce, Lauren had taken Henry and left Atlanta to move back to Whispering Bay to help her mother. Tom had admired her for that. But he’d missed Henry too much, so he’d quit his job and followed them back home. They might be divorced, but they were still a family. She was the mother of his child and he’d always be here for her. No matter what.
Tom wished he had something encouraging to say, but he didn’t. So instead, he tried to give her a reassuring nod. “Good luck tomorrow. And no worries about Henry. I’ll try my mom. I’m sure she’d love to have him for the night.”
*~*~*
Betsy Donalan was taking an apple pie out of the oven when To
m walked through the kitchen door. She carefully placed it on a cooling rack and stepped back to admire her culinary genius. No one made pie better than his mother. He was tempted to reach out and tear a piece of crust off the edge but that would only earn him a rap on the knuckles.
“Put your fangs back in your mouth. This is for the church meet and greet tonight.” She stretched up to give him a kiss. “You look terrible.”
