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“Me too,” her mother said. “I’ve been dying to see the island and you shouldn’t have to always be the one to come to me. Though I’m thrilled that Carter has made the time for the last few visits.”
She and Carter had taken a long weekend twice, once was Memorial Day weekend and the other was at the end of June to go visit her mother.
Or in Carter’s case to meet her mother who loved him already and had no problem texting him for things or asking questions when Avery wasn’t around.
“I’m glad you are all here,” Laine said. “We are only waiting for everyone else.”
They were at Laine’s studio having a wine sip and paint night. Ava and Adele were on the way. The two girls were going to paint too, but they’d get juice. Carter’s mother and his sister, Natalie, were also coming.
Laine had said that she could host a private event when her mother visited. Actually, Avery almost pushed her to do it as a girls’ day.
She found it odd that Laine had brought it up so much but then said it’d be a great idea. Maybe her friend wanted to meet more of the people in Avery’s life.
In the past six months, life had been wonderful.
Mike had left the island and she hadn’t heard another word. Carter had told her that Griffin would keep an eye on things and she said that was fine. She got the feeling if she protested it wouldn’t make a difference anyway.
She and Carter were going stronger than ever. They were splitting time between both houses. Though they didn’t stay with each other every night, half the time they did.
Josie had rooms at both places and she seemed content to come and go as long as the dogs and Carter were with her.
The door opened and Vanessa and Natalie came in. “Mom, this is Carter’s mother, Vanessa, and his sister, Natalie.”
Her mother moved quickly to Vanessa. “You’ve got a lovely son. You raised him well.”
“Thank you,” Vanessa said. “He’s always been my easy child.”
“Hey,” Natalie said. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“No,” Vanessa said. “But Carter was the quiet content one.”
“I love him that way,” Avery said.
“Josie,” Adele yelled, running into the room. “I can’t wait to paint. Daddy has Braydon. He said it’s men’s night. I asked if they were having beef.”
She rolled her eyes when Ava laughed. “I don’t understand that.”
“Kids,” Ava said. “But we get wine and then I can try to put something on the canvas that might resemble a flower.”
Everyone took their seats after Laine passed out the wine and arranged the flowers just right. Avery turned when the door opened, thinking that someone was coming in that Laine had to wait on.
“Carter,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
“Thank God,” Josie said. “It’s hard to wait.”
Avery’s head started to swivel around the room. She had no idea what was going on, but everyone had huge smiles on their faces. Vanessa looked as if she was going to cry. Her mother did too.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Carter opened the door wider and Doc came trotting in. “I heard it was girls’ night so Dopey decided to hide in the truck until I was done.”
“Done with what?” she asked. Doc had come trotting over to her like she always did. There was a bow on the big dog’s neck. “What’s this?”
“It’s a gift,” he said. “One year ago today I met you when you came into the clinic. I wanted Dopey to do this as he met you that night too, but again, girls’ day. He’s keeping his distance.”
It wasn’t like Carter to joke like this. Or even talk as much.
“What am I supposed to do?” she asked, laughing. “Just pull the bow off of her?”
