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“Nah,” Maggie said “It’s a low-key thing How are the flowers co? Have you started?”
“They’ll be beautiful,” Parker said She hoped that was true Lavinia hadn’t see
Maggie checked her watch “Oops Gotta fly I have to pick up ht, I’m not sure it’ll fit” She waved and bopped into the kitchen The woain, with tall, dark and smokin’ as her fiancé, ouldn’t she? Plus, she was a thich Parker had always thought would be so cool A brother, too, Chantal’s husband Nice, to have siblings Or so Parker iined
“She’s back there cleaning,” Althea said incredulously, craning her head “She’s getting !”
“She seems pretty laid-back”
“Hey, Parker, guess what?” Georgie said, stopping by their booth “I got a tux I’m the best man For Malone”
“I heard that, Georgie That’s really great Are you nervous?”
“A little bit I’ve been practicing” He sole over the ring
“Looks like you’ve got it nailed,” Parker said
“Thanks! It’s a nice day, isn’t it? Well, I have to mop the kitchen floor Bye!”
“Bye, pal”
Althea was frowning Sort of Must be time for another shot of botulism if Parker could read her expression “Parker, how do you know all these people?” she asked
“Small town, Mom”
“Well, you fit right in, don’t you?”
Parker paused “I guess Lavinia helps I’”
Althea shrugged
“So what’s going on, Mo a sip of her milk shake
Herto exaht you inherited the Pines”
“So you said”
“And I thought you ht be able to loan me some money”
Parker’s head jerked back
Her ed a cherry tomato with her fork “Parker, I know it seems like I’m well-off, but the truth is, I’m not Maury is, and the shriveled old bastard keeps ood, so things like clothes and jewelry, that’s fine Anything else, anything that’s just for et it”
“I thought you were really happy,” Parker said “Bliss incarnate and all that”
Her mother rolled her eyes “No I was eht But it turns out that he has control issues, in addition to that bowel thing Honestly, I should be getting hardship pay”
Parker set down her burger, appetite gone “Why don’t you leave him, Mom?”
Althea blushed “I’m sixty-two years old, honey I need to stay married Hoould I support myself? Really?”
Parker sed, her eyes stinging “I wish you’d told iven you money, Mom” She reached across the table and held her iven her mother as much as she needed Not anymore
“I was holding out hope that Maury and I would be happy again I was in denial, whatever” She paused “Aunt Julia toldto inherit her place, and for whatever reason, I thought she meant the Pines You know I never kept in touch with theh school Then Lavinia called me and said you’d been in jail, and I really did want to help But I also thought…well I thought I could leave Maury and start over”
“You’d really leave him, Mom?”
“I think he’s going to divorce n, I don’t have much”
“Oh, Mom I’m sorry I can’t help there But you have three ex-husbands, Moton money?”
Another huge sigh “The Harrington one before I was born All that was left was the memory of what it was like to be rich and a little set aside for my education At least there was that And when this all happened with your father, and I heard about your trust fund, I wanted to kill hiave all your book money to the World Wildlife Fund—”
“Save the Children”
“Sahed and rubbed her forehead “At least you’re young Ish You could probably get Collier to marry you by the end of the year He’s clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed Me, I’ll have to look for someone even older than Maury”
“You could always…” Parker’s voice trailed off
“I could alhat, dear? Become a party planner?”
She had a point Althea had never worked, outside of the tre Father Ti out”
Herdependent on a man seems to be the way of the world My world, anyway Father or husband, you and I have always had so the bills”
Ouch “Guess those days are done”
“I guess so I hope you’ll be all right I’d feel so much better if you did marry Collier”
Poor Althea She see dependent on otten her where she was, but she wanted the sa for Parker
“I’ll be fine, Moreat education, and I’ll even have a little nest egg when I sell Julia’s house”
“That shack?”
“That shack”
Althea nodded “I do have a little squirreled away, honey If you need it If Nicky needs it”
Parker’s heart softened in a rush “Thank you, Mom But we’ll be okay I promise”
Althea opened her eyes “Yes You alere a tough little customer” She smiled more broadly “And Collier is definitely interested, if you need a backup plan”
“He’s not my type”
“Do you have a type, dear?”