“She’s… tired with the pregnancy.”
Beverly just nodded as Maxine headed out to find Tiffany. More like Tiffany was self-centered and spoiled. But she was also Maxine’s kid, so she kept her thoughts to herself.
* * *
Maxine hurried out to Tiffany and sat across the table from her. “Are you hungry? Or would you like some tea or something?”
“No, nothing from here.” Her daughter wrinkled her nose.
Maxine silently counted to ten, unwilling to call her out on her snobbish remark. At least her daughter had come here to Magnolia to see her. She focused on that.
“I’ll get something in Sarasota. I want to catch the next ferry. But I wanted to talk to you and see when you’re coming home. Soon, right?”
“I’m not sure.” All these thoughts whirled around in her mind. She needed some time to herself to figure it all out.
“What’s not to be sure about? David and I need you back home.”
They hadn’t needed her for years, but maybe Tiffany did need her now. Just needed the reassurance her mother was near if she needed her. How could she be so selfish as to consider staying here when Tiffany needed her? What kind of mother would she be?
“I have to consider everything. My job. The life I’ve made here.”
“What about me? The baby? Aren’t you going to consider us?”
“Of course, sweetie, I just have a lot to think about.” But why was she even considering not moving back? Tiffany needed her. That should be enough. “I don’t have a job there. A place to live.”
“You could live in the apartment over our garage until you find a place.”
That would solve one problem. She’d seen it once, and it was a cramped, tiny space. Better suited for a small office, which was what Tiffany’s husband used it for. But it would work, she guessed.
“I’ll think about it, honey. Really, I will.”
Tiffany rose from the table and grabbed her tote. “I never thought of you as a self-centered person. I guess I was wrong.”
“Tiff—” She stood up and reached for her daughter.
Her daughter held up a hand. “No, don’t, Mom. You do what you have to do. You always do anyway, don’t you?”
“What does that mean?” She’d done everything for her family. Everything.
“Dad told me how you just wouldn’t do what he needed. Couldn’t become the person he needed you to be. How he’d suggested a lady that would help you pick out clothes for his business functions. I mean, seriously, Mom. Sometimes you dress like… well, someone who doesn’t know how to dress properly.”
She looked down at her worn khaki pants and the Coastal Coffee t-shirt she had on. She’d always preferred comfortable clothes to fancy clothes. But she had picked out nice dresses to wear to Victor’s many functions. Hadn’t she? She did remember him giving her a card for some stylist, but she’d put the card in a drawer, thinking she didn’t need one. But had she needed one? Insecurity swept through her.
“And how you were too busy to do the things he needed you to do. Run the errands he needed done.”
Her mouth actually dropped open. “He said that?”
“You were just never willing to change, were you? To be what he needed, so our family could stay together. And now… you’re only thinking of yourself. Not me. Not the baby. Not David. But I guess that’s how you’ve always been.”
She plunked back down in her chair, stunned. Victor had said this is why they’d divorced? Not that he’d been cheating on her? Was it really her fault that the family fell apart?
“You wouldn’t even get a job.” Her daughter looked at her with such disdain. Such contempt. Was this really how her children thought of her?
Not to mention that Victor had forbidden her to get a job. Even when she’d found one at the local bookstore that would work her hours around the kids’ schedule. He wouldn’t hear of it.
“What have you really done with your life? And now—” Tiffany swept her gaze around the cafe. “Now you’re working in a coffee shop. It’s embarrassing. What will I tell people if they ask what you do?”
“This is a perfectly respectable job. I love working here.” She quickly defended the cafe.
