Lessons of a Lowcountry Summer by Rochelle Alers Read Free Book Online Page B

summer since Ashlee was six years old, but now it’s time for my mother and father to have their grandchildren. They will be coming down next week to stay here . I will draw up the necessary documents giving them joint guardianship with Lee in my absence. Whatever you and Mitchell have planned for my children will have to be approved by my parents.”
    â€œWhat about Lee? He is their father.”
    â€œLee will go along with whatever I say.” There was a threatening edge to the softly spoken statement.
    â€œI thought you had worked through your propensity for revenge during your marriage counseling sessions. Lee still harbors enough guilt about his indiscretion without you bringing up the past.”
    Rebecca shook her head slowly. “I’ve forgiven Lee. He’s the one who hasn’t forgiven himself.”
    â€œThat’s because he knows you’ll use his mistake to get your way.”
    â€œGood afternoon, Georgina.” It was the first time she’d called her mother-in-law by her given name. “I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t see you to the door.”
    Rebecca walked out of the parlor, leaving Georgina staring at her back. She still had to determine where she planned to summer. She had narrowed her search to three Lowcountry Sea Islands: Edisto, Hilton Head, and McKinnon. The latter was the more remote and lesser known, which meant it would be less populated.
    McKinnon Island. She hoped it would be as mysterious and laid-back as the printed material in the brochure depicted it to be. Located south of Hilton Head Island, and southeast of Daufuskie Island, McKinnon Island had yet to garner the attention of developers who had forced out many of the longtime descendants of African slaves and ex-slaves to put up hotels, golf courses, and private residential communities.
    She walked down a wide hallway to the rear of the house and into the climate-controlled patio, where she sank down to a chintz-covered chaise. Kicking off her sandals, she closed her eyes and rehearsed what she wanted to tell her children about the plans she had made for their summer.
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    Lee returned within minutes of his mother’s departure. Rebecca stared at him as he stood at the entrance to the patio. He had come back earlier than she had anticipated.
    He walked in and sat down on the side of the chaise. Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Good afternoon.”
    Rebecca gave him a narrowed look. “Your mother came to see me—unannounced.” She related her conversation with Georgina without dropping her gaze. It was apparent that Lee was as shocked as she had been at Georgina’s reference to her acting like a drug-addicted welfare tramp.
    A muscle in his lean jaw twitched. “I’ll talk to her. I’d called her to let her know that you were going away for the summer. I never imagined she would come here and say those hateful things to you.”
    â€œThere’s no need to say anything to her, because it’s not going to change her opinion of me.”
    Cradling her face between his hands, Lee stared deeply into Rebecca’s eyes. “Wrong, darling. My mother is still angry because I did not marry the girl she wanted me to, but you are the woman I fell in love with and married. I will not put up with her insulting you.”
    â€œLet it go, Lee.”
    He shook his head. “No, Rebecca, I won’t.”
    She placed her fingertips over his mouth. “I’m begging you to let it go.”
    Closing his eyes, Lee nodded. “Okay, baby.”
    Rebecca traced the outline of his sensual mouth with her fingertips, then kissed him. It wasn’t the burning, passionate kisses they’d exchanged in the past, but one that was soft and healing.
    Gathering her into his arms, Lee shifted and positioned her to sit between his outstretched legs. He rested his hands over her flat middle. “When are you going to tell the