Mockingbird: a Songbird Sequel

Thirteen: Lennie

The next day, Beau led Snyder to winning the State title. Beau, to the surprise of seemingly no one, was voted MVP and there was a celebratory tailgate party in the parking lot of the field. Beau's spirits seemed to have completely lifted, at least for now, along with Colt's. Colt watched him, but pretty much let him do his own thing at the party, including hanging out with Maggie. My grumpy ol' teddy bear and his squishy heart. I knew there was no way he would stick to keeping them apart, especially with our childhood history. Not that he even could. Even at fifteen, the heart wants what it wants, maybe even more so because you care less about repercussions. My years of heartbreak and turmoil over the brooding idiot I was currently married to was evidence of that. But now? Things were good. Things were really good and I couldn't have been happier.

In what seemed like a blink, summer was over, and we were getting ready to send Beau to his sophomore year of high school. The boy with blond curls and bright blue eyes that I'd fallen in love with the first time I bumped into them at a grocery store, was creeping closer to sixteen by the day. I needed drinks. A lot of them.

Eden had been around for almost a month now. I was shocked by how well she fit into our little group, especially because she was at least ten years younger than the rest of us. She and Carter flirted around pretty much every time we were together, but nothing was going on. Not for lack of trying on Carter's part. Poor guy was super into her, and Eden flirted back, but she kind of flirted with everyone, even Colt. If I was even the least bit insecure, it probably would've bothered me, but honestly, I found it more amusing than anything. It often made Colt uncomfortable, which I thought was hilarious. This man had no idea how attractive he was, and every time Eden let him know, he went beet red, all the way to the tips of his ears. Honestly, it was probably good he was hearing it from someone other than me, maybe then he'd actually believe it.

By the second weekend of August, we'd settled into a good system, even attended a few family therapy sessions. Things by all sense of the word, were improving. Colt and Beau were actually enjoying each other's company, not just co-existing. Sure, there was still the little parent-child squabbles, but those were few and far between.

Eden had recorded a few demos to take back to her label, the boys as her band. She was already trying to pitch them into coming to Nashville to record the actual album. The guys were all into it, all except Colt. The last time he was off recording the album was when Beau's mom died, and though he tried to say that had nothing to do with it, I wasn't stupid. I knew this man like the back of my hand. He was firmly planted on the fence, but I told Eden I'd work on him. He deserved this opportunity. Even if it was only being the backing band on an album and a couple of shows, he and the rest of the guys deserved to have their talent heard. I'd had my time to shine. It was Colt's turn now.

The weekend before Beau was going to start school, the boys decided to head out to the lake house, sans girls. I was okay with it. Aside from Eden, I was staunchly outnumbered, even the dogs were boys, and I was swimming in a sea of testosterone. I could use some wine drinking, face mask doing, nail painting girl time. So, the second Colt, Beau, Carter, and Dylan shipped off, I invited Cora and Melody over to join Eden and I in doing just that.

"Lookie what I got!" Cora exclaimed, pulling the biggest bottle of Fireball I had ever seen out of her bag. I swear the thing was two damn gallons worth of cinnamon whiskey and my stomach was already churning.

"Oh, hell no," I stated, waving my head, and electing to pour myself some Sangria that I'd had brewing all day instead. "I'm not trying to die tonight."

Cora rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop being such a party pooper. We're in your house. You can safely get a little sloppy."

"I don't WANT to get sloppy, Cor. I'm too old for that shit."