The Chocolate Garden (Dare River Book 2) by Ava Miles

it three times until it was perfectly straight. Then she raised her head and forced fake cheer into her voice.
    “Shall we have some dessert?”
    Everyone played along. Tory took the lead in conversation when Daddy went mute. He pulled his éclair apart without raising any to his lips. There were hard lines around his mouth and eyes, and he looked older than he had since his recovery from the heart attack. Everyone ate sparingly. No one asked for seconds.
    Even Mama was quiet, a relief.
    As if by pre-arranged agreement, everyone quickly rose from the table after a polite amount of time had passed. Mama announced she was heading to the powder room. Yes, her mama still called it that.
    Everyone else took off for the family room, but Tammy hung back. Rye waited too and put a protective arm around her, then kissed her cheek gently. The gesture made her want to weep.
    “Thank you, darlin’. It was a lovely gesture, hosting our wedding breakfast.”
    They had come so far over the past year. He’d done everything he could to help her and the children. Yet, in the space of minutes in the kitchen, Mama had raised a spotlight on all the dark corners still inside Tammy, shadows she couldn’t escape.
    Well, no one was going to pity her, least of all herself.
    “I should have stuck to my guns and insisted Mama couldn’t come this morning,” he said. “What did she say to you?”
    “It’s of no account. I love you, Rye,” she said, embracing him, voicing the words she’d only said to him a few times.
    “I love you too, darlin’,” he whispered.
    She forced herself to step back and meet his troubled gaze. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for everything you’ve done for me and the kids.”
    He grabbed her slight shoulders. “Don’t you dare let Mama affect you this way. I mean it.”
    “But, Rye—”
    “I won’t hear any more. There’s no need to say thanks. We’re family. You and the kids mean…everything to me.”
    God, were those tears in his eyes? She had to blink furiously so her own wouldn’t spill over.
    “I’m afraid this has ruined the beginning of your honeymoon.”
    “Like that could happen with my beautiful bride.”
    She let out a shaky breath. “I’m so glad. I only want the best for you and Tory.”
    “We know it, and we feel the same about you. Come on now. Let’s finish this charade.”
    When they reached the family room, Tory was playing with Rory and Annabelle on the floor. She and Rye exchanged a look that spoke volumes.
    Amelia Ann popped off the edge of the couch and rushed forward. “Daddy said he and Mama are leaving right now. I’ve never seen him more upset. He all but dragged her upstairs to pack.”
    Even though it was a relief, Tammy gripped Rye’s arm. “This is all my fault.”
    “I don’t want to hear any more of that talk,” he said. “Mama is to blame for all of this. Heck, I should never have allowed her to come to the wedding in the first place.”
    “We were trying to keep that channel open, Rye,” Amelia Ann reminded him. “For Daddy’s sake.”
    He scoffed. “Like it did any good.”
    Her sister hugged her and asked, “Tammy, do you want to talk about what happened in the kitchen?”
    No. She didn’t want the rest of her family to know people thought she was pitiful.
    “It’s nothing out of the normal, honey,” she forced herself to say. “You know Mama. Rye, I just want you and Tory to go off and have the best honeymoon ever.”
    No one moved, so she walked over to the children and clapped her hands. “Rory. Annabelle. You ready to go outside and play?”
    Annabelle jumped up. “Will you push me on the tree swing before you go, Uncle Rye?”
    He picked her up and tucked her close. “You bet.”
    Rory approached her with one of his red trucks fisted in his hand. “Mama? Are you okay?”
    She forced a smile. “Of course, sugar. I have the best family in the world.”
    Fifteen minutes later, they were playing with the children out on the