Sweet Tea and Secrets

SWEET TEA AND SECRETS

by

Nancy Naigle

Sweet Tea and Secrets

Copyright © 2011, Nancy Naigle

2
^nd
edition : updated July 2011

Print ISBN: 9780615511719

Cover Art Design by Crossroads Publishing House

Digital release, July 2011

Trade Paperback release, July 2011

Crossroads Publishing House

P.O. Box
 

Emporia, VA 23847

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden, without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author's imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.

Acknowledgements

To my writer friends, thank you for being there through the ups-and-downs of this crazy journey. Grace Greene, Phyllis Johnson and Jerry Hampton, thanks for the endless hours of support and motivation, read after read, re-write after re-write. And Tracy Mastaler for your divine editing powers, I thank you with all my heart. I couldn’t have done it without the support of all of you gals. You are so special to me.

To my family, thanks for never tiring of hearing about my next wild goal. Your unflagging support is a huge gift. I treasure the blessing of having you in my life. Dad, thank you for the wisdom and tenacity to make anything I pursue doable. And to my biggest cheerleader and supportmy mom. Thank you, Mom, for the many talents you fostered in me. We’ve done this together.

And finally, to my dear husband, Mike Holland. You are the inspiration behind every romantic thought, witty banter, and happy ending I write. I love you always and all ways.

Dedication

This book is for every woman who needs a break.

I’ve been there ~ done that.

It’s okay to escape for a little while.

Sweet Tea and Secrets

Welcome to the small town of Adams Grove, Virginia.

Chapter One

Jill Clemmons started each morning with Grandma Pearl’s favorite advice in mind:
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, ‘Oh shit, she's awake!’

Sometimes that was harder than it sounded. Like today.

Even though Jill was thrilled to be half way home to Adams Grove for Pearl’s surprise party, the trip hadn’t come without its own set of hurdles. Bradley was unhappy about her dropping everything to make the trip up from Savannah to Virginia. He’d stomped around and mumbled about it being just two weeks before the big fundraiser and putting the timeline at risk. But Jill was in charge of that timeline and, aside from Bradley’s foul mood, the Kase Foundation wouldn’t suffer one bit by her being gone for one day.

Technically, Pearl’s birthday wasn’t until June 27
^th
,
after
the fundraiser, but keeping a secret from Pearl was next to impossible. If Pearl’s friends succeeded in surprising her, it would be the first time anyone had. There was no way Jill was going to miss this, even if it did mean making the trip up and back in one day. Pearl’s party might not be one of Bradley’s priorities, but it darn sure was one of hers.

The tension from the week evaporated as Jill got closer to Adams Grove, the place she considered home.

She could hardly believe a year had passed since she’d packed all her stuff in Piggly Wiggly bags and hit the road in her little red pickup. Jill never thought she’d live anywhere but Adams Grove. But on the rebound from Garrett Malloy, accepting the fundraiser position with the Kase Foundation had been a no-brainer. In fact, getting away from Garrett by moving to Savannah had been one of the biggest perks of the job. The only downside was being away from Pearl.

As Jill took the exit off I-95, she turned the air conditioner up a notch then fumbled for the button to lower the window of her new BMW. She’d never been one to give two hoots about a fancy car, but fancy cars, big houses and appearances were the be-all, end-all to Bradley Kase. Since he’d become more than just a boss over the past year, she’d let him talk her into trading in Ol’ Red for something he considered more appropriate. She missed that truck and its trusty crank-down windows.

Jill turned on Horseshoe Run Road and a bittersweet smile eased across her lips. She inhaled the scent of honeysuckle and mimosa that filled this stretch of road every summer. When the wind blew downriver, even Farmer Young’s smelly pigs couldn’t drown out the fragrance.

The gentle slope of the terrain had a way of making things seem to appear out of nowhere, but Jill had lived here her whole life so she knew the lay of this land. Just around the curve, the church steeple came into view. Stately oaks lined the road and colorful wreaths dotted headstones between the mighty trunks that framed the old cemetery next to the church.

Gravel crunched beneath her tires as she turned into the church parking lot.

Aunt Milly’s mission was to get Pearl to the party under the guise of preparing for a reception later that evening. They’d park near the kitchen entrance and, hopefully, Pearl would never be the wiser.

Jill pulled around to the far side of the church, near the fellowship hall, and parked among the thirty or so other cars already there.
She grabbed a bag from the passenger seat, went to the locked door, knocked, and waited.

A pretty blonde girl Jill didn’t recognize opened the door, and rushed her inside. “Sorry. We’re trying to be sure Pearl doesn’t sneak up on us.”

“Good thinking,” Jill said.

“I’m Brandy,” the girl said and whisked Jill into the room. “I recognize you from the pictures Pearl showed me. I just moved here not long ago. I work for Floral & Hardy. That’s how I know your grandmother.”

“Well, welcome to Adams Grove. I’m sure you’ll love working for Ted. We go way back.”

“I know. Like everyone knows everyone around here. I love that. Well, I think I do. Anyway, it’s really nice to meet you.”

Jill scanned the room. A banner that read ‘Happy
early
85
^th
Birthday, Pearl’ was duct-taped above a long table filled with home-baked casseroles and desserts. Bright helium filled balloons flanked the banner and so many soared above the chair-of-honor that they threatened to lift it right off the floor.

The thought of her tiny grandmother whizzing around the room above all the guests made Jill laugh.

Brandy pointed out a stove-sized box heaping full of nonperishables set up near the cake. The food drive was Pearl’s pet project, and the cans, a perfect gift.

“She’s going to love this.” Jill hitched the bag up on her hip and added the canned goods she’d brought to the pile. “All this food’ll feed dozens of families for a good long while.”

“It was the best idea ever,” said Brandy, then hurried back to stand guard at the door.

Jill set a brightly wrapped package next to the cake, then took her camera from her purse and snapped a picture.

Mac’s Bakery had outdone themselves. This cake had those creations on
Food Network Challenge
beat hands-down. The three tiers stood over two feet tall. The top layer looked just like one of Pearl’s award-winning chocolate pecan pies; the bottom layer like a knitting basket full of colorful fondant-wrapped balls of yarn. Knitting needles rose high above it with a blue ribbon the size of a dinner plate attached. Just like the one Pearl had won last year. That honor would be up for grabs at the annual Festival Days Bake-Off on Fourth of July weekend. Everyone in the county vied for the coveted award, but Pearl’s pie had won the last three years in a row.

The room buzzed with excitement. Jill took pictures and exchanged hellos with old friends she hadn’t seen since she moved a year ago. Suddenly, the room went dark and a hush settled.

Jill wondered how good an idea it was for fifty people to yell ‘surprise’ at an eighty-five year old woman. But then Pearl wasn’t your average old lady either.

Aunt Milly and Pearl’s chatter echoed from the kitchen. Everyone listened intently for the magic moment. Then, 3-2-1, the door swung open. “Surprise!”

Pearl’s mouth dropped wide. She wagged a crooked finger across the crowd of friends lined up in front of her.

“You little devils,” Pearl said. “You sure know how to scare the puddin’ out of an old girl.”

Everyone cheered. Two young girls bounced up and down, still excited by the anticipation of it all.

Jill hung back, taking in the pleasure of seeing Pearl revel in everyone’s delight. She had her doubts that Pearl had been surprised, though.

“Oh, my. Is this? It is! You know the way right to my heart.” Pearl headed straight for the bin of food. “This will feed so many.” Her eyes twinkled as she turned around. “Thank y’all...all ya’ll...so much.” She swept a tear from the rim of her glasses.

Pearl’s eyebrows shot up when she spotted Jill.

Now
that
was a surprised look. “Surprise,” Jill said.

Pearl marched over to Jill and kissed her on the cheek, leaving a bright magenta smudge that Pearl quickly rubbed in with her thumb. “Maybe I should smooch the other side and make it even.”

“It’s fine.” Jill hugged Pearl. “It’s so good to see you.”

“I knew it was going to be a perfect day today. There was only one contrail across the sky when we drove up,” said Pearl.