THE SANCTUARY (23 page)

A few months later, Lydia flew back to Georgetown to sign the papers for the sale of her house. She had thought that she would feel sad, but she was relieved instead. That house belonged to another lifetime. She could have done her part of the closing simply by signing the papers and sending them back by courier but had promised Liz that she would keep an eye on Grace. Besides, Grace wanted to make a time capsule like her mom had done. Everyone agreed that was a good idea. They needed to do this—to remember Liz and to celebrate her life. Grace had agreed with Lydia that the money her mom had left for the Sanctuary should be used to help open Camp Sanctuary. Grace and Marla wanted to be counselors. Sonya and Julia were going to help with grant applications, permits, and the business end of it. John had agreed to donate his time with whatever construction projects were needed, such as handicapped accessible ramps.

Lydia would be in charge of activities and volunteers.

Grace had brought a big metal box, and they all put their items into it without telling anyone what they were. It would be a surprise when they opened it in twenty years. Hopefully, it would be the same group that was assembled today. They began by enjoying a classic Carolina Kit with silly and sentimental toasts to Liz and concluded by burying the box beside Liz’s grave.

They couldn’t help but notice that ever since Liz had been buried, a lone heron kept watch over the site. Every so often, the shorebird would swoop down and land on the tombstone. It stayed there for a long time before taking flight. It circled the gravesite before disappearing into the canopy of trees. And then as suddenly as it disappeared, it would reappear again. It was odd given that herons never come as far inland as the maritime forest. They preferred the marshlands. The Gullah believe that people’s souls can inhabit the bodies of animals and that they always return in some form to protect their loved ones. Lydia wasn’t sure if she believed that, but Julia and Grace were happy to believe that her spirit was watching over them and the island.

If it gave them peace, Lydia was content to let them think whatever they wanted. She was glad that Julia and John and their kids had already bonded with Grace. Marla and Grace were already like sisters. There was only a two-year age difference, so they had a lot in common. Julia had told the CGFs that she knew what had happened wasn’t Grace’s fault, so she had no problem with her. She would always treat her like family and watch out for her. But she wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to forgive Liz and John.

To her credit, she was giving it her best effort. Julia and John were going to therapy once a week, and hopefully they would work through their issues in time. Julia was also going once a week on her own to discuss her own issues, including her mother and her many neuroses and phobias. There would be so much grieving and healing for all of them, but they would get through it—together.

Lydia and Chris were on the front porch waiting for everyone. Once they had all convened, they would leave the island and go their separate ways but knew that they would always remain an integral part of each other’s lives.

“I hate to hurry everyone, but my water just broke,” Sonya announced from the doorway.

It looked like there would be a new member of the Carolina Girls Forever before long.

And wasn’t it great that this new life was beginning at the Sanctuary?

READERS GUIDE TO

The Sanctuary

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who’s your favorite character and why?

2. Which character is most like you?

3. Which character most surprised you?

4.
Do you think that Lydia will eventually move back to the Lowcountry? Why or why not?

5.
Do you have a longtime BFF from whom you’ve kept a big secret, or whom you think is keeping a big secret from you? Has it affected your friendship?

6.
What did you think was the funniest scene? The most poignant?

7.
Can you identify with the fears and insecurities of these characters, such as Julia’s many phobias, Lydia’s need to take care of people, Liz’s free spirit, and Sonya’s low self-esteem?

8.
Have you tried any of the Carolina Kit recipes? Are you familiar with Lowcountry cooking? Do you have a favorite recipe?

9.
Did the ending surprise you? Would you have preferred if a different character had died? Would you like to see a sequel? What would you like to happen in the sequel?

10.
Have you ever visited the Lowcountry? If not, did this book make you want to? If you have been to this region, what’s your favorite place and why? A heritage corridor was established to recognize the Lowcountry’s Sea Islands. Is that enough or should they do more to preserve and protect these people, their culture, and this region?

COCA-COLA CAKE

For the cake:

2 cups sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups small marshmallows

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 cup Coca-Cola®

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, sift sugar and flour. Add marshmallows. In saucepan, mix butter, oil, cocoa, and Coca-Cola. Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients. Blend well. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to batter along with eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well. Pour into a well-greased 9x13 inch pan and bake 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and frost immediately.

For the frosting:

1/2 cup butter

3 tablespoons cocoa

6 tablespoons Coca-Cola®

1 box (16 ounces) confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

To make frosting, combine butter, cocoa and Coca-Cola in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour over confectioners’ sugar, blending well. Add vanilla extract and pecans. Spread over cake while mixture is still warm. When cool, cut into squares and serve.

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

For the cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 (8 ounces) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup chopped walnuts

2 cups diced bananas

Do
not
use mixer. Use a spoon or spatula to combine flour, white sugar, salt, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, pineapple, nuts and bananas. Pour into 3x9 inch pans, greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for 25–30 minutes or until cake tests done.

For the frosting:

1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine cream cheese and butter (or margarine). Cream until smooth. Add confectioners’ sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spread onto cooled cake.

SWEET POTATO PONE
(LARGE SWEET POTATO CUT INTO CHUNKS)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup condensed milk

2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan with butter or oil. Place the sweet potato chunks into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until tender for about 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Add the brown sugar, butter, condensed milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt to the mashed potato. Beat with a wire whisk until fluffy. Crack the eggs into the bowl and continue whisking until the mixture is light in color. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown for about 90 minutes.