Sweet Tea and Secrets (2 page)

“That is good.” Jill and Pearl had made it a practice to count the condensation trails behind the jets that soared across the sky. Less than three or four was a rare and lucky day.

Pearl clapped her hands. “What are you doing here? You have that big shindig coming up. How did you get away?”

“Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I can’t stay over though. I’ll be heading back tonight.”

Pearl raised a penciled brow, and tsked. “I’m not surprised. You work way too hard, my dear, but I’m delighted you’re here now.”

“I’ll be back once the fundraiser is behind me. I can’t wait to spend some time with you.”

Pearl squeezed Jill’s hand. “I’d love that.”

Jill lifted two plastic champagne flutes of sweet tea from the table. She took a sip from one and handed the other to Pearl. “Not as good as yours,” she whispered.

“No surprise there. We know the secret.” Pearl said, and then turned her attention to the voices blending into the best round of
Happy Birthday
ever. Only two candles stood tall on the cake. An eight and a five.

“Thank goodness someone was thinking. We’d need the volunteer fire department here if we had eighty five flames on this cake.” Pearl blew out the candles.

Everyone cheered.

Pearl picked up the knife, then stepped back. “This cake is almost too pretty to cut.”

“I’ve got pictures,” Jill said, raising her camera. “Dig in.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice about desserts.” Pearl cut the first slice, and everyone lined up to get a piece of cake.

A loud knock from the fellowship hall door interrupted the moment.

Everyone’s attention spun in that direction.

“We locked that so you wouldn’t sneak in on us,” someone shouted. “I’ll get it.”

Pearl plopped a piece of cake on a small plate. “That’s probably Garrett. I asked him to come help move tables. I thought we were setting up for a reception.”

Jill froze. “You didn’t.”

Pearl licked frosting from her fingers and then wiped her hands on a napkin.

Jill leaned in. “I knew your hair looked a little too perfect. You knew about this party, didn’t you?”

Pearl didn’t deny it.

“You knew I was coming, and you didn’t invite Garrett to move tables, did you? You’re matchmaking again.” Jill turned to walk away but Pearl grabbed her by the wrist.

“Oh come on, dear,” she pleaded. “It’s my birthday. You two have to talk eventually.

What better time than over cake? It’s a party. Wait right here.” Pearl scurried toward the door.

A warm rush heated Jill’s cheeks. Maybe she was overacting. Maybe it wasn’t even him. Maybe it was just someone who was late. A singing telegram. A stripper. Anyone but Garrett.

But it was him.

She sucked in a breath.
Why did he have to look so good?

Her heart pounded so hard the room began to swim. She turned and high-tailed it down the hall to the sanctuary without looking back until the door clicked behind her.

Out of breath, she stood clutching her chest.

She might have to talk to Garrett someday, but it wasn’t going to be today. The sound of rustling fabric rescued her from the thought of him. When she looked up, a bleached-blonde in an unfortunate red hoop-skirted bridesmaid dress stepped out of the choir room. A young man wearing a tuxedo t-shirt emerged behind her. Both froze when they saw her standing there.

“We just...we were getting something for the bride. She left something back here.”

I bet. Like what? Your virginity?
Jill rolled her eyes.
In church?

The two hurried out, slamming the door behind them.

Jill lowered herself onto the back pew and gazed at the huge white ribbons adorning the first few rows.

The wedding she’d always dreamed of in this beautiful church would never happen now. The day she and Garrett pinky swore their life-long commitment under the monkey bars in the fourth grade, she’d started filling notebooks with wedding details. She’d even sketched out the fancy five-layer cake she’d have Mac create just for her. Delicate pink rosebuds and soft green buttercream vines would climb the layers of shiny white fondant to a topper of double hearts made of sugar pearls. The bridal bouquet would be long stemmed flowers bundled by flowing pink ribbon.

All those sugar-plum dreams were history now. Just like her relationship with Garrett.

She squeezed her eyes closed and shifted her thoughts back to Bradley. He’d been dropping hints that something big was about to happen and she was sure he was going to pop the question, but he’d made it clear that his wedding would be quick and simple, preferably on a beach. The dress she’d dreamed of for her wedding day wouldn’t do well on a beach. Sand and salt water would ruin a beaded satin gown in a hurry, and she wasn’t about to spend that kind of money and then ruin her dress, even if Bradley would.

A cool hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to see Pearl standing there.

“You missed him,” Pearl said, sliding into the pew next to her.

Jill flattened her sweating palms against her pants. “I’m done missing him.”

Pearl harrumphed. “Milly was right.”

“I’m glad someone finally believes it’s over between me and Garrett.”

“No. Not that. Milly says you’re pigheaded.”

Jill sat up straight. “I am not.”

Pearl shrugged. “Yes, you are. Oh, don’t go looking all offended. Sometimes that’s good.”

Jill sat back in the pew.

“Not good this time, but sometimes.”

Jill looked heavenward.
Pearl always won
. Jill changed the subject. “You know, I think Bradley’s going to propose.”

“Oh honey, don’t do something crazy. You don’t want to marry him. You’re not in love with him. You’re in love with the idea of being in love and married.”

“He’s really good to me,” Jill said.

“Don’t confuse material things for love, honey. I know you and Garrett went through some tough times. Trust me, I know about the challenges true love brings, but you two are meant to be.” She tapped the top of Jill’s hand in time with each syllable that followed. “Better to fight for what you really want than to be left wanting what you didn’t fight for.”

Jill laid her head on Pearl’s shoulder. “Your matchmaker radar is off kilter when it comes to me and Garrett. He didn’t want a partner. He wants to plan his future down to the minute with a money-back guarantee before he takes one step forward. That’s not what marriage is about.” She couldn’t tell Pearl what Bradley had told her about Garrett or about the accusations Garrett had made. There was no sense dragging Pearl into that drama. Especially, not a year later.

“I seem to remember someone else wanting things her way, too.” Pearl patted Jill’s hand. “Here’s the good thing about the future. It comes one day at a time. Follow your heart each day. You’ll get where you’re supposed to go.”

“I love you, Grandma Pearl.”

“Aw, honey. You haven’t called me that in years.”

“I know. I’m suddenly feeling like a little girl again.” When Pearl took the role of parent and grandmother, Jill had started just calling her Pearl. Grandma Pearl was more special than a grandma could ever be.

“Forgive me for the stunt with Garrett?” Pearl asked.

“You know I can never be mad at you.”

“Good and when you come back, I’ll tell you the story of all love stories. You think you and Garrett had problems...” She raised her hand to Jill’s cheek. “Sometimes love requires great sacrifice.” Pearl brushed Jill’s bangs from her face. “Love’s kind of like sweet tea. The secret is all in having the patience to let it steep.”

Stories. Pearl had a million of them. Jill had a feeling Pearl made up most of them to suit her point, but it didn’t matter. They were always spellbinding.

Jill stood. “Come on. Let’s go back to your party. I brought you a special little something.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, when you see what it is, you’ll know I had to. You’re going to love it.”

They walked back to the fellowship hall and filled plates with homemade goodies before sitting at one of the tables with a crowd of friends gathered together to celebrate.

Aunt Milly rushed toward them with her camera. “There you two are. I need pictures.”

Pearl tucked a raw broccoli floret behind her ear and leaned in with a huge smile.

Chapter Two

Nearly two weeks after Pearl’s surprise party,
Jill zigzagged through the ballroom of the Harbour Lady Hotel. The elite of Savannah filled the grand room. Guests posed in their finest attire, mingling and one-upping each other with fat donations to the Kase Foundation.

Jill’s pride swelled in awe of the funds she’d helped raise.

This ought to ruin the devil’s day.

Genuine or for show, it didn’t really matter because their donations would all go to a good cause. The special camps the Kase Foundation funded were designed to position youth for great things. What better way to invest in the future than through the children? Planning this fundraiser had taken a year of long hours, but tonight the late nights and early mornings were paying off in dollars—
big
dollars—that far exceeded the Foundation’s goals to fund youth camps.

Tonight’s event was a heck of a lot bigger than any Ruritan Club BBQ she’d helped out with back in Virginia, but the same strategy had worked. Even the video montage was a big hit with this hoity-toity bunch of Savannah socialites. Seeing themselves on the screen, larger than life, fed their hungry egos and translated into an extra few digits in donations.

“How’s the best fundraiser the Kase Foundation has ever had?” Bradley had stepped up behind her and whispered into her ear.

His breath tickled her neck. “You’re not biased, are you?” Jill leaned against him and scanned the room. “Can you believe this night?”

“You’ve exceeded my every hope.” He spun her around to face him, then swept her into the crowd of dancing couples. “Tonight is perfect,” he said, never breaking frame. “You are perfect. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Her insides swirled in time with the fine layers of her gown that swept her ankles with each turn. She’d never felt so elegant or so proud.

“
Still right on schedule, too,” Jill said. Bradley would announce the silent auction winners next—the finale. Then, they’d call it a night. “I’m glad we’re sharing this special moment.”

“Oh, it’s not over yet,” he said.

Excitement flickered in her belly.
He’s going to propose. Tonight.
She took in a deep breath to steady her trembling legs and help her keep pace with Bradley’s smooth movements.

Bradley gave a nod of recognition to a tall man standing to the side of the dance floor. “Duty calls. I’ll be back.” He dropped a kiss in the nook of Jill’s bare neck, and then he was gone—swept into the sea of black suits.

Jill accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and eased into a seat at a corner table. Her work for the night was done. Someone else was in charge of the closing tasks.

She smoothed her gown and lifted the glass to her lips. The bubbles tickled her nose, but the cool liquid relaxed her. Jill clutched the black diamond marquise pendant on her necklace and slid it back and forth against its chain. The habit had broken more than its fair share of necklaces over the years, but the zipping sound had a soothing effect on her when she was in a crowd.