Page 110 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

I paused and took a deep breath.

"But before I agree to anything, I think you all deserve to know something."

The room fell silent.

"Camille wasn't the first president."

“I mean, we know that. The club has been around for years.”

People glanced around the table, looking confused.

"I'm talking about recent years. This club was started to help women who had nowhere else to go."

"It wasn't meant for revenge. It wasn't meant to settle personal scores. And it sure wasn't meant to hurt innocent people."

Jade frowned.

"What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is," I picked my words carefully. "Years ago, someone used the Lemon Pound Cake Club for something it was never meant for."

Danielle blinked.

"Camille?"

I waited before answering. Instead, I just said,

"Sometimes the biggest danger isn't from people outside the sisterhood. It's the one leading the group."

The room grew quiet.

Simone finally whispered,

"Who was the innocent person?"

I stared down at my hands.

"I'm not ready to answer that."

Not yet.

◆◆◆

The last car pulled out of my driveway just after nine. I finished cleaning up and started getting ready for bed.

A soft knock sounded at the front door. When I opened it, Miss Evelyn stood on the porch, her purse tucked under her arm.

"Sorry Bingo kept me, but I figured you'd still be awake."

"I don't think sleep is coming anytime soon."

She nodded and came inside. We sat together in the living room. Miss Evelyn pulled a small black hard drive from her purse and placed it on the coffee table between us.

I frowned.

"What's this?"

"I've been holding onto it."