Page 44 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

The dining room table stretched nearly the whole length of the room, covered in white linen and filled with desserts: bundt cakes, mini pound cakes, lemon bars, cookies, cobblers, and cheesecakes. Each dessert sat on a vintage platter with a handwritten name card in front.

“Oh, this is serious,” I whispered.

Camille laughed.

“We’re very committed to carbohydrates.”

“I can see that.”

She led me toward the dessert table.

“I’ll put your cake here.”

“No, let me.”

I carefully lifted the glass dome and placed my cake near the center of the table. Conversations around the room paused just enough for people to glance over.

“Now who brought that?” Simone asked from across the room.

“Maci,” Camille answered.

Nia wandered over first.

“Girl.”

She bent down with a flourish and took a deep breath in.

“I don’t even need a slice yet.”

Tasha joined her.

“That glaze looks homemade.”

“It is,” I answered.

“You zested fresh lemons?”

I nodded. “I always do.”

Jade smiled.

“Somebody knows what she’s doing.”

I felt my cheeks get warm.

“It was just something my grandmother always made.”

Miss Evelyn walked slowly to the table, her cane tapping gently on the hardwood floor. She looked at my cake for a moment, then turned to me in silence. A small smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

“My goodness,” she murmured.

“That’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

She looked back toward the cake.

“Some recipes deserve to stay in the family.”