Page 83 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"Said it was important."

I looked over at Camille’s house. From my porch, I noticed some movement. A few of the ladies were already crossing the street.

Miss Evelyn set her glass on the porch railing. "Well." She straightened the front of her blouse. "I suppose we'd better see what's going on."

The four of us walked across the street together.

When we arrived at Camille's house, we gathered in the foyer. Camille stood in the middle, holding onto the console table as if she needed it to stay upright.

The bouquet rested next to her. There were white lilies, yellow roses, and fresh lemon branches tucked among the flowers. Whoever sent it clearly spent a lot.

“You okay?” Danielle asked, stepping closer.

Camille blinked, like she had forgotten we were all there.

“I’m… I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Nia said softly.

“I just wasn’t expecting something like this.”

Simone looked over at the flowers.

“Who sent it?”

“I don’t know.”

“The card?”

Camille paused.

“It wasn’t signed.”

Miss Evelyn looked at the flowers, then at Camille.

“What did it say?”

This was the first time since we arrived that Camille seemed uneasy.

“It was probably just somebody trying to get under my skin.”

“Camille,” Danielle reached for her hand. “What did the card say?”

Everyone waited. Finally, Camille let out a breath.

“It said…”

She swallowed. “Your friends don’t even know the real you.”

The women looked at each other, confused.

“And what else?”

Her voice got so quiet it was almost a whisper.

“Sometimes neither do you.”

No one said anything. Simone frowned.