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ChapterFour
Mary Elizabeth removed the batch of cookies from the oven and placed them atop the cast iron grates to cool.Cheryl had sent out a text to the Babes letting them know Ms.Georgia had left the house to Hadley and that Hadley was staying in town a few days to look things over.
Mary Elizabeth wanted to do all she could to welcome her goddaughter to the neighborhood and hopefully spend as much time with Hadley as she could to get her to open up about the sadness she tried and failed to hide.
Her phone bleeped out yet another notification, and she glanced at the face to see Rayna Jo responding to the news.
Rayna Jo worked at the home decor and gift shop she co-owned with her twin, Adaline, so Mary Elizabeth told the ladies her plans to put together a welcome basket of goodies.
Texts quickly filled the screen from Rayna Jo, telling Mary Elizabeth to stop by the shop and add whatever she had made to a basket Rayna Jo would put together.Tessa mentioned having a housewarming shower for Hadley, but Cheryl quickly nixed the idea until Kyle and the kids could join Hadley and be part of the fun.
Mary Elizabeth hoped Cheryl would keep her criticism in check where Hadley was concerned.Cheryl had always had high expectations, and while she could be sweet and gentle and generous in many ways, in others she came across as controlling and demanding.
Once, years ago, Cheryl had walked into Mary Elizabeth’s home when all three of her girls were home for the summer on school break.The house was a mess of toys and blankets, dog hair and dirty dishes, and Cheryl had turned up her nose and said, “Well, obviously you haven’t been cleaning today.”
Considering Cheryl had one childanda housekeeper, and Mary Elizabeth had three children and no housekeeper, she’d found the statement not only hurtful but spiteful.That side of Cheryl emerged every now and again, and despite Cheryl’s intrinsically good qualities, it was that bad side that lingered long after she left and often cast Cheryl in a negative light.
Mary Elizabeth removed her apron and picked up her phone yet again.She sent a note out to her daughters that she’d made cookies and wished they would stop by to enjoy them.She also informed them of Hadley’s new home.
Allie stayed busy with her babies on the other side of town, while Sophia tried to conquer the banking world in Charlotte.Isabel…
Isabel was an artist and after a lifetime of ups and downs and wrong turns, she’d recently met and married the love of her life and now split her time between Carolina Cove and New York City.
“Sweetheart, those smell amazing.”
Mary Elizabeth turned and found Adam striding toward her.Her husband had just turned sixty-five but looked a good ten years younger.“I thought I heard you come in.Still warm from the oven.Have one.”
“You’re an angel.”
“What are you doing home?”
“I forgot to get signatures from Hadley last night before she left.Did you know she’s still in town?”
“That’s why I’m making her favorite cookies.”
He shook his head and winked at her.
“Of course you knew.Well, thankfully Jerry mentioned Hadley had stayed the night, so I stopped by on the way.I’m going to change and get my clubs.”
“Ah, Judge Denson?”
Adam nodded.
He and the judge had a standing golf date.“Take sunscreen this time—and a hat.”
Adam plopped a cookie in his mouth and chewed before giving her a kiss tasting of everything chocolatey and good.
“I will.Wish me luck.He’s been practicing.If he wins, I’ll have a heck of a bar tab.”
“Just have fun.You work too hard.”She worried about him spending his life at that desk, poring over files and cases and books.
Adam hugged her and she welcomed the embrace, leaning on the man she loved with all her heart.
“Give my best to Hadley.See you tonight.”
Adam left the room as quickly as he’d entered, and Mary Elizabeth said a prayer of thanks for her life.
Things had worked out well, even though when Adam had proposed all those years ago, she hadn’t truly loved him.Oh, she’d cared for him.A lot.But it had taken time, experiences together, to findlove.Now she wondered how she could ever live without him and hoped to never find out.
