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“You look lovely in pink,” Pearl said with a huge smile.
“Doesn’t she?” Hattie asked. She clapped her hands together gleefully. “It’s so nice to have such good-looking young people around the place. It almost makes me feel young again.”
“I’ve always avoided wearing pink due to my hair color,” Callie confessed. “There’s some rule about how redheads shouldn’t wear pink.”
“Rules are meant to be broken,” Jax drawled as he pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit down.
Callie sat down and murmured a thank-you as she witnessed an exchange between Miss Hattie and Pearl. They looked like two cats who had swallowed the cream. A sudden hunch swept over her. They were matchmaking between her and Jax. It was written all over their faces. She didn’t know whether to applaud their boldness or scowl at their lack of good sense. She and Jax would not make a nice pair. They had been like oil and vinegar ever since the days when Jax had stuffed frogs inside her backpack in grade school.
The table was set with a beautiful, peacock-themed China set. Vibrant napkins the color of cornflowers sat next to the plates. A gorgeous, sterling silver, multi-leveled platter held numerous delights. Chocolate covered strawberries. Lemon tarts. Tea biscuits. Scones. A vase of stunning roses sat in an over-sized teacup, adding a sweet, romantic aspect to the table decorations.
There was so much food to partake of—Callie didn’t know where she would start. Deviled eggs, cucumber sandwiches, heart-shaped finger sandwiches and mini quiches.
“It’s a lovely day to have tea outside, but it’s a bit hot for me. I can’t seem to withstand the heat these days,” Hattie said. She picked up her napkin and coughed gently into it.
Pearl shot her a look filled with concern. Callie studied Miss Hattie. She looked a bit ashen. Perhaps it was her imagination.
“It’s beautiful in here. I’ve always loved this room,” Callie said, gazing around at the purple-themed room.
“This was always my mother’s favorite room,” Hattie said. “It was the one place other than her boudoir that she could come and find peace amidst the storms. This room was off-limits to the guests, you know.”
“Smart move,” Jax said with a wink. “With all those guests flocking to Savannah House, it must have been nice to have a place all to herself.”
“Yes,” Hattie said with a sigh. “Mama loved Savannah House but she did rebel against the lack of privacy. Daddy on the other hand loved all the hustle and bustle of the guests.”
“Help yourselves to the fixins’,” Pearl said as she stood up from her chair and began pouring tea into the cups.
“Thank you, Pearl. These old hands are too shaky to serve tea anymore. I don’t mind getting older in theory, but I do resent the ravages of time,” she said with a sigh.
“You’re doing just fine,” Pearl said.
Jax reached for the silver tong and helped himself to several sandwiches and treats. Callie felt the corners of her mouth twitching with amusement at the way he had filled up his entire plate. He turned towards her and motioned toward the platter. “Would you like me to serve you?”
“Sure, but just a few sandwiches and maybe two of the desserts,” she said smoothly, not wanting Jax to overdo it.
After Pearl finished pouring the tea and sat back down at the table they settled in for tea time. Conversation flowed easily amongst them at the table.
“Mmm. Everything is delicious,” Callie raved as she bit into a delectable tart.
“You can thank Pearl for that. My cooking days are long over,” Hattie said. Her expression was a tad somber.
“My cooking days are long over as well,” Jax teased. “That last meal I burned sealed the deal.”
Everyone laughed, especially Miss Hattie. Callie loved seeing her so happy, especially since she had caught a few glimpses of her looking melancholy. She smiled at Jax, feeling grateful that he had lightened Miss Hattie’s mood. He’d always had a knack for making people laugh. Back in the day he’d been the class clown. Because they’d always been at odds she’d never really appreciated it—until now.
Pearl clapped her hands together. “Oh, Callie. I forgot to tell you the good news. Morgan is coming back home.”
Callie covered her mouth with her hand. She felt a burst of joy so intense she thought that she might burst into tears. With Morgan back in town perhaps they could reach out to Charlotte and make a foursome for get-togethers.
“I’m sorry for getting emotional,” she said in a voice choked with emotion. “It’s just so wonderful to know she’ll be back where she belongs. I’ve missed her so.”
“I just know you girls will get back on track again,” Pearl said, tears glistening in her eyes.
“You girls were the best friends I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hattie added. “I had a few friends like that, but they’ve all gone on to glory now.”
Callie felt the heat of Jax’s stare and she turned towards him. His eyes were full of questions. Callie knew that he was wondering about the rift amongst her group of friends. Jax had grown up with all of the girls and he knew each one fairly well.
“We’re going to get back on track,” Callie said in a firm voice. “I know we will. Friendships like that are worth their weight in gold.”
