2

Chapter Two

Caroline took a stroll along the sidewalk to peek in the various storefronts on her way to the grocery store.

Some of the places she remembered remained. The Honey Bear with its bright red tabletops and black-and-white striped booths and chairs. Her dad would bring them home blonde brownies as treats sometimes. She warmed at the memory.

“Caroline!”

A tiny woman in towering heels and equally towering hair hurtled in her direction. Caroline smiled even before she recognized Polly Chase, Edward’s wife and something of a town matriarch.

“Mrs. Chase, hello.” Caroline took the hands Polly held out, squeezing them. She’d always liked the older woman who’d often volunteered in the school and library as Caroline had grown up. Her sons were several years older, but they were each so ridiculously handsome and well mannered it had been impossible for any young woman to have not known who they were.

Polly Chase was lovely. The kind of Southern woman Caroline had always admired. Mrs. Chase wasn’t just old school in her appearance, Caroline bet the other woman never left her house without being done up. She’d certainly never go to the market in pajama bottoms.

At the same time, she managed to pull it off without being judgmental or uptight. She owned herself in ways Caroline found herself admiring greatly.

“You look pretty today.” And Polly did. She wore a blue scarf that brought out the green in her eyes and the gold blonde in her hair too. Her nails were done up nice and she smelled really good.

“Thank you, sweetheart. I was just out visiting a friend of ours recovering from surgery.” She paused a moment. “I am so glad I ran into you today. Are you too busy to have a cup of cocoa and something sweet with me at the Honey Bear?”

This was the boss’s wife and someone she admired. There was no drawback to saying yes.

“That would be wonderful.”

They headed back the other way and into the Honey Bear which was warm and smelled like the best thing on Earth.

The woman behind the counter erupted into a sunny smile when she saw Polly. “Hey there, Mrs. Chase!”

Then she turned to Caroline. “I’m so glad you came in. I’ve been on the look out for you.”

Melissa Gallardo had been an acquaintance back in school but over the last several years they’d become social-media friends. It had been nice to come to Petal and have a friend already.

“I told you yesterday I was finally finishing up with emptying all my boxes and I’d call you.”

“You two know each other? I came in here and planned to introduce Caroline to you Melissa.” Polly grinned.

“We knew each other in school and reconnected online three or four years back. I’m concerned about the impact on my wallet now that someone who loves bags as much as I do lives in the same town.” Melissa winked. “Well then, I assume you two would like a table?”

Polly nodded. “Oh yes, a table would be good, thank you, honey.”

Melissa grabbed two menus and took them to a booth with a great view of the sidewalk. “This way you can people watch.”

“Can you start us off with two hot chocolates? I’m pretty sure we’re going to order something to eat too, but I want to look at the menu first.”

Melissa patted Polly’s arm. “You bet.”

Once they’d gotten their hot chocolates and Polly had ordered vegetable soup for both of them along with some cinnamon buns, she turned back to Caroline.

“Edward is so pleased you’re joining the firm. He’s been talking about you so much it makes me laugh. I think my husband has a crush on your career.”

Caroline laughed and then wondered if she should feel bad. Was that a warning? Was Polly mad?

Polly patted her hand with a chuckle. “Justin—that’s my nephew—anyway, he’s been pushing his dad and Edward to hire some new blood to expand what they do. He came over to the house with your resume when it arrived in the mail a few weeks back. He and Edward talked about you for hours at the table that night.

“And it means Edward can take a step back more often and spend time at home. We have an anniversary trip coming up and lots of grandbabies to love up on, so you help him do that more often.”

“Well, I’m happy to hear that. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in your job, especially when it’s your firm. When Edward gave me a tour of the place, he showed me all the pictures in his office of your growing family. He was so proud of each and every one of them.”

“I would have had ten kids if I could have. Having grandchildren is the best of both worlds because I get to see them all the time and spoil them and hand them over to their parents. It’s funny, I’ve been in love with Edward since I was seventeen years old and I didn’t think it was possible to find new things about him to adore. But watching him with our children and their families, well, it’s something special.”

Caroline smiled but the realization that she’d never have that settled into her stomach like lead. Her mother was dead. Her father was dead.

Polly’s smile fell away. “Oh, dear. I’m sorry, I didn’t even think.”

Caroline shook her head. “You have every right to be happy about things like that. They’re good things.”

“I knew your parents. I liked them both a great deal, and I have never believed that your daddy could have done it.”

Relief washed through Caroline at Polly’s words.

“He looked at her like the sun rose and set with her. And she looked at him right back that way. It just never made sense to me the way the whole thing was handled. I just want you to know that. It’s going to be difficult here in town sometimes. People judge you based on what they’ve heard, not always what they know. But you hold your head up.”

Caroline blinked back tears. “Thank you for that. Truly.”

Their food came, and Melissa tipped her chin to indicate the heaping plate of french fries she’d also delivered. “Fries because why not? They were hot and crispy.” She winked at Caroline.

Caroline popped one in her mouth, wincing at the heat, but they were so good. “So awesome. Thank you. I’ll call you tonight. I need to go grocery shopping first because I have peanut butter and a box of stuffing. I did maybe eat pie for breakfast.”

The Proffits, the people who’d owned and run the Honey Bear for near thirty years, wanted to retire. Their son was an architect and didn’t want the business. Melissa and her fiancé had owned and run a cooking school. Something bad had happened, and Melissa, who was Maryellen Proffit’s niece, had moved to Petal seven months before to take over and run the Honey Bear and seemed to be happy she had.

“Okay. We close up at five thirty so any time after six or so.” Melissa hustled off to help some customers while Caroline and Polly chatted an hour more or so before Caroline needed to get going or she’d never get her grocery shopping done.

On the sidewalk, after Polly had bussed her cheek and click-clacked away in her heels, Caroline could only smile and shake her head at what a total force of nature Polly Chase was. Edward was a really lucky man.