Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison

Chapter 16

Hazel

"Momma," Sofia calls my name from the kitchen. “I’m finished." I grab the tray of blueberry scones out of the oven and put them on the stovetop. I’ve been baking all morning long to keep my mind off Reed. Him showing up here this morning shocked me. To be honest, I thought it was either Billy or Casey, which is why I told Sofia to get the door.

Seeing him stand there with his eyes just as red as mine. Both of us looked like we didn’t sleep all night, and I can say I didn’t. I thought about packing it all up yesterday and leaving. I ran it over in my head, but then I looked over at Sofia and knew that she deserved better. She deserves for me to give him a chance and hear him out. For her. She deserves it all. So much so I called work and asked them for a month off. My stomach was in my throat the whole time, and I wondered if they would even give it to me, but I knew if they didn’t, I would give them my resignation letter. I have a good-size savings, and I know I will be able to get a job.

"Be right there,” I say, taking off my oven mitt and walking over to her. I sit down next to her and grab the papers she was working on. "Let’s see what you did here." I smile at her and look at the worksheet she’s working on. "You did good."

"Can we go play outside now?" she asks, and I look over at the stove clock.

"Let me just clean up a bit,” I say. “Why don’t you go and grab a couple of books and read them to me?” I say, and she gets off the chair and runs to the living room, coming back with four books. "Which one are you going to read first?" I ask, wetting a rag and turning to wipe down the counters that are splattered with flour. Something I should have known when I gave Sofia the electric whisk and a bowl of flour. The knock on the door has me stopping, and I look over at Sofia. My stomach sinks and my heart speeds up when I hear the knock again.

I put the rag down, walking over to the door, bracing myself for what is to come. I pull it open, and my eyes widen when I see Savannah standing there. "Hey." She smiles at me and puts her sunglasses on her head. "I’m sorry to just drop in. But I was hoping you had some time to talk to me."

"Oh my gosh," I say, shaking my head. “Please come in." I move to the side, and she comes in. She smells like a garden. Her black hair is in a ponytail as she wears white jeans and a pink shirt. “Please come in,” I say and then smile. “I just took my blueberry scones out of the oven."

She gasps out. “Well, if this isn’t just my day." She follows me to the kitchen. "There she is," Savannah says, going over to Sofia and squatting down beside her. “I must have heard your name over a hundred times today." She taps her nose with her finger. “Were your ears ringing?”

Sofia puts her hands to her ears. “Momma, my ears ring,” she says, making us both laugh, and I shake my head.

"No, honey,” Savannah tells her. “Your ears ring when people are talking about you.” She looks at Savannah, shaking her head.

"They didn’t ring." She looks at me. “Did you hear it?"

"I think I did a bit,” I say, and she just shrugs and turns back to her book.

"Can I get you something to drink?" I ask Savannah as she stands up. “I just made some sweet tea,” I say, walking over to the fridge. “Not going to lie. I have not made that in a while." I take out the glass jug from the fridge.

"I’ll take whatever you are having," Savannah says, getting up. I pour her a glass of sweet tea and one for myself also, grabbing a small plastic cup for Sofia. I grab the lemon icing and slowly pour some over five scones, placing them on a plate.

I place the plate in the middle and look at Sofia, who is already reaching out to grab one. “Don’t you dare,” I say, and she stops midway. “Let me get you a plate,” I say, turning and walking to get small plates. “Okay, which one do you want?" She gets up, leaning over the table. “Pick one.”

She sits there looking at all of them, and I look over and see Savannah with the biggest smile. “It’s a hard choice," she tells her. “But I think they all look good."

"This one." She points at the one nearest to her. I place it on her plate and hand Savannah hers. "You can choose yours,” I say, and she laughs.

I sit now with a plate and choose my own. "Oh my God," Savannah says with a full mouth. “Oh my God." I smile, proud that they turned out good. "These are …" she says, closing her eyes and just savoring them. I take my own bite, and the tang of the citrus hits my tongue right away, and then the sweetness from the fresh berries fills my mouth.

“It’s good, Momma," Sofia says on her knees. “Can I watch television?" I get up, grabbing her plate and her cup, and carry it over to the living room. I put on her show, and she sits down on her little stool watching it.

"I’m having another one," Savannah says when I walk back to the kitchen.

"I made three dozen,” I say, and her eyes get big, and she wiggles her eyebrows.

"How does it feel to be back?" she asks, chewing.

"It’s different," I answer her, taking my own bite. “But then again, it’s like coming home. If that makes any sense."

"It totally does,” she says. “Doesn’t coming home feel good?” Grabbing a napkin and cleaning her hands. “It’s why I came over, actually." I look at her, not saying anything, and I suddenly get hot around my neck, the sweet tea looking to come back up. “I don’t know if you’ve been to town yet,” she says.

"A couple of times,” I say. “When I got to town and then when I went to see Mr. Devlyn."

"I don’t know if you saw the new little strip mall that the town just put in." She takes a bite of her scone.

"The one next to the diner?" I ask, wondering if there is another one and then thinking I really need to go into town and see what else has changed.

"Yes,” she says. “The town decided that it needed more commercial businesses in order to drum up tourists."

"That sounds like a great idea,” I say. “What are they thinking of putting there?”

"So far we have a beauty salon and spa,” she says. “A flower shop, and I was hoping that we could have a little coffee shop."

"Wouldn’t that be too close to the diner?" I ask. “They sell coffee."

"Yes," she says, leaning in now. “But I want a little coffee shop where you can go in and grab a cookie and a latte or iced coffee."

"Yes," I say, nodding my head. “There is one like that right near where we live, and they have the best cheese danishes alive."

"Exactly." She points at me. “That is exactly what I was thinking. Some small tables, opens in the morning, and closes at five."

"I would go," I tell her, and she gets excited. “If I lived here, that is."

"Well, what would you say if I told you that I want to open the shop?” she says, and I tilt my head to the side. “And I want you to be my business partner." My eyebrows pinch together.

"I’m a CPA,” I say. “Do you need help with the books?"

"Well …" She looks down, and I can sense she is nervous. “I was hoping you would help me run it and …" Her voice goes low. “That you would handle the baking side of the business."

I look at her shocked. “Again," I say. “I’m a CPA, not a baker."

"That bread you had was the best bread I’ve ever had, and it’s not just me. Everyone who came and had it has called Charlotte, asking for her recipe." My mouth hangs open. “These scones would sell out in thirty minutes."

"I’m not here for much longer,” I say. “I have a month, and then I have to be back at work. I just came to tie all the loose ends together."

"What if you didn’t leave?” she says, and I just sit here. The thought never ever crossed my mind.

"I have a life,” I say. “A full-time job. Friends. Sofia’s school."

"You could have that here and be your own boss,” she says and holds up her hand. “Don’t tell me just yet. Why don’t you think about it and let me know?"

"I just sold this house to Casey,” I say. “I have a …" I don’t continue talking because she leans over and puts her hand on mine.

"Maybe this was meant to be,” she says, looking at me, her blue eyes crystal. “Maybe you were meant to come home and stay." Thoughts in my head spin around and around as I think of her words. "You don’t have to make a decision right now. Why don’t you meet me in a couple of days and we can look over things?” she tells me. “Then you can decide."

She pushes the chair away from the table. “Let me pack up some scones." I get up and grab a Tupperware container and put a dozen in there, placing the lid on it but not closing it. “You have to let it have a little air, or they will get soggy,” I say, and she grabs it from me and smells them.

"I might have to eat one in the car,” she says, turning to say bye to Sofia.

"Thank you,” she says when I walk her to the door and outside. “For the hospitality."

She gets in the car, and I watch her drive off. Sitting on the porch looking out at the driveway and then turning to see the flower bed, I wonder if it’s meant to be. I can almost hear Pops’ voice clear as day talking to me. “You never know until you try." The tears now come without me even knowing. "I really wish you were here, Pops,” I say, my head hanging.

"No." I shake my head, getting up now. “It was not meant to be. None of this was meant to be,” I say more to myself. “In a month, I will say goodbye to this town just like I did six years ago." I walk back inside, and I can hear Pops laughing in the distance.