by Ali Spooner
Sister Frances was speaking with an attractive, dark-haired woman and when Cadin turned to face the newcomer, the deep green of her eyes threatened to take her breath away. Cadin couldn’t tear her gaze away for several long seconds, until she realized Sister Frances was speaking.
“Renee, this is Cadin Michaels,” Sister Frances said. “She’s a lawyer up your way.”
“Hello,” Cadin said. “Don’t hold the whole lawyer thing against me.”
“Oh, I won’t,” the woman said with a brilliant smile.
“Cadin, this is Dr. Renee Allen.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” she said.
“Likewise,” Renee answered.
“I swapped out for a cold Corona for you,” Sister Frances said.
“Thanks,” Cadin said, finally tearing her eyes away from Renee.
“Have you already eaten, Renee?” Miss Betty asked.
“Yes, I think I was first in line. I had to smell it cooking all night last night.”
“You came over last night?” Sister Frances asked.
“Yes, I came in about three. JC and some of the others were getting the brisket ready to cook.”
“Renee is JC’s baby sister,” Miss Betty explained. “She’s a vet and lives in Stone Mountain.”
“Not far from me then,” Cadin said.
“What brings you to Greensboro from the big city?” Renee asked.
“I’m taking a sabbatical from work to travel for a while,” Cadin answered. Her eyes moved over to the group of girls playing and smiled when she saw Lexie fitting in comfortably.
Renee followed her gaze. “Is the little one you arrived with yours?”
Cadin smiled at the thought. “No, but I’d be proud to have a daughter like Lexie.”
“She and her mom have been staying with me for a short time,” Sister Frances chimed in.
Lexie looked up to see them watching the group, smiled and waved to them. Cadin waved back. “She’s a great kid.”
“She also thinks highly of you,” Miss Betty replied.
“Those two have knocked out the harvesting of my pecans in just a few short days,” Sister Frances added, nodding toward Cadin.
“She may be young, but she’s a slave driver,” Cadin teased.
Cadin watched Lexie and the others play for several more minutes before turning back to her meal. “This meat is really good,” she said with a moan.
Renee chuckled. “It should be, JC got up at four this morning to put it on the smoker.”
“I hope she went back to bed,” Miss Betty said.
“No, we took the opportunity to drink coffee and catch up on life. It’s been several months since JC and I had a long talk.”
Miss Betty nodded her understanding. “How’s she doing after the breakup?”
“She was devastated at first, but she’s come to understand she’s much better off without Brenda draining her energy and bank account. JC had me worried for a while though.”
“I saw her in town a few months ago and she’d lost a bunch of weight. I asked her to drop by for dinner some night, but I knew she wasn’t ready to talk about what happened. I’m glad she’s looking better now,” Sister Frances remarked.
Renee smirked. “Mama threatened to move in with her if she didn’t start eating.”
“I love your mama, but Julia is a force to be reckoned with,” Sister Frances said. “I’m glad her tactics worked though. JC is a good woman.”
Cadin continued to eat as the others talked, her attention torn between listening to them and watching Lexie playing with a group of girls. One of them had found a playground ball and they were embroiled in a serious game of kickball. She watched as Lexie kicked the ball over a fielder’s head and ran to the makeshift base. A grin spread across her face as her team clapped for her performance.
“That was quite a kick,” Renee said.
“Yes, it was. She’s pretty fast for her size too.”
“I’m ready for another drink,” Sister Frances announced. “May we bring you two fresh beers?”
“Yes, that would be great,” Cadin answered.
Miss Betty picked up on Sister Frances’s lead and followed her over to the makeshift bar to help pour the drinks.
“Those two are quite the pair,” Renee said as she watched them at the bar.
“They are amazing women,” Cadin stated. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know them.”
Renee smiled at her. “You must be something special too for Sister Frances to invite you to the hunt. Not just anyone is welcome.”
Cadin smiled, remembering her shock earlier. “You know until about an hour ago I thought she was a nun.”
Laughing, Renee said, “You’re probably not the first to be fooled by her title. She’s been Sister Frances for as long as I’ve known her.”
“Did you grow up here?”
“Born and raised in Greensboro. I moved to Stone Mountain after college when a classmate invited me to start a practice with him.”
“That’s quite a change from a laid-back little country town,” Cadin noted.
Renee grinned. “Yeah it is, but close enough I can come home when I need some fresh country air.”
“That’s cool.”
“So, is Atlanta home for you?”
“Yeah, I’ve been there my entire life,” Cadin answered.
“I’ve enjoyed living there, but I’ve spent so much time working I haven’t seen much of the city.”
Cadin easily took the bait offered. “I’d be glad to show you the sights sometime.”
Renee smiled nervously. “That was a bit cheesy of me wasn’t it?”
“It wasn’t cheesy at all. I’d really like to share my hometown with you,” Cadin said to put Renee at ease.
Renee reached into her bag, pulled out a business card and jotted her cell phone number on the back before handing it to Cadin. “Give me a call when you return home.”
“I will,” she said, returning her smile as she tucked the card into her wallet.
Miss Betty and Sister Frances returned with cold beers and took their seats. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
“No, the weather’s turned out perfect,” Cadin said as a burst of cheering sounded from the deck.
“’Bama must have scored,” Renee said. “I’m going to check on JC. Do you ladies need anything?”
“No, I think we are good for now,” Miss Betty answered.
†
Lexie took a break from the game and rushed over to the table to sit beside Cadin and drink some water.
“Are you having fun?”
Her smile beamed as Lexie placed her bottle on the table. “I think I will be in the same grade with two of the girls I’m playing with, but they’re all very nice.”
“Are you hungry?” Miss Betty asked.
“Yes, ma’am, a little,” she answered.
“Let me go get you a plate while you finish your game then.”
“Thanks Miss Betty,” Lexie said and rushed back to her new friends.
“I don’t think we need to worry about her fitting in,” Sister Frances told Cadin.
“Will you keep in touch and let me know if she needs anything after I leave?”
“You know I will,” she answered. “Are you leaving us soon?”
Cadin turned to look at her. “I was thinking early next week, after they get settled in at Miss Betty’s.”
Sister Frances smiled warmly. “I hope you know you’re welcome to return anytime you want.”
Cadin returned her smile. “I appreciate that. I’ve really enjoyed being here.”
“We’ve enjoyed having you with us. You’ve done so much for all of us.”
“I’ve felt very at home here and you’re doing so much for the women who need your help.”
She smiled at Cadin. “Like you, I’m doing what my heart tells me is right.”
†
Cadin spent the next several hours milling among the crowd, talking to a variety of w
omen. When she made her way back into the kitchen for some tea, she was welcomed by a circle of older women sitting in the den. She walked into the kitchen and took a cup of tea from Sue as the ladies continued talking.
“It’s sad we are short two of our regulars this year,” Sue told her.
“Why, what happened that they couldn’t make it?”
“Elverna Ledbetter passed on a few short months ago at the ripe old age of seventy-four,” Sue said and then frowned before she spoke again. “Alice Turner was just twenty-six when she died this year in an automobile accident. She left behind two small children and a husband.”
“It’s always hard when someone young is taken in their prime,” Cadin said, her words striking close to home.
“I hope you don’t mind, but Sister Frances told us what you’ve done for Miss Betty, and that young woman and her child. We as a community can’t thank you enough for stepping in on her behalf.”
“No one should be treated like that, especially someone as dear as Miss Betty. I’m honored to be able to help them out.”
“We have been blessed by you and I hope you will consider returning next year for our little party.”
Cadin chuckled. “I’d love that. It’s heartwarming to see such great friends, and a community of women, bonding like you do here.”
“You’re a part of that community now and will be welcome any time you choose to join us.”
“Thanks, that means a great deal to me.”
Terri walked into the kitchen, having arrived after work. “I hear this is the place to get some great food,” she said.
Sue beamed with joy at Terri’s praise. “Sue, this is Terri Foster, Lexie’s mom,” Cadin introduced them.
“Welcome Terri, and I must say that daughter of yours is the spitting image of her mama.”
“One heck of a kickball player too,” Cadin added. “She’s already made several new friends.”
“I’m so pleased to hear that,” Terri said. “She’s been dying to meet some girls her age.”
Sue handed her a plate of food. “May I get you something else, Cadin?”
“Thanks, Sue, but I’m holding out for some of that pork shoulder later,” she answered.
“I’ll be sure to make you a big plate then,” Sue said with a wink.
“Fantastic,” Cadin said. “Let me take you out to the picnic tables. I think the game is still in full tilt.”
†
As they passed the deck, Renee looked up from the conversation she was having and caught Cadin’s eye and smiled.
Cadin felt a soft flush rise to her cheeks when she realized Renee had caught her staring. She smiled back and continued to walk with Terri to the picnic tables.
Lexie saw them approach and came rushing to the table, breathless with excitement. “Hey Mommy, I’m having so much fun,” she said.
“So I see, and I hear you are an awesome kickball player.”
“Our team is winning,” she said and took a drink of her water.
A roar from the deck caught their attention as one of the football teams scored a touchdown, much to the crowd’s delight. She watched Renee get pulled into a group hug and smiled. Renee had probably grown up with most of the women occupying the deck and it was good to see how much they were enjoying themselves.
“May I get you an adult beverage?” Sister Frances asked.
“What are you having?”
“Jack and Coke,” she answered.
“Oh, goodness, nothing that strong, I’m driving home later.”
“I have a few Coronas left if you’d rather have one of those,” Cadin said.
“That would be good,” she said.
Cadin made a move to stand and Sister Frances said, “Sit tight, I’ll get it. Do you want another?”
“No, I think I’ll stick to tea for now,” she answered.
†
As the sun faded, so did the energy of the young girls who had played together all day, Lexie among them. She climbed up the hill on tired legs and climbed onto the bench beside her mother.
“Did you have fun today?” she asked her daughter.
“Yes, I did, Mommy, but I’m hungry and tired now.”
“I bet we can get you a plate and then you and I can go home, honey,” Terri answered.
“I think we should all grab a plate,” Miss Betty said.
They were about to rise when Renee approached carrying two plates. “Grandma fixed you a plate,” she said as she placed the two plates on the table.
“We were just getting ready to get some food,” Cadin said.
“All you need is something to drink, unless this plate isn’t big enough for you,” she teased.
“That plate is humongous. What would you like to drink?”
“I’ll take some tea if that’s where you’re headed.”
Cadin smiled. “That’s exactly where I’m going. Be right back.”
“Do you want me to sneak a peek at the dessert table for you?” Sister Frances asked.
Cadin chuckled. “I already have, but you can bring me a bowl of banana pudding if you have a free hand.”
“No problem,” she said and walked with the others to the kitchen.
†
Cadin returned carrying two glasses of tea and sat across from Renee. “This all looks so good I don’t know where to start.”
“Definitely with the shoulder, it will almost melt in your mouth. I’ve been trying for years to get JC’s sauce recipe, but she won’t share it even with her sister.”
Cadin took a bite and moaned. “I can see why you want it, this is fabulous.” Cadin looked down at the mound of food on her plate. “Your grandma must have thought I was starving.”
“She never wants anyone to go away hungry.”
“I may need a wheelbarrow if I manage to eat all this.”
“Well, just don’t forget you have some of my banana pudding coming, so save some room.”
“You made that banana pudding?”
“I’ve been making it every year for the hunt for twenty years now,” Renee said.
“That’s amazing, that you all have been meeting for so long.”
“It was Gran’s idea. Our first crowd was about a dozen women, and you see what it’s grown into.”
“So does everyone have a particular item they are responsible for?”
“Several of us do. JC, of course, is the grill master and prepares all the meats. Others bring a variety of salads, vegetables, and desserts.” Renee smirked. “The young ones, as Gran calls them, bring the drinks and paper goods, which usually accounts for a keg or two of beer, cases of sodas, all the plates, napkins, and utensils.”
“Sounds like y’all have this down to a science.”
“If someone can’t make it, for some reason or another, then another woman takes up the slack. Miss Elverna used to make the best potato salad, but now that she’s passed on Mama makes it instead.”
“I can’t imagine any tasting better than this,” Cadin said. “It’s all too good to be true, and on one plate to boot.”
“It’s quite the affair,” Renee said. “JC has cots set up in her work shed for the deck hands as she calls them.” Renee nodded to the crowd on the deck. “They’re the football crowd. They will drain the kegs and pass out in stages down in the shed. JC will feed them a good breakfast in the morning and then they’ll get to work cleaning up from the party.”
“Amazing,” Cadin said, truly impressed.
“The early teens and younger children will head home after dinner with the older women and then the partying begins in earnest.”
“It gets wilder?”
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.” Renee chuckled. “The closer the games are on television, the rowdier the crowd. Lord help us all if a team from Alabama loses, especially to LSU or Georgia.”
“They take their football serious do they?”
“It’s almost like a religion,” Renee said with a smirk.
†
<
br /> When the others returned carrying plates of food, Cadin eyed the bowl of banana pudding. She was barely three quarters done with her meal when she couldn’t hold back any longer. “I have to have that pudding right now,” she finally announced.
Sister Frances handed her the bowl. “Eat until your heart’s content,” she said.
“I’m planning on it,” she said and placed a spoonful in her mouth. “Oh, my goodness, this is good,” she said between bites. “You really made this?”
“Like I said, I’ve made the banana pudding for almost twenty years,” Renee reminded her.
“I’d say you’ve got it down to an art then. I could make a meal of this.”
Curious to see what the fuss was about, Lexie slipped her spoon into the creamy dessert and swiped a bite.
“Hey, no stealing,” Cadin said with a grin.
“This is yummy,” Lexie said. “May I have some, Mommy?”
“After you finish your dinner,” Terri said and then stood up.
“Where are you going?” Cadin asked.
“Back to the kitchen to get a bowl for Lexie before it all disappears,” she answered.
“Get two and Betty and I will split one,” Sister Frances said.
Terri looked at Renee, who shook her head. “Trust me I ate plenty while I was making it, you go right ahead.”
†
After dessert, they all declared they couldn’t eat another bite. Lexie climbed up into Terri’s lap and promptly fell asleep. “I guess I should take her home,” Terri said when the child began softly snoring.
Cadin smiled at the sleeping girl. “She played hard today and made some new friends.”
“I’m so thankful you invited us,” Terri told Sister Frances.
“I’m glad you got to come. You’re a part of our family now.”
Cadin could see tears welling in Terri’s eyes. “Do you want me to carry her up to the car for you?”
“Thanks, but I’m used to carrying her. You can walk up with me though if you’d like.”
“You two go ahead and we’ll clean up these dishes while you’re gone,” Miss Betty said.
“I’ll be right back then,” Cadin said.
“She really did have fun today,” Terri said as they walked to the car.
“This is a good bunch of women to be associated with,” Cadin said. “I bet every one of them would give you the shirt off their backs if you needed it.”