by Julie Allan
“Oh how lovely!” Aunt Dorothy exclaimed.
“Do you really think so?” Mrs. McGantry asked, clearly delighted at her reaction.
“It is absolutely perfect,” Aunt Dorothy assured her. The three ladies shared a delightful supper of pan-fried flounder in a brown sauce, rice and succotash. Afterwards, they moved into the living room to have coffee and Huguenot torte.
“That was delicious. I would love to have your recipe for the Huguenot torte,” Lizzie said.
“I think you already have it dear. It is in the Charleston Receipts cookbook, the one the Junior League published back in 1950,” Mrs. McGantry replied.
“Yes, ma’am. I have that one and the other two they have put out. Many of my favorite recipes come from those books,” Lizzie answered.
“I think I would like to be in charge of Easter dinner,” Aunt Dorothy piped up. “I would like you and Tommy to come and join Lizzie and me. I promise good food and great company.”
“I am sure Tommy would be delighted and I know I will enjoy the companionship with the two of you. Dorothy, did I tell you how gently and respectfully your Lizzie took care of my cat Sweet Pea in her last days?” Mrs. McGantry went on to tell her all about it and all about her new cat, Angel.
On their way home that night Aunt Dorothy said, “I truly treasured my adventures around this world, but it is good to be home ... so good to be home.”
For Easter, Lizzie gratefully surrendered the kitchen to Aunt Dorothy who had invited Mrs. McGantry and Mr. Lee to be their guests. Lizzie served pre-dinner cocktails and cheese wafers to the happy couple as they were swinging on the porch swing. Aunt Dorothy came out between her tasks and regaled them with witty stories from her travels, having them all in stitches as she described how she used the wrong word in a Hong Kong restaurant and ended up with a fish head staring up at her from her dinner plate. After dinner, Lizzie and Mr. Lee shared the clean-up duties and left Aunt Dorothy and Mrs. McGantry pouring over the pictures Aunt Dorothy was planning to organize in her scrapbook. Occasionally they would hear peals of laughter drift into them in the kitchen.
“It is so nice to hear Dorothy laugh like that again. I was afraid after your Uncle George passed, she might not. I think Maggie had the right idea taking her off on that trip,” Mr. Lee observed.
“I think so too,” Lizzie answered. “It is also nice Mrs. McGantry can laugh like that too, and that is all you, Mr. Lee.”
Mr. Lee smiled. “I am a lucky man, getting a second chance with my first love. I hope you, young lady, will do the same, whether it is with your first love or someone new. You deserve to have someone who brings you joy,” he responded.
“I am beginning to see that,” Lizzie answered as she carefully dried the silver.
“Interesting tidbit I heard at the Lawyer’s Association meeting in Columbia last week. It seems Mark and his gravy train ticket tied the knot in Hilton Head last month and announced they are expecting.” Mr. Lee handed Lizzie the last fork.
“Well I guess they deserve each other,” Lizzie responded.
“I haven’t told you the best part. The word I heard from a prominent judge in political circles, is expect the congressman uncle to be indicted on charges for accepting bribes and laundering funds through his campaign accounts. So it looks like Mark’s gravy train may quickly be coming to an end and most likely with it his ability to make good on his own political aspirations.” Mr. Lee began drying the silver canape tray.
Lizzie grinned and laughed a deep belly laugh and Mr. Lee joined in, flicking a dish towel at her and in a mock offended voice said, “Dear, one should not laugh at the misfortune of others.” This only made the two laugh harder.
“Sounds like the two of you are having too much fun with the clean-up in there,” Aunt Dorothy called from the living room.
“No more than the two of you out there,” Lizzie hollered back. Then Lizzie and Mr. Lee took the freshly brewed coffee into the living room. The rest of the evening was spent in jovial companionship and after Mrs. McGantry and Mr. Lee left, Lizzie sat down next to Aunt Dorothy, laid her head on her shoulder and said, “We are truly blessed to have friends that are like family.”
“How right you are child,” Aunt Dorothy answered.
The next few weeks were crammed with pre-wedding preparations and festivities. Lizzie put in extra hours making sure she kept on top of The Biscuit Box responsibilities so the two days before the wedding she could dedicate her attention to preparing the food. She had arranged to have a few of her part-time employees help her set up the day of the wedding and then keep the food trays full so she could be a guest. Aunt Dorothy and Mrs. Wilson had created the center pieces and they were carefully boxed and stored in Mrs. McGantry’s garage until the morning of.
On Friday morning, Lizzie decided to work on the cake, making a large round and a medium round to build the two tiered cake. She did as much prep as she could for all the other items, as she planned to prepare the day of to ensure that each bite would be fresh. She finished just in time to work out front during the daily rush and after a short lunch break she had returned to the kitchen to begin making the icing that would go on the cake.
She was so intent on what she was doing she hadn’t noticed Bennett had stepped into the kitchen and was watching her work. She had just opened a large bag of confectioner’s sugar when he spoke, startling her so much the bag flew up out of her hands. As it came down it coated her and a large area around her with white. Bennett could not help himself and doubled over in laughter.
“I ... I ... you scared the stuffing out of me, Bennett! When did you even get here?” Lizzie exclaimed.
Bennett could not answer; his laughter had gone out of control.
“It’s not funny!” Lizzie protested but despite her effort to express indignation, she found herself beginning to shake with laughter and before she knew it, she could not stop. Her employees who had been in the front of the store were peeking in the window of the swinging door, but Lizzie did not care. Except for the time she laughed with Mr. Lee on Easter she could not remember the last time she had felt laughter well up from her belly all the way to the tips of her fingers and toes.
“Lizzie you have got to look in the mirror, I now know what you will look like when we are in our eighties,” Bennett said between gasps.
Lizzie moved to the bathroom next to her office and peered in the mirror. Her hair was white as snow. Bennett came to stand behind her and handed her a dish towel and with another towel gently tried to help wipe the sugar from the back of her neck and shoulders.
Lizzie, looking at him in the mirror shyly, asked, “So you think you’ll know me when we’re eighty?”
“I reckon we have known each other since preschool. I can’t imagine my life without you in it,” he answered without looking up from his task. “I think this is going to take more than dishtowels, let me run you home in my truck. A little sugar won’t hurt anything and then once you’re cleaned up, I can run you back so you can finish the cake,” Bennett offered.
“Okay, let me tell my girls out front,” Lizzie answered. When they were on their way, Lizzie asked, “What were you coming by to see me about anyway?”
“I was thinking since you’re my date for tomorrow and all, perhaps you would be my date for the rehearsal tonight. My dad made the barbeque and Mr. Lee’s brother, Timothy, reserved Gold Bug. Your Aunt Dorothy is already going and I can pick the two of you up,” he said.
“I think that would be nice,” Lizzie answered trying to keep any indication of excitement out of her voice. He was finally making a move on his own.
Lizzie quickly got cleaned up while Bennett played with the dogs out back. When Bennett dropped her back off at The Biscuit Box, she slid out of the truck and said, “See you tonight.”
Bennett waved as she turned to watch him pull away. She walked into a pristine kitchen as her wonderful emplo
yees had cleaned up the mess. She found herself unable to stop smiling as she finally made the icing, got it on the cake and got the cake in the walk-in cooler. Now, to find just the right thing to wear for tonight.
Chapter Seventeen
Staring into her closet Lizzie was having a hard time picking out what to wear for the rehearsal. Aunt Dorothy waltzed in wearing a red linen sheath and a coordinating linen fitted jacket.
“Still not dressed?” she asked, walking into Lizzie’s closet. After a minute she pulled out a crisp red and white A-line dress with subtle, nautical buttons at the shoulder. Handing it to Lizzie she said, “This with your gold braided sandals would be most appropriate.”
Lizzie took the dress and nodded as Aunt Dorothy headed downstairs calling behind her, “Bennett will be here in less than a half hour to collect us, get a move on Lizzie.”
Lizzie did as she was told and marveled that as a grown woman Aunt Dorothy still had command over her. She examined herself in the mirror. Aunt Dorothy was right as always. This dress was flattering to her waist, modest enough to be appropriate for the church part of the evening and yet casual enough to not look out of place at a barbeque in the cinder block club house on Gold Bug Island.
She had just made it down the stairs when Bennett pulled up in his SUV. He had on khaki pants, boat shoes and a white button down shirt. He was freshly shaved and smelled faintly of leather mixed with suntan oil. He gallantly escorted Aunt Dorothy to the car and despite her protests seated her in the front passenger seat. Then he opened the back for Lizzie and commented on how nice she looked as he shut her door.
The rehearsal went smoothly and Mrs. McGantry looked radiant in white linen. The party moved on to Gold Bug Island where a fantastic spread of barbeque with all the fixings awaited them. Timothy Lee had also hired a local band and soon many of the guests were shagging to traditional beach music and Lizzie and Bennett joined in as naturally as if they had never been apart. Taking a break, Bennett went off to find some drinks and Lizzie plopped down next to Aunt Dorothy.
“You two certainly look good together, child,” Aunt Dorothy commented.
“It certainly feels right,” Lizzie responded.
“What, no protest, no reasons it can’t be so?” Aunt Dorothy teased.
“No, I will concede maybe you are right about this Aunt Dorothy. I just need time to be sure,” she answered.
Bennett returned with drinks and after a short rest, he convinced Aunt Dorothy to join him for a whirl on the dance floor and Lizzie watched them with intense joy. Bennett really was a great guy, good with kids, good with his elders, she had to admit Bennett was also good with her ... who else would put up with her, get her out of scrapes and treat her with respect. But what could she offer him? She felt her self-doubt creeping in to ruin her optimism. How could I possibly be worthy? She had to let the thoughts go as Mr. Lee swept her off her feet and onto the dance floor. By the time Bennett had returned Aunt Dorothy and Lizzie back to their door she was too tired to contemplate anymore. She knew she would be getting up early to finish the food for the reception. Aunt Dorothy discreetly entered the house first leaving Lizzie and Bennett alone on the front porch.
They stood together for a moment then Bennett said, “Well, good night, see you tomorrow,” and went down the steps, leaving Lizzie standing there wishing he had leaned in to kiss her.
“Good night,” she said as under her breath she muttered, “Baby steps, Lizzie, baby steps.” As she climbed into bed she heard her phone chirp and she checked the incoming text. It was from Bennett: Loved shagging with you tonight. Lizzie texted back: It was fun, I am looking forward to the wedding. Lizzie drifted off and to the strains of beach music she shagged with Bennett under a starry sky, the dreams carrying her through to morning.
As the alarm went off, Lizzie groaned. It was still dark outside. The dogs, however, were eager to start their day, wagging their tails and licking her legs as they were sticking out from under the sheets. She dragged herself up, pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and took the dogs out to the backyard.
Now that she was up, she felt the butterflies stir deep within her belly. Her first catering event and another date with Bennett. At least she counted the previous evening as a date. She hoped Bennett viewed it that way as well. When she returned to the kitchen, she was surprised to see Aunt Dorothy already up and waiting with a travel mug full of coffee and a bag with a blueberry muffin ready to go.
“Thought this would help you get out the door faster,” she said.
“Thanks!” Lizzie said. “I will be back around twelve-thirty to take a quick shower and change.” She grabbed her keys and purse.
At The Biscuit Box she was grateful she had taken the time to do so much prep work the day before and quickly got to work preparing everything that could be made ahead of time. Lizzie was in her element; the ovens were on, the stand mixer whirred and pots of water were rising to a boil on the range. Lizzie had carefully written a timetable to follow and so far she was slightly ahead.
She had chilled all the ingredients for the St. Cecilia’s punch, a special request from Mr. Lee who remembered his maternal grandmother making the punch for nearly every special occasion. This of course had horrified the majority of the Lee clan, as they were strict Baptists. Mr. Lee’s maternal grandmother was Episcopalian and according to Mr. Lee was amused at the discomfort of her son-in-law’s family.
She had sent Laura over to the church with the first load of food, giving her detailed instructions on where to put everything once she unloaded. Lizzie was going to finish up the prep work and then have Laura transport all that was left but the cake. Lizzie wanted to transport the cake. She was the most nervous about her first wedding cake. Zoe was going to meet her at the church kitchen to cook the shrimp at the last minute to go on the shrimp and grits station and also to oversee the servers so Lizzie could enjoy the event. The florist was bringing the flowers for the cake directly to the church, so around eleven-thirty Lizzie carefully transported the cake and all the various serving trays and equipment over to the church.
The church was blessed to have a large commercial refrigerator and once Lizzie had decorated the cake with the flowers, she was able to put it in to keep it as fresh as possible. After another trip to collect the punch ingredients and a few more supplies she returned to the church.
She set out the serving trays on the buffet tables in the parish hall labeling each with a sticky note so the hired servers and Zoe would know what needed to go where once it was time. Lizzie went over her list and schedule multiple times, terrified she had forgotten something. Not only was this a professional growth opportunity, it was for friends and family. She wanted it to be perfect.
Zoe arrived, taking over and shooing her off to go and get cleaned up. It was one o’clock by the time Lizzie pulled up at the house and Aunt Dorothy met her at the door. “I was beginning to worry,” she said.
“Sorry, I got caught up in details. Zoe had to shoo me away,” Lizzie said. “I’ll be ready fast.”
“Hurry, child, we need to leave here at two,” Aunt Dorothy said.
Lizzie bounded up the steps and returned five minutes before two, looking stunning in a green silk dress with a V-neck and fluttery cap sleeves. It nipped in at the waist and draped perfectly, with the hem landing just above her knees. She wore her favorite Stuart Weitzman gold strappy backless heels with a delicate bow detail. Her emerald green necklace, ring and tear drop earrings finished the look and her hair was swept up in an elegant up-do, a few tendrils escaping around her face.
“You look stunning,” Aunt Dorothy exclaimed.
“You look stunning yourself,” Lizzie answered as she took in Aunt Dorothy, a vision in an elegant navy raw silk ensemble and classic pearl jewelry. As the attendant to the bride she would also have a small bouquet of white roses she would carry for the ceremony.
“I would have thoug
ht I had outgrown my bridesmaid days,” Aunt Dorothy laughed.
“I don’t think there is a cut-off age,” Lizzie replied. “I suppose we should get a move on,” Lizzie added.
“No dear, slight change of plans. Bennett is picking us up, ah, here he is now,” Aunt Dorothy said and she headed out the door.
Lizzie followed and felt her heart flutter up in her throat as she took in Bennett in his white trousers and double breasted blue blazer, although he could be standing there in a torn t-shirt and board shorts and she would probably have the same reaction. He had on his sunglasses so she could not tell his initial reaction to her, but noted his lingering hand on her back as he escorted her to the car.
Bennett handled his job of escorting the bride down the aisle like a pro and got a few laughs as he admonished Mr. Lee to take good care of his girl. The ceremony was touching with Mrs. McGantry and Mr. Lee exchanging vows they wrote themselves. Not a dry eye was among those gathered in the pews as Reverend Truett pronounced the couple Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Eugene Lee and the two exchanged a passionate kiss.
The guests followed the happy couple out of the church and directly into the receiving line before entering the parish hall that was transformed into an elegantly appointed nautical themed venue. The flowers were all white with small touches of silver that popped against the navy blue linen that was trimmed with crisp white ribbon. The food display was inviting and Lizzie felt a burst of pride as she watched her servers fan out with trays of small bites to tempt the guests. It was hard for her not to head to the kitchen and pitch in.
A small quartet played classical music in one corner and a well-appointed bar was set up in the other, which might have horrified Mr. Lee’s Baptist relatives, at least the older ones, but seemed natural for the friends and family of the new Mrs. Lee as they were primarily Episcopal. Mr. Lee’s grandmother would be pleased, thought Lizzie.