Sugar Beth caught his gaze across the women’s heads and gave him one of those smiles he cherished, a hint of bewilderment still clinging to its edges, as if she couldn’t quite believe all this was hers. Sometimes he had a hard time believing it himself.
Life was good but not perfect. He and Sugar Beth still argued whenever the mood struck them. The Seawillows were involved in a cockamamie scheme to find a sex partner for Merylinn’s widowed mother. Gigi had a boyfriend, which was driving Ryan wild. And sometimes when the moon was full, Cubby Bowmar and his cronies still showed up on the front lawn of Frenchman’s Bride to bay for Sugar Beth. Colin mainly put up with it because he knew she enjoyed the attention.
“Dinner’s ready.” Winnie took the platter of ham from him and shooed everybody toward the dining room.
“One of these days I’m bringing sushi,” Heidi said. “They’re sellin’ it at Big Star now.”
“I’m not eatin’ sushi,” Deke retorted. “I doubt it’s even legal in Mississippi.”
“Time for grace,” Amy announced. “Everybody hold hands.”
“Come here, Honeybell.”
Sugar Beth took the toddler from Heidi and wove through Ryan and Deke to get to Colin’s side, where she clasped his hand and they both gave thanks for more blessings than either of them could ever have imagined.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Bouquets of magnolia blossoms to everyone who helped me with my Mississippi research, especially Susan Jordan and Sherry Colhoun at the Holly Springs, Mississippi, Chamber of Commerce; Bridgette Correale for the photos; and Adele San Miguel for making certain I received them. Thanks to Elizabeth Baucom, Donna Barnes, Melanie Noto, Lynn Pittman, and Carol Jackson for observations and yearbooks.
Thank you, Peter Janson-Smith and Sir Richard Rougier, for permission to quote from the works of the incomparable Georgette Heyer.
I’ve received information, advice, and support from so many friends and associates. Thank you, Steven Axelrod, Jill Barnett, Jennifer Crusie, Lisa Gallagher, Kristin Hannah, Alison Hart, Cissy Hartley, Cathie Linz, Lindsay Longford, Meryl Sawyer, Suzette Vann, Matthew Verscheure, Margaret Watson, everybody on the SEP Bulletin Board, and the entire Phillips gang, including Dana, our newest member, and Nickie Shek, who set me straight on thirteen-year-old girls.
At William Morrow and Avon Books, I am forever grateful to Carrie Feron, my fearless and peerless editor. Also Nancy Anderson, Richard Aquan, Leesa Belt, George Bick, Ralph D’Arienzo, Karen Davy, Darlene Delillo, Gail Dubov, Tom Egner, Seth Fleishman, Josh Frank, Jane Friedman, Heather Gould, Brian Grogan, Cathy Hemming, Angela Leigh, Kim Lewis, Selina McLemore, Brian McSharry, Judy Madonia, Michael Morrison, Jan Parrish, Shelly Perron, Chadd Reese, Rhonda Rose, Pete Soper, Michael Spradlin, Debbie Stier, Andrea Sventora, Bruce Unck, and Donna Waitkus.
Bless all your hearts,
SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
About the Author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips soared onto the
