Lowcountry Summer (Continued)

And Richard, my ex? Eric's father? That British slime of the earth with his postured accent? The not-such-a-genius psychotherapist/psychiatrist? His contact with all of us had dwindled to a bare minimum and that suited us just fine. Eric was already in college, practically grown, and the last decade of his life had played out with only Richard's slightest presence or interest. Richard's loss, not ours.

The university was under an hour's drive from Tall Pines, but to Amelia and Eric, it was light-years away. Freeing Amelia of her chaotic life in Walterboro and moving Eric away from the plantation had brought about all the changes in them you would expect as children finally come of age. Independence! They were learning how to inhabit the adult world and to draw their own conclusions about worldly matters. They stood taller, and without prompting, even self-corrected their student slouch from time to time. They were less rowdy and more considerate of others. I looked around to see my Eric leaning forward, listening in earnest to Miss Sweetie as she piffled on and on about my recent purchase of a portion of her strawberry business.

I think Miss Sweetie was happy about it. She had no children to inherit and she had always been like an aunt to me. We finally agreed after a lot of discussion that she should remain on as the spokesperson for the company, the president emeritus, traveling to state fairs and appearing on the Food Network as our ambassador, judging cakes, pies, tarts, and breads made with our jams, and salads made with our pickles, and giving small scholarships to worthy students. My job was to oversee the management of the business, which required very little time as it wasn't overly complicated and she already had great managers in place. We changed the name of the business to Sweetie's, much simpler all around than the confection formerly known as TBDJOTP, The Best Damn Jelly On The Planet. She had wanted to retire, but I assured her that if she did, she would be as dead as Kelsey's cow in six months, whoever Kelsey was. Even Millie got in on the conversation that took place on the veranda last fall.

"What you gone do with yourself if you retire, Miss Sweetie? You gone dry rot! That's what! Retire? That's some fool, 'eah?"

We giggled and it came to me that Miss Sweetie just wanted to be assured that she wouldn't be in the way and that her expertise was truly wanted and valued. Tears came to my eyes thinking of my mother then. Older people are terrified of outliving their usefulness and I would never let Miss Sweetie feel that way. Miss Sweetie was loving her new role and I was staying busy when I wanted to be.

My old career was packed up in boxes. After all, the Lowcountry didn't need another interior decorator, especially when the nearby population who actually used a decorator only did so every hundred years or so. We love our threadbare Aubussons and Niens and petit point curtains about which we could brag Sherman had overlooked in his infamous march, attempting to burn the Carolinas all the way to hell. We cherished every nick and dent in our great-grandmother's four-poster bed and every hidden compartment in our great-grandfather's secretary. Ancient coin silver candelabras were irreplaceable; mint-julep cups were closely guarded. Napkin rings were still in use, even for kitchen meals. Okay, maybe not for kitchen meals, but you know what I mean when I say that we were trying to sustain a certain way of life. Besides all that, Eric was gone off to find his future and what was I supposed to do with myself? So it was me, strawberries, and the pig farmer. Until my birthday of that year.

---

Available Book Previews Folly Beach Lowcountry Summer Return to Sullivans Island Bulls Island The Land of Mango Sunsets The Christmas Pearl Full of Grace Pawley's Island Isle of Palms Shem Creek Plantation Sullivan's Island Reading Group Guide Lowcountry Summer

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site