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just the start of it.”
    â€œHow would you know?”
    They all turned to see who had asked the question. Standing at the corner of the house was Darla.
    â€œSorry,” she said with a small smile, “that didn’t quite come out right. I didn’t mean to accuse you. I was just trying to be funny. Sorry.”
    Bob stood quickly but seemed at a loss what to say. Molly hurried over to Darla’s side. She slid her arm around her shoulders and said, “Now, we’re all good-natured here. So don’t you worry about it. Come on in and meet everyone. You already know Teensy, Lizzie and Sally-Jo.”
    Darla nodded but wouldn’t look any of them in the eye. Lizzie almost felt sorry for her until she noticed the quick look of self-satisfaction on Darla’s face.
    Molly introduced the book club members, saving Bob for last. She tugged Darla over to him.
    â€œAnd this is Bob Miller. Bob, you might want to sit down. This is your granddaughter, Darla Lyman.”
    Bob looked stunned. He couldn’t seem to find his voice and indeed did sit down. At that moment, Lizzie thought he looked all of his seventy-odd years. Darla stood in front of him, stock-still, staring at him. Finally, Bob stood back up and cleared his throat.
    â€œI’m mighty pleased to meet you, Darla. I didn’t even know that Lily had herself a daughter. In fact, I don’t knowanything about Lily’s life after she left here.” He stuck out his hand and after a second, Darla slipped her hand into his. And then she smiled.
    It was as if everyone had been holding their breaths, but that changed quickly and the chatter started up again.
    â€œWhat can I get you to drink?” Bob asked, still in a daze. “A soda?”
    She glanced over at the makeshift bar. “I’ll have some white wine.” She sat in Bob’s chair when he went to get it for her. He pulled over another wicker chair to sit next to her when he returned.
    â€œI just cannot believe it,” he said. “How old are you, anyway?”
    â€œI’m twenty-one, sir,” she said demurely and sipped her wine.
    Stephanie looked over and grinned. “I was nineteen when I came to town a couple of years ago. Are you visiting or planning on staying?”
    Darla glanced at Bob then back at Stephanie. “That all depends. I wanted a time-out from my mama and I decided I needed to meet my granddaddy.”
    Molly came by with the plate of deviled eggs. “Darla, tell him what you told me.”
    Darla nodded. “Well, I didn’t know anything about you either, not until my grandmamma told me last year, just before she died.”
    Bob sucked in his breath. “Sue-Ann is dead?”
    â€œYes, sir. She had cancer, which spread quickly.” Darla sipped her wine. “I asked my mama to tell me all about her childhood but she said she didn’t remember you.” Bob winced.
    â€œI can imagine. She was only five when they moved away.”
    â€œWell, mama said you never tried to see her.”
    â€œThat’s not true. I sent her presents for her birthday and cards and even tried phoning a time or two but Sue-Ann wouldn’t have any of it.” He sighed. “It’s a long story, Darla. Anyway, I’m happy you decided to find me.”
    â€œAnd, we’re all pleased you’re here tonight with us,” Molly said. “I think we’ll get the fish to cooking now, and then after supper, you two can start to get to know each other.”

Chapter Three

    Stop harassing me. Get out of town, or else.
    DAYS OF WINE AND ROQUEFORT—
AVERY AAMES
    M onday. Start of a new school week. And only one week to go until Easter break. Lizzie smiled at her image in the mirror. The two weeks of Easter break were always welcome even though it hadn’t been a particularly taxing school year so far. As a reading specialist with the public school board, Lizzie’s home base was the Ashton