Sweet Carolina Morning Read Online Free

all you want to see.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought,” Dottie said, her ruffled feathers smoothed. “So we’re on our way to Aruba.”
    â€œGreat! How are the girls enjoying it so far?” Kate asked.
    â€œDessie won a how low can you go limbo contest for people over fifty-five and is making scads of new friends. Ruby has been playing bridge and flirting up a storm with the Swedish captain.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Dessie thinks Captain Sven has a spray-on tan and that his nails might be manicured—the clear kind, not the red,” she clarified. “Remember, Dessie ought to know because her ex-husband before Del . . .”
    â€œWe know, Mama,” Linny interjected, trying to stave off the inevitable spelling.
    But her mother plowed on, sotto voce. “He turned out to be G–A–Y, so we’ll see. It’ll all come out in the wash, though,” she said cheerfully. “Well, I need to skedaddle. The casinos open soon and the slots are hot.”
    Did her church-lady mother just say the slots are hot ? Eyes wide, Linny glanced at Kate for confirmation. Her sister’s hands were over her mouth to suppress her giggles. “Bon voyage, Mama. Have a great time. Call us as soon as you get a cell signal again.”
    â€œBye, sweethearts,” her mother said and ended the call.
    Linny grinned at Kate as she pushed the End button. “Mama’s having a ball.”
    â€œI’m glad.” Kate’s smile faltered as she touched her belly. “Junior just gave me a kick.”
    â€œLet me pat him.” Linny softly placed her hand on her sister’s stomach; she felt the movement and her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. He’s a mighty tyke.”
    â€œWe think he’s going to be big. Jerry was a ten-pound baby,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
    Linny pictured that bowling ball, that watermelon, traveling down a birth canal, and winced, but quickly rearranged her features into a benign smile when her sister glanced at her. Again, maybe the no-baby situation was just fine.
    * * *
    The next morning, Linny arrived at Jumpin’ Joe’s a few minutes early and glanced around at the already full parking lot. The restaurant and coffee shop was a hot spot for the professionals who worked downtown. Inside, she pulled off her scarf and breathed in the smoky, rich aroma of coffee.
    â€œGood morning. Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.” The creamy-skinned hostess offered her a warm smile, led the way to a booth, and poured her a cup of coffee.
    Mary Catherine blew in, bringing with her a rush of fresh air and the scent of lemon verbena. She leaned in to give Linny a quick hug and slid in across from her. Nabbing a waitress, she asked for coffee. She settled back in the seat and gazed at Linny shrewdly. “How’s hunka-hunka Jack, and how are you doing with Neal?”
    â€œGood and so-so.” Stirring cream in her steaming mug, Linny told her about Neal’s reaction to news of their engagement and shook her head uncomprehendingly. “How could he think his parents were getting back together? He’s eleven; he saw that marriage fall apart, and his mother seems happy with her new husband.”
    â€œAh.” Mary Catherine gave her a knowing look. “Rent the movie The Parent Trap . Twin sisters scheme to reunite divorced parents. It helps explain kids’ magical thinking.”
    Linny fished her spiral notepad from her purse, jotted down the name of the movie, and tapped the pen on the table. “Also, he picks at my cooking and tells me what a great chef his mother is.”
    â€œI’m sure your cooking, well”—Mary Catherine squinted off in the distance—“has improved, but he’s feeling loyal to his mom.”
    Linny touched her forehead with the palm of her hand. “I should know that. . . .” She trailed off, feeling overwhelmed