The Devine Doughnut Shop(11)

“Probably not, but it would be nice if they were,” Grace answered. “Raelene’s grandma, Hilda, was not of the upper class here in Devine, but she was a wonderful person. She’s done a good job of raising that child. Raelene’s mother, Geneva, was a handful and pretty much gave the baby to Hilda to raise from the time she was born.”

“Mama used to take a couple dozen doughnuts up to her about once a month,” Macy said. “I went with her one time when I was a little girl, and Hilda was worried about Geneva even back that far. I had forgotten all about that until you mentioned it.”

“She had a right to be worried,” Grace said. “Geneva has always had a wild streak.”

“Wilder than Sarah?” Macy whispered.

“Oh, yeah,” Grace replied and nodded. “She would make Sarah look like an angel. But I’ve got a confession to make. When Geneva got pregnant with Raelene, I was just like Audrey and her little buddies, and I gossiped behind her back. A year later, I was in the same predicament. That taught me a valuable lesson about judging.”

Macy took a sip of her coffee and set the cup back down. “Is that why Sarah gave her a job and took her in?”

Grace finished off her coffee and took the cup to the sink. “Probably. She would have remembered Hilda and Geneva—and I feel like at one time, they were friends.”

“Small towns,” Macy said with a sigh. “I’m glad that I’m moving to San Antonio this summer.”

“You’ll miss Devine. I know you will.” Grace chuckled.

“I’ll be coming back every day to work in the shop,” Macy said, “at least until Neal and I start our family, and then I’m giving you and Sarah my part of this place.”

Grace held up a palm. “We’re not going to have that conversation for a while. We’ve still got a wedding to plan and lots of doughnuts to make between now and the end of June.”

“Do you think you and Sarah will ever get married?” Macy asked as she stood up and took the first step out of the kitchen.

“Can’t speak for my sister, but not me,” Grace answered. “Audrey wouldn’t adapt well to a stepdad, and there’s not a man on the earth who could endure raising a teenage girl that wasn’t his child.”

“But what if a guy like Neal came along and swept you off your feet, and what if Audrey loved him?” Macy pressed.

“Jesus is in heaven,” Grace told her.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Macy asked.

Grace raised an eyebrow and shook her head slowly. “Think about it.”

Macy gasped. “Oh! I get it. A man would have to be as perfect as our Lord and Savior to ever put up with Audrey. Well, miracles do happen.”

“But not for me—and, honey, just a word of advice . . .” Grace lowered her voice. “Don’t put Neal up on too high of a pedestal. He’s human, but he’s also a man. He’s not perfect, and when he falls off that pedestal, if it’s all the way up in the clouds, it could easily tear apart your relationship. And I am definitely speaking from experience.”

“He’s not Justin,” Macy snapped. “He would never hurt me like Justin did you.”

Grace crossed the room and patted Macy on the shoulder. “I hope not. He wouldn’t want to face the consequences of his actions if he did. If we’re going to make Sunday school, we’d better put a rush on things.”

“I’ll meet all y’all at the car in ten minutes,” Macy said. “I’m glad you’re sitting in on my class this morning. I need you there, Grace. The kids have gotten out of control, and I don’t know what to do. Only one boy even participates, and he acts like it’s an embarrassment to speak up in front of the rest of the class.”

“How long has this been going on?” Grace asked.

“Weeks, maybe months,” Macy admitted. “I didn’t want to say anything because Audrey is in the class, and I didn’t want to get her in trouble.”

Grace gave Macy a quick hug. “Well, today’s the day she’d better be on her best behavior, or she might not get her phone back until summer. Meet you at the car in ten.”

Later, Macy and Grace met in the living room at the same time and were heading out the door when Audrey yelled, “Shotgun!”

“Too late,” Grace told her when she reached the porch. “I’ve already reserved it for myself.”

“But that means . . . ,” Audrey sputtered.

“It means you and Raelene will have to ride in the back.” Grace led the way to the car, where Macy was sliding in behind the wheel and Raelene was in the back seat.

“Mama, why are you being so mean to me?” Audrey whispered, but the chill was there, as clear as if she’d yelled.

“Be careful, my child,” Grace warned her. “I won’t tolerate you being hateful.” She wrapped her arm around Audrey’s shoulder and gave her a hug all the same. “I love you too much to be mean to you, darlin’ girl. Did you ever think back when Raelene was your friend? Did she ever ask you to lie for her?”

“I’ve chosen different friends—true friends, thank you very much,” Audrey said out the corner of her mouth, “and Raelene will never be my friend again. I have to share my bathroom with her and let her live in my house, but she’s just our maid.”