The Devine Doughnut Shop(35)

“She is doing very well,” Grace said and clamped her mouth shut to keep from saying what was on her mind.

“Well, well, well!” Sarah brought out another tray of doughnuts and slid them into the case. “I thought you two weren’t ever coming back in this shop again. Have you changed your minds about your daughters keeping company with my niece?”

“We have not,” Carlita said, “but we’re just concerned for Macy.”

“She is just fine,” Sarah said. “Macy is tougher than you might think.”

“How’s it working out with Raelene living with y’all?” Carlita asked. “I heard that she’s . . .”—she lowered her voice—“kind of weird and that Audrey is mortified.”

“What was it that wise person said about not believing anything you hear and only half of what you see?” Grace asked.

“Poor little Raelene.” Lisa sighed. “She didn’t have much of a chance with a mother like Geneva. We were discussing her sad situation and thought we’d offer to help out by sending her over to the group home in San Antonio. We would feel so much better if she wasn’t around our girls, even at school—and certainly not in our church.”

Sarah crossed the room in a few strides. “She’s just fine where she is, and we love having her as part of our family. I’m thinking of adopting her.”

“I heard you are going to sell your shop and recipe and part of your land. Are you thinking of moving from Devine?” Lisa asked. “You know that my husband, Kenneth, is in the real estate business, and I’m sure he could get you a better deal for all this than you could get selling it on your own.”

Grace whipped around and took a couple of steps back toward the table. “One more time: We. Are. Not. Selling!”

Carlita stirred four containers of cream and six sugar packets into her coffee. “It might be best for Audrey if you did move.”

“I will miss these doughnuts when you leave,” Lisa said and then lowered her voice when she nodded toward the other end of the dining area. “Is that the man thinking of putting in a mass-production bakery right here in Devine? Travis Butler? God knows we could use the jobs that a big factory would bring in.”

Carlita giggled under her breath. “I bet you’re just stringing him along to get at that Butler money. You’d be a fool not to, girl—and that would mean Audrey would go to school next year in San Antonio. All problems would be solved.”

“One more time: We are not moving anywhere. And I’m not dating anyone.” Grace went right back to the kitchen. “Lisa and Carlita are out there.” She held her hands out, wrists together. “Handcuff me so I don’t go back and pour a pot of hot coffee on their heads.”

“I vote that we whip up some special chocolate doughnuts tonight,” Sarah suggested. “We can dose them with laxative.”

“I bet we could find some of that funny oregano somewhere in town to add to them.” Macy wiped her hands on her apron. “But rather than make them sick, I’ll take care of them. Enough is enough. I’m not hiding out anymore.” She stormed out of the kitchen like she was heading for another bout of kickboxing.

“Mercy!” Grace said. “Her temper is risin’, again. Haven’t seen her like this in . . . ever.”

“’Bout time,” Sarah replied.



Macy marched out into the dining area, picked up a full coffeepot, and headed toward the end of the room where the guys were still talking. “How are y’all this mornin’?” she said cheerfully. “Need a warm-up?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Claud said, “and we’d like to introduce you to our friend Travis Butler. He’s thinking of putting in a big business right here in Devine. It would bring in lots of jobs that would revive the economy in this little town.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Butler,” Macy said as she refilled the mugs. “Good luck with your business.”

“My pleasure,” Travis said with a nod, “and I’m hoping that things work out.”

She moved on over to the table where a couple of elderly ladies from church were wiping the sugar from their hands. “You girls need a refill?”

“You bet we do,” Dotty said and then lowered her voice. “We’re sorry about Neal, but we heard that you took care of it.”

“I did, but it wasn’t very Christian-like,” Macy admitted.

“Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple for being dishonest,” Dotty reminded her. “I heard that you might be selling this place. I’d sure hate to see that. It’s been here my whole life. Your grandmother and mother both were my friends.”

“There are days when I’d sell it, but I’m only half owner of this place. What I say is important, but what Grace says has always been the law, and nobody messes with her. If Neal had done her like he did me, he would have never fathered another child,” Macy said loud enough that Lisa and Carlita could hear it like a crack of thunder.

“Amen to that,” Dotty said. “But your mama would sure be disappointed if you girls sold the place. It’s been here almost as long as Devine has been a town. And, honey, I hear that after the kickin’ you gave him, he might not be thinkin’ of fatherin’ a child for a while anyway.”