The Magnolia Inn(77)

“Thank you, honey,” Jasper said, “but we don’t want to live at the Magnolia. If we did, we wouldn’t have given it away to begin with.”

Sugar took her by the hand and led her toward the kitchen. “We’re probably going to buy the house next to Flossie’s. We parked at a campground down by Marshall last night, but if things look good, we’ll park by Flossie’s tonight. I wanted to get here so badly that I didn’t even make breakfast. So I’m going to cook. Would you call the girls and tell them to come join you? That way I can surprise them all at the same time.”

“I’m so glad you’ve come back. We’ve missed you so much, but really, y’all can live here and not have to buy a house,” Jolene said.

“She’s right,” Tucker said from halfway down the stairs. “There’s plenty of room right here.”

Jasper extended a hand. “I’m Jasper and this is Sugar. You have to be Tucker.”

“Yes, sir, and I’m right pleased to meet y’all.” Tucker shook with him and nodded at Sugar. “I’ve heard so much about y’all that I feel like I already know you both.”

“Same here,” Sugar said. “You two don’t need to worry—we don’t want to live here. We’re both getting too old for stairs and takin’ care of guests. This is your place now. I’m excited about having a home I don’t share with people!”

“We’ll be glad to help y’all any way we can,” Tucker said. “And you’ll have to climb those stairs at least one more time to see what we’ve got done so far.”

“After I see the girls,” Sugar said. “I’m really anxious to surprise them.”

Jolene wiped at her eyes. “I might cry, I’m so happy.”

Sugar stopped long enough for another quick hug and whispered, “So I see that he’s not wearing a wedding ring. When did he take it off?”

“Yesterday,” Jolene said.

“Been sober how long?”

“More than a week.”

“That’s wonderful news. Now make that call,” Sugar said.



Dotty’s sixth sense kicked in that morning when she first woke up. It had to do with that damned calendar, she was sure of it. Whatever it was had happened yesterday, and she was just about to find out about it now. She started to make her cup of strong black coffee, but the phone rang.

“This is it,” she muttered. “Don’t let it be bad news. Hello, Jolene, is everything okay?”

“Of course. Just wanted to invite you, Flossie, and Lucy to breakfast this morning. I’ve got some exciting news,” Jolene said.

“Does it involve Tucker? Are y’all dating or whatever you young folks call it these days?” Dotty asked.

“Can’t say right now. Want to tell you all three at the same time.”

Dotty could hear the excitement in Jolene’s voice. “Okay, then, I’ll call Flossie and you get hold of Lucy. Tell them I’ll drive and get them in twenty minutes.”

“You got it. See you in half an hour.”

The call ended, and Dotty called Flossie. She put the phone on speaker and laid it on the vanity as she touched up her hair, applied fresh hair spray, and put on the fastest makeup job she’d done in years.

“What do you think the news is? Is it about the Magnolia Inn or about her and Tucker?” Flossie asked.

“Don’t know. She wouldn’t say,” Dotty said.

“I’m hanging up now. So see you in twenty. Just honk and I’ll come right on out,” Flossie said.

Dotty finished in the bathroom. She jerked on a velour pants set with lots of bling on the front of the shirt, shoved her feet into a pair of boots, and grabbed her coat and purse. She broke every speed limit posted to find Lucy waiting on the porch.

“So what do you think she’s going to tell us?” Lucy was getting inside the vehicle before it came to a full stop.

“It’s got something to do with yesterday. I was antsy all day,” Dotty said. “No one died in town last night, did they?”

Lucy frowned. “Not that I’ve heard of. I talked to Sugar last night and everything was fine. And you went to the Magnolia yesterday.”

“I bet you that Jolene and Tucker have been hiding something from us and they’re engaged,” Dotty said.

“No!” Lucy shook her head dramatically. “We’d have seen that coming. We’re not so old that we’re losin’ it.”

Flossie was waiting and hurried out to the SUV, crawled into the back seat, and said, “Y’all know anything more?”

Dotty shook her head. “Nope, but it’s got to be big news. I could hear it in Jolene’s voice.”

“Well, drive faster,” Flossie said. “If you get a speeding ticket, I’ll pay it.”

Dotty jacked it up another ten miles and slung a little loose gravel when she braked to turn down the lane to the inn. She parked close to the front porch, and they all tumbled out of the vehicle like little girls rather than grown women.

Dotty swung open the front door. “We’re here. Something smells delicious.”

Lucy hung up her coat. “What’s the news?”

Flossie didn’t take off her jacket but pushed past both the others and met Jolene in the dining room. “Tell me right now that this is good news. My blood pressure is risin’ by the minute.”