Finding Promise (The Promise Series, A Small Town Romance) by Aneesa Price Page B

good!” Jo handed her a jar of apple jelly. “Old
Nancy has a fine hand with apple jelly.”
     
    Laurel handed her a huge dish. “Here, this looks like Kelly
brought over the apple pie and the Chamber of Commerce pack. The pack’s good,
the pie’s debatable.”
     
    “Oh, her pie’s good. She just puts too much raisins in
them.” Patsy chirped, eyes gleaming behind the glasses. “Wish someone would
tell her that apple pie has to have apples as the main ingredient and then
it’ll be alright.”
     
    The women began to have a heated discussion on the best
local bakers and recipes. Caroline was content to listen as she began stocking
her fridge with a variety of casseroles and pies. Someone had brought muffins.
Eloise, she saw from the note attached. Saving all the notes so that she could
return their dishes and thank their owners, she set about serving the women
muffins and tea.
     
    “I like your home, honey. I like the work you’re doing on
it. Speaking of work, where is that son of mine?”
     
    “He must be here somewhere or he’s off to the hardware
store. I haven’t seen him yet this morning.”
     
    “That’s men for you, always off busy doing nothing.” Patsy
was a regular crackerjack, keeping the laughter flowing. “Now, Laurel says that
she’s planning a big barbeque for you to welcome you to the town. Looking at
this place, I think you need to have it here as a housewarming.”
     
    Clapping her hands in agreement, Stella jumped into the
conversation, “Yes! I think that is a brilliant idea!” Looking at Caroline’s
bewildered expression. “Don’t be daunted dear. We’d never throw you in the deep
end. We like planning a party as much as having one. We’ll help you with the
guest list and could all come up here on the day and join in the cooking. We’re
like family in this town, so nobody coming would come empty handed either. Nate
could bring the music, we could ask if John would lend us some tables and
chairs from the inn, and you’ll find that everyone will bring a dish or two of
something to eat. So, you see, it’ll all work out on its own. When did Luke say
he’d be done?”
     
    “Oh, he said that it’ll be about a month to do it all and
there’s just under three weeks left.” Twenty days, five hours and thirty-three
minutes, she thought, impatient for the chaos to end.
     
    They all agreed that it was a good idea and Caroline fell
into their plans as they discussed them.
     
    On their way out, Laurel offered on behalf of the other
ladies, “The Chamber of Commerce pack will give you a list of the available
services in town, emergency numbers, shops and so on. The tourism committee
probably also included some of their brochures on what to do around here. But
if you need anything, don’t be shy to shout. You can call any one of us,
anytime.”
     
    “She’s right. Don’t be shy. We’re a friendly town but if
you’re not used to us, we can come across as a bit forward.”
     
    “A bit?” a grinning Jo, questioned Patsy.
     
    Vying for the final word, Patsy ended with inviting them
over for tea. “Caroline,” she began, her voice less firm, oddly a bit sweeter,
“I’ve heard of your baking from Laurel. She hasn’t shared any of it with me,
claiming that John polishes it all off.
     
    “She’s fibbing,” interjected a smiling Laurel, “she all but
polished off those hazelnut cookies Luke brought over.
     
    “Anyway,” continued Patsy while glaring at Laurel, “we
should have tea a week or so before the work’s done on the house. Then we can
kill two birds with one stone. The rest of us,” she looked pointedly at Laurel,
“can sample your baking and we can all plan the party.”
     
    “I think that’s a great idea!” Caroline acquiesced. “I can
invite Bess, Rachel and Faith too.”
     
    Grinning and feeling thoroughly welcomed, she ended up
hugging all of them before they left, chattering their way down the garden
path. Garden path reminded her, she’d