Page 6 of Secrets on Sapphire

Saucy Sweet Tea

Her house was quiet now. It still breathed life, but felt slightly emptier once her daughter left for college. A smile grew on Sammy’s face as she set out some of the goodies she had baked . . . well bought . . . for the book club meeting. She was excited to be hosting the first meeting with the two new ladies on Sapphire Court. She did not know much about them, but was excited to get to know them.

The book was a Women’s Murder Club novel by James Patterson. Sammy had purchased a lot of red wine for the book club meeting and as she poured herself a glass, she couldn’t help but think of Calista. She couldn’t believe she was gone and couldn’t imagine where she could be. In her heart, she felt her beautiful friend was gone from this earth, but there was a small part of her that thought maybe, just maybe, she was wrong and Calista was laughing her ass off at the terrible joke she was playing.

Sammy was snapped back to reality with a loud knock on her front door. Before she could reach out to grab the handle, the door swung open.

“I hope y’all like Mississippi Mud cake. I thought it fit in with the theme. Ya know? Like people being buried in the mud?” The woman cackled and Sammy turned white.

“Well you look like you’ve seen a ghost, Honey.” The woman placed her dessert and large pitcher of tea on the granite counter top. “Oh goodness! I hope I’m at the right house because otherwise, this is about to be really embarrassing.”

Color slowly began to refill Sammy’s cheeks when she saw the red hair on top of the woman’s head. The laughter had sounded so similar . . .

“If you’re here for a Triple B book club meeting, then you’re at the right house!” Sammy stuck out her hand. “I’m Sammy. You must be –“

“Parker! Parker Lewis. I moved into the old Langston house.” Parker licked a small amount of chocolate off the side of her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Parker. You’re about half an hour early.”

“Oh well, you know, I’ve got this whole Southern hospitality thing going on. I figured I would come help the hostess out as best I could.”

Sammy tilted her head slightly, trying to decide what she thought about this woman. That was the problem with being a cop sometimes, always assessing people. Even without an effort. Sammy thought the woman was genuine enough and finally parted her lips.

“I could use some help setting the rest of the food out in the basement.”

Parker smiled and grabbed her Mississippi Mud cake and the stack of plates lying on the counter. She walked down the stairs Sammy had directed her to. Sammy was digging out the utensils when Taylor, Harley, and Brielle walked through the door. The ladies were wearing their pajamas and donning even bigger smiles.

“I am super excited for this Sammy!” Harley took off her shoes and placed them by the large oak door she had just walked through. “I wonder what the crime is!”

“You’ll have to solve the mystery to find out.” Sammy finally turned around, holding the forks and spoons in her hands.

There was movement beneath them and then footsteps began lightly stomping up the stairs. Parker appeared in the open doorway with a glass in hand. “I forgot my tea. Oh. Hello ladies! I guess I didn’t get the memo on pajamas.” Parker stared at the new arrivals in front of her.

The women all stared at the petite woman in a gray t-shirt dress.

“Girls, this is Parker!” Sammy exclaimed.

Brielle walked toward Parker with a smile. “I’m so glad you could make it!” Brielle leaned in for a hug and Parker accepted it willingly.

After the few awkward moments of introduction, the tension melted and Taylor and Harley also welcomed Parker into their group.

“Well does anyone else want some tea? I could use a glass right about now!” Parker unscrewed the lid off of the mason jar glass she had brought over. “It’s got all kinds of yummy ingredients in it! There’s nothing like a glass of grown up tea.” Parker’s eyes grew bigger as she poured the auburn liquid into her cup.

“I’ll take a glass!” Harley skipped into Sammy’s kitchen to find herself a cup.

Parker poured all of the ladies a cup of her grown up tea and the five women headed downstairs to begin their night of books and crime.

***

The room was cold and dark. There were whispers surrounding them. The people around them were nonexistent because the only important conversation to be heard was the one between them.

“Why aren’t you at the book club meeting?” His eyes grew dark with a lingering anger.

“This was the only time I could come see you.”

“Well, I’m glad you could come. I do get lonely . . . but . . .” the ‘but’ trailed off his lips slowly as his head fell between his shoulders.

A single tear laced her cheek. “Hey . . . don’t give up.”

“I haven’t. However, you need to begin.”

“I know. I’ll go to the next meeting. I promise.”

“You need to make these women your friends. Especially Brielle.” He gritted his teeth. “I don’t want you coming back here until you have some news to relay to me.”

“Okay, Brother.” She stood up and was almost able to give the man before her a hug. The guard stopped her and another tear fell to the cold concrete floor. She simply waved. “I love you, Tim.”

“I love you too, Edie.”

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