Page 3 of Moonshine and Magnolias (Just Add Peaches #1)
Sure. Only Wendy had put her own planned career track on hold.
Abandoning her cousin and the Hall was unthinkable, at least until Brandi could keep up with the finer points of managing it.
Wendy’s job as a project manager was more behind the scenes, but taking into account the day-to-day of hotel employees when planning made everyone happier.
“I found the serving plate, Ms. Eulalee.” Dr. Upshaw came through the swinging doors, holding the large silver platter Grandma had used during family gatherings. “Where would you like it?”
He stopped when he saw Wendy and gave a casual shrug. The lines at the corner of his eyes crinkled with the smile he gave her. “I couldn’t stay in my room knowing I could be useful down here.”
She ignored the heat that settled in her stomach. “Dr. Upshaw—”
“Call me Rob.”
“Dr. Upshaw,” she repeated. “Really, as a guest, you shouldn’t be doing our jobs for us.”
“I couldn’t leave two ladies in need when I have the ability to help,” he countered. “What kind of gentleman would I be then?”
“Wendy, we could use the extra hands,” her mom said. “At least until Sarah gets here.”
Her argument strangled in her throat. It was only family, and with her cousin burrowed upstairs and her grandma… “Fine. Just keep your eyes on him.”
“Leslie, can you get that husband of yours to pick about ten peaches?” Eulalee stretched for a basket high on the shelf, but Dr. Upshaw towered over her to easily reach it. “We’ll have Maybelle’s signature pie for dessert tonight.”
“Sure thing.” Wendy’s mom gave her another quick squeeze and took the basket before leaving the kitchen.
“And you.” Aunt Eulalee dipped her head at Wendy and pointed to the large refrigerator. “Get out those green beans and start snapping.”
Just as Wendy had calculated, cars started pulling into the parking lot two hours later.
She had just enough time to change into a nicer top and put some food dishes in the parlor.
She stood in the lobby along with her mom and dad, greeting the guests as they entered.
Brandi hung near the registration desk while Aunt Eulalee flitted between groups of people. Dr. Rob Upshaw had finally disappeared.
Okay, fine. She could admit his strong, skilled hands had been useful while they waited for Sarah.
His extra inches of height had retrieved things without a stepstool.
And he was surprisingly capable at both rearranging items to fit in the refrigerator and smelling so good it drove her to distraction.
“Wendy, sweetie, I made this corn casserole.” One of Grandma’s oldest friends held out an aluminum tray. “It was Maybelle’s favorite.”
“Thank you. She always raved about your cooking.”
The woman smiled, her grey eyes misting with tears, and moved into the parlor.
Wendy turned to the kitchen, only to be stopped by another of her grandma’s friends. “I can’t believe she’s gone. She was the best of us.” The woman put one hand on Wendy’s shoulder. The other gripped a warming bag. “How are you holding up, honey?”
“It’s been rough.” The woman meant well, but all the attention from Grandma’s friends made her head throb and chest tighten. Brandi was the one who loved being in the spotlight, not her.
“I made you a roast. It’ll freeze real good. Just heat it up after it’s defrosted.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
By the time Wendy had tottered into the kitchen, she had managed to balance the roast and casserole, a batch of biscuits, mashed potatoes, and two pecan pies.
She slid everything onto the island and shook out her arms before putting some food in the fridge and more on the sideboard in the dining room .
Generations of her ancestors stared down from the pictures on the cream-colored wall, reminding her of her duty to family and the Inn at Fountenoy Hall.
And she’d uphold it, but right now she needed time to recharge.
She headed out the kitchen’s back door and down the grassy hill to the peach orchard.
Just for a minute, to bask in the silence on familiar ground.
The humid air carried the scent of the fruit, bringing back memories of her summer vacations, when the stable place to live was the norm instead of feeling the anticipation of moving because of her dad’s job.
Of playing softball, pitching peaches with her cousin instead of for high-school championships.
Of lazy days spent reading. Of working, learning the business, while Brandi ditched to sneak off with a boyfriend or to escape her duties.
But they’d gone to college together on athletic scholarships for softball.
After graduation, Wendy got a job at a big hotel chain.
Worked her way through the ranks to a project manager position.
On her terms, not by right of inheritance.
She picked up a ripened peach from the ground and bounced it in her hand a few times, its fuzzy skin tickling her palm.
A copy of her grandma’s will lay in a dresser drawer, all official and legal and life changing, but she didn’t need to see it.
She’d read and reread it so many times, it was a wonder the pages hadn’t yet fallen apart.
A life estate for the Inn at Fountenoy Hall will be established for my sister-in-law Eulalee Katherine Clayton with my granddaughters, Wendy Marsh and Brandilynn Clayton, as tenants in common…
She got into her pitcher’s stance and lobbed the fruit at the tree. It bounced through the branches, then hit the ground with a soft thunk. The satisfaction that usually followed a well-thrown ball didn’t come. She did it again with the same lack of results.
She didn’t want to stay. Staying meant giving up everything she had worked for. But she couldn’t leave her home.