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years than she cared to remember, remained in Charleston. During a visit home, to Charleston, Toots had learned of a bakery that made the most perfect pralines. Bernice, the Queen of Superstition, told her that at the grand opening of the bakery, The Sweetest Things, a man had died of a heart attack while waiting in line. Bernice was sure that anyone who came in contact with the bakery or the young girl who owned it would suffer a tragedy of their own if they purchased any baked goods.
    It was all the encouragement Toots needed to go check out the bakery for herself. She, along with Mavis, Sophie, and Ida, met the owner, whose name was Jamie. Toots had taken one bite of her pralines and knew instantly that the young woman had a talent. After she had learned that Jamie was about one week from closing down, thanks to the bad publicity over the man who died while waiting in line, Toots suggested she and Jamie go into partnership together. The venture was now extremely successful. Tourists and locals waited in line for hours to purchase her pralines, which were famous statewide.
    And Jamie had been living in Toots’s guesthouse ever since. She had offered to move now that she was financially stable, but Bernice had become quite attached to the young girl and insisted she stay. Toots agreed. Jamie was like a second daughter. But she was the daughter Bernice had never had. Having a grown son who spent most of his adult life traveling the world searching for who knew what, Bernice was beyond heartbroken by her son’s neglect. Toots suspected there was more to the story but didn’t voice her thoughts to Bernice. For now, she was happy and content to help Jamie with the bakery. She knew enough not to mess with a good thing.
    Toots unpacked and took a quick shower. She slipped into a pair of old jeans she’d had for longer than she cared to remember, topped with a gauzy pale peach blouse. She twisted her heavy auburn hair into a topknot. Sucking in her cheeks, she filled hollows with a matte bronzer a shade deeper than her skin, accentuating her high cheekbones. A touch of mascara, and her favorite coral-colored lipstick, and she was good to go. Since starting her bicoastal lifestyle, as she liked to think of it, she’d been a wee bit more conscientious about her appearance. She slipped her feet into a pair of Kelsi Dagger embellished leather flats, grabbed her package of Marlboros, and headed out to the deck, where the four friends had agreed to meet.
    Sophie had arranged the blue-and-white-covered deck chairs in their favorite positions, side by side, with the giant seashell ashtray on the table between them. Toots reclined next to Sophie, lit a cigarette, and took a deep, satisfying puff.
    â€œI don’t see how we managed to do without these damned cigarettes for forty-eight hours.”
    â€œYeah, well, I can’t either, but I thought it proper given the circumstances. Plus, it seemed to make Mavis happy,” Sophie said.
    Toots blew out a large stream of light gray smoke, her throaty laughter deep and rich. “You know, we have cut down quite a bit.”
    â€œI know. But you know as well as I do that cutting down isn’t the same thing as quitting. I’m thinking about it, really.” Sophie had a smile on her face.
    â€œI suppose if you do, I’ll have to give it a more concerted effort.”
    At that moment, Mavis stepped out on the deck, carrying a tray full of tropical delights. “I thought you girls might want a snack.”
    She placed the platter on the large patio table. Bowls of fresh pineapple, kiwi, and strawberries, were topped with slices of grapefruit—the day’s snacks. Mavis had arranged the fruit so perfectly, it would’ve looked at home on the cover of Bon Appétit.
    Ida, the queen of sophisticated fashion, chose that moment to grace them with her presence . She was wearing a feminine, billowy yellow skirt with a matching blouse and gold