Friendship Cake (18 page)

Spring was starting to show itself about the place. Flowers were beginning to bloom. The fruit trees were budding, and the cookbook was just about completed.

“It will be, I promise.” Beatrice had a stack of recipes and had made copies for all the committee members. “I don't have a lot of time myself since I've got to start packing for my trip.”

Margaret was sitting next to Louise, who replied, “Here's what I'm thinking, Bea.”

And they all laughed.

“I'm thinking,” she continued, “that you will be living in sin if you travel the European continent with a man to whom you aren't married.”

Beatrice rolled her eyes and flipped through the pages. “It's Lucy Seal.” She wasn't paying Louise any attention.

“I'm thinking,” Louise kept on, “that Dick Witherspoon better be a decent gentleman and have two rooms for you in every hotel.”

“Do you mind, Louise? I'm trying to conduct a meeting.” Everyone could tell that she was enjoying the teasing.

“What's the problem with Lucy Seal now?” Margaret hushed Louise.

“Let me guess, another pear dish swimming in wine coolers?” Jessie flipped through her copies.

Beatrice put Charlotte's papers on her desk. She was already at the hospital with Lana and Wallace, but she had opened the church so that they could meet in her office.

“Worse.” She tapped the edges of the papers in her lap, trying to get them even. “Her friendship cake.”

“Mm,” Margaret responded. “That's a tough one.”

“The last time she brought one of those to a women's meeting, Byron Garner was dispatched four times, all alcohol related.” Jessie fanned herself with the pages.

“Peggy DuVaughn got pulled over by the sheriff for going over the yellow line,” added Louise.

“And we all know what happened to Vastine when he took a few bites.” Beatrice glanced around the room.

“Detox.” They all said it together.

“Friendship cake”—Jessie studied the recipe—“it's such a hearty name for a cake. But exactly why is it called that?”

“Because sherry makes you friendly?” Louise asked.

Beatrice rolled her eyes. “No, Hoochie Louie, I think it has to do with how much cake the recipe makes, that it's so filling you have to share it with friends. And,” she added with resolve, “it lasts a very long time, well, if it's kept in the refrigerator.”

“Yeah, but sherry does still make you more friendly,” replied Louise.

Margaret laughed. “I like it. I think it would be a great last recipe for the book.”

“Then we'll keep it,” reported Beatrice as she read over the list of ingredients.

They all shuffled through the pages.

“We could add another recipe by the same name.” Louise said this tenuously as she raised her shoulders as if posing a question.

“Meaning?” Beatrice asked.

“Meaning, we have a real recipe for friendship cake, and then we make up one.”

“You mean, like those corny ‘happy home recipes'?” Margaret was surprised to hear this idea coming from Louise.

“Well, it doesn't have to be corny.” Louise folded her arms across her chest, her papers almost falling out of her lap.

“So what would you put in a recipe for a cake of friendship, Ms. Pastry Chef?” Jessie put her copies by the side of her chair.

“Tenacity,” Louise said, half question, half statement, looking over at Bea. “You know, stick-to-itiveness, hanging in there with someone when she's over the deep end.” She turned towards Margaret. “And loyalty, laughter. Lots of things.”

“Well, look who has gone and gotten all mushy on us. Here at the final meeting of the Cookbook Committee.” Beatrice loved the irony of the suggestion.

“Oh, don't give her a hard time, Bea.”

The phone rang. Jessie walked over to answer it. “I think it's a nice idea. Hope Springs Community Church,” she said.

The women were quiet as Jessie listened to the news. Tears filled her eyes, and the others weren't sure if the news she was hearing was good or bad.

“Thank you. Thanks for calling. I'll be right there.” She hung up the phone. “It was James.” She reached for a tissue. “It's a little girl, and everybody's fine.”

Margaret stood up and hugged Jessie. Louise and Beatrice gathered around her.

“I want to go on over there.” She dabbed at her eyes. “You think you can finish this meeting without me?”

The women nodded their heads and smiled.

“And I like the idea of Lou's friendship cake,” Jessie said to Louise. “But I would make sure that one ingredient is included.”

The women waited while she handed Beatrice the papers, opened her purse, and pulled out her keys.

“Hope,” she said. And Margaret took Louise's hand.

“Just like the name of this church and community and our newest, littlest member.” She turned to all of her friends. “Hope.” And she punched the air with her chin like the period at the end of a sentence and headed out the door.

 

 

Welcome to Hope Springs!

Now that you've met Beatrice, Charlotte, Louise, Jessie, and Margaret, you can get to know them better through the Hope Springs trilogy. The second installment,
Garden of Faith
is available at your local bookstore now. And be sure to watch for
A Clean Heart
, in stores May 2003.

For ideas for your own book club, as well as tidbits and advice from the ladies of Hope Springs and from Lynne Hinton herself, please make sure to visit www.LynneHinton.com.

Friendship Cake Reader's Guide

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. James returns to Hope Springs and Jessie allows her husband to move back into her home. Do you think a reunion is possible for a couple after being apart for so many years? What will it take for this marriage to work a second time around? How important is friendship in a marriage?

2. Louise mentions that funerals are an occasion for people to share food with the bereaved. What is your experience with food and funerals? What do you know about other cultures and what is done at funerals for families?

3. The marriage of Wallace and Lana causes quite a stir for the Hope Springs community. Have things changed in our society regarding interracial relationships? Do you think there are areas in the country where this is more acceptable than others?

4. Charlotte struggles with her faith. How comfortable are you
with the notion that pastors might have such struggles? Are ministers held to a different standard regarding doubts and faith crisis?

5. Hope Springs Community Church must deal with issues of homosexuality, racism, and women in ministry. What do you think are the most pressing issues churches must deal with today?

6. Margaret says that, “a heart can hold sadness a lot longer than it can anger;” and that “sadness always outlasts the anger.” Do you find this to be true? Is sadness a more durable emotion than anger?

7. Louise confirms that she is comfortable with death. She says that she thinks that, “death is an appropriate answer to the equation of life;” and that she “can sit in a room, watch as death approaches, gently take the hand of the dying person and lift them in its arms.” Have you ever been with a person who has died? How would you describe this experience?

8. Jessie says that white women and black women have different traditions when it comes to cooking. Do you believe this to be true? If so, is this because of economically based differences or culturally based differences?

9. What are your thoughts about a woman minister? Do you know a woman pastor?

10. Rev. Stewart—Charlotte—writes about how she likes to imagine god as a cloud, a pillar of fire, as manna from heaven. What images of God do you find comforting?

11. When the Women's Guild meets and the conflict ensues between Louise and Beatrice, the other women respond in nervousness and silence. How have you experienced groups of women to handle conflict? How do you think women handle conflict differently from men?

12. Do you think it was appropriate that Roxie should move to North Carolina and be cared for by Louise or do you think the “family” should have provided the care for her? Who, if you had to and were able to, would you choose to care for you if you became sick?

13. What are your thoughts and feelings about interracial relationships? What do you sense that Beatrice really thinks about Lana and Wallace?

14. Margaret claims that being a wise and trusted friend was better than being someone's mother. Do you believe it is possible for a woman to be fulfilled without having children?

15. Charlotte is distraught after Brittany's death and she asks her mother why God doesn't hear her prayers. Have you ever felt like God doesn't hear your prayers? Does her mother's response to this question help you at all in your own faith struggle?

16. The men from the church coming to help clean off the sidewalks for the wedding was for the young pastor, “the picture of grace, undeniable, indescribable grace.” Name an event when you have seen evidence of grace.

17. Grace usually has to do with pardon, mercy, providing a gift of unmerited favor. Out of the five principal women in this story who do you think demonstrated the most grace? Why?

18. Louise is upset about the funeral service because she says that the preacher who did the funeral didn't really know Roxie. What do you think are important elements to be included in a funeral service?

19. What makes a good friend? Who is your best friend? Why?

20. What are the ingredients you would include in your friendship cake?

Garden of Faith

The small North Carolina town of Hope Springs comes alive again in
Garden of Faith
, the sequel to Lynne Hinton's bestselling and acclaimed first novel
Friendship Cake
. The ladies of Hope Springs Church have finished the cookbook that brought them together. Now these bonds are put to the test when the friends are faced with major life changes and decisions. Interspersed throughout are Bea's Botanical Bits—unforgettable snippets of advice that help to cultivate the garden, as well as the spirit.

FROM CHAPTER
3

Margaret was waiting for an answer. The other women now stared at Jessie.

“Yes,” she answered seriously, “James and I are planning to move to Oakland. He has a sister out there who'd like us to buy the place next to her.” She moved around a bit, readjusting her position next to Louise.

“Jessie, how long have you been thinking about this?” Margaret knew this was a question everyone had on their minds.

“We started talking about it earlier this summer,” Jessie said. “At first, I didn't think anything of it. But then, I don't know, I figured it would be fun.” She tried to sound excited.

“When?” Charlotte just asked the one-word question.

“We don't know yet.”

“Well, what are we talking about here?” Louise probed. “Fall, winter, next year?” Her voice was sharp, clipped.

“I don't know,” Jessie said again.

Charlotte turned to Margaret, wondering if she was going to tell her news as well. Margaret rubbed her hands up and down her legs and shook her head as an answer. Beatrice noticed the exchange, curious about what secret they shared.

“Well, I don't see how you could move before next year.” Beatrice decided against asking Margaret what was going on and spoke to Jessie. “I mean, you have to retire, you'll have to clean out everything, you have to pack and get everybody settled. So that the earliest you could really leave is December, and you know you don't want to move in the cold.”