Chapter Two #3
An older woman wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat stood beneath it with pruning shears in one hand and a wicker basket in the other.
She looked up before anyone called her name.
“I wondered when y’all were coming.”
“Miss Evelyn!” Nia called.
“We brought the new neighbor.”
“I can see that.”
She set the basket down and walked over, moving with the calm confidence of someone who never seemed to be in a hurry.
She was no taller than five foot three, but her presence made everyone stand up a bit straighter.
She wore a crisp white linen dress, pearl earrings, and gardening gloves. She looked effortlessly elegant.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Her smile brightened her entire face.
“I’m Evelyn Harper.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
She held both my hands in hers.
“They’re finally filling that house.”
She spoke so softly I almost didn’t hear her.
“Finally?” I asked.
She blinked, surprised that she had said it out loud.
“It stayed empty longer than most homes around here.”
“Oh.”
“Well…” She smiled again. “I’m glad it’s yours now.”
Something about her put me at ease. She reminded me of grandmothers who always had hard candy in their purses and told stories after dinner.
“You’ll have to forgive these girls,” Miss Evelyn said. “They probably haven’t let you get a word in today.”
“We’re welcoming her,” Nia defended.
“You’re interrogating her.”
“We’re gathering information.”
“We’re being nosy,” Jade corrected.
Miss Evelyn laughed.
“I raised none of y’all, and somehow all of y’all act like cousins.”
“We practically are,” Tasha said.
Miss Evelyn reached into her basket, took out three lemons, and gave one to me.
“Our trees always give us more than we need.”
The lemons felt cool in my hand. Its scent was fresh, clean, and somehow comforting.
“They’re beautiful.”
“They’re meant to be shared.”
Before I could say anything, another voice called out from across the yard.
“I knew I’d find everybody over here.”
Camille walked over to us with a large woven tote slung over one shoulder.
She looked polished in a cream sundress and flat sandals, her dark curls pulled back in a low ponytail. The women hugged her as if they did it every day.
“Maci,” Camille said warmly, “I was hoping I’d catch you.”
“I’ve been getting the neighborhood tour.”
“I can see that.”
She looked around at everyone, then turned back to me.
“I hope these ladies haven’t scared you off.”
“Not yet.”
“Good.”
She reached into her tote and handed me a slim white envelope. Inside was a pretty card decorated with tiny gold lemons.
Welcome to Lemon Grove Estates.
Underneath, there was a handwritten note.
We’re so happy you’re here. We can’t wait to officially welcome you next Thursday.
At the bottom, someone had signed it simply.
The Lemon Pound Cake Club
I traced the elegant lettering with my thumb.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It started as a welcome tradition years ago,” Camille explained. “Every woman who moves into the neighborhood receives one.”
“Think of it as your official invitation,” Tasha added.
“No pressure,” Jade said. “But don’t skip it.”
“You’ll regret missing the pound cake,” Nia chimed in.
“The pound cake is really that good?”
The women looked at each other and then smiled together.
“It really is.”
I paused, then smiled back at them.
“Well… I guess I’ll have to pull out my best recipe then.”
“Oh?” Tasha leaned in.
“I make a pretty mean lemon pound cake.”
Nia’s eyes widened.
“Wait.”
“You’re serious?” Jade asked.
“I’ve heard it’s the best,” I said, giving a small shrug.
The women shared another look.
“Well,” Camille said, her smile turning knowing, “you’re going to fit in just fine.”
I laughed at their reaction.
As I stood under the biggest tree in the neighborhood and listened to everyone laugh, I started to believe I’d really found the fresh start Zaire promised.
Nia snapped her fingers.
"Before everybody disappears, we need your number."
"My number?" I laughed.
"Obviously."
Jade was already reaching into her crossbody bag for her phone.
"We have a group chat."
"We actually have three," Tasha corrected.
"Four," Camille said.
Nia groaned.
"The HOA chat doesn't count."
"It absolutely counts."
"Nobody talks in there except to complain."
"And that one time somebody's package got delivered to the wrong porch," Tasha said.
I laughed.
"You all really have neighborhood group chats?"
Nia looked offended.
"Maci, this neighborhood runs on group chats."
"We've got Lemon Ladies."
"The Booked & Busy chat," Jade added.
"The Lemon Pound Cake Club chat," Camille said.
"And the emergency chat," Tasha finished.
"Emergency?"
"Power outages."
"Lost pets."
"Road closures."
"When somebody's husband accidentally grills enough food to feed forty people," Nia added.
"That happened once."
"It happened three times."
"Who's counting?"
"You are."
"I absolutely am."
Everyone laughed, and Jade held out her phone.
"Give me your number."
I told her my number as she typed it in.
A moment later, my phone buzzed.
Jade Reynolds has added you to Lemon Ladies
Then it buzzed again.
Nia Lawson: WELCOME, MACI!!!
Before I could reply, another notification popped up.
Tasha Bennett: Can't wait for a brunch!
And then I got another notification.
Simone Carter: Welcome to the neighborhood! If you ever need a shopping buddy, I'm your girl.
I couldn't help but smile at my phone.
"They move fast."
"We've been waiting for you," Nia admitted.
"I've lived here all of thirty minutes."
"And yet," she said with a grin and a shrug, "here we are."
Tasha put her phone back in her pocket.
"So... brunch."
"Saturday?" Nia asked.
"I'm free."
Jade nodded.
"I can make Saturday."
"I'll bring cinnamon rolls," Tasha offered.
"You say that every time," Nia teased.
"Because everybody expects them now."
"They're that good?" I asked.
"They're life-changing," Jade answered.
"I've considered hiding them from my own family."
"I've considered charging y'all," Tasha shot back.
Miss Evelyn chuckled under her lemon tree.
"Y'all spend more time planning meals than the average restaurant."
"We're foodies," Nia replied proudly.