The Potluck Club by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson Page A

sat around the table, and Evie managed the prayer. “Dear Lord, be with us today and protect us from the enemy. Amen.”
    Of course, I wasn’t sure if Evie meant Satan or me. She probably hadn’t decided. And who knows, maybe she’s right in her fear of me. After all, I planned to take control of the Potluck Club, and if I were really lucky, I might soon proudly own her niece’s friendship.
    It was time to make my first conversational move as Evie and Leigh tasted my delectable barbeque. I waited until Evangeline’s mouth was full.
    “Leigh,” I started, “how long do you plan to stay?”
    “Probably until after the baby comes. Maybe longer.”
    I couldn’t help but notice that this comment seemed to alarm Evie. But I pretended not to notice. “Then your husband will be joining you?”
    “No. I’m not married,” Leigh answered.
    Evie almost choked on her mouthful of barbeque.
    “Then you’re planning on raising your baby yourself?”
    Leigh glanced at Evie. “Of course. All I need is a supportive place to call home.”
    With that, Evie jumped up to get some more bread off the kitchen counter, almost spilling her glass of tea.
    “Oh dear” was all she said.
    “No one’s ever accused me of being shy, so I’ll ask: have you thought about adoption?” I said, like this was the most natural conversation in the world.
    “I won’t even consider it.”
    “When’s the baby due?”
    Before Leigh could answer, the doorbell rang. Evangeline ran to answer it.
    Leigh confided in her absence. “A couple of months.”
    I know that’s when I lost my eyebrows under my red curls, but I just couldn’t help it. For I could see this young lady didn’t have a clue as to what she had gotten herself into. It was like my daddy had always said: “There are two kinds of people—the ones who learn by reading and observation, and the others who have to touch the fire to see if it’s really hot.”
    Leigh was about to get scorched if, for heaven’s sake, she didn’t have a friend like me.
    Suddenly, I heard Donna’s voice at the door. “Canceled? I didn’t know. I knew I should’ve checked that phone message before I drove all the way over.”
    Aha. Another one of my potential projects had arrived. I stood and walked to the kitchen door. “Hi, Donna,” I called.
    Donna looked perturbed, but surely not at me. She was off duty, dressed in jeans, tennis shoes, and a floppy white T-shirt with the word dangerous emblazoned in red. Heavens. If only she’d pat on a little makeup and let that hair grow a bit, she wouldn’t look so much like a young boy. I bet she’d have lovely curls. Like mine.
    I called again, “Evie, invite Donna in. Let’s have our own party.”
    “What smells so good?” Donna asked as she accepted my invitation and walked toward the kitchen, lugging a Crock-Pot and grocery sack, much to Evangeline’s irritation.
    “My barbeque brisket,” I said as I hurried to grab another plate. Leigh stood and helped with the silverware and napkins. Donna busied herself with her apple cider and Crock-Pot. “For dessert,” she announced. She turned to look at Leigh, and her eyes popped.
    Evie offered, “Donna, you remember Leigh, don’t you?”
    Donna quickly adjusted to her surprise as she sat down. She scooped a large helping of my brisket onto her plate, then buttered her apple cinnamon bread. “Little Leigh? You were all of sixteen the last time I saw you. You’re from West Virginia, right?”
    Leigh smiled at Donna. “That’s right. I just flew in yesterday.” I leaned back in my chair and almost let my happy sigh escape my lips. This was perfect. The conversation wouldn’t need much direction from me, and I could concentrate on studying each of these women. Though, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Evangeline. Here was a woman who loved control, and that control had just slipped through her fingers. Which, to tell the truth, was all right with me.
    Soon, Evangeline’s world would be my