Babycakes Read Free

is actually here on Sugarberry, I just don’t know what to think.”
    “Well, I think it’s good,” came a second voice, younger, steadier. “Great, even. I assume he’s here because he wants Birdie to be part of Lilly’s life.”
    “So he says,” the older woman responded. “But can you really trust anything a Westlake says?”
    Kit had lifted her hand to knock again, but froze at the sound of that name. Westlake. She shook her head. Coincidence. Surely the Westlakes who had helped dismantle four generations of hard work and dedication weren’t the only Westlakes in Georgia. The older woman had said the names Morgan and Asher. Neither rang a bell with Kit, but that didn’t mean much. She hadn’t done any research on the firm Teddy had hired. She hadn’t needed to.
    The Westlakes were an Atlanta institution, as was their generations old law firm. Despite any successes her pie company might have achieved, the Westlakes ran in very different circles from the Bellamys. They were old money. Very old. Everyone knew of them, like everyone knew of the royal family.
    Kit had never paid any attention to them or their frequent mentions in the political and social pages. They’d never been of any personal interest to her. Until they’d sat, with smug superiority, across the courtroom from her, she couldn’t have named any one of them. All Kit knew was that Teddy had been a frat brother of one of the Westlakes, hence their prestigious name and power lent to Teddy’s, and Tas-T-Snaks’ cause. Trixie, on the other hand, probably knew their entire detailed history. Kit didn’t think she’d be giving her sister a call on that anytime soon.
    “I heard he bought a place on the north end of the loop,” came the younger voice. “Which means he plans to stay. That has to count for something.”
    “We’ll see,” the older woman said. “We all just want what’s best for the child, but given how Delilah let the Westlakes trample all over her and shove poor Birdie—her own mother—aside like they did . . . I don’t trust this sudden change of heart.”
    “Didn’t you mention something about Morgan being the black sheep of the family? By their standards, anyway. I’ve been so busy with all the craziness leading up to the cookbook release, I’ll admit I haven’t paid as much attention to the local gossip as I usually do. But what I have heard . . . well . . . I don’t know. It sounds like he’s trying to do the right thing. We can at least give him the benefit of the doubt, can’t we?”
    “Oh, he’ll get a warm Sugarberry reception, all right.”
    The younger woman’s tone was affectionate, but with a warning note. “Alva—”
    “Don’t Alva me, Miss Lani May. I don’t have a single say in this.”
    “Other than being Birdie’s closest friend for the past forty or so years.”
    “I just don’t want to see her hurt again. Delilah was a late in life baby for Birdie, long after she’d given up hope of ever having a child. Everyone on this island knew she loved that girl with everything in her heart. What that same child handed her in return . . . and now she’s gone as well . . .” The woman’s voice trailed off.
    Her voice was a bit more wavery when she continued. “I simply couldn’t bear it if that family were to ruin things again. I’ve never met Olivia Westlake, and God help her if I ever do. I have more than a few words for that bitter old prune.”
    “She’s not planning a visit so soon, is she?”
    “Not that I’ve heard, but we need to be prepared. I wouldn’t put anything past that—” The older woman broke off, and Kit found herself leaning closer to the screen door to hear the rest of what she was saying. “Birdie’s been through enough. No mother should outlive her own child. She didn’t attend the funeral, you know. Made the trip to Atlanta in her own time, paid her respects in private.”
    “Probably for the best, but a shame it had to be like that. I’m glad she has you