Sweet Tea and Secrets Read Free Page A

you to be startled when you got here—”
    “You have the wrong number,” Jill said with quiet emphasis.
    “Jill? Wait.”
    The sound of her name caused her body to stiffen. She lifted the phone back to ear. “Who is this?”
    “It’s Garrett.”
    His invasion of this perfect evening stung . “How did you get this number?”
    “From Pearl’s phone index.”
    “I can’t talk to you right now.” Or ever .
    “Someone broke into Pearl’s house.”
    “What?” Applause came from the ballroom. Jill turned her back to the noise and pressed the phone closer to her ear. “Is she alright?”
    “They broke the window next to the door. I boarded it up.”
    “Is she okay?”
    “Who?” He paused. “Oh...uh...”
    Garrett’s pause set off her internal alarms. “What do you mean who ? Is my grandmother alright?”
    There was silence on the line.
    “Are you there?” Her voice hardened.
    He cleared his throat. “Yeah. I’m here. You don’t know?”
    “Don’t know what?”
    “Milly said she talked to Bradley early this afternoon. You...”
    The champagne churned in her stomach. “You’re not making sense. Why would Milly talk to Bradley?”
    “I don’t know how to say this.” Garrett spoke in an odd, yet gentle tone. “Pearl...she passed away. She’s gone, Jill.”
    The sounds of the party vanished.
    “I thought you knew. Bradley told Milly he’d tell you.”
    Jill lowered the phone and clutched it to her chest. She swept the drapes back. Bradley stood at the podium, thanking everyone for coming. He made eye contact with her and flashed a smile as if things couldn’t be better.
    How could he?
    It was like the oxygen had just evacuated her space. Not Pearl. She turned away from the curtain, and lifted the phone to her ear. “No. She can’t...”
    “I can’t believe it either, and I can’t believe he didn’t tell you.”
    “No. He was...” What? Too busy? Forgetful? Heartless? There was no excuse . “How? When?”
    “I’m so sorry you’re hearing the news this way.”
    “Me too,” she mouthed the words, but nothing came out.
    “Milly found her.” Garrett’s voice cracked.
    He loved Pearl, too. Who didn’t?
    “She went in her sleep.”
    Was that supposed to make it easier?
    Garrett broke the silence that hung between them on the line. “The Sheriff thinks the break-in was probably just kids. I don’t think anything’s missing.”
    She couldn’t respond.
    “I only called because I didn’t want you to freak out when you got here, or make matters worse.”
    How could it be worse? Pearl’s gone and someone broke into our house . “Why would anyone do that?” She leaned against the wall to steady herself. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters since Pearl is...” She swallowed hard. “I’m on my way.”
    “I’ll let Milly know.”
    “Tell her I’ll call.” Jill’s heart had crumbled into as many pieces as the number of beads and sequins that adorned her dress tonight.
    Bradley’s voice vibrated above the crowd, thanking guests, moving her way. He had never been so thoughtless. She’d like to burst out there and demand an explanation, but she knew it wasn’t the time or place for that. She slipped out of her strappy heels and ran out the rear exit.
    When she reached her car, she tossed her shoes into the passenger seat, jumped behind the wheel, and sped away. No matter how loud she cranked up the radio, the volume couldn’t drown out the news replaying in her head.
    Pearl’s gone. Gone. Gone.
    Just a year ago, it had been Bradley’s voice that soothed her when Garrett had broken her heart. Now, Bradley had let her down, too.
    Could he have thought this fundraiser was more important than Pearl? His screwed up family relations are no excuse. He knows what Pearl means to me. She’s the only family I have.
    Had.
    Jill drove right past the driveway of the house she shared with Bradley. She backed up and turned into the driveway. Her hands shook as she tugged the keys from