Read Online Christmas Cake by Lynne Hinton - Free Book Online

replied. “That’s part of the reason I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want you to feel like you needed to come.” She shook her head remembering how Charlotte had come back for the second surgery and stayed with her for more than a week. “I’ll be fine.”
    Charlotte waved at the two women outside when she saw that they were waving at her. It was Sophia and Victoria, two younger women who had been in the shelter for a number of months. They had arrived about the same time and had become great friends to each other.
    â€œI could see if I can get someone to cover for me.” Charlotte was trying to figure out if she could take off a few days and go back to be with her friend.
    â€œNo, no,” Margaret said sharply. “There’s no reason for you tocome. This is a simple surgery. I won’t be in the hospital overnight. I don’t want you to come. It’s too much.”
    Charlotte knew it was impossible to think about taking days off any time soon. She was understaffed as it was, and now that they were beyond the occupancy rate, she was going to have to figure out how to help some of the women transition out of the shelter and into permanent housing. None of the volunteers was capable of that.
    She knew it was the worst possible time for her to think about leaving the shelter. It was getting to be the holidays, and she knew they were difficult times for the women. Some of them would want to go back home and try to make it work with their abusive husbands. Everyone needed extra support during the last months of the year. Charlotte knew she couldn’t get away.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Charlotte said, the only thing she could think to say.
    â€œI know, me too,” Margaret replied.
    â€œWell, how are you doing with this?” Charlotte asked.
    Margaret took a few moments before answering. She smiled at Jessie, and Jessie seemed to understand that Margaret needed privacy. Jessie got up from the table and went into the den to be with Hope.
    â€œI’m okay,” she responded, but she knew she didn’t sound very believable. “Well, I mean, I’m trying to be okay.”
    â€œAre you scared?” Charlotte asked.
    â€œA little,” Margaret replied. “I dread the treatments and all the hospital stuff, all that probing and pricking.” She paused. “Of course, maybe some women would like that part.” She was trying to add some humor to the somber conversation.
    â€œThat’s true,” Charlotte responded. “I’ve got a few women staying here who would love a little probing and pricking, especially the pricking.” She smiled.
    Margaret was surprised at her young friend. She could tell a lot had changed for Charlotte since taking a job out of a church. She seemed much looser.
    â€œSeriously,” Charlotte noted, “you okay, really?”
    Margaret took in a breath. “I’m okay,” she said. “And I’ll be fine. I’ll make sure they call you when the surgery is over.”
    â€œWhat day is it again?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s Wednesday, first thing,” Margaret noted.
    â€œOkay,” Charlotte responded. “But I want us to talk more, at least twice a week from now on.”
    Margaret smiled. “Of course. I would like that very much.”
    There was another pause in the conversation. Charlotte wanted to ask her friend what she thought about the prognosis, how she felt about it, whether she thought of death; but it was all too much. She didn’t know how to ask such questions.
    â€œSo, what’s this cookbook thing that Beatrice has got going?” It was the best that she could do.
    â€œHoliday cake cookbook,” Margaret replied, sounding relieved that the hardest part of the conversation was over. “She thought it would be a good idea to have a contest to name the Hope Springs Christmas Cake and then do a cookbook with all of the recipes