Honeysuckles of the South

The kitchen at Winola mansion was enticing the air with the cooking aromas. The young ladies was slicing and dicing their vegetables. The hams and chickens were in the ovens. The macaroni was in the oven bubbling. The collard greens and black- eyed peas, corn on the, rice and fried chicken was boiling and sizzling on the stovetops.

While the young ladies were cooking each had a glass of bourbon on the counter. Family and friends were due to arrive in two hours to partake of the feast that these dainty little fingers had cooked.

"I can't wait to eat." Georgianna stated.

"Yes, indeed." Winola commented.

"I invited Vance to our cook fest." Vedella replied.

"We were hoping you would invite him." Jannie Marie replied.

"He will fit ring in with everyone." Dixie remarked.

"There's nothing like having a Texan in the house! Vedella exclaimed.

"Pass me the knife so I can trim the crust on the pies and get them in the ovens, honey." Georgianna asked.

"Everything is about ready. After the pies are done, we'll have forty-five minutes to get ready for our guests." Winola replied.

"Hattie and Nancy will be glad to get their kitchen back. They keep it so organized." Jannie Marie commented.

"I like to leave it organized for them. I don't want to have to look at their faces if we leave it a mess." Winola remarked.

"I saw Bayon two days ago. He was looking handsome as ever." Vedella quipped as she looked at Dixie.

"I can't tell you everything we talked about, but he's seeing someone that we all know. I won't mention any name." Vedella answered.

"My, my, what secrets do we harbor? Georgianna asked.

"They're really not secrets. I don't think it's fair to repeat all the conversation I was having with Bayon." Vedella replied.

"It's been a long time since I've seen him." Dixie stated.

"He still travels a lot. Most of his time is spent on business." Vedella replied.

"I'm not surprised." Dixie remarked.

"Jannie Marie honey, have you and Copper resolve your differences? Winola asked.

"Not really sugar. I invited him to come to our cook fest, but he couldn't make it this weekend. We're not talking as much since I went to New York." Jannie Marie answered.

"Don't worry about it darling. He loves you. Don't put too much distant in your communication with him. Sometimes when men get upset they make mistakes they don't really mean to make. Like someone coming along to stroke is bruise ego." Georgianna replied.