by Lynne Hinton
“Well, look who has gone and gotten all mushy on us. Here at the final meeting of the Cookbook Committee.” Beatrice loved the irony of the suggestion.
“Oh, don’t give her a hard time, Bea.”
The phone rang. Jessie walked over to answer it. “I think it’s a nice idea. Hope Springs Community Church,” she said.
The women were quiet as Jessie listened to the news. Tears filled her eyes, and the others weren’t sure if the news she was hearing was good or bad.
“Thank you. Thanks for calling. I’ll be right there.” She hung up the phone. “It was James.” She reached for a tissue. “It’s a little girl, and everybody’s fine.”
Margaret stood up and hugged Jessie. Louise and Beatrice gathered around her.
“I want to go on over there.” She dabbed at her eyes. “You think you can finish this meeting without me?”
The women nodded their heads and smiled.
“And I like the idea of Lou’s friendship cake,” Jessie said to Louise. “But I would make sure that one ingredient is included.”
The women waited while she handed Beatrice the papers, opened her purse, and pulled out her keys.
“Hope,” she said. And Margaret took Louise’s hand.
“Just like the name of this church and community and our newest, littlest member.” She turned to all of her friends. “Hope.” And she punched the air with her chin like the period at the end of a sentence and headed out the door.
*
Real Friendship Cake
Cooks’ Note: This recipe takes extra preparation and work.
You will need a bunch of love, the kind that is long-suffering and bears all things, the kind that does not keep score of mistakes or slips of the tongue. Blend this with a serving of patience and add the following ingredients.
A strong helping of backbone support is necessary, for friendship is molded upon an understanding that leaning is appropriate.
Fold in the promise to guard secrets and the willingness to tell one’s own.
Combine humor, the sweet taste of easy laughter, and a fiery brand of loyalty to keep the relationship firm.
A golden touch of the ability to sit in silence will add to the overall consistency, and a pinch of exuberant jubilation at the sound of someone else’s good news will add flavor.
Stir in a commitment of time and attention, and add a bit of surprise to taste.
Once the ingredients have been mixed together, treat this dish with care. And remember, this is the one cake that you can have and eat it too.
—THE COOKBOOK COMMITTEE OF THE HOPE SPRINGS COMMUNITY CHURCH
*
Welcome to Hope Springs!
Now that you’ve met Beatrice, Charlotte, Louise, Jessie, and Margaret, you can get to know them better through the Hope Springs trilogy. The second installment, Garden of Faith is available at your local bookstore now. And be sure to watch for A Clean Heart, in stores May 2003.
For ideas for your own book club, as well as tidbits and advice from the ladies of Hope Springs and from Lynne Hinton herself, please make sure to visit www.LynneHinton.com.
Friendship Cake Reader’s Guide
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. James returns to Hope Springs and Jessie allows her husband to move back into her home. Do you think a reunion is possible for a couple after being apart for so many years? What will it take for this marriage to work a second time around? How important is friendship in a marriage?
2. Louise mentions that funerals are an occasion for people to share food with the bereaved. What is your experience with food and funerals? What do you know about other cultures and what is done at funerals for families?
3. The marriage of Wallace and Lana causes quite a stir for the Hope Springs community. Have things changed in our society regarding interracial relationships? Do you think there are areas in the country where this is more acceptable than others?
4. Charlotte struggles with her faith. How comfortable are you with the notion that pastors might have such struggles? Are ministers held to a different standard regarding doubts and faith crisis?
5. Hope Springs Community Church must deal with issues of homosexuality, racism, and women in ministry. What do you think are the most pressing issues churches must deal with today?
6. Margaret says that, “a heart can hold sadness a lot longer than it can anger;” and that “sadness always outlasts the anger.” Do you find this to be true? Is sadness a more durable emotion than anger?
7. Louise confirms that she is comfortable with death. She says that she thinks that, “death is an appropriate answer to the equation of life;” and that she “can sit in a room, watch as death approaches, gently take the hand of the dying person and lift them in its arms.” Have you ever been with a person who has died? How would you describe this experience?
8. Jessie says that white women and black women have different traditions when it comes to cooking. Do you believe this to be true? If so, is this because of economically based differences or culturally based differences?
9. What are your thoughts about a woman minister? Do you know a woman pastor?
10. Rev. Stewart—Charlotte—writes about how she likes to imagine god as a cloud, a pillar of fire, as manna from heaven. What images of God do you find comforting?
11. When the Women’s Guild meets and the conflict ensues between Louise and Beatrice, the other women respond in nervousness and silence. How have you experienced groups of women to handle conflict? How do you think women handle conflict differently from men?
12. Do you think it was appropriate that Roxie should move to North Carolina and be cared for by Louise or do you think the “family” should have provided the care for her? Who, if you had to and were able to, would you choose to care for you if you became sick?
13. What are your thoughts and feelings about interracial relationships? What do you sense that Beatrice really thinks about Lana and Wallace?
14. Margaret claims that being a wise and trusted friend was better than being someone’s mother. Do you believe it is possible for a woman to be fulfilled without having children?
15. Charlotte is distraught after Brittany’s death and she asks her mother why God doesn’t hear her prayers. Have you ever felt like God doesn’t hear your prayers? Does her mother’s response to this question help you at all in your own faith struggle?
16. The men from the church coming to help clean off the sidewalks for the wedding was for the young pastor, “the picture of grace, undeniable, indescribable grace.” Name an event when you have seen evidence of grace.
17. Grace usually has to do with pardon, mercy, providing a gift of unmerited favor. Out of the five principal women in this story who do you think demonstrated the most grace? Why?
18. Louise is upset about the funeral service because she says that the preacher who did the funeral didn’t really know Roxie. What do you think are important elements to be included in a funeral service?
19. What makes a good friend? Who is your best friend? Why?
20. What are the ingredients you would include in your friendship cake?
Garden of Faith
The small North Carolina town of Hope Springs comes alive again in Garden of Faith, the sequel to Lynne Hinton’s bestselling and acclaimed first novel Friendship Cake. The ladies of Hope Springs Church have finished the cookbook that brought them together. Now these bonds are put to the test when the friends are faced with major life changes and decisions. Interspersed throughout are Bea’s Botanical Bits—unforgettable snippets of advice that help to cultivate the garden, as well as the spirit.
“Garden of Faith is an anthem to friendship—that indefinable binding of one to another that lets us survive loss, illness, fear and even death. To miss it is to deny yourself a small treasure.”
—Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
FROM CHAPTER 3
Margaret was waiting for an answer. The other women now stared at Jessi
e.
“Yes,” she answered seriously, “James and I are planning to move to Oakland. He has a sister out there who’d like us to buy the place next to her.” She moved around a bit, readjusting her position next to Louise.
“Jessie, how long have you been thinking about this?” Margaret knew this was a question everyone had on their minds.
“We started talking about it earlier this summer,” Jessie said. “At first, I didn’t think anything of it. But then, I don’t know, I figured it would be fun.” She tried to sound excited.
“When?” Charlotte just asked the one-word question.
“We don’t know yet.”
“Well, what are we talking about here?” Louise probed. “Fall, winter, next year?” Her voice was sharp, clipped.
“I don’t know,” Jessie said again.
Charlotte turned to Margaret, wondering if she was going to tell her news as well. Margaret rubbed her hands up and down her legs and shook her head as an answer. Beatrice noticed the exchange, curious about what secret they shared.
“Well, I don’t see how you could move before next year.” Beatrice decided against asking Margaret what was going on and spoke to Jessie. “I mean, you have to retire, you’ll have to clean out everything, you have to pack and get everybody settled. So that the earliest you could really leave is December, and you know you don’t want to move in the cold.”
Beatrice seemed to have it all figured out. At least if they knew it wasn’t going to be anytime soon that Jessie was moving, they could clear the air of this heaviness and she could share more of her photographs.
“Did you see the shots from when we went snorkeling?” She dropped her hands to her side and picked up the box again.
“Beatrice, we don’t want to see any more of your pictures. Frankly, the thought of seeing Dick in a bathing suit is more than I can take right now.” Louise tugged at the front of her shirt. “I can’t believe you’ve been thinking about this for three months and have not mentioned it to us.” She was hurt at Jessie’s silence.
The other women dropped their eyes. They felt the same way. Margaret, especially, felt a sense of betrayal that Jessie had not spoken of the possibilities. Hadn’t they just been together last week at the mammogram? Why hadn’t Jessie said anything then? And then she realized her own secret and figured that she had no room to make judgments.
“I’m sorry,” Jessie said. “I was still trying to get used to the idea myself.” She paused. “I like the idea of moving somewhere else. But it was hard thinking about telling anyone.”
Charlotte didn’t know what to say. She was as surprised and disappointed as the other women. Jessie was very dear to her. She was the voice of reason in the congregation, a person, like Margaret, that she knew would always find and tell the truth. She was solid, strong, and resilient. She held that community together; and Charlotte couldn’t imagine being in the church without her.
“Well, I think this is horseshit.” Louise was the only one not letting Jessie off the hook for her decision and her silence. And because these women knew Louise and loved her for who she was, even Jessie was not put off by her bluntness. “You’ve been considering this the entire summer and you haven’t let on, haven’t asked us what we thought, haven’t wanted our opinions. Well…” She stammered a bit. “I just think that’s horseshit.”
Still, the room was quiet.
Jessie faced her friend sitting beside her. “Okay, Louise, tell me what you really think about me moving.”
Louise didn’t skip a beat. “I think it’s horseshit. You let that man come back into your life after he walked out on you, and now you’re just going to take up everything and follow him to California?” She was not to be stopped. “Suppose he gets bored out there, then what are you going to do?” She hoped for some help from Beatrice and Margaret, but they were silent.
“Horseshit,” she said one more time.
“He’s my husband, Louise. I love him. And I’m not doing this because he wants me to. Sure, it was his idea. But I very much like the idea. I’ve never wanted to stay here.”
These words stung and the women showed as much.
Jessie realized how that sounded. “I don’t mean it like that. I love you all. I love this house and my community. But I’m not at home here either. I like to travel. I’ve always thought I’d move somewhere else, but then there were the kids and Mama and Daddy to take care of. I want to experience life in another place before I die. I want to go with him. But I also just want to go.”
“Well, I for one don’t need to hear any more. This hurts me, Jessie, and I’ll just have to be hurt for a little more before I can be nice.”
Louise made an exit before anyone tried to stop her. All four watched as she stormed out the door, and then they listened as she pulled out and drove away. An awkward silence followed.
“Horseshit, huh?” Jessie asked the other women. “That what you think too?”
Margaret forced a laugh. “It’s hard news to hear, Jes. You’re like a sister to her, to all of us.”
Jessie nodded without saying anything else.
“Well, look at the time!” Beatrice jumped up. “I have a husband of my own and he’ll be waiting for me.” She moved in front of Jessie. “I’ll help you however I can.” She reached out her hand. “And don’t worry about Louise; she’ll come around. I mean, she might not be pleasant, but she won’t stay mad.”
Jessie stood up and hugged Beatrice. “Don’t forget your pictures.”
“All right then. I’ll see everyone on Sunday.” And she bounced out the door.
“I guess I should go too,” Charlotte said as she got up from her seat. She walked into the kitchen and set her coffee cup and saucer on the counter behind her. “I can’t believe this, Jessie.” This was all she could say as she walked back into the room where the other women waited. She hugged her friend and then turned to Margaret. “You coming?”
Margaret shook her head. “I want to talk a bit to Jessie.”
Charlotte nodded and headed toward the door. She turned around and said, “Tell James I said goodnight.”
“Yes,” was Jessie’s response. The young pastor left. She went to her car and sat down, but she did not leave.
Jessie began cleaning up. She wasn’t sure what kind of reprimand she was about to get from her friend.
“Jessie, please, sit down.” Margaret remained in her seat.
“Margaret, I’m sorry. I should have told you,” she said as she went back to the sofa. “I just…” She stammered a bit. “I just…it’s just harder than I thought. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
Margaret reached over and they held hands. “I know,” she said.
There was a pause until they heard James moving things around in the back bedroom.
“That man!” Jessie said in exasperation. “His big mouth, and now if he wakes that baby!” She got up to leave, but Margaret held her hands tighter.
“Wait,” Margaret said. “I have something I need to tell you too.”
Charlotte watched through the window from her car as Margaret told the news to Jessie. She knew she shouldn’t be spying like that, but she had been so curious about what Margaret was going to do. After the ultrasound and then the aspiration and hearing the doctor’s recommendations, Margaret had decided to tell the group tonight. She was scheduled for surgery in two weeks.
Charlotte had sat in the room with Margaret as all the reports were read. She reached for and held Margaret’s hand at one point. But she felt incomplete, fragmented; and she had told Margaret so. “The others should have been with us,” she had said to Margaret, who had nodded in agreement. And they both decided at that point that, for the rest of the way, Margaret would let the other women be a part of the process.
Jessie sat back at first and then dropped to her knees in front of Margaret. Then Charlotte watched as Jessie pulled Margaret out of her own chair and into herself, and they stayed like that for a ve
ry long time.
The young woman folded her arms around the steering wheel. She wept while she watched two women, two friends, fall into each other and into the sadness and into the fear and the sorrow. She saw them rock and sit and wipe the tears and hold each other some more.
It was powerful, she thought, what women bring to each other in calamity. It may not be forceful or disciplined or organized. It may not solve anything or provide a linear direction for others to follow. It may not have the intensity or action that men’s responses often have. On the surface it might even appear sparse or meager, insignificant, small. Many will pass right over it, never even recognizing its strength. But Charlotte knew it to be what it was. It was the place from which everything else grew. It was rich and fertile, the foundation of life. It was the bedrock of faith, but one she knew she did not have when she had sat in the hospital room with Nadine. And she wished she could have offered what these women seemed to possess.
Having witnessed enough, the young pastor started the car and pulled out into the night.
Acknowledgments
Recognizing that this book could not have been possible without the support, direction, and love of many people, I gratefully acknowledge my family, who have put up with me a very long time, especially my husband, who loved me even without a publishing contract, and his parents, Charlotte and Eddie; my agent, Sally McMillan, who believed in my stories; my editors, Joann Davis, for saying yes, and Michelle Shinseki, who has made this endeavor such a joy; Sylvia Belvin and Frances Holt from Fran’s Front Porch and First Christian Church, Greensboro, North Carolina, for allowing me to use their recipes, Lynn and Edith and Eddie for the cooking advice; Carlene Neese for first explaining the friendship cake tradition to me; Kaye Crawford for “hatch, match, and dispatch”; the women with whom I romp on the first Thursday of every month, Julie, Judy, Peggy, Dorisanne, Terry, Dale, and Jacqueline; and all the other friends who make my life so rich, including Julie, Robin, Melissa, Ronny, Terry and Melanie, Charles, Steve, Katrin, Dave and Ella, Don, and, of course, Tina.
Finally I wish to say thank you to all the folks at Mount Hope United Church of Christ and First Congregational United Church of Christ. From you I have discovered how to recognize and honor grace.
