Free A Cherry Cola Christmas by Ashton Lee Page B

knocking on the front door, and calling out: “Ardenia! Ardenia! Please help me!”
    But no one answered even though she kept right on knocking without letup. Would the sinkhole end up devouring them all?
    At that point she woke up, her heart pounding. She looked over at Jeremy, who was fast asleep on his side, facing away from her as usual. She decided not to wake him, working through her nightmare by herself. It was then that the faintest beginnings of an idea began to come to her, what with the holidays not all that far away. It was perhaps something that no one would have considered at first to cure what ailed Cherico. And maybe it couldn’t solve all of their little town’s mounting problems; but it might just be a good start. For the time being, she decided to file it away. She was certain she would know when to trot it out for all the world to see.

5
    Yes and No
    V isitation for Ardenia Bedloe in the Fellowship Hall of the Cherico African Methodist Episcopal Church was well under way when Maura Beth and Jeremy arrived to find a room full of impeccably dressed people paying their respects against a backdrop of impressive funeral sprays. More than a few mourners seemed completely carried away by their emotions and were standing close to the open casket, sobbing and moaning with their eyes cast heavenward; others were managing hushed conversations some distance away; and still others—many occasionally wrestling with small, squirming children in their Sunday best—were sitting in the chairs against the walls, observing it all in polite silence.
    As for the young McShays, they were slightly apprehensive about their appearance, since the only person they knew for sure was Mr. Place; but they were soon put at ease by the smiling, prosperous-looking gentleman in black robes with purple trim who greeted them as they walked in.
    â€œYou folks must be Maura Beth and Jeremy McShay,” he said, extending his hand. “Just call me Brother DeLee. I’m the pastor of our little church, and I want to welcome you.”
    Handshakes were exchanged all around, and then Maura Beth added, “How did you know who we were, Brother DeLee?”
    â€œI was just told to be on the lookout for a right pretty redhead, and you do fit the bill and then some,” he said, pointing to her hair with an expression of delight. “You know, Sister Ardenia spoke so highly of you all the time. She kept tellin’ me I oughtta join that little book club you started at the library because she had such a fine time there. She said between the delicious food and the folks and all the chatter—well, it was all done up just right.”
    â€œYou should take Ardenia’s advice, Brother DeLee,” Maura Beth said. “We would love to have you join—and any other church members you think might be interested in reading books and potluck. We’re very informal about the whole thing, and we want The Cherry Cola Book Club to include as many Chericoans as possible.”
    Brother DeLee pointed to a large cork bulletin board just inside the doorway. “Well, you’re more than welcome to tack anything up about the club right over there. I’ll bring it to the church’s attention every Sunday, too.”
    A sudden commotion across the room at the casket turned their heads, and it was then that Maura Beth spotted Mr. Place consoling a rather heavy woman wearing a navy blue dress and pillbox hat who had apparently broken down and begun wailing with no letup in sight. She had managed to make herself the center of attention. Periwinkle stood nearby in silence holding her hand, very nearly in tears herself at the spectacle.
    â€œOh, may the good Lord ease her pain. That’s our Sister Leola Perkins over there,” Brother DeLee explained. “She was Sister Ardenia’s best friend. They grew up together here in Cherico and not a day went by when they didn’t talk to each other on the