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Published: Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2008 / Updated: Wednesday, Apr. 09, 2008 12:58 PM

Charlie Ann’s plan

With a disbelieving stare, Charlie Ann stumbled up the walkway toward the house. Seated on the porch swing with Aunt Shug was Jasper Ragsdale, her former father-in-law. Charlie Ann could just imagine the stories Bennett Ragsdale had exaggerated to his father since their marriage had foundered, especially since her former mother-in-law Glenda had died and was no longer around to interpret a semblance of the truth.

Thank goodness Bennett had moved to California and was no longer around. But what was Jasper doing on Aunt Shug's porch, and what were they gently chuckling about? She had hoped to have Aunt Shug all to herself.

Just at that moment, Aunt Shug caught sight of her. Jumping to her feet with her cast flailing at her side, Aunt Shug bounded down the stairs for a hug, forlorn attitude of a few weeks ago seemingly forgotten.

"Charlie Ann! Finally! I thought you'd gotten lost in the new maze of streets that have taken over Willoughby. What have we here? Looks like I need to take you into my kitchen and serve up some of my Brunswick stew. You are skin and bones!"

"Oh, Aunt Shug, you haven't changed one bit. Always thinking a bowl of your stew can solve the world's problems."

"Charlie Ann," nodded Jasper, glancing her way.

"Jasper," she greeted him warily.

All three crossed the threshold and headed toward the kitchen. The guests were nowhere in sight. As Charlie Ann glanced around the familiar old foyer and into the rooms beyond, fond memories flooded her thoughts. She couldn't help the tears filling her eyes. There was the old piano she'd banged on in the comfortable music room. Aunt Shug had even kept the poster from the one high school musical she'd been able to sing in before her parents had dragged her away from her hometown. The scent of flowers permeated the rooms as she roamed around letting the memories embrace and comfort her.

"I don't know what I'm going to do now that Caroline is retiring and selling her garden shop. I've relied on her for years to supply me with flowers and to keep me up to date on all the news around town," Aunt Shug sighed. "Not that downtown is anything like it used to be with all the stores popping up in the newer sections every time you turn around," she continued.

"The old storefronts seem a little more faded every day, and the traffic is slower here. Even the old park and the bandstand aren't used much anymore. I remember when whatever we needed was within one easy walk, and something was always happening. Somebody needs to restore downtown to its former glory. I don't know what everybody sees in all those chain stores."

At this tidbit, Charlie Ann's ears perked up a little. She remembered every spring skipping down with Aunt Shug to Miss Caroline's garden store a couple of blocks down and meandering down the rows dreaming about just the right flowers to plant and how they would look. Flowers had always been Aunt Shug's creative outlet, and the family genes had passed over to Charlie Ann as well.

Just then, two men dragged open the sun room door and sank down into the pillows of Aunt Shug's rattan furniture, gesticulating animatedly and somehow making the room seem too small. Charlie Ann couldn't catch any of their little snippets, and the rattan couch couldn't hold them for long. They started roaming the room, studying the walls with one man pointing out Aunt Shug's historic pictures of the town to the other, all the while carrying on his conversation.

"Who are they?" Charlie Ann inquired. "Developers probably," she muttered darkly.

"Sure enough," Aunt Shug verified testily. "However, at least these two seem interested in the town's history by the attention they've been giving my pictures and the questions they've been asking me."

Then the other guests started returning one by one. Charlie Ann realized Aunt Shug's time was not her own for a while. Such was the life of a bed and breakfast owner. Charlie Ann certainly did not want to be left to talk with Jasper, so she decided to head downtown and see Miss Caroline. As soon as she spied the old garden shop with the “For Sale” sign and its upstairs living quarters, a light bulb went off. She would buy the garden shop and help restore her old stomping grounds to their former glory.

Daphne Thompson is a native South Carolinian who has lived in Tega Cay for almost four years. She has taught English for 17 years and is married with three children.