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    â€œHello, Jackson. It’s good to see you back in Sweetgum again. My condolences for your loss.”
    Facing her, Jack felt like a ten-year-old schoolboy again. “Thank you, ma’am.” He quickly turned to Callie. “This is—” He paused for the merest fraction of a second and she immediately stepped forward.
    â€œCallista Tyler, ma’am. I am—was—married to Leland Tyler.”
    Mrs. Mayweather nodded. “Yes. Virgil stopped by to explain the situation. Most astounding.” She paused a minute. “I must say, you seem to be holding up remarkably well under what must have been a terrible shock.”
    â€œIt’s kind of you to say so, ma’am.” She gave her bonnet a tug. “I’m afraid the full impact of the situation hasn’t entirely sunk in yet.”
    â€œUnderstandable.” Mrs. Mayweather tilted her head thoughtfully. “Callista. Unusual name, that. You wouldn’t by any chance be Julia’s friend Callie.”
    â€œWhy, yes.” Her smile warmed and some of the tension eased from her stance. “It seems my fame precedes me.”
    â€œWell then, that explains quite a bit.” The schoolteacher nodded in satisfaction as if she’d solved a puzzle of some sort. “Julia always spoke of you in such glowing terms. It’s nowonder Leland turned to you for this special kind of help after she passed on.”
    She waved toward the far end of the porch. “By the way, since we weren’t certain how things would sort themselves out, I instructed Virgil to deposit your baggage here for the time being.”
    â€œWhy, thank you, I—” The widow seemed a bit overwhelmed by their hostess.
    Jack knew the feeling. He stepped forward. “Where are the children?”
    â€œThey’re upstairs, digging through an old trunk of mine. I’ll call them down shortly, but I thought it would be best if we had a chat first.”
    â€œOf course.” Jack felt a guilty surge of relief at being able to put off the moment of truth a little longer.
    Mrs. Mayweather stepped aside. “Now come on in to the parlor. You both look as if you could do with a cool glass of lemonade, and we have matters to discuss.”
    Callie nodded. “Thank you. That sounds lovely.”
    Jack removed his hat and followed the ladies inside.
    â€œYou may set your hat on the hall table there, Jackson.” She turned to Callie. “Feel free to set your bonnet and handbag there as well.”
    He tensed in sympathy. What would Callie do? How would she handle this?
    Once again, she surprised him. Though she moved with a sort of deliberate slowness, her initial hesitation was so brief he doubted Mrs. Mayweather noted it.
    With steady hands, she loosened the strings to her bonnet and let it fall behind her head.
    Mrs. Mayweather studied her for a minute. “A birthmark, I presume?” At Callie’s nod, she pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Yes, indeed. I’m beginning to understand why Julia had such respect and admiration for you.”
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    Callie was startled by the woman’s words and didn’t know how to respond, so she said nothing. She pulled her bonnet back up, wondering exactly how much Julia had said about her and to whom.
    Mrs. Mayweather raised a hand to stop her. “No need to do that on my account.”
    Callie smiled, but firmly tied her ribbons. “Thank you, but I’d rather that not be the first view the children have of me.”
    â€œAs you wish.” A slight nod accompanied the words. “But I think you would be surprised by how accepting children can be.”
    A few moments later, they were seated in the parlor and Mrs. Mayweather was pouring glasses of lemonade.
    â€œI know a man of the world such as yourself would probably prefer something stronger,” she said as Jack reached for his, “but I’m afraid you will have to make do with this for