Surprisingly: The Red Hat Club

By Cynthia Hickey

Emma Jones has always considered herself plain. Her mother had drilled it into her head that a moral woman acts and dresses a certain way. These thoughts are challenged when the mayor's son, Daniel Barton, and the ladies of The Red Hat Club take a sudden interest in plain, little Emma. Before she knows it, Emma has a makeover and is stepping out of her comfort zone and thrust into Daniel's arms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Winged Publications
• Release date: May 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201463632

Cynthia Hickey

Multi-published and best-selling author, Cynthia Hickey, has taught writing at many conferences and small writing retreats. She and her husband run the publishing press, Winged Publications, which includes some of the CBA's best well-known authors. They live in Arizona and Arkansas, becoming snowbirds with two dogs and one cat. They have ten grandchildren who them busy and tell everyone they know that "Nana is a writer."   

Book preview

1

Emma Jones unlocked the Cooperville Acres Public Library and stashed her purse behind the counter. She hadn’t been in town long and didn’t know a soul. She’d spent all of her twenty-eight years in a large Victorian House following the rules of her mother.

Hopefully, that would change today. The Red Hat club was meeting. Not that she knew what the club was about, only that it was a group of women, a group of potential friends. She’d worn her least drab clothes for the event.

Her black pencil skirt and olive green sweater set were as plain as her name. She sighed and leaned her elbows on the counter. What a cliché she’d become. Plain, spinster, librarian at the age of twenty-eight.

She straightened as seven elderly women dressed in purple outfits and red hats, along with two younger women in pink hats converged on the library. Emma straightened her sweater and pushed her wire-rimmed glasses further on her nose as she pasted on a smile.

Good morning, ladies. I’m Emma Jones. I have your room all ready for you. She led the chattering group to a conference room toward the back of the library. She’d need to find an excuse to shelve books in order to eavesdrop on their meeting. Perhaps, she could refresh the pitchers of ice water she’d left for them.

Are you married, Miss Emma? a woman who looked old enough to be Methusaleh’s mother asked.

Not even close, Emma mumbled.

I’m Verna Spencer, she said. I’m president of this local chapter of red hats, and we’re pleased to have you as our new librarian. Feel free to join us for today, if you’d like. We’re always looking for new blood.

Her chance! Emma’s heart fluttered. Thank you. I’d love to join you! She could always duck out of the meeting if the bell over the front door jingled.

Wonderful. This is Viola and Lucy Peters. They’re sisters. Then, you must know Winnie Barton, the mayor’s wife. That’s Mrs. Orville, the school secretary and refuses to have us call her anything but. We also have Mrs. Betty Larson and Loretta Green. The pink hats are Iris Samson and Tina Larson. Verna gave a decisive nod and bustled through the conference room door.

Emma would never remember all their names. She glanced at the various shades of purple clothing. What would she wear if she joined them? She didn’t own a colorful stitch of clothing. Not one. They’d reject her right off.

Still, she took a seat at the back of the room, her ankles folded primly under the chair, back straight, hands in her lap. A lifetime of habits was hard to let go of, and there were times she thought Mama would reach down from heaven and rap her knuckles if she strayed too far from the rigid upbringing of her childhood. Gaudy colors and too much gaiety were not ladylike nor modest. But, these women didn’t seem bad as they filled the room with color and laughter.

Sit up here by me, Iris offered.

Emma shook her head. I need to be able to hear if anyone comes in.

All right. She took her place in the crowd, leaving Emma feeling as alone as if she sat in an empty room.

Mrs. Spencer, Emma couldn’t bring herself to call the old woman Verna, stood in front of the others. Any projects to bring to the table?

The children’s playground needs new woodchips under the equipment, someone said.

Why not get that rubber stuff they use knowadays? another asked. "I’ve heard it’s safer.

Emma brightened. The club was all about doing good things for the community. Even Mama would have gotten behind such a thing. She raised her hand. I’ve always wanted a fun mural on the wall of the children’s section of the library. Is that a possibility?

I know just the person to do it, the mayor’s wife said. My son Daniel needs something to do. He’s wonderful with a paintbrush and won’t charge a penny.

Did I hear my name? A deep voice rumbled from behind Emma.

She turned and stared into eyes the color of the sky after a rain. Her breath caught and she clutched the neck of her sweater.

Daniel, Mrs. Barton hurried toward him. What are you doing here?

He pulled her to the side as if he couldn’t see Emma sitting there. Well, she’d been overlooked plenty of times before. If she were invisible, she could soak in his good looks and breathe in his nice cologne without him glaring at her as if she were an alien.

I’m in a bit of a bind, Mother.

Again? Her brow wrinkled. Daniel, you really must find something to do with your life. In fact, I’ve volunteered you to paint a mural for the children’s wall of the library. She motioned her head toward Emma. In fact, this is the very woman who can explain things to you.

He cast those amazing eyes in her direction. Not exactly what I had planned, but she might be a nice diversion. He gave Emma a dimpled smile. "Still, I need you to pay my fine. It’s the last of them, and I