Betty's Journal (Piper Anderson Bonus Material) (The Piper Anderson Series) by Danielle Stewart Page A
Authors: Danielle Stewart
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almost didn’t survive. If you’da asked me if someone could come back from all she’d been through, I’da told you it wasn’t likely. I watched Piper looking over at Bobby, the man she loves, and it warmed my heart. Knowing she’s there for my daughter through thick and thin gives me peace.
When Stan died I believed I would find a way to go on, to exist without him. But I didn’t truly believe I would find happiness, or at least not to the level I had when he was alive . But I feel as though I am on the verge of it. I sat watching this wedding take place in front of me and then suddenly a hand slipped into mine. Clay has changed me, even before I knew I needed it. Our plan to start our own restaurant has given me new purpose in my life. More than that though, he regularly keeps me in check. When I find myself on the verge of losing my cool, I feel his hand on my shoulder and I take an extra minute to think before I speak. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it means to the world to me that he tries.
I am thoroughly exhausted now as Clay and I sit here in bed. I had two jobs at this wedding. One was to make sure I didn’t blubber so loudly during the ceremony that people couldn’t hear what was going on. I’m not sure I held up my end of the bargain there. The second job was to fill some bellies. Clay and I were in charge of the food, as always, and happily so. With Jedda’s help we prepared traditional Southern fare and fixin’s. With the whole wedding being a surprise to the bride and groom, a trend I’m sure will be catching on soon, I had to think of what food they would like best. I surprised her with Carolina style beef brisket, corn on the cob, baked beans, and some of her other favorites. I’m tucking the recipes in here, just in case one day she decides to learn to cook a decent meal. These books will be hers someday, and though she may not like all my life lessons, I know she liked my cooking. This is not food you’d normally eat while sitting in a formal gown, but hell, that’s what they make napkins for.
As the sun set over the large white tent making up a reception area, I looked at my handiwork. Empty plates all around. I realize if God put me here on Earth for anything, it might very well be this. Making people so content that anything they might be worried over disappears for a little while.
Though the night ended with an unwelcomed guest and some excitement, I know that is not what we will remember when we look back. No, this isn’t how I imagined this day would be all those years ago when I rocked my daughter in my arms. It was more exciting, more emotional, it was more everything. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The Stunning Bride (from the belly up at her request of course)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cooper’s Wedding Feast
Mint Julep
Prep time 10-minutes
Cook time 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Mix 2-4 Tablespoons Bourbon with 1 Tablespoon of Mint Syrup. Garnish with fresh mint. Serve over crushed ice.
(You should taste test at least two of these to make sure they are potent enough! No one likes a weak drink.)
Mint Syrup
Prep 5 minutes
Servings: 48
1 ½ cups coarsely chopped fresh mint , 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until all the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; cover and cool completely. Pour mixture through a wire strainer into a bowl; cover and chill thoroughly. Makes 3 cups.
Fresh Lemonade
Prep time 10 minutes
Servings: 8
( Perfect for any bride who may not be able to partake in the mint julep at her own wedding. That’s not a judgment, just an observation)
1 ½ cups sugar, ½ cup boiling water, 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons), 5 cups cold water. Combine sugar and boiling water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water; stir well. Cover and chill. Serve over
When Stan died I believed I would find a way to go on, to exist without him. But I didn’t truly believe I would find happiness, or at least not to the level I had when he was alive . But I feel as though I am on the verge of it. I sat watching this wedding take place in front of me and then suddenly a hand slipped into mine. Clay has changed me, even before I knew I needed it. Our plan to start our own restaurant has given me new purpose in my life. More than that though, he regularly keeps me in check. When I find myself on the verge of losing my cool, I feel his hand on my shoulder and I take an extra minute to think before I speak. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it means to the world to me that he tries.
I am thoroughly exhausted now as Clay and I sit here in bed. I had two jobs at this wedding. One was to make sure I didn’t blubber so loudly during the ceremony that people couldn’t hear what was going on. I’m not sure I held up my end of the bargain there. The second job was to fill some bellies. Clay and I were in charge of the food, as always, and happily so. With Jedda’s help we prepared traditional Southern fare and fixin’s. With the whole wedding being a surprise to the bride and groom, a trend I’m sure will be catching on soon, I had to think of what food they would like best. I surprised her with Carolina style beef brisket, corn on the cob, baked beans, and some of her other favorites. I’m tucking the recipes in here, just in case one day she decides to learn to cook a decent meal. These books will be hers someday, and though she may not like all my life lessons, I know she liked my cooking. This is not food you’d normally eat while sitting in a formal gown, but hell, that’s what they make napkins for.
As the sun set over the large white tent making up a reception area, I looked at my handiwork. Empty plates all around. I realize if God put me here on Earth for anything, it might very well be this. Making people so content that anything they might be worried over disappears for a little while.
Though the night ended with an unwelcomed guest and some excitement, I know that is not what we will remember when we look back. No, this isn’t how I imagined this day would be all those years ago when I rocked my daughter in my arms. It was more exciting, more emotional, it was more everything. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The Stunning Bride (from the belly up at her request of course)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cooper’s Wedding Feast
Mint Julep
Prep time 10-minutes
Cook time 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Mix 2-4 Tablespoons Bourbon with 1 Tablespoon of Mint Syrup. Garnish with fresh mint. Serve over crushed ice.
(You should taste test at least two of these to make sure they are potent enough! No one likes a weak drink.)
Mint Syrup
Prep 5 minutes
Servings: 48
1 ½ cups coarsely chopped fresh mint , 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until all the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; cover and cool completely. Pour mixture through a wire strainer into a bowl; cover and chill thoroughly. Makes 3 cups.
Fresh Lemonade
Prep time 10 minutes
Servings: 8
( Perfect for any bride who may not be able to partake in the mint julep at her own wedding. That’s not a judgment, just an observation)
1 ½ cups sugar, ½ cup boiling water, 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons), 5 cups cold water. Combine sugar and boiling water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water; stir well. Cover and chill. Serve over
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