"No, honey. I'm surprised, of course. But I've had so many shocks in the last few years, I can honestly say that nothing shocks me too much anymore. And if you are happy, then I'm happy."

"Oh, Mother, you are the very best. Could you tell Dad? I just hope he understands and won't be too upset."

After she hung up, she sat there in a daze. She heard the back door slam and saw Earle wave at her as he and the dog ran by the front window, off to romp and play in the yard. She would have to tell Earle about Carter, and that would certainly not be easy, but she knew he would come around eventually. The girls would not be a problem. They adored Carter. Then a terrible thought hit her. She liked to think of herself as a modern and accepting woman. She had watched Oprah and read articles about these things, but she had absolutely no idea about protocol. When it's two grooms getting married, just who pays for the wedding, and most important to her, just who is considered the official mother of the bride? Oh, G.o.d. She suddenly wished Winged Victory was here. She would have known exactly what to do. Oh, well, onward and upward, and next year, on to Poland to see the family home. As she sat fingering Lenore's pearls, watching Earle throw a ball for Rufus, she had to admit, he certainly was a pretty dog.

EPILOGUE.

FROM THE GREENHOUSE.

2014.

SOOKIE HAD TO LAUGH. IT WAS IRONIC. AFTER ALL OF HER WORRYING, she had just turned seventy, and she still had all her marbles. Now and then, she had a few little aches and pains, but as Earle had said to her that morning, "Honey, the good news about hitting seventy is at least you know you didn't die young."

No, she had not died young, and that was good, because she now had five darling grandchildren she was busy spoiling and Rufus the Great Dane and her birds.

After Lenore and Fritzi died, Sookie had experienced some moments of regret, wondering about how different things might have been and who she might have become if she had known the truth about herself earlier.

But now, after all these past years, sitting in her greenhouse, trying to figure out all the reasons, whys, and wherefores of life, she had finally come to a conclusion: No matter how crazy her life had been, she was exactly the person she was always meant to be and living exactly where she belonged.

Now, as to whether or not her theory was true really didn't matter to Sookie. All that mattered was that she was happy. And yes, she was still decorating Great-Grandfather Simmons's grave every Memorial Day. She knew it was probably silly, but it was the least she could do for Lenore.

As for her real mother, the one she'd never had a chance to know, some sixty years after the WASPs were disbanded, something wonderful happened. And today Sookie's most precious possession, now proudly displayed over the mantel in the living room, was the framed Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Sophie Marie Jurdabralinski for service to her country.

For Sam Vaughan.

This book was written in loving memory of Nancy Batson Crews, Teresa James, Elizabeth Sharp, and B. J. Erickson and all the other WASPs who came to the aid of their country in a time of need.

And also with my very special thanks to the four fabulous women, Joni Evans, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Kate Medina, and Gina Centrello, who made this book possible.

-Fannie Flagg.

BY FANNIE FLAGG.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion.

I Still Dream About You.

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven A Redbird Christmas.

Standing in the Rainbow Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!.

Fannie Flagg's Original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man.

(originally published as Coming Attractions).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

FANNIE FLAGG is a bestselling author and has been an actress, TV producer, speaker, and performer. Her book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe became a major bestseller, as well as a heart-winning major motion picture. Flagg's script for the film was nominated for an Academy Award and a Writers Guild of America Award, and won the highly regarded Scripter Award. Other bestselling novels include Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!; Standing in the Rainbow; A Redbird Christmas; Can't Wait to Get to Heaven; and I Still Dream About You. In 2012, Fannie Flagg was the recipient of the Harper Lee Award for Alabama's Distinguished Writer of the Year. She lives in California and Alabama.

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