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A directory of short fiction written by Gina Hogan Edwards and published on this website to read for free

The inspiration and foundation for the novel Dancing at The Royal Jade and the origin story for the Beaucatcher Chronicles, a growing collection of stories, short and long, set in the fictional town of Kent Creek, North Carolina. In "For What Nate Did," 15-year-old Libby Billings contemplates the circumstances surrounding a serious and unquestioned accusation from five years prior. Looking back on the incident, she dispassionately draws some tragic conclusions about the peopl

While Mama drops in her dime and dials, I stand in the open doorway of the glass phone booth caddy-cornered to Antonio’s Deli. “It’s a long story,” she tells Nate. “Libby and I are going to grab a bite downtown with Cheryl. I’ll fill you in later. . . . Okay.” She tucks her chin then cups a hand over her mouth and the receiver, but I can still hear. “Tomorrow? . . . It’s Easter. We go to Ma’s after church. . . . Okay. What time?” She turns away from me.

During the Easter sermon, Gwen’s mind kept drifting toward the afternoon with Nate. First, the family would have lunch at her parents’ house as always on a holiday. The girls would hunt eggs. Then June and her gang would be off to Nelson’s parents in Asheville, Katie and Barry would head to heaven knows where, and her father would drive Libby to the old family farm at East Fork to spend her Easter school break with Silvia, Gwen’s oldest sister. Sivvy, the gentlest and quietes

Gwen opened Ma’s refrigerator and grabbed the plate of leftovers she’d made for herself. “I’m heading out,” she called to no one in particular as she glanced at her watch. Only two-thirty. She was eager to get back to her apartment even though Nate wouldn’t get there until four. He said his grandmother Harriett wouldn’t allow a soul to leave their family Easter lunch until everyone’s bellies were filled, food put away, kitchen cleaned, and Easter eggs hidden and found.

The next morning, Gwen’s head throbbed. She wasn’t accustomed to drinking and clearly had made those two gin and tonics too strong. Before getting on the bus for work, she downed two Bayers. Only an hour later, as she settled at her desk, she considered taking two more. She rubbed her temples to ease the pain, but more to soothe her dread. If Grant made his usual Monday morning appearance, she’d need her wits about her.