Summary

Chapter 1," Spill It, Girls," opens with Joanie Benson and her friend Gretchen Buckwalter driving back from the university town of Columbia, Missouri to their home in nearby Mason. The two have just seen a play about the life of poet Emily Dickinson at which "Black Cake" had been served afterward, and retired town librarian Joanie is inspired to bake one of her own to bring to the next meeting of Confession Club. Joanie and Gretchen are both in their 60s and have been friends since meeting in their high school drama club. In the play, the Emily character makes the old-fashioned, alcohol-heavy fruitcake on stage, and Joanie reminds Gretchen that the club is meeting at her house this week, and that the cake will be perfect for their group. Confession Club formed accidentally from a supper club that had sprung up between a...