Chapter 10

“Aquilting cruise?” Sophie bellowed. “You’ve got to be kidding. Why would I, of all people, be interested in a quilting cruise?” The two women were sitting on Sophie’s front porch, enjoying the first signs of autumn.

“Because I’m going and we would have fun, that’s why!” Sarah retorted. “We’re encouraged to bring our friends and family because there will be something for everyone! And if nothing else you can stretch out on a deck chair and read a book.”

“And how will I get around? Just look at my ankle!” Sophie asked, holding her cast-enclosed foot up for Sarah to see.

“The cast is coming off soon, and physical therapy will have you walking in no time. Besides, you can take your walker if you need it.”

“They won’t let me on the plane with a walker. They’ll be afraid I’ll dismantle it and build a gun.”

“I don’t think so. Besides, Charles is talking about taking the train to Baltimore. That could be fun, too.”

“Humph,” Sophie responded with a frown. “Sounds expensive,” she muttered.

Sarah didn’t respond, feeling that Sophie hadn’t intended for her to overhear. Money just might be a problem for Sophie, she thought. Sarah wished she could offer to buy the tickets, but that was out of the question. She decided she would stop pushing the issue, knowing that if Sophie were to decide to go she wouldn’t be reluctant to say so.

“I’m driving into town today to pick up a few groceries and make a quick stop at Stitches. Would you like to ride along?” Sophie began to refuse, lifting her foot up again as proof of her inability to get around. “Also,” Sarah added, ignoring the foot, “I was thinking we could stop at Persnickety for ice cream.”

“I’d love to!” Sophie quickly responded with a grin. “I’ll grab my purse.” She eagerly hobbled back into the house.

* * * * *

“Well, hello!” Ruth greeted her with a welcoming smile as Sarah entered the shop. “Is that Sophie I see out in the car? Why don’t you invite her in? I have fresh coffee and donuts.”

“Thanks, Ruth, but we’ve been running errands and her foot is hurting. She wanted to wait in the car. I just need to ask you a quick question—no shopping today!”

Ruth called to her sister, Anna, to cover the shop for a few minutes. “Let’s go in the back to talk. I need coffee myself.”

The two women sat down at the kitchen table that Anna had found at a yard sale. Although Ruth had decorated the shop to reflect her artistic and creative abilities, the back room and storage room had always been in shambles. Anna took on the responsibility of fixing them up so that now those rooms were as pleasant to be in as the shop. “It looks nice in here,” Sarah said. “Very homey.”

“Anna’s been a blessing!” Ruth said, and then added, “And Geoff has the online shop running like clockwork. We tripled our sales last month!”

“Oh Ruth, that’s wonderful! You must be so happy to have your family here with you.”

“It’s a real joy. Unfortunately, since I have help in the shop now, Katie is starting to talk about going away to school. I will miss her, but it would be terrific for her. She needs to start creating her own life.”

“She’s lucky to have you for a mother,” Sarah said, admiring Ruth’s ability to know when to let go.

Ruth smiled and said, “That’s part of being a parent, too. Now tell me about your problem.”

“I have an elderly friend I’ve been visiting at the nursing home. Grace is in her late eighties, and she has a number of beautiful vintage quilts, some made by her mother and one made by her grandmother, both probably made in the late 1800s.”

“I would love to see them!” Ruth responded enthusiastically. “Is she thinking about selling them?”

“No, absolutely not,” Sarah replied. Continuing, she said, “Grace also has many quilts she made herself, and they are magnificent—mostly appliqué and all hand pieced and hand quilted. I’m thinking at least some of these would be considered vintage as well, considering her age and the fact that she has quilted her whole life.”

“Absolutely! When was Grace born, do you know?” Ruth asked eagerly.

“I think she said 1924,” Sarah said hesitantly, trying to remember for sure.

Ruth responded, “Then many of Grace’s own quilts will definitely be vintage.” Looking at Sarah quizzically, she added, “… and you said there’s a problem?”

“Yes,” Sarah continued. “She has no family, and she is concerned about what will happen to her quilts when she passes. She has asked me to come up with a plan. I’ve thought and thought but don’t have any good ideas. I thought maybe you …”

“The Hamilton Quilt Museum!” Ruth announced excitedly. “The whole collection could be donated in your friend’s name.”

“The Grace Hargrove Collection!” Sarah squealed. “I love it! I can’t wait to tell her! She will be as excited as we are!” Sarah went on to tell Ruth about Grace. “She is in the nursing home now for rehabilitation, and I don’t know if she will be able to go home at some point, but I’ll bet I could arrange to bring her here to meet you.”

“Maybe the three of us could drive over to Hamilton so she can see the museum. They have wheelchairs, and we could tour the whole museum,” Ruth suggested.

“Perfect!” Sarah said as she stood. She hugged Ruth and thanked her profusely for solving the problem that had been weighing on her mind for the past week.

Getting back in the car, she told Sophie about her conversation with Ruth. “I just wish my other problem could be solved so easily.”

“What is your other problem?” Sophie asked, looking confused.

“What has become of my …” she hesitated, and then continued, “what has become of Charles?”

“Your boyfriend?” Sophie asked innocently. “Didn’t he say he was going to visit his son?”

“Actually, no. He didn’t say where he was going. I assumed he was visiting his son and he didn’t correct me. He’s been gone over a week and hasn’t called. I think he may be involved in some kind of intrigue. You know how he loves to solve mysteries, real and imagined.”

“If you are talking about what went on with your cousin, that sure wasn’t imagined. That guy was out to hoodwink you. We may never know what he was up to, but I sure hope you will watch out for him in the future.”

As they approached Sophie’s driveway, Charles was pulling up in front of Sarah’s house.

“Over a week and not a word from you!” Sarah frowned as she and Charles walked into the house. “I was getting frantic.”

Before he could respond, Barney came running so fast he ran right into Charles, almost knocking him down. Charles dropped to the floor to tussle with him. After a few minutes, Barney noticed Sarah was also home, and he quickly composed himself and went to greet her in a more gentle manner. She scratched his ear and he smiled lovingly. “Good dog, Barney.”

“Okay,” Sarah said, turning to Charles, “What’s the story?”

“There’s not much of a story,” Charles responded. “Well, that’s not exactly true. My West Coast friend and I started the process of putting the kibosh on Portland’s organized crime, and …” He hesitated as if he were trying to remember something. “… oh, and we put a small time swindler out of business.”

As he said that, Charles reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. He handed it to Sarah and she simply stared at it. “What’s this?” she asked.

“Take a look,” he responded looking a bit self-satisfied.

Sarah saw the envelope was addressed to her. She opened it and quickly read the letter from the probate officer in Portland. A deep frown appeared on her forehead. “There must be a mistake,” she said.

“No mistake, my dear. It’s all signed and totally legal and exactly what your aunt Rose intended.”

Sarah pulled the check out and looked at it. She sat down on the nearest chair. “$200,000,” she mouthed. Then looking at Charles, she said, “Why would she do this?”

“It’s my guess that it was because of Gary’s gambling. She didn’t want to see her life savings turned over to loan sharks.”

“What happened to Gary? Is he in jail?” she asked with a concerned frown.

“He’s in witness protection. He helped the FBI catch one of the city’s most notorious gangsters. As it turns out, he’s a very brave man.”

Sarah walked into Charles arms and he held her as she quietly sobbed. Another loss, he thought. After a few minutes she pulled away and looked up at him. “Thank you, Charles. Thank you.”

“I love you,” he responded, with tears in his eyes as well.

“I love you, too,” she said quietly.

Then changing her demeanor completely and waving the cashier’s check in the air, she said with excitement, “… and what am I going to do with all this money?”