Chapter 44
By the time Jane and Cora got back to Kildare House, the French beading class was half over. Several of the crafters had decided not to go, including Vera and Lisa, who were sitting in the living room along with a few others, knitting.
“I need to go home and check on a few things. I’m expecting some packages. I don’t want them sitting out. It looks like it might rain,” Jane said. “I’ll be right back.”
Cora nodded. She found her way to the chair she loved and the basket she kept near it, which included her embroidery projects. Cora pulled out a sampler and started working on it. As she worked, she considered the past few days. Stan was dead. Zee was a suspect, then Jo, then Roni confessed.
She pulled her orange thread through the muslin. She reflected on Roni and how she actually thought she’d killed Stan. How awful. She seemed to be fine, up until she passed out and confessed. All weekend, she was one of the women who appeared to be having the best time. Odd. Some people were better at shoving things inside and pretending they didn’t exist than others. When Cora considered it, it chilled her. She was staying in Kildare House, thinking she’d killed someone, and appeared to be having a fabulous time. But it certainly caught up with her.
Some people were master actors in their everyday lives. She’d known men who were the pillars of the community who regularly beat their wives. She’d known women who were high achievers, smart, beautiful, who put up with it. Humans were complex creatures. Sometimes it was deep denial. Other times it was a power trip.
“You’re skipping out on the French beading class?” Lisa asked, breaking into her thoughts.
“Well, I missed half of it. I don’t like coming into the middle of things. Besides, those little beads don’t thrill me,” Cora said.
“Yes! So tiny,” Lisa replied. “Some people enjoy tiny, though. Vicki is into it. I bet she makes something lovely.”
“Oh, it can be beautiful,” Cora said. “I appreciate some crafts from afar, rather than frustrate myself.”
“Ha!” Lisa said. “I hear you. Those little beads would drive me nuts.”
Jane walked into the room with a big padded envelope. “I’m so excited,” she said.
“What’s up?” Cora asked.
“I’ve gotten more artist trading cards,” Jane said, taking her envelope to the center coffee table and sitting on the floor.
Cora set aside her embroidery. Lisa leaned closer. Vera came in from the paper crafting room, clutching some pink-and-black checked paper.
Jane gingerly pulled out the cards. “Fall-themed cards,” she said. “Aren’t they gorgeous?”
“Wow,” Vera said, coming closer, then sitting on the floor next to Jane.
Jane sat all six cards on the table. They were all the size of playing cards, standard issue. Her trading partner, Ellis, had painted and cut autumn leaves on top of torn paper of all sorts. Cora found herself partial to the card printed with musical notes on bits of paper.
“I like this one the best,” Vera said, pointing to one with a cut-out, intricate, bare tree placed over torn paper with autumn leaves on it.
“He’s very talented,” Cora said.
“He’s a musician by trade,” Jane said. “He just does this for a creative outlet.”
Jane’s voice held a note of excitement, one Cora hadn’t heard from her in a long time. Was she interested in this man? Cora made a mental note to ask later.
“How do you get involved with this?” Lisa asked.
“There are several groups online,” Jane said. “I could hook you up.”
“I thought I’d love to try this, but this looks too complicated for me,” Vera said.
“Oh, don’t judge by these,” Jane said. “Ellis’s work is extraordinary.” Her dark eyes lit. “It can be simple, and it’s a lot like scrapbooking.”
Vera nodded thoughtfully. “I can see that.”
“How well do you know this guy?” Cora asked.
“I just know him online and through the mail,” Jane said. “I’ve never met him. That’s the way most of the artist trading exchanges work. I’ve got several batches from him.”
“Do you send yours to him as well?” Lisa asked.
“Yes, for the time being,” she said, then paused. “It’s like having an arty pen pal.”
“I love that idea,” Vera said. “I think I’m going to try.”
“I advise you to keep it simple as possible. I can show you what I mean,” Jane said.
Cora noted the shift in the air among the women in this room. Suddenly they were setting aside their projects and coming together over learning something new. Jane’s enthusiasm was spilling over. Cora placed her embroidery back in her basket.
“Let’s go into the paper room and have a little fun with paper,” Jane said.
Cora’s mood lifted. Lisa sat aside her knitting. “Sounds great to me,” she said.
As they were walking into the paper room, Cora received a text from Brodsky. Have you talked with Gladys yet?
She quickly texted him back. No, but I will.
She hadn’t realized he was waiting for her. She’d slip off after this impromptu artist trading card lesson. Cora had to admit she was not looking forward to the conversation.