The Aloha Quilt (26 page)

“Of course.” Bonnie should have made the connection between the lease and Sylvia’s
ownership of the manor, but in her distress, she had not found a still, quiet moment
to parse the details rationally. “You have no idea what it means to me to know that
Elm Creek Quilts is safe.”

“There is the matter of your ten percent share of the business.” Darren’s voice took
on a compassionate, reassuring tone that immediately filled Bonnie with foreboding.
“You established the business during your marriage, and Craig can claim that he supported
you financially throughout that time. Therefore your share is considered a marital
asset.”

Bonnie’s heart plummeted. “So he’s entitled to half of my share?”

“I’m afraid so. But remember, he can’t sell off the lands or the manor. Those were
empty threats.”

“But he can affect Elm Creek Quilts, the business?”

“He’ll have as much influence as a five percent ownership entitles him to.”

“What—” Bonnie forced herself to take deep, slow breaths, but the lanai seemed to
rock back and forth around her. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“According to your charter, he’s allowed on the premises to conduct business and to
do whatever tasks are assigned to him.”

“We won’t assign him any,” Bonnie said. “We don’t have to, do we?”

“Absolutely not. There’s nothing that says you have to give him something to do. He
can’t demand to teach a class, for example, or redesign your website on a whim. However,
he is allowed to attend board meetings, and he is permitted a vote.”

“Half of a vote, right?” said Bonnie, thinking quickly. “Because we’re sharing the
same ten percent. That means that I can always use my half of a vote to cancel out
his.”

“That’s true,” said Darren carefully. “But don’t fool yourself. He can make your workplace
very uncomfortable for you. He can be as annoying and irritating as he chooses, but
unless he does something illegal, you can’t ban him from the premises.”

Bonnie thought her spirits couldn’t sink any lower, but then she imagined Craig arguing
over trivial details at business meetings, putting his muddy shoes on Sylvia’s antique
furniture, heckling Bonnie from the back of her classrooms, stuffing himself at the
Welcome Banquet and belching loudly whenever Sylvia tried to address the group, laughing
derisively when campers bared their hearts at the Candlelight welcoming ceremony.
He would ruin quilt camp for guests and Elm Creek Quilters alike, and a business that
relied so much upon positive word-of-mouth could not withstand the assault for long.

He had Bonnie trapped, and she knew it.

“I don’t know what else to do,” said Bonnie, distressed. “Would you ask his lawyer
if Craig would give up his share in Elm Creek Quilts in exchange for all the profits
from the furniture auction? Would that satisfy him, do you think?”

“I took the liberty of suggesting that to your husband’s lawyer this morning.”

The tone of Darren’s voice conveyed everything. “He refused.”

“I’m afraid so.”

She couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let Craig ruin Elm Creek Quilts for her
friends and for all the wonderful visitors who cherished the manor and the solace
and inspiration it offered. “Give him anything. Anything he wants. I don’t care. He
can’t have Elm Creek Quilts.”

“He doesn’t want anything else,” said Darren. “He wants this, because he knows it
will hurt you most.”

Bonnie closed her eyes, but two tears slipped out. “It’s working.”

“There is one way to prevent him from having any influence whatsoever,” said Darren.
“Sell your ten percent before the divorce is final.”

“What?”

“I know it’s an extreme measure, but it’s your only recourse.”

“Could I do that, even if I wanted to?” She didn’t, not now, not ever. “Isn’t it a
marital asset? Don’t I need his permission? I had to sign papers before he could sell
the condo.”

“The condo was in both of your names. The share of Elm Creek Quilts is in yours alone.
His only claim on it is that he supported you while you were establishing the business.
If you sell your share and give him fifty percent of the proceeds, your legal obligation
will be satisfied.” Darren let out an abrupt laugh. “I had a client who sold her husband’s
Ferrari on eBay for a hundred dollars out of pure spite. At least you would be acting
to save a business and spare your friends a lot of misery.”

“I could do something like that,” said Bonnie. “Elm Creek Quilts leases the manor
from Sylvia for a dollar a year. Why couldn’t I sell my share to Sylvia for a dollar
and buy it back from her afterward?”

“I’d advise you against it,” cautioned Darren. “Judges don’t look favorably upon such
obvious attempts to circumvent the rules and they tend to adjust the settlement elsewhere
to compensate. This would have to be a real sale, Bonnie, or you could find yourself
without your share in the Elm Creek Quilts and without the resources to start a new
business.”

“My friends would never understand.” Bonnie could hardly comprehend it herself. Give
up her share of Elm Creek Quilts? It was unthinkable. “Even my two friends who moved
away didn’t sell their shares. The idea never even came up.”

“Your friends will understand,” said Darren. “I’ve discussed it with Sylvia and she
explained the situation to the others.”

“I’m sure Sylvia told you that she would never allow me to sell my share,” said Bonnie.
“Sylvia would rather face off with Craig every day for a year than see me give up
something I’ve worked so hard for. In fact, I bet she’s looking forward to bringing
Craig to his knees. Diane, too. And Gwen and Sarah and all of my friends. They won’t
let him get away with this, five percent owner or not.”

“On the contrary, Sylvia believes you should sell.”

Bonnie felt as if all the air had been squeezed from her lungs. “What?”

“She was reluctant at first, but after consulting with the other Elm Creek Quilters,
she decided that it would be best to bring this matter to a decisive end before Craig
has the opportunity to do any damage.”

“I don’t believe this.” That didn’t sound like Sylvia, strong-willed, forthright,
loyal Sylvia.

“Sylvia wanted me to assure you that you’ll always have a place on the faculty, and
you’re still welcome to open a quilt shop in the manor. Everything will go on as before,
except that you’ll no longer be an owner.”

“They all agree that I should sell?” asked Bonnie, disbelieving.

“From what I gather the vote wasn’t unanimous,” said Darren, “and of course it’s nonbinding.
You’re free to sell your share or not to sell as you see fit.”

“I could never find a buyer in time, not from here.”

“Sylvia has already found one.”

“Who?” cried Bonnie. “How? I haven’t even agreed to sell yet!”

“Anna del Maso stepped up when Sylvia explained the situation.”

“Chef Anna?” Bonnie shook her head, flabbergasted. “Chef Anna wants to buy my share
of the business?”

“She’s offering five thousand dollars cash.”

Bonnie blinked away tears of frustration and betrayal. “Is that—is that even a reasonable
offer?”

“Fair enough to pass inspection as a real sale. More important, you need a quick decision,
the Elm Creek Quilters would prefer to keep it in the family, and it’s all Anna has.”

Bonnie could not deny the sense of the plan, but the thought of cutting herself off
from Elm Creek Quilts was unbearable. “It’s not enough.” It wasn’t the money. Nothing
would be worth giving up her small portion of Elm Creek Quilts. “My friends know I
plan to come home, don’t they? They know this job in Hawaii is only for the winter?”

“They know,” said Darren. “That’s why Sylvia emphasized that only the ownership has
changed, nothing else. You still have your place on the permanent faculty, and I’m
sure you still have their friendship. Sylvia said to remind you, ‘Once an Elm Creek
Quilter, always an Elm Creek Quilter.’ ”

But it wouldn’t be the same, no matter what Sylvia said to the contrary. Bonnie had
nurtured the business from its first
days, just as her friends had. She knew Anna had been saving up to buy her own restaurant
and she was probably sacrificing her life savings to keep Elm Creek Quilts out of
Craig’s hands. Everyone wanted to do what was best for the business, even though it
hurt. Bonnie knew that.

She also knew that she had only one choice, though it broke her heart to make it.

Chapter Ten
 

There must be another way,” said Claire, after Bonnie tracked her down to the quilt
shop stockroom and told her everything.

Sitting on the floor, Bonnie pulled another tissue from the box on her lap, leaned
back against the shelves, and stretched her legs out in front of her. “If there was
another way, Darren would have thought of it.”

“I can’t believe your friends agreed to this.”

Bonnie still couldn’t either, but she was compelled to defend them. “Elm Creek Quilts
has to come first, before any individual Elm Creek Quilter. I understand that.”

“I don’t,” snapped Claire. “What is Elm Creek Quilts, anyway, if it isn’t the sum
of its parts, if it isn’t each of you contributing something uniquely your own to
create an amazing whole? You can’t let Craig get away with this.”

“He’s not getting away with anything except for twenty-five hundred dollars. By selling
my share, I’m preventing him from destroying everything my friends and I have created.”

“One annoying ex-husband couldn’t do as much damage as they say,” scoffed Claire.
“They just don’t want to deal with
the drama. Fine. You don’t need those fair-weather friends. Forget about Elm Creek
Quilts. You have a place right here at Aloha Quilt Camp and no one will ever take
it away from you.”

Bonnie had to laugh. “Don’t be opportunistic.”

“You mean like your so-called friend Anna, opening her checkbook before you even offered
to sell?”

“That’s not how it happened.”

“You weren’t there, so you don’t really know, do you?”

“You weren’t there either, and you don’t know Anna.” Bonnie sighed. “But they didn’t
waste any time, did they.”

Claire waved a hand dismissively. “They have to look out for themselves. Whatever.
Look, I’m not trying to take advantage of the situation. I just want you to remember
that you have options. Everything that you thought you had with Elm Creek Quilts,
you can have here with me and Midori and whomever we hire. But there will be three
important differences: Craig won’t ever get his grubby hands on Aloha Quilt Camp,
you’ll never face a blizzard in Lahaina, and I would never, ever, not in a million
years, ask you to sell your part of the business.”

Bonnie studied her, gnawing the inside of her lower lip. “My part of the business?
Are you offering me part ownership, or just a faculty position? Because I already
have a faculty position waiting for me back in Pennsylvania if I want it.”

If I want it.
Bonnie could hardly believe she had said the words aloud.

“You’ve been on the fence for months trying to decide what you should do with your
insurance settlement, right? Go into business with me. Invest in the Hale Kapa Kuiki
Inn and we’ll be partners in the bed and breakfast as well as Aloha Quilt Camp.”

Bonnie strongly suspected that her impulsive friend had
given the offer no forethought. “Shouldn’t you go over the numbers first, or at least
discuss it with Eric?”

“I know Eric will agree with me that this is a wonderful opportunity for both of us.
We could use the influx of cash, you would own a business again, and—” Claire smiled
at her, suddenly wistful. “And I would really like you to stay. You’re not just a
consultant; you’re my best collaborator and a wonderful friend. Who in their right
mind would break up a team that is obviously working so well? That’s short-sighted
and just plain bad business.”

It was true; they were a good team, and success was more likely if they stuck together.
Claire encouraged Bonnie to dream big, and Bonnie kept Claire grounded. It was significant,
too, that Claire had offered a partnership not only in the quilt camp, but in the
inn itself. Therefore even if the quilt camp floundered, Bonnie would remain part
owner of a charming bed and breakfast on a beach in Maui.

It was an exciting opportunity, a promising investment that appealed to her more than
opening up a small quilt shop within Elm Creek Manor. Sylvia’s offer, albeit generous,
had always felt like a consolation prize for the loss of Grandma’s Attic. Claire wasn’t
offering her an opportunity out of friendship or sympathy. She needed Bonnie, and
the more Bonnie thought about it, she needed Claire.

“We should think this over carefully,” she told her friend.

“Don’t say no!”

Bonnie threw up her hands and laughed. “Did I say no? I’m not saying no. I’m saying
let’s think it over.”

Claire folded her arms, frowning in almost childlike worry. “That usually leads to
no.”

“Not this time. In fact, it will probably lead to yes. I just think that you should
talk to Eric before you make an official
offer, and I want to be sure we do what’s best for everyone involved.” She sighed
and shook her head. “I also want to talk to Darren. I don’t pretend to know every
last detail of the law, but we should probably wait until after my divorce is final
before I buy into anything.”