The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club - 02 - The Tattered Quilt (14 page)

Pushing her thoughts aside, Carmen followed a horse and buggy up the Millers’ driveway. It stopped near the barn, and Anna stepped down.
Great. This is the perfect time for me to talk to her
.

Carmen parked her rental car and got out. Then she hurried over to Anna, who walked slowly toward the house, head down and shoulders slumped.

“How was your week?” Carmen asked cheerfully.

Anna shrugged and kept walking.

“I noticed you didn’t ride your bike today.”

Anna motioned to the horse and buggy, pulling out of the driveway. “My dad brought me instead.”

Carmen couldn’t miss the look of discomfort on Anna’s face. She was almost sure the young woman was dealing with some sort of problem.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go to lunch with me after class today,” Carmen said as they stepped onto Emma’s porch.

Anna’s eyebrows arched. “You want to have lunch with me?”

“That’s right. I’d like to get to know you better, and it’s hard to visit during the quilting class.”
At least the kind of visiting I want to do
.

Anna studied Carmen before answering. “That sounds nice, but I can’t go to lunch today because Dad will be picking me up as soon as class is over.”

“Maybe we can go some other time. Would you be available any time next week?”

Anna looked hesitant, but she finally nodded. “I’d like that. Could you meet me for lunch on Wednesday at Das Dutchman in Middlebury?”

Carmen knew exactly where that restaurant was because she’d had supper there a few nights ago. “Sure, that’d be fine. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me, too.” Anna sighed. “Guess we’d better get in there, or they’ll be starting the class without us. Not that I’d mind,” she quickly added.

That’s the second time she’s said it
, Carmen thought as they entered the house.
Anna Lambright does not want to be here. I hope I can get her to open up to me when we have lunch next week
.

C
HAPTER
12

W
hile Terry was in the bathroom cleaning up, Cheryl went to the quilting room to speak with Emma.

“How’s my grandma’s quilt coming along?” she asked.

“I’m sorry,” Emma said, “but I’ve been busy this week and haven’t had much time to work on the quilt. I’m sure I’ll be able to get more sewing done on it next week, though,” she quickly added.

Cheryl smiled. “I’ll be anxious to see the quilt when it’s done. And I can’t wait to see the expression on Grandma’s face when I give it to her.”

“Tell me about your grandmother,” Emma said, as Cheryl took a seat at the table. “Does she live near you?”

Cheryl shook her head. “Grandma lives in a nursing home in Portland, Oregon. It’s not too far from my folks’ house, but with Mom and Dad both working all day, they don’t go to visit Grandma that often.” Cheryl’s eyes filled with unwanted tears, and she blinked to keep them from falling onto her cheeks. “I—I don’t think Mom really cares that much.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “About your grandmother?”

Before Cheryl could respond, Terry entered the room and took a seat beside her. His face and hair were wet, and so were the knees of his jeans. Unfortunately, the scrubbing he’d done hadn’t removed the odor of smoke from his clothes, but at least the mud was cleaned off.

“So what’d I miss?” Terry asked, leaning close to Cheryl.

Cheryl leaned away. “Nothing. Emma and I were just talking about my grandmother’s quilt.” She hated to be rude, but the smell of smoke on Terry’s clothes made her feel sick.

“Okay. Okay. I can take a hint.” Terry leaped out of his chair and found a seat on the other side of the table just as Carmen and Anna entered the room.

Cheryl was relieved when Anna sat on one side of her, but she wished Carmen had taken the seat on the other side instead of sitting at the end, next to Anna. She hoped Terry remained where he was, but when Selma showed up and sat beside her, she wasn’t so sure about that. Last week Selma had criticized the way Cheryl held her scissors. Who knew what she might find fault with today?

A few minutes later, Lamar entered the room. “Maggie’s back in her pen, and the gate’s closed. Hopefully she won’t figure out how to get it open,” he said to Emma.

She smiled. “You know my Maggie. She’s one schmaert little goat.”

“Schmaert? What does that mean?” Terry asked.

“It’s Pennsylvania Dutch for the word
smart,”
Lamar replied.

“Oh, I see. So what’s the opposite of schmaert?” Terry questioned.

“Dumm,”
Emma responded.

“That’s interesting and all,” Selma spoke up, “but we didn’t come here to learn a new language. We came to make a quilted wall hanging.”

“That’s right,” Emma agreed, “and we’ll get started with today’s lesson as soon as Blaine arrives.”

Selma wrinkled her nose and grumbled, “Last week Anna came in late, and now Blaine’s not here. Can’t people be on time? It’s inconsiderate when they show up late and make the rest of us wait.”

“Have you been out to the phone shack to check for messages this morning?” Emma asked Lamar, ignoring Selma’s comment. “Maybe there’s one from Blaine, letting us know he won’t be here or is running late for some reason.”

“I haven’t checked yet,” Lamar said, “but I’ll run out there now. You can begin teaching the class while I’m gone. If Blaine is coming, he can catch up when he gets here.”

Emma and her husband are sure patient
, Cheryl thought.
If I were teaching this class, I’d call Selma up short for being so rude
.

“I think we should wait to get started until Lamar returns and we know if there’s a message from Blaine,” Emma said facing the class.

“What are we supposed to do until then?” Selma asked with a look of agitation. “Sit and twiddle our thumbs?”

“Of course not,” Emma said, watching Selma take supplies out of her mint-green tote bag. “We can visit and get to know each other a little better.”

“Puh!”
Selma swiped the air with her hand as if she was after a pesky fly. “I didn’t come here to get to know anyone. I came to quilt!”

Emma was taken aback by Selma’s rudeness. The poor woman was certainly not the friendly type. “As I said before, we’ll begin as soon as Lamar returns from the phone shack.” Emma looked over at Terry and smiled. “How was your week?”

“It went fine till I fell in the mud chasing your goat.” He leaned his head back and chuckled. “Guess I got what I deserved, thinking I could run faster than that frisky critter.”

“If it makes you feel any better, you’re not the only one of my students who’s gotten bested by Maggie. During my first quilting class, Maggie got out, and Blaine’s friend Stuart thought he could catch her. He ended up on his face in the grass. Then your brother-in-law went out to help him,” Emma added, looking at Carmen.

“I’m not surprised Paul would do something like that. From the things my sister used to tell me about Paul, he’s always been one who likes to help out.”

“Yes,” Emma agreed. “Paul has many fine qualities, and he was good with Maggie. I never saw that goat react to anyone like she did Paul. She went to him when he held out a handful of grass and didn’t resist when he guided her back to her pen. Some people have a special way with animals.”

“Jan’s good with his dog,” Terry spoke up, “but I guess goats ain’t my thing.”

“No animal is
my
thing,” Selma said, wrinkling her nose. “They’re nothing but pests.”

Feeling the need for a change of subject and wanting her students to get better acquainted, Emma suggested that they go around the table and share something about what they had done during the week. Cheryl, Carmen, and Selma willingly shared a few things, but when Emma asked Anna how her week had gone, she merely shrugged and mumbled, “Same as always.”

I wish there was something I could say or do to make Anna open up
, Emma thought.
She seems so sullen and withdrawn. Even though Selma’s a bit opinionated, at least she’s willing to talk
.

Emma was relieved when Lamar returned. “No message from Blaine,” he said, “but there was one from my daughter, Katie. She strained her back and asked if I’d give her a ride to the chiropractor’s. It’s Dr. Clark’s day off, of course, but he kindly said he’d meet us there. Emma, can you manage okay while I take Katie?”

“I’ll be fine.” Emma patted Lamar’s arm. “You go along and help your
dochder.”

“Danki, Emma. I’ll see you later.” Lamar said good-bye to the class and hurried from the room.

“Since we don’t know when or if Blaine will be here, I suppose we’d best get started,” Emma said, reaching for a piece of material that had been cut and was ready to sew. “Today we’ll begin sewing the pieces of fabric you’ve already cut. You can take turns using the battery-operated sewing machines, and if anyone wants to try out my treadle machine just let me know and I’ll show you how.”

“I already know how to use a treadle,” Selma announced. “My grandmother had one when I was a girl, and she taught me how to sew on it.”

“That’s good. Maybe you’d like to use mine today.” Emma smiled. “Some of my Amish friends and relatives prefer to use the battery-operated machines or one that’s hooked up to a generator, but I’ve always enjoyed using the treadle.”

“My
mamm
uses a treadle machine when she sews, too,” Anna said. “But I’m not interested in that.”

“You can use one of my battery-operated ones,” Emma said, glad that Anna was conversing a bit. Maybe after she’d done some sewing and saw how her wall hanging was taking shape, she’d actually enjoy the class.

“I’d like to try the treadle machine for a few of my patterned pieces,” Carmen said.

“Same here,” Cheryl agreed.

“Not me,” Terry said with a shake of his head. “I’m not even sure I can use the battery-operated machine.” He frowned. “I’ll probably end up sewing my fingers together instead of the material.”

“You’ll do fine,” Emma said. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Terry had been fumbling with his pieces of material for ten minutes when Blaine showed up.

“Sorry I’m late,” Blaine apologized to Emma. “I stopped at the lake and ended up dropping my line in the water. Guess I sort of lost track of time.”