The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club (10 page)

It didn’t take a genius to see that Pam and Stuart’s marriage was strained—maybe even in deep trouble. During Gene’s years of preaching, he’d counseled many couples with marriage problems. Some listened to his advice, and others continued down the same old path that had brought them to his office for counseling. A good marriage took commitment and a desire to meet the needs of one’s spouse. When selfishness and always wanting to have one’s own way took over, it spelled trouble. And from what Ruby Lee had seen during the quilt class, both Pam and Stuart had issues they were dealing with—issues that had affected their marriage.

Then there was the young woman who called herself Star. From the way she talked, and her whole demeanor, it had been obvious to Ruby Lee that Star had a chip on her shoulder and probably needed to let her defenses down. Ruby Lee wondered why Star had worn a black sweatshirt with the hood up on her head the whole time they’d been in class. Was she trying to make some kind of statement, hiding something under that hood? Or could the defiant young woman be one of those “gothic” people Ruby Lee had seen around town? Star was a pretty girl, so why she would hide her natural beauty was a bit baffling to Ruby Lee. Perhaps Star needed some counseling, too.

The biker with the big biceps probably had a few issues as well. But with the exception of his encounter with Stuart, Jan had seemed fairly easygoing. And even though Jan looked like the type who might punch someone in the nose if they looked at him the wrong way, Ruby Lee had a hunch that he was a really just a big ole softy with a heart of gold.

The young Hispanic schoolteacher who’d recently lost his wife seemed fairly stable, yet Ruby Lee figured he must still be hurting pretty bad. Who wouldn’t hurt if they’d lost their spouse and been left with a baby to raise? It was a shame that Paul’s little girl would grow up never knowing her mother.

I should be very kind to these people, she thought. I’m a pastor’s wife, and it’s my duty to set a good example to others. But how can I do that when I feel so angry and depressed myself?

Ruby Lee leaned forward, resting her forehead on the piano keys.
If You will, God, please give me a sense of peace
.

As Star left the Goshen Walmart after working the early-morning shift where she stocked shelves, she frowned. It was raining hard, and by the time she reached her car, she was soaking wet.

Well, let it rain
, she thought.
I have no place but home to go today anyway
. Still, she didn’t care for this drenching wet weather. It was depressing, and when it rained, she didn’t like being cooped up inside.

Star thought she might spend the rest of the day cutting out the pieces for the star pattern that would be in the center of her wall hanging. After that was done, she hoped to get some more lyrics written on the song she’d started a few weeks ago. Maybe someday she would find a way to get some of her music published. Maybe someday her musical abilities would be recognized. But for now, she’d have to be content with playing her guitar and singing her songs at the coffee shop in downtown Goshen on Friday nights. Some of the kids from the local college hung out there, and a few performed on the little stage; although no one but Star sang original songs.

Who knows?
Star thought as she started her car’s engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
Maybe the right person will be sitting in the coffee shop some night, and I’ll get discovered
.

She let go of the steering wheel with one hand and slapped the side of her head.
Dumb. Stupid. Like that’s ever gonna happen. I’m just a nobody who no one cares about. It’s just like Mom always says: I’m full of big ideas that will never come true. And now that Grandma’s gone, I’ll probably never find anyone who truly loves me for the person I am. I’ll always be lost—like a falling star that nobody ever noticed
.

Some new words to one of the songs she’d been working on popped into Star’s head, and she began to sing in a whispered tone: “It’s hard to breathe; it’s hard to sleep; it’s hard to know who you are when you’re a lost and falling star.”

I
’m ready to work on my quilt project now,” Pam called to Stuart, who sat on the sofa in the family room watching TV with his feet propped on the coffee table.

No reply.

“Stuart, are you listening to me?”

Still no response.

Pam pushed her son’s toy truck out of the way with her foot and stepped in front of the TV.

“Hey! You’re blocking my view.” Stuart gave Pam a determined, angry look and waved her away.

She stood firm, both hands on her hips. “It’s the only way I can get your attention.”

“What do you want?” He peered around her to look at the TV.

She moved to the right so his view was still blocked. “I said I’m ready to work on my quilting project now.”

“That’s nice. Would you please move out of my way?”

Pointing a finger in his direction, Pam felt her face heat. “The next quilt class is only two days away, and you promised we could work on our wall hangings together this evening.”

Stuart shook his head. “I never promised anything of the sort. You said you wanted to work on your quilt project, and I said that was fine with me.” He pointed to the TV. “I’m watching a baseball game. At least I was until you interrupted me.”

Pam’s irritation mounted. “If you don’t work on your project tonight, you won’t have the first phase of your wall hanging done before Saturday.”

“I’ll work on it tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow’s Devin’s piano recital, and afterwards, we’re taking the kids out for ice cream. Remember?”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. Okay then, I’ll work on the stupid wall hanging Saturday morning—before we head to Shipshewana.” He yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “Or maybe I won’t work on it at all. Maybe I won’t even go this week. I might sleep in on Saturday.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’d better not go back on your word.”

He leaned to the left, craning his neck to see the TV again. “Oh, great! I missed that last play, and now the other team is up to bat.”

Pam gritted her teeth. “Why is it that baseball is more important than me?”

“It’s not.”

“Yes it is. If it wasn’t, you’d turn off the TV, come into the dining room, and cut out the material for your star pattern. We can visit while we cut and pin the pieces in place.”

Stuart’s face tightened and tiny wrinkles formed across his forehead. “Look, Pam, when you went fishing with me, you didn’t have to do anything before we went.”

“And your point is?”

“I didn’t expect you to dig worms for bait or even get the fishing gear out of the closet. I did all those things for you. All you had to do was sit in the boat and fish.”

Her irritation increased. “Are you saying you think I should work on my quilt project and yours, too?”

A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “That’d be nice.”

“Oh sure! Then you can just show up at Emma’s on Saturday with a big smile on your face and let everyone think you’d done what she asked.”

He shrugged.

“If you don’t want to do your homework, that’s up to you, but don’t expect me to do it for you!” Pam turned on her heels and stomped out of the room. She didn’t think any amount of counseling or doing things together would save their marriage. They were heading down a one-way street, and unless a miracle transpired, she feared their journey might end in divorce.

Elkhart

“Could this week get any worse?” Paul grumbled while his daughter fussed in her playpen. A parent/teacher conference one night and a meeting with the school principal the next evening was just too much for one week. Both times Paul had asked Carla, a teenager from church, to watch Sophia. Carla seemed capable enough, but both evenings when he’d arrived home, Sophia had been sobbing. It was bad enough that he had to drop his little girl off at the day care center every morning before school. He wished he didn’t have to leave her with a sitter whenever he had to be away during the evening. He wished, too, that his sister, Maria, could watch Sophia all the time, but with her part-time job at the bank, plus caring for her three active girls, that just wasn’t possible. On the days Paul took Sophia to day care, she still cried as soon as he pulled up in front of the building. It nearly broke his heart when she reached her little arms out, as though begging him to stay.

Paul hoped Maria could watch Sophia on the remaining Saturdays he’d be attending the quilt classes so he wouldn’t have to take her along, like he’d done last week, or worse yet, leave her with a sitter she didn’t know. Even though Sophia had been good during the two hours they were at Emma’s, it had been hard for Paul to concentrate on all that Emma had been trying to teach them. It was important for him to learn some quilting techniques, since he’d decided that he would definitely try to finish the quilt for Sophia, and he hoped by doing so it might bring him some closure.

Tonight, Paul was thankful to be home, but he had some papers to grade. Sophia was in the dining room with him, but she wasn’t happy being in the playpen rather than on her daddy’s lap, like she was accustomed to doing most evenings. Still, it was better than having someone else watch her.

“Oh Lorinda,” Paul whispered, rubbing a sore spot on his forehead. “How I wish you were here with me right now, holding our precious baby daughter.”

Shipshewana

Emma had just taken a seat in front of her treadle sewing machine when she heard the back door swing open. A few seconds later, her eight-year-old granddaughter, Lisa, skipped into the room.

“Daadi
built a bonfire out back, and we’re gonna roast hot dogs and marshmallows soon,” the blond-haired, blue-eyed little girl announced. “Would you like to come over and eat with us,
Grossmammi
?”

Emma smiled and gave Lisa a hug. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ve already had my supper.”

“Then come for some marshmallows.” Lisa grinned up at Emma and smacked her lips. “They taste
wunderbaar gut
.”

“I think marshmallows are wonderful good, too, but I’m busy sewing right now. Maybe some other time when your daed builds a bonfire I can join you,” Emma said.

Lisa’s lower lip protruded in a pout. Emma hated to disappoint the child, but if she didn’t get the piecing done on this quilt, she’d never have it finished in time for the benefit auction that would be held in a few months. She also hadn’t quite completed the quilt for the fall wedding she would attend. Still, she didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to be with some of her family.

She patted her granddaughter’s arm. “I’ll be over later on, after I get some sewing done. How’s that sound?”

A wide smile stretched across Lisa’s face. “Sew real fast, grossmammi!”

Emma smiled as the rosy-cheeked little girl scampered out of the room. It was nice living so close to Mary and her family. Not only could they be there whenever she had a need, but almost always someone was at home next door for Emma to visit when she felt lonely. Other times, especially during the warmer months when her windows were open, it was nice just hearing her grandchildren on the other side of the fence, laughing and playing in their yard. It made her feel connected to them.