Back on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #4)(51)

Colette paused and was about to describe her own family when Elizabeth raised a hand.

“Before you get started, I’d like you to answer one question. It might be an uncomfortable one and I apologize for that in advance. Nevertheless, I insist on the truth.”

“All right.” Colette hoped it wasn’t the question she feared most.

Elizabeth leaned forward and stared at Colette intently. “It’s obvious you love the boy. Something’s gone wrong. What?” “I…” “The truth,” she demanded.

Colette clasped her hands and nodded. “It’s complicated.”

The older woman sighed. “My dear, dear girl, love is always complicated. It wouldn’t be love unless it was.”

Colette agreed with a silent nod.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

Colette’s eyes widened and then instantly flooded with tears.

CHAPTER 18

“I love capturing the beauty and movement of a dog in intarsia knitting. It’s fun to use a colorful palette of yarns, to knit a sweater that shows not only the splendor of the breed but its owner’s love and pride.”

Peggy Gaffney, www.kanineknits.com

Lydia Goetz

F riday started off well. Sales were steady, and I saw some of my favorite customers.

At home the night before, Brad and I had spent hours discussing adoption, weighing the pros and cons.

My biggest fear, and one I shared with Brad, was the future. It was one thing to open a yarn store; if the cancer returned, I could always sell out. Bringing a child into our lives was another story entirely. As much as I lived in hope and health, the threat of the disease always hung over me and I couldn’t ignore that and neither could Brad.

By the end of the evening, we were still of two minds, but I felt closer to him than ever. We decided to set the question of adoption aside for the moment.

Friday morning, I noticed an improvement in Margaret’s attitude. I assumed this had come about because of Thursday’s conversation with Detective Johnson. It seemed likely that the suspect they’d been watching would soon be picked up. Margaret was in a state of excitement all day, and I felt so pleased for her. Pleased and relieved. Yes, by all means, I wanted this lunatic found, charged and sent to jail. Even more, I wanted this matter shelved for Julia’s sake. And my sister’s.

The yarn store was doing well financially and I felt such a strong connection with my customers, especially the women in my prayer shawl class. I’d noticed that Colette and Alix had become friends. That shouldn’t have surprised me, and yet it did. I wouldn’t have thought they had much in common. But then, Alix is probably one of the most complex people I’ve ever met. She’s able to adjust to people and situations easily—except for that out-of-control wedding. Still, she was doing her best to cope because she loves Jacqueline.

Who would’ve believed Jacqueline Donovan and Alix would become so close? That was a shocker. I think the world of Jacqueline and Reese for the way they helped Alix, helped and encouraged her through her schooling and as a bride-to-be.

When Paul, their only son, married Tammie Lee, Jacqueline wasn’t involved in the wedding. At one time there were hard feelings because of this. Now, of course, that’s all water under the proverbial bridge. With Alix’s wedding, however, it was as if Jacqueline was making up for lost time—and lost opportunities. She was planning the social event of the year. I had to hand it to Alix; she’d been patient and good-natured about the whole thing.

At about four o’clock, the phone rang, and because I was standing closest to the cash register I automatically reached for it. “A Good Yarn,” I said into the receiver.

“Aunt Lydia?” It was Hailey, my niece and Margaret’s youngest daughter.

“Oh, hi—”

“Don’t say my name,” Hailey pleaded. She was whispering. “Is my mother there?”

“Well, yes.”

“Is my mom watching you? She doesn’t know it’s me on the phone, does she?”

This was a very odd conversation, and it was beginning to alarm me. “She’s with a customer,” I said, lowering my own voice. Margaret apparently wasn’t listening, since she didn’t acknowledge the comment. “Is something wrong?”

“I…I don’t know what to do. Julia’s crying.”

“What happened?”

“I…I don’t know,” Hailey said, and she seemed close to tears herself. “No one’s here and…and Julia’s talking crazy.”

“What do you mean, crazy?” I asked urgently.

“I…I don’t want to tell you.”

“All right.” I hesitated for a moment. “Let me talk to Julia.”

“Okay.” The relief in Hailey’s voice was evident. “I’ll take the phone to her.”

“She’s in her room?”

“No, she’s on the kitchen floor,” Hailey said.

As soon as she walked into the kitchen, chatting as she went, I could hear Julia’s heart-wrenching sobs. Crying like this wasn’t normal, and the sound sent shivers through me.

The customer left and Margaret looked at me. I tried not to reveal that I was talking to her daughter.

“Hold on a minute,” I said to Hailey.