Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(50)
“Of course.” Brad had told her to expect to be recorded. “I went online and read a few of your articles. I like the way you close each with that little play on your name. And I’m not kidding.”
“Thanks. I try.” Shannon set her cellphone on the tabletop. “Spell your surname for me so I’m sure I have it right.”
“Goetz. G-O-E-T-Z.”
“Perfect. Thank you. From what I understood when we spoke briefly on Sunday, these baskets with the yarn and needles are as much a surprise to you as anyone.”
“Very much so.”
“You don’t have any idea who is delivering these around the neighborhood?”
Casey had her suspicions, and Brad had mentioned a couple of names, too. “None whatsoever.”
Shannon made a quick notation. “But your store is involved in charity knitting?”
“Oh, yes.” Lydia felt herself starting to relax as she told the reporter about the preemie-cap program for local hospitals. She brought a few of the most recent donations over for Shannon to inspect.
“We’re also involved in Warm Up America! and Knit for Kids, which is a World Vision program.”
“And now scarves for the homeless,” Shannon added.
“Indirectly.” Lydia didn’t want the reporter to give her credit when none was due. “Like I said, I’m not the one responsible for these special scarves, although I’ve certainly knit for each of the charities I mentioned. My customers are the ones with the big hearts. I’ve discovered that knitters are caring and generous.”
“In other words, A Good Yarn provides an outlet for your customers to reach out to help others.”
“You could say that, yes.” Lydia felt she had the most wonderful, loyal customer base anywhere. Many who routinely shopped at the store had become her dearest friends. Alix for sure; Carol and Elise, who now worked for her part-time; and Bethanne, too. Her mind crowded with names and faces, such dear, dear friends.
This yarn store had also given Lydia a relationship with her sister. Because of her health issues as a teen and young adult, Lydia had never felt close to Margaret. Her sister had deeply resented all the attention Lydia received because of the cancer. It was the yarn store that had brought them together. That and caring for their mother.
The interview didn’t take long. By the end of it, Shannon expressed a desire to sign up for the beginning knitting class.
“I hope you do.”
“I’m not kidding,” she joked as Lydia let her out the front door.
With the interview finished, Lydia returned to her office, looked at the ledger, and realized once more that while she wasn’t making money hand over fist, there remained several benefits to owning A Good Yarn. Benefits that far exceeded the balance in her checkbook.
Chapter Nineteen
Bethanne noticed that Annie managed to avoid her all week, which was ridiculous. Clearly Annie remained upset with Max, and evidently with Bethanne, too. So be it. It was time her daughter accepted the fact that Bethanne and Max were married and intended to stay that way.
From what Max had told her, Annie’s attitude toward him had come to a head Sunday afternoon. Bethanne had the feeling she’d managed to miss the worst of their confrontation, which was probably for the best. Being stuck in the middle between the two of them would have been uncomfortable to say the least.
It was little wonder Max had asked her to uproot and sell the business and move to California if it meant no longer having to deal with her daughter and ex-husband. Who could blame him? Never did Bethanne suspect that her marriage would cause such an upheaval in her relationship with her daughter.
It was true Annie had always felt close to Grant; she was his little girl, and his darling who could do no wrong. Her daughter had taken it especially hard when Grant asked for the divorce. And she’d been the first to champion Grant when it became apparent his marriage to Tiffany was in trouble. The moment the divorce was final, Annie was convinced her parents would eventually reunite. Max had ruined the vision Annie held in her mind of the perfect family.
However, by then Bethanne’s eyes were wide open when it came to her ex-husband. Not for an instant did she trust his claims of undying love. Nor was she the same woman Grant had left. Her life was different now, and so was she.
By mid-afternoon on Wednesday Bethanne had had enough with the silent treatment from her daughter. She called Annie’s extension and asked her to come to the office.
Fifteen minutes later, Annie arrived. Her bad attitude seemed to radiate off her the instant she walked into the room. She stood in front of Bethanne’s desk, looking straight ahead, with her arms folded tightly over her chest. The sour look on her face could curdle milk.
“Sit down, Annie,” she said softly.
Reluctantly, her daughter took a seat. Her spine remained rigid, and she seemed completely unwilling to meet Bethanne’s gaze.
“Can you give me an update on the Costco employee picnic?” Bethanne asked, deciding to ease into this difficult conversation with a business discussion first.
Annie visibly relaxed and went into a detailed report of the progress of the party plans for the Kirkland, Washington-based company. While Annie spoke, Bethanne stood and walked over to the window, which looked out over the city. While appreciating the view, she listened intently as her daughter gave the report, stopping her once or twice with questions.