found another big quilt that was donated. Mavis said to bring it by here.'
'I'll take that,” Mavis said and stood up. “Here-sit down and have a piece of cake.'
'I don't want to interrupt,” Joseph protested, but Aunt Beth had already sliced a large piece of the lemon-filled white cake and set it in front of him. Jenny brought a china cup and saucer from the sideboard and put it beside the cake.
'Coffee or tea?” she asked and, when he indicated coffee, picked up the coffee carafe and filled his cup. Carla put the sugar and cream within his reach.
'Thank you, ladies.” he said. “And I hope you know these quilts you're remaking will be put to good use.'
'Well, it's a very good cause,” Mavis said. “And we're happy to do what little we can to help those babies get a good start in life.'
Joseph looked across the room at DeAnn, who was giggling as she held up a pink tutu and leotard and showed it to Robin and Jenny.
'I've been doing this for almost twenty years now, and that…” He pointed at a smiling DeAnn. “…is something that never gets old.'
'Joseph,” Phyllis said from the other end of the table, “do we have a final arrival time to tell DeAnn?'
'Assuming the customs process goes smoothly,” he said, and pulled out his smartphone, clicking buttons as he spoke and staring at the little screen, “they land in Seattle right around noon. Assuming thirty minutes to get through customs, give or take another thirty, depending on how full the flight is, my best guess is between two- thirty and three o'clock.'
'Where do we go to pick her up?” DeAnn asked.
'Oh, don't worry, honey,” Phyllis said. “At Little Lamb, we bring your bundle of joy to your home.” She took the last bite of her second piece of cake then hoisted herself up. “Speaking of Little Lamb, I better get back. We don't want any of our new parents to wait any longer than they absolutely have to, to receive their new family member.” She looked over at Joseph. “You take your time, Joe. I can finish up the verifications tonight.'
He started to rise.
'I can finish them for you,” he said with a longing glance at his cake.
'Don't be silly. You go home when you're done with these ladies. Thanks to Harriet here, I've got plenty of time to bind my quilt before the wedding.'
The expression on Joseph's face said he wasn't comfortable being sent home when the boss was going back to work, but it was also clear he wouldn't argue in front of the assembled women.
'Let me get you some more cake,” Harriet said, breaking the awkward silence.
Phyllis gathered up her quilt, which Harriet had placed under her chair when the shower started, then buttoned her jacket and left.
'Oh, Harriet,” she called, pausing at the front door. “Let me write you a check.'
She was holding the invoice Harriet had tucked into the quilt bag with the finished product. Harriet waited in the foyer as she pulled a pink plastic checkbook with a matching pen from her purse and began writing.
Movement on the steps caught her attention, and she looked up as Neelie retreated back upstairs.
'I hope he'll take my advice and go home,” Phyllis said in a hushed voice. “I'm not one to pry, so I don't know what's going on with him, but he looks like a man who hasn't gotten a good night's sleep in quite some time.'
Harriet hadn't been in town long enough to know what Joseph Marston should look like, but as she studied him from the foyer, she had to admit the dark circles under his eyes and too-prominent hollow of his cheeks, combined with worn-looking gray slacks that were a bit looser than was fashionable, suggested he wasn't at his peak.
She returned to the dining room and got Joseph a second piece of cake. Aunt Beth and Mavis were picking up plates and cups from the table, while Jenny and Connie helped DeAnn pack up the presents.
'I've got to get back to work,” Sarah announced. “Congratulations,” she said to DeAnn. “Do we have a time to show our next blocks?” she asked no one in particular.
'Since DeAnn isn't going to be doing a block in any case, what about tomorrow?” Lauren suggested.
'Actually, that's not a bad idea,” Robin said. “That will help us all respect DeAnn's request to let the first couple of days with the new little one be immediate family only.'
The look of relief on DeAnn's face suggested that plan worked for her.
'I'll check with Carla,” Harriet said. “Anyone see which way she went?'
'She went upstairs to take a piece of cake to the babysitter,” Mavis said.
'I'll see if she's available.” And see how she feels about leaving Neelie here alone for that amount of time, she added silently.
Mavis followed her into the kitchen. “I know you're wondering if Carla is willing to leave home with Neelie staying here, but you don't have to worry. Terry's taking a few days off and said he would come stay here. He said Aiden bought a new sound system, and he had volunteered to hook it up and wire speakers into two other rooms as soon as he had some time off. Now he does, and it will provide a perfect excuse for him to be around the house. Since he lives on the base, and it's so far away, there's a good reason for him to stay here while he's doing it.'
'I'm going to go say goodbye and see if she's free in any case,” Harriet said and went up the servants stairs to the second floor. She met Carla on the landing.
'Hi, Harriet, I was just taking Haley some cake. Wendy and Kissa are napping.'
'Mavis said Terry was going to come stay a couple of days.'
'And it's sort of cute that you all think I don't know you asked him to come stay here until Aiden gets back. Don't worry-when Terry told me he was coming to work on Aiden's sound system, I didn't let on I knew the real reason.'
'When did you get so smart?” Harriet said with a smile.
'When I started hanging out with you.” Carla's cheeks turned pink, and she laughed.
Harriet laughed with her then sobered.
'Even with Terry here, you need to be careful. And keep your eyes and ears open. See if you can learn anything more about Neelie.'
'I'm trying, but she doesn't give up much. She reminds me of my mother's ‘friends'-they come from some vague place that doesn't have a name and they always have families they don't want to talk about and they're always one deal away from the big score.'
'Has she mentioned what her one big deal is?'
'No, but you can tell she's got one.'
'Well, like I said, be careful. And it may be cute that Terry is coming to protect you, but we don't know who this woman is or what her intentions are so, until we find out, let him do his job.'
Carla looked at her feet.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh, but I don't want you or Wendy to get hurt.'
Carla lifted her gaze to Harriet's face.
'Do you really think we're in danger?” she asked, her dark eyes serious.
'I don't know. Right now, it's just a feeling. All the same, you be careful. On a lighter note, are you available tomorrow to do our dog blocks?'
'My block is done…'
'But you don't want to leave Neelie here by herself,” Harriet finished for her.
'Not until Terry is here, and I don't know when he's coming.'
'What if we meet here? I mean, you'd have to be invaded by the Loose Threads again, but I can come early and help you get ready.'
Carla smiled. “That's a good idea. Not the part about you coming to help get ready, the part about having the meeting here. You can come early if you want to have tea and leftover party food, but with a house this big, there's always a room ready, especially with Aiden away. I think Avanell used to have meetings in the upstairs parlor. I found a portable design wall in a carry bag in the closet.'
'That's perfect. Let's go see what the others think.'
Connie was standing at the kitchen sink, hand-washing the delicate teacups and saucers. Mavis was drying them, and Aunt Beth was carefully putting them back into the kitchen china cabinet.
Harriet told them about Carla's offer to host a dog block meeting the following day.
'I suppose we're inviting
'No, we're not inviting Neelie to join us. Carla would just feel better not leaving her here alone if she doesn't
