Read Online Casting About by Terri Dulong - Free Book Online Page B

what we charged for the stockings, I’d give you a percentage of the price as your profit for the labor. And hopefully the orders would increase and I’d be able to increase your commission.”
    Dora shook her head and smiled, making me realize that my offer to her was pretty skimpy.
    She reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Monica, I’m going to tell you the same thing I told your mother when she offered me the position as assistant here. I don’t need the money. I work here because I truly enjoy being here, surrounded by the yarn and the customers. I love to knit and my secret dream was always to own a yarn shop. Your mother provided the best of both worlds—I get to be here a few days a week and now I share the hours with you. But I’m not wearing myself out with a full-time business. Being in my early seventies—this is perfect. So yes, of course I’d love to help you launch this new venture! You’re right, I do knit rapidly, so I’m always looking for new projects as soon as I finish the previous one. And as far as paying me for my labor, for somebody that loves knitting, it would be a labor of love. I know you won’t allow me to do this for nothing, but after we determine the price you’ll be charging, then we’ll discuss that. Agreed?”
    I felt moisture burning my eyes. They say you can choose your friends but not your relatives. However, my mother and I did have the opportunity to choose and not only accept, but be accepted by her biological family, and I was very grateful for that.
    Leaning over, I pulled Dora into an embrace. “Agreed,” I said. “You’re one in a million.”
    Grace had been sitting quietly across from us and now jumped up to also hug Dora. “Monica’s right. You sure do remind me of my aunt Maude, and that’s a compliment.”
    â€œI’ve got it,” I exclaimed with excitement as another thought hit me. “Ewedora Stockings! That’s what we’ll call them. The pronunciation of your name will be the same but we’ll use e-w-e, which will indicate the yarn fiber.”
    â€œOh, my God! You’re brilliant!” Grace said, pulling me and Dora from the sofa for a tight embrace.
    â€œNo, we’re brilliant,” I told them and laughed as my hand connected with hers and Dora’s for a high five.

9
    I was slicing potatoes for the potato salad when laughter from outside drew my attention. I’d been busy all morning with food preparations for our barbecue and had welcomed Clarissa’s request to sit on the deck. The child had been moping around, yet she’d declined Adam’s offer to take a ride to the Jiffy store to purchase gas for the grill.
    Wiping my hands on a towel, I walked to the window to see Clarissa in the next yard talking to Miss Tilly. Cripe, I wished she’d stop bothering that poor woman.
    â€œClarissa,” I called from the deck. “Miss Tilly is probably busy. Come on back over here.”
    Tilly Carpenter cupped a hand to her forehead and squinted up at me. “I’m not busy, and besides, we’re having a nice chat about art.”
    Art? Clarissa was interested in art? “Oh…well, don’t wander off,” I told her. “And, Miss Tilly, you send her on back when she gets to be too much.”
    Walking back into the kitchen, I peeked out the window. Miss Tilly had thrown her head back laughing in response to something Clarissa had said. What on earth could the child have said that brought about that reaction? She sure didn’t strike me as a child possessing one ounce of humor. I stood and watched for a little while longer.
    Miss Tilly was wearing what I referred to as her gardening uniform: loose-cut tan slacks, a matching blouse, and her signature floppy hat with the wide brim. Her snow white hair was pulled away from her face into a bun at the nape of her neck. Purple gardening gloves completed her