Read Online Elm Creek Quilts [06] The Master Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini - Free Book Online Page B

sitting down at the cutting table with her back to the woman and unfolding another letter.
    “Diane,” whispered Summer, incredulous.
    “Don’t worry. She’s not a customer.”
    Diane’s voice dripped with disgust, but fortunately she had spoken too softly for the woman to overhear. Suddenly Summer recognized her. She had been a brunette the last time Summer had seen her, but she was unmistakably Mary Beth Callahan, the perennial president of the Waterford Quilting Guild and Diane’s next-door neighbor.
    Summer decided to avoid giving Diane another opportunity to address Mary Beth, since their mutual loathing was legendary. “Bonnie’s not here, but may I help you?”
    “I suppose so. You’re Summer, right? Summer Sullivan?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Your name is in the letter, so I guess you’ll do.” Mary Beth withdrew an envelope from her purse and unfolded it. “I believe this was sent to me by mistake.”
    She held out the envelope until Summer took it. One glance told her it was the invitation to participate in Sylvia’s bridal quilt.
    “We definitely meant to send it to you,” Summer assured her. “Actually, to the entire guild. You’re listed as the guild contact, so we sent it to your home, hoping you would announce it at your next meeting.”
    She tried to return the letter, but Mary Beth waved it away. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”
    “Why not?” asked Diane.
    “I couldn’t impose on my fellow guild members like that. They’d probably feel obligated to participate, and that isn’t fair. Sylvia is not a charity case. If I endorse your project, where does it stop?”
    “We’re not asking you to endorse it, just announce it,” said Diane. “Just tell them about the quilt and let them decide whether they want to help.”
    Summer raised a hand to quiet her friend. “I understand your concerns, but many of your guild members have known Sylvia for years. Don’t you think they would want to know about her bridal quilt?”
    “Don’t you think once they see the finished quilt they’ll be ticked off that you kept them from participating?” Diane added.
    Mary Beth regarded her sourly. “If those few members of my guild are such good friends of Sylvia’s, I’m sure you have their addresses and can contact them individually. Our guild happens to be very busy, Diane, so regardless of their feelings for Sylvia, we would appreciate it if nonmembers didn’t come around begging for blocks.”
    “How would you know if you never ask them?” said Diane. “If they don’t want to participate, fine, but you won’t even give them the chance to refuse for themselves!”
    Mary Beth ignored her. “Make sure to take our address off your mailing list,” she called to Summer over her shoulder as she departed.
    “Gladly,” retorted Diane as the door closed behind her. “Can you believe that woman? What is her problem?”
    “I have no idea.” Summer tossed the letter into the trash. “She seems easily threatened.”
    “Absolutely. Remember how she freaked out when I opposed her for guild president? I would have been elected if she hadn’t reminded everyone that I had never won a ribbon in a quilt show.”
    “Winning lots of ribbons can’t make someone a good president,” said Summer. “You need an entirely different set of skills.” She didn’t point out that the Waterford Quilting Guild apparently believed Mary Beth possessed them or she wouldn’t be elected every year. Diane would merely argue that she ran unopposed because everyone feared her wrath.
    “She’s deliberately trying to ruin Sylvia’s quilt,” said Diane, opening and closing her rotary cutter with an ominous glint in her eye.
    “Why would she do that?” Summer gently guided Diane to the cutting table. “Remember, that’s to cut fabric, not throats.”
    “Because she’s jealous of Sylvia’s success. And Bonnie’s. And mine, too, probably.”
    Summer couldn’t dispute that, but said, “She can’t ruin