Read Online Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick - Free Book Online Page A

“Good morning! Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
    The woman who was with him had been standing with her face close to the shop window, hands cupped near her eyes to block the sunlight as she peered through the glass. She was blond and wore a pink and green paisley skirt with a matching pink sweater set. It wasn’t until she unfolded herself to her full height, probably close to six feet, and turned her sparkling blue eyes on me that I recognized her.
    â€œYou know Margot Matthews, don’t you?”
    â€œYes, of course. Nice to see you again, Margot.”
    I do know Margot, but not well. She works at Cobbled Court Quilts with Evelyn, but I’d met her at the New Bern Community Church. On my first Sunday there, she invited me to the coffee hour and introduced me around. We exchange greetings and small talk every Sunday. Last week she’d told me about her quilting class and urged me to sign up. I’d promised to think about it but hadn’t committed. Soon Evelyn would tell her I was in, but I simply had to wiggle out of it. No matter what Lee said, I didn’t have enough time, money, or talent to take up quilting. I’d explain that to Margot, but another day. She seemed so nice. I hated to disappoint her.
    Reverend Tucker was nice too. He’s about my age, with steel gray hair, glasses that are always slipping to the end of his nose, and a friendly, natural way of expressing himself in and out of the pulpit. But I’ve always been nervous around ministers, even ones as nice as Reverend Tucker. Seeing a clergyman always makes me think about things I shouldn’t have done but did and things I should do but haven’t.
    What did they want? Were they part of the church welcoming committee? Or the finance committee? Maybe, once you’d attended a certain number of times, they expected you to start paying a tithe to the church? I hated to disappoint them, but right now, ten percent of my annual income was a negative number.
    â€œIt’s good to see you again, Tessa. Reverend Tucker and I are out doing a little church business and we thought we’d start with you. Do you mind if we come in?”
    â€œSure. Just let me unlock the door.” I fumbled around in my purse, feeling awkward for keeping them standing there while I hunted for my keys, which, naturally, meant that it took me forever to find them.
    Margot turned toward my display window. “You’ve got such a sweet shop, Tessa. I dropped in to see you a couple of weeks ago. You were out, but someone else helped me.” Margot screwed her eyes shut and tapped a finger against her lips, trying to jar her memory. “Emily? I think that was her name.”
    â€œEmily,” I confirmed, grateful for the cover of Margot’s chatter. Where were my keys? This was becoming embarrassing. “She’s been helping me out over the summer.” I didn’t bother to add that when Emily returned to college in a couple of weeks, I wouldn’t be replacing her. I couldn’t afford to.
    â€œWell, I just loved the lavender body lotion and peppermint lip balm she sold me. Reverend, have you been in Tessa’s shop before? She has the most wonderful products made from herbs she grows herself. Isn’t that right, Tessa?”
    â€œOh?” the good reverend replied. “Sharon’s birthday is coming up. Maybe I can get her present here.”
    â€œFound them!” I nearly shouted with relief as I yanked my key ring out from a side pocket of my handbag and held it aloft.
    I opened the door and walked through the shop, turning on lights. One of the things I love about this space is the large, many-paned windows that face the street. They give the shop a homey, old-fashioned look and a lot of natural light. My feeling is, the more light the better. That’s why, before we opened for business, we took down all the old dark paneling and replaced it with a rough-textured white plaster,