Read Online Threads of Hope: Quilts of Love Series by Christa Allan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christa Allan
Tags: United States, Fiction, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christian fiction, Christian Books & Bibles
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understand what might have attracted her to a quilters’ convention display. Reading the question his face asked, Lily explained the quilts were all panels from the larger AIDS Memorial quilt, on display there because the first day in December was World AIDS Day.
Without offering any more in the way of explanation, she said, “Come see this,” and brought him through the exhibit to a quilt on the far right end. She pointed to a cotton-candy pink panel, edged in white lace and seeded all over with beads that looked like pearls. A buttercup yellow crocheted bonnet, a smocked dress that looked as if it had been dipped in the sky the blue was so delicate, a silver teething ring that bore the tiniest of indentations, and a lace bib that barely showed signs of use were all attached to the panel. In the center of the quilt, the name Tabitha was embroidered in white thread. Underneath, in the same embroidered script, was “Age: 5 months when she went to the Lord in peace.”
Continuing to stare at the panel, she said, “Do you know that about one thousand babies are born with HIV every day?”
“No. I didn’t know that,” he responded, sure that until today, Lily probably didn’t know that either. Greg looked down at his wife and wondered if this experience was healthy for a woman mourning another failed pregnancy.
She turned to him. “And half of them will die before their second birthday without treatment.”
“That’s a staggering number,” he said. Instead of unsure, Greg now felt uneasy. Lily’s plane was coming in for a landing, but he still couldn’t locate the runway. When she informed him that 90 percent of the world’s HIV infected children live in Africa, Greg knew the wheels had hit the ground. A year later, Greg and Lily traveled over eight thousand miles, and this time when the plane landed, they were the parents of a solemn-eyed baby girl.
Later, Lily would tell anyone with ears that losing three babies due to miscarriages brought them to another one. She never doubted that God meant for them to be Jazarah’s parents. And Greg never doubted Lily’s absolute conviction. He already felt blessed to be loved by Lily. Knowing their little daughter would be loved so fiercely and generously, how could he say anything but yes?
Tonight, that little girl was tucked into bed under her princess blanket, her head on her princess pillowcase, and slept unaware that 99 percent of the HIV in her body was undetectable. And while she slept, Greg and the rest of the support group he’d be meeting at the Fellowship Hall planned to put the finishing touches on the two quilts they would be donating for auction at the benefit.
Nina showed Aretha the email from Daisy. “What do you think this means?” In the time she waited for her roommate to return, Nina exhausted every possibility she could think of.
“You really want to know?” Aretha sipped her tea, set her cup down, and eyed Nina. “It means she’s fine, you’re not, and when she’s ready to tell you something, she will. Oh, and she’ll be back for Janie’s party.”
“Wow. What did you eat for dinner? Nails?” Nina closed her laptop.
“You asked me. So don’t start playing your mother by asking me questions that you already have the answer to.”
“That was harsh, too. What’s going on?” Nina regretted ever beginning the conversation.
Aretha tossed the rubber ball that Manny just nosed in her direction. “I’m telling you this because I care about you—”
“Stop right there. It’s late, and I’d rather you just get to the point instead of dancing all around whatever it is you want me to hear.”
“Then, here it is, girlie. Ever since Brady stopped calling and Janie announced her promotion, you’ve dragged your face around here. Then, when Daisy didn’t show up for work, your first thought wasn’t about her well-being. You dove into the conspiracy theory and barely came up for air. Now, you’re determined to break the
Without offering any more in the way of explanation, she said, “Come see this,” and brought him through the exhibit to a quilt on the far right end. She pointed to a cotton-candy pink panel, edged in white lace and seeded all over with beads that looked like pearls. A buttercup yellow crocheted bonnet, a smocked dress that looked as if it had been dipped in the sky the blue was so delicate, a silver teething ring that bore the tiniest of indentations, and a lace bib that barely showed signs of use were all attached to the panel. In the center of the quilt, the name Tabitha was embroidered in white thread. Underneath, in the same embroidered script, was “Age: 5 months when she went to the Lord in peace.”
Continuing to stare at the panel, she said, “Do you know that about one thousand babies are born with HIV every day?”
“No. I didn’t know that,” he responded, sure that until today, Lily probably didn’t know that either. Greg looked down at his wife and wondered if this experience was healthy for a woman mourning another failed pregnancy.
She turned to him. “And half of them will die before their second birthday without treatment.”
“That’s a staggering number,” he said. Instead of unsure, Greg now felt uneasy. Lily’s plane was coming in for a landing, but he still couldn’t locate the runway. When she informed him that 90 percent of the world’s HIV infected children live in Africa, Greg knew the wheels had hit the ground. A year later, Greg and Lily traveled over eight thousand miles, and this time when the plane landed, they were the parents of a solemn-eyed baby girl.
Later, Lily would tell anyone with ears that losing three babies due to miscarriages brought them to another one. She never doubted that God meant for them to be Jazarah’s parents. And Greg never doubted Lily’s absolute conviction. He already felt blessed to be loved by Lily. Knowing their little daughter would be loved so fiercely and generously, how could he say anything but yes?
Tonight, that little girl was tucked into bed under her princess blanket, her head on her princess pillowcase, and slept unaware that 99 percent of the HIV in her body was undetectable. And while she slept, Greg and the rest of the support group he’d be meeting at the Fellowship Hall planned to put the finishing touches on the two quilts they would be donating for auction at the benefit.
Nina showed Aretha the email from Daisy. “What do you think this means?” In the time she waited for her roommate to return, Nina exhausted every possibility she could think of.
“You really want to know?” Aretha sipped her tea, set her cup down, and eyed Nina. “It means she’s fine, you’re not, and when she’s ready to tell you something, she will. Oh, and she’ll be back for Janie’s party.”
“Wow. What did you eat for dinner? Nails?” Nina closed her laptop.
“You asked me. So don’t start playing your mother by asking me questions that you already have the answer to.”
“That was harsh, too. What’s going on?” Nina regretted ever beginning the conversation.
Aretha tossed the rubber ball that Manny just nosed in her direction. “I’m telling you this because I care about you—”
“Stop right there. It’s late, and I’d rather you just get to the point instead of dancing all around whatever it is you want me to hear.”
“Then, here it is, girlie. Ever since Brady stopped calling and Janie announced her promotion, you’ve dragged your face around here. Then, when Daisy didn’t show up for work, your first thought wasn’t about her well-being. You dove into the conspiracy theory and barely came up for air. Now, you’re determined to break the
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