Read Online Threads of Hope: Quilts of Love Series by Christa Allan - Free Book Online Page B

political story of the year to get Elise’s attention.” Aretha added more hot water to her tea. “I guess if you believed that God had another plan for you, you might not be so bitter.”
    Nina snickered. “God has another plan for me? Why? Did He finally figure out this one wasn’t working? Let’s see, my only brother died, I spent all of high school trying to make my lumpy self invisible, the only relationship my mother and I share is our mutual disappointment in me, and my father is buried so deep inside that shell of himself I don’t know ifthere’s a shovel long enough to reach him.” Manny jumped on the chair and draped himself across her lap. “So, are you telling me God’s not in favor of my wanting to make a career move?”
    “I don’t pretend to know what God knows. What I do know is that you see New York as some geographical cure for your life. Maybe God’s giving you what you need right here, but you just can’t see it.”
    “Enlighten me,” said Nina, exasperation evident in her voice.
    “Elise could have given those benefit tickets to someone else in the office. Really, how difficult is it to cover an “ooh-la-la” event with all the beautiful people? Someone could probably look up the one last year, change a few names, and—
voilà
—instant coverage. Maybe Elise wants to see what you’re going to do with something you believe is mundane.”
    “Oh, so you’re thinking this is some kind of test? God’s or Elise’s?”
    Aretha placed her cup and saucer in the sink. “That’s exactly what I think, and whose test it might be doesn’t matter. So far, you’ve not even shown up for it.”

11
    Dr. Hernandez is here. Hide the cookies, Miss Martha.”
    “You mean you haven’t eaten them all already?” Greg tousled Jacob’s hair on the way to the coffee pot in the Fellowship Hall. Not yet twelve, Jacob and his six-year-old sister Helen were adopted from Ethiopia four years ago. When his parents died, Jacob was seven and, until social workers came to their home, he had been taking care of his sister Helen by himself. Now the siblings live with their adoptive parents, Pam and Eli, and their three biological children. “Where’s your Mom?” Jacob pointed over Greg’s shoulder where Pam sat with three other women at a table bearing a mountain of fabrics.
    “They told me to find more scissors. Guess they think I’m old enough to handle them.” Jacob shook his head. “I think they’re just tired of doing all the cutting themselves,” he observed, then shuffled off in the direction of the supply room.
    Greg smiled and looked around for Martha, the group’s matriarch and founder. From the time he first met her, he felt an instant connection. She reminded him of Amelia, his neighbor in New Orleans who meant so much to both him and Jazarah. Martha walked out of the storeroom with a pair of scissors before Jacob even reached the door. “Here ya go,baby,” she said as she handed him the scissors and another bag of fabric. Close to eighty, Martha told everyone she’d earned the right to call everyone else “baby.” No one dared disagree, mostly out of respect. Then again, at almost six feet tall, her silver hair cropped close to her face, she made quite the imposing figure.
    “Hey, Doc,” she called out to Greg. She gave him a quick hug when she reached him. “Saved ya some cookies of your own to take home.” She winked, then asked him to give the two quilts they were donating a final look.
    “I see you’re already starting on more,” Greg said. “Those for next year?”
    She shrugged. “We thought we’d try to get a few ready for the county fair. Plus, Becca asked if we could make one for a patient of hers. And, I know we all like to have a say in the ones for the benefit every year, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to have some pieces ready. Crystal works at the Goodwill store, and she had the idea of bringing some clothes from there. We’re just cutting big squares and