Seasons in Paradise. Barbara Cameron

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СКАЧАТЬ winced. “I wouldn’t call it caught.”

      “What would you call it?”

      He had him there. “Well, David is very happy. Marriage is fine for some. I’m just not ready yet.”

      “Me, either.”

      “I’m happy single.”

      “Me, too.”

      Sam finished his sandwich and opened a baggie of store-bought cookies. He offered it to Peter, but he shook his head. “Mamm made brownies. She sent one along for you.”

      He brightened. “Ya? I always liked your mudder.”

      “She likes you, too.” He finished his sandwich, tucked the wrapping in his lunchbox, and brought out the brownies. He handed one to Sam and bit into the other.

      The foreman stopped in front of them. “Man, you guys always have the best lunches.”

      Peter held out the plastic baggie containing another brownie. The foreman took it with a grin, thanked him, and moved on.

      “Brownnoser,” Sam muttered.

      Peter laughed. “You’re just jealous.”

      “Ya.”

      “You know, I don’t have any reason to brownnose the boss. I’m thinking of starting my own business.”

      “Really?”

      Peter nodded. “It’s time.”

      Sam thought about that. Peter was two years older than him.

      “I want to work for myself, not someone else,” Peter told him. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about the same thing.”

      “Who doesn’t?”

      “So what do you think? Want to join me?”

      “Join you?”

      Peter nodded and pulled a bottle of iced tea from his lunch box. “Think about it. We can talk some more tomorrow.”

      Sam nodded and pulled out his bottle of lemonade. “Maybe you can bring some more of those brownies.”

      “Wouldn’t that be considered brownnosing?”

      “Not unless you’re making me boss.”

      Peter laughed and clapped him on the back. “Partners, Sam. Partners.”

      * * *

      “What’s in the bags?” Kate asked Mary Elizabeth when she picked her up the next day.

      “Mamm said we could donate some extra fabric. Lavina’ll be here in a minute.”

      “No hurry.” Kate drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

      Mary Elizabeth studied her. She’d known Kate, an Englisch police officer, for several years but she’d never seen her in a state of . . . suppressed excitement like today.

      “Are you okay?”

      Mary Elizabeth looked at Kate. She was a petite woman with enormous energy, only perhaps ten years older than her, but she had eyes that looked like they’d seen so much. Mary Elizabeth supposed that was because before she was a police officer she’d been in the military. She worked, took care of her two young children and her husband, and still found time to start then run a quilt class at a local women’s shelter.

      Lavina hurried to the car and got in the back seat, apologizing profusely for holding them up.

      “You feeling okay?” Kate asked her as she looked in the rearview mirror. “You look a little pale.”

      “I’m fine,” Lavina said as she buckled her seat belt.

      Something in her tone made Mary Elizabeth turn and stare at her. Lavina was indeed looking pale. And she’d dashed into the bathroom just as they were supposed to walk out to Kate’s car. Once again she wondered if her schweschder might be going to have a boppli . . .

      Kate started the car, backed down the driveway, and then pulled out onto the road leading to town. “I’m glad both of you could come today. We have a special guest visiting this morning.”

      “Oh? Who?” Mary Elizabeth wanted to know.

      “You’ll see,” Kate said mysteriously.

      The room they used in the upstairs of the women’s shelter was full of women chatting and sewing when they arrived, but there was no visitor yet. It was a happy place where Mary Elizabeth and Lavina enjoyed volunteering once a week. Mary Elizabeth took the fabric out of the shopping bags and placed it on shelves built into one wall of the room and immediately some of the women had to look at it. Most of them didn’t get into town to shop at the stores, so it was the treat that she’d thought it might be to have something new to use in their quilting and sewing projects.

      Kate passed out the week’s quilt block, and the three of them walked around saying hello and checking to see if anyone needed help.

      Carrie, one of the women staying at the shelter, walked in and smiled. Mary Elizabeth couldn’t help thinking the woman looked so different these days. Back when Mary Elizabeth started volunteering less than six months ago, Carrie had come into class with a black eye and a sullen attitude. She had made it clear she didn’t think there was any point in attending the class. Later, when she’d seemed to change, it hadn’t been for a good reason. Like many of the abused women here, she’d been persuaded to see her ex-boyfriend. Apparently, he was as abusive as her ex-husband had been.

      Their relationship hadn’t ended well. Carrie’s innocent remark to him that some Amish women were teaching quilting at the shelter had led him to steal a quilt from them. The quilt had been recovered with Kate’s help but not before her ex-boyfriend had hurt her for helping with the investigation. Carrie had apologized and started attending classes, where she actually began enjoying learning how to sew with the other women who lived here.

      The class was nearly over when Mary Elizabeth glimpsed movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked up and saw Leah, the owner of the Stitches in Time shop in town, walk in.

      Kate jumped up from the chair she’d been sitting in at the front of the room and rushed to greet her. The two stood chatting at the back of the room. Leah nodded at Mary Elizabeth when she saw her looking in her direction.

      After a few minutes, Kate and Leah walked to the front of the room.

      “Why do you suppose Leah’s here?” Lavina whispered to her.

      “I have no idea.”

      “I’ll be right back.”

      Mary Elizabeth grabbed her hand. “Where are you going? They look like they’re about to say something.”

      “I have to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” She rushed from the room.

      “Ladies, СКАЧАТЬ