Chapter Five
Feeling awkward and somewhat emotional holding the toddler, Maggie shifted Jeannie on her hip while Sarah chatted with Sophie in The Threaded Needle.
Sarah had driven her to Harvey Farms that Monday morning and left Maggie for her first work shift.
Sarah had insisted since she had to drop off a fresh baked goods delivery from the cookies she and Maggie had made the prior day.
When Sarah picked her up that afternoon and said she needed help with Jeannie while she ran errands, Maggie agreed even though she hadn’t bought the needing help bit.
From what Maggie had seen, Sarah had things under control.
But the moment they’d entered the amazingly scented quilt shop that smelled like birthday cake, or maybe it was cotton candy, something sweet for sure, Sarah had handed the toddler to Maggie so maybe she had wanted assistance.
Looking around the sewing store located on the town square; Maggie took in the various fabric displays arranged by themes.
Thanksgiving, baby patterned prints, cooking, a clearance rack of Halloween items, and whether due to the season or just that it was always that way, there was a huge Christmas selection.
The only area that rivaled it in size was the patriotic section where Sarah rummaged through red, white, and blue fabrics with a few golds and army greens thrown in to break up the monotony.
Maggie entertained Jeannie by pointing out farm animals on a particular print.
So far, that was working. She’d never considered herself the domestic type.
But even knowing she’d never be a mother herself, in a bittersweet way, she enjoyed being around the toddler.
Jeannie’s emotions were honest and to the point.
When she smiled at Maggie, something funny happened inside her chest. Like maybe made her wish that motherhood hadn’t been removed from life’s possibilities.
Her helicopter crash had robbed her of so much.
Yet, how could she complain when she’d lived, and others hadn’t?
Aggravated at the moisture threatening to spill from her eyes, Maggie took a deep breath and pointed to a cow.
“Moo,” Jeannie said.
“Oh, I love this new print with the flags and eagles. I can just envision it in my next Quilts of Valor,” Sarah enthused, causing both Maggie and Jeannie to look her way.
Apparently, that was why they were there, for Sarah to get supplies for her next patriotic quilt.
Maggie had never heard of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, but Sarah had taken great pride in explaining the organization that wrapped veterans and service members in quilts of healing to comfort and welcome them home.
Having taken a particular liking to the quilt she had wrapped herself in most mornings; Sarah understood that more than she would have prior to coming to Pine Hill.
Deciding she wanted to be near her mother, Jeannie leaned toward where Sarah looked at the fabric. “Mama.”
Joining them, Sophie smiled. “A quilt donation is what brought Bodie into Sarah’s life.
You never know when a good deed is going to reciprocate.
Making that quilt got Sarah through her Aunt Jean’s death.
Donating it comforted her by knowing she was helping someone else.
Receiving it jumpstarted Bodie’s healing process.
His wanting to find Sarah to thank her has brought so much happiness into her life.
Into all of our lives.” Hearts in her eyes, Sophie sighed.
“I love when good things happen to good people.”
Yeah, Maggie liked that, too, but that had rarely been the case in her own life.
“We sure do love that daddy of yours, don’t we?” Sarah tweaked Jeannie’s nose.
The toddler was currently content just to be close to her mother and hadn’t made any more moves to reach for Sarah. Yet.
Turning back toward the material with the flags and eagles, Sarah held up the loose end. “What do you think, Maggie? Do you just love this material? I think it would look great with a mixture of nine patch and sawtooth star blocks with a red border.”
Maggie stared blankly at the fabric. She knew nothing about quilt patterns. “The stars sound patriotic.”
Sophie baby talked to Jeannie who decided she wanted the woman to hold her. After having held the toddler, Maggie’s arms felt empty when she’d handed over Jeannie. She crossed them in front of her in a semblance of a partial hug. She did not need a hug.
Sophie smiled at Maggie. “You should come to our next local Quilts of Valor Foundation meeting. You probably met most everyone at the Halloween party, but if not, you’d enjoy meeting the others. They’re a great group.”
Maggie shook her head, then recalled that Sarah might be going to the meeting, which meant Maggie should too.
This wasn’t easy, agreeing to all these social things, when she’d never been overly social.
She’d always done what was necessary in her military career, but she never chose group gatherings if she had a choice.
“Maybe,” she corrected, knowing she’d go if Sarah did, but not wanting to suddenly seem enthusiastic. Her acting wasn’t that great.
Sophie tweaked Jeannie’s nose, making the toddler smile. “Jeannie will be there, won’t you, sweetie? She’s our youngest participant.”
The toddler didn’t say anything, just smiled at Sophie, then when the door chime dinged, looked to see who’d come into the quilt shop.
“Rosie!” Sophie and Sarah both exclaimed, then laughing, Sarah added, “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”
“Hello, darling. Lucky you that you get to, though.” Rosie fluttered into the room.
She wore bright red pants and a white top with a feathery collar.
“Hello, Sophie and Maggie. Oh, and there’s my girl Jeannie.
Hello, sweet child. Your Aunt Rosie is here, and she needs some spirit-lifting fabric shopping therapy. ”
Jeannie smiled and reached for a delighted Rosie.
Rosie took the toddler, kissed her forehead, then let out an exasperated sigh. “Have you heard the news? That Janie B Henry is recruiting people to be on her Grandma Games team.”
“She’s having to recruit?” Sarah frowned. “Oh, dear. That’s not good that she’s having to recruit teammates. I thought we’d have plenty to want to sign up.”
“It’s not a case of having to recruit,” Rosie clarified. “It’s that she is and she’s turning away anyone who doesn’t meet her criteria.”
Sarah and Sophie exchanged looks. “What criteria? We didn’t put any rules other than participants had to be over sixty.”
“Which barely left me qualifying,” Rosie quickly clarified, although sixty had likely been several years ago.
“I was at the gym this morning and overheard Alberta talking with Greta. So and so asked to be on their grandma team and Janie B told her that they were screening applicants because they planned to win.”
“Screening and recruiting aren’t exactly the same thing,” Sophie pointed out.
“Do you know that they are calling themselves the HoneyBs? Now if that isn’t a nod at us Butterflies then I don’t know what is.”
“I think you’re overreacting, Rosie. I doubt Janie B choosing that name had anything to do with the Butterflies since that’s what her daycare is called. She’s probably sponsoring the team.”
“Don’t give that woman credit where credit isn’t due. Janie B has been a thorn in my side ever since before Max and I were married.”
“Who’s Max?” Maggie wondered if she looked as confused as she felt.
“Rosie’s first husband,” Sarah answered.
“How many husbands have you had?” Maggie asked.
“Lou’s the fourth,” Sophie supplied.
Maggie’s eyes widened and Sarah gave a little shake of her head, indicating not to ask further questions.
Maggie kept her mouth shut. The compassion in Sarah’s eyes hinted that Rosie hadn’t had four husbands due to divorce, but that the woman must have outlived the first three.
Maggie looked at the older woman with a bit of empathy that she hadn’t previously felt.
Maggie’s heart squeezed. She knew how much William leaving her had hurt, but what would it feel like to have loved and lost one’s spouse to death three times?
“I’ve called the girls to get them to the gym.
They’ve got to up their program. I’m not going to be able to do everything.
” Rosie’s free hand went to her hip, and she held Jeannie on her other.
“Well, I mean, I could except for the contest rules stating that the other team members have to participate, too.”
Covering their smiles, Sarah and Sophie exchanged another look.
Transforming, Rosie turned to her and fluttered her lashes. “By the way, I hear you’re one of the judges for our Christmas contest, Maggie. Just know that I loved your name for the event from the moment you said it. You’re brilliant.”
Was Rosie trying to butter her up or just making conversation?
“The Butterflies are entering, of course. We always participate in town events.” Rosie’s lashes swooped down. “One might think that we only enter to support the town, which we do, of course, but it’s nice when we win too.”
Hint. Hint. Maggie watched as Jeannie put her tiny fingers into Rosie’s hair, looking at the blue-colored strands against her flawless ivory hands.
“Do you win often?” she asked.
Rosie’s lashes swept down. “Always, especially when it comes to those … those … HoneyBs.”
“Good to know.” Maggie didn’t say more, but Sarah tsked at her older friend.
“Rosie, you shouldn’t be talking with Maggie about the contest.”
“There’s nothing in your rules that says participants can’t talk to the judges. I know. I checked. Besides, I’m just letting Maggie know that I’ve entered the contest.”
“You and all the other Butterflies too,” Sarah elaborated, then met Maggie’s gaze. “Don’t mind Rosie. Despite how what she just said, may have come across, she’d never try to influence you to point her higher than she deserved. Would you, Rosie?”