A Spicy Secret (10 page)

“But why would the Swanns have hidden recipes in their own home?” Kate asked.

“Maybe the Swanns didn’t hide them,” Stella said. “Maybe one of their party guests did. Someone could have done it as a joke.”

“Why, Stella, do you know something about that? Were you at a party when that happened?” Alice asked.

“Of course not. Don’t be silly. I didn’t even live here when the Swanns did. It’s merely conjecture.” She sniffed and then went back to her knitting.

“So, maybe you should ask the Swanns about it, Alice,” Mary Beth said. “Even if the recipes aren’t theirs, maybe they’ll know something.”

“Well, I’ve been hesitant to get in contact with them,” Alice replied. “I’ve rented from them for years, but I’ve never really dealt with them directly, just the company they hired to manage the property. I only met them one time when I moved in. Plus, I don’t want to mess anything up with the negotiations to buy the place.

“Plus, to my untrained eye, the recipes seem older than that,” Alice replied. “Best I remember, Betsy sold the place to them in the early 1990s. Of course, it could have been someone Charles and Betsy rented to, or even further back. We don’t even know if someone lived in the carriage house during Captain Grey’s time.”

Peggy, dressed as usual in her waitressing uniform, had gathered her fallen quilt squares and put them in her bag. She looked at her watch, jumped up, and exclaimed, “Gotta go! Jeff will kill me if I’m not there to help with the lunch rush!”

“I, too, must bid you ladies a fond farewell,” Ian said, getting up and bowing to the assembled group. “Time waits for no mayor.”

Laughter ushered both of them out the door.

10

“However—and when—did you manage to make that beautiful blanket?” Mary Beth asked Kate as soon as the last Hook and Needle Club member had left. “And to write down the pattern too? Seriously, when did you have time?”

Kate smiled at the praise as she joined her boss in cleaning up from the meeting.

“I’ve actually been working on the pattern for a long time, and I used that weekend I had off to perfect it. I wanted it to look elaborate, but be easy enough for beginners. I actually got the blanket done in a week.
And
I only worked on it in the evenings.”

“Someday, girl, you really must publish a book of your patterns—or rather several books,” Mary Beth said. “I bet they would sell like gangbusters. And luckily, I know all the publishers.”

“That is lucky! And how lucky am I that I work for the infamous Mary Beth Brock. I feel ever so special!”

“Oh, hush,” Mary Beth teased. “I’m serious. You’ve got a talent for creating crochet patterns.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Kate said. “I’m pretty busy between the store and Vanessa, and don’t forget the article I’m writing every other month for
Hook and Needle Artistry
magazine.”

“Well, if you do try your hand at books, just promise me that you’ll include ‘from A Stitch in Time in Stony Point, Maine’ on every book.”

“I’m pretty sure I can do that.”

“Good,” Mary Beth said as she finished rearranging the chairs.

“I hope the teen group is this neat,” Kate said as she finished sweeping. “I guess we’ll find out this afternoon.”

“Do you need any help to get ready for that meeting?”

“No, actually, and
my
help isn’t needed either. Lily, Mackenzie, and Vanessa apparently had a powwow on Saturday, and they picked out yarn and needles for everyone, and one crochet pattern and one knitting pattern. Vanessa said something about making it easy for the new members.”

“Oh yeah,” Mary Beth said. “I remember seeing the girls in here on Saturday, laughing and giggling about who knows what. It was during the time you used my SUV to take a bunch of boxes to the recycler. The girls had left before you got back. Did you know Lily is
driving
now, and has apparently done so long enough to carry passengers?”

“Yup. I guess she and her mom cashed a couple of those stock certificates that Annie had found in the attic to buy that car she drives.”

“She just doesn’t seem old enough to be driving. Cute car, though. Some sort of hybrid I think,” Mary Beth said.

“Vanessa is old enough to drive too, but she doesn’t seem very interested in learning.”

“I guess not, since her friend has a car and doesn’t mind driving.”

Kate picked up more scattered plates and napkins. “Did the girls make copies of anything? Or take anything with them?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention. I had customers to tend: Joan McTavish and Frieda Stillwater. Oh, and Viola, Estelle, and a woman I hadn’t met before. I think she said her name is Katherine. Odd that I’d never met her. She said that she’s lived in Stony Point for a number of years. Anyway, I guess they talked Katrina into bringing them here for their weekly activity away from Seaside Hills Assisted Living. They’re all sweet ladies, but God bless ’em, they wore me out.”

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been in the store when they’ve come in,” Kate said, throwing away the trash. She grabbed a dust rag from behind the register and started wiping down the chair arms, the table and the counter.

“Count your lucky stars. Individually, they are sweet as can be, and I love helping them, but all together …,” Mary Beth said, mock-groaning. “However, in the good news category, someone had taken the Blanket Haiti flyer to the retirement home, and
that’s
why they all came in—to get some supplies to make blankets.”

“That someone was Katrina. She came in last week for some flyers,” Kate replied. “I’m glad the ladies want to help, and that they brought someone new with them. They all do such lovely work. I’m so worried we won’t make our goal.”

“Nonsense,” Mary Beth retorted, straightening some pattern books on a shelf. “It’s just late January, so we’ve got plenty of time, and everyone is excited to help, even the mayor.”

“Speaking of the mayor, is it just me or were he and Annie getting rather cozy? Even more than strictly necessary for a crochet lesson?”

“Nope, it wasn’t just you. Everyone knows they make such a cute couple.”

“Except for them.”

“Yeah, except for them—well, Annie at least. And that ‘we’re just friends’ nonsense Annie’s always spouting—did you see how much she blushed when Peggy brought up Sweet Nell’s?”

Kate started giggling. “I sure did. Hard to miss the red tips of her ears! Of course, we never did hear how the date went.”

“Nope. Guess we’ll have to ask next meeting,” Mary Beth said. “I’d call her, but it’s more fun to make her spill the details in front of everyone.”

“And to see her blush.”

“That too.”

****

The rest of the day passed quickly, Mary Beth and Kate each grabbing a few minutes to scarf down their lunches in the back room while the other helped customers. Word
definitely
was getting out, and everyone wanted to learn more about Blanket Haiti. Some customers bought crafting supplies, while others dropped off checks or a few blankets. Kate happily got to color in two more blankets on their tracking poster.

In a rare lull, Kate ran out to pick up some snacks for the teen group—she knew how hungry growing girls could get.
And
they’d be more likely to come back if they knew they’d get something to eat.

Their FedEx guy surprised them with a delivery of yarn.

“I can’t believe this is here already. I just placed the order this past Friday!” Kate exclaimed, signing his tracking device. “By the way, be ready,” she told him. “I’ve got a
lot
more stuff on its way.”

He laughed and then rolled his cart down the sidewalk to the next store.

“Let’s see,” Kate said to Mary Beth. She grabbed the box cutter and sliced open the packet on the side for the packing slip. She unfolded the slip and grabbed a pen to start marking things off. “Oh! It’s from Jenn Gracie’s company. She included a note: ‘Best of luck with Blanket Haiti. I expedited shipping on this, just for you. No extra charge.’”

She grinned at Mary Beth, who said, “Well, quit gawking. Let’s get this yarn on the shelves!”

****

True to her word, Gwen got to the store a little before the girls’ arrival. She still wore her outfit from the earlier meeting, pressed brown slacks and a cream cashmere sweater. Her tortoiseshell glasses were perched on top of her head.

“Hello, Gwen,” Kate called from the back room. “Do you need anything?”

“No, thank you,” she responded. “Hope it’s OK, but I grabbed the chair next to the window so I could capture the last of the light. The girls’ young eyes don’t need it as much as I do.”

Kate laughed as she entered the main part of the store. “Of course,” she said. “You can sit anywhere you want.” She carried a tray of mugs, which she then put on the table in the middle of the circle of chairs.

“I thought the girls might like some hot cocoa and snacks,” she said, returning to the back.

“Do you need any help?” Gwen called after her, but Kate had already reappeared, this time carrying a basket of cookies and one stuffed with bags of chips.

“Nope. I’m good. You want some cocoa?”

“Thanks, Kate—that sounds nice,” Gwen said, smiling. “It brings back memories of my mother; she always had a snack ready for me when I came home from school. Cocoa is just the thing on a cold day like this.”

She looked around, and then asked where Mary Beth had gotten off to.

“Oh, she had to go to the bank or something. Don’t quote me on this, but I think she wants the girls to be settled before she gets back.”

Before Gwen could respond, the door opened, and the room filled with laughing teenagers.

Gwen pulled out a fresh skein of yarn—this one was a pale green—and began casting on to start a new blanket.

Mere moments later, the girls were all seated, sipping cocoa and munching on the snacks. Vanessa, Mackenzie, and Lily had disappeared into the back, and then reappeared. Mackenzie held ten skeins of an acrylic-blend yarn, each a different shade, while Lily carried copied instructions for knitting or crocheting a blanket.

“Welcome to the new Teen Hook and Needle Club,” Vanessa said. “As you all know, I’m Vanessa, but what you don’t know is that I’m also Queen Boss of our club. Miss Mary Beth Brock, the owner of the store, said that’s what I am, so, uh, I guess I’m in charge—or something like that.”

She looked around at the other girls in the circle of chairs and smiled. “And I’m pleased to introduce—if you don’t know her already—Mrs. Gwendolyn Palmer. She’s here to help the knitters. And you all know my mom, Kate Stevens. She will help those of you doing crochet. As you know, she’s like the best crocheter this side of anywhere.”

Kate smiled, and taking a page from Ian’s book, bowed to the girls, who broke out in giggles.

“Oh, Mom!” Vanessa said. “OK, maybe she’s the best, but she’s also slightly deranged. Moving on, everyone knows Mackenzie and Lily, who are my assistant queens.”

The two followed Kate’s lead and bowed as well.

“So you two are deranged as well,” Vanessa said.

“But aren’t you supposed to bow in the presence of a queen?” Lily objected, giggling.

“We’re not worthy!” the other girls stood up and started bowing as well.

“OK, fine. You can bow. Whatever,” Vanessa said. “But let’s get started. To make it super easy for everyone, we picked out one pattern for all the crocheters to make, and one pattern for all the knitters to use. How many of you are going to crochet?”

Four hands in the circle shot up.

“OK, Lily, please give Taylor, Holly, Danielle, and Sabena each a crochet hook and a copy of the crochet pattern. And of course Lily and I will be crocheting as well, so you can ask us for help in addition to my mom.”

Lily walked around the chairs and handed each girl a couple of sheets stapled together and a green metal crochet hook, size G.

“And who is going to be knitting?”

Three hands.

“Lily, please give Hannah, Avalee, and Tessa the pattern and their needles. Mackenzie will also be knitting. Oh, and please give Mrs. Palmer a copy of the pattern as well.”

“I’m just learning, so I doubt I’ll be able to help, but I’ll try. Mrs. Palmer knows
a lot
more than I do,” Mackenzie said, waving her pair of blue metal knitting needles, size 15, as Lily distributed the needles and pattern.

“Oh! I didn’t realize everyone is going to make the same blanket. Thankfully I haven’t gotten far on this one,” Gwen replied, holding up what little she’d knitted.

“Oh, yes. The Queenies thought it would make it easier if each group made the same thing so we could help each other if someone got stuck,” Vanessa replied. “Obviously the knitters won’t be able to assist the crocheters, or whatever, but all the knitters can help each other and so can all the crocheters!”

Gwen nodded. “That’s actually very good thinking.” She took the pattern instructions from Lily and started reading the pattern to herself.

“Also, we figured everyone should have a different-color yarn—you know, so we can easily tell what blanket belongs to who,” Vanessa said. “Mackenzie, will you please hand out the yarn?”

After a few minutes of clamor and laughter, everyone had a color they were happy with.

“When you run out of yarn, let me know and I’ll get you some more. Which reminds me, I almost forgot the most important thing! Our wonderful teacher, Mrs. Petersen, is sponsoring our club, like literally sponsoring it—she’s going to buy all the yarn and supplies we need for the project.”

Everyone started clapping and woo-hooing.

“I know, right? So, we all have to do the absolute best that we can to make her proud and so that she feels like her donation is worth it. But there’s one thing—well, really, two things: she doesn’t want like
everyone
to know, and she told me it’s just for whoever showed up today. She wants me to keep attendance and a good record of what we use so she can pay for everything at the end of the project.” Vanessa stopped and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, and handed both to Mackenzie. “So, we’re gonna sign in every week to help me keep track. Oh, and if you don’t show up for 75 percent of the meetings, unless you have a really
really
good excuse, like a doctor’s note or something, she won’t pay for your supplies, which means you’ll have to pay for it. So, any questions?”

A girl that Kate didn’t know raised her hand.

“Yes, Avalee?” Vanessa said.

“Are you serious? Mrs. Petersen is for reals buying our supplies?”

“Yup! For reals! Any other questions?”

The bell over the door tinkled, and Mike Malone rushed in.

“Oh, Mike, you’re back. Decide to join the teen club?” Gwen teased.

“Uh, no. Annie insisted I take a photograph of Vanessa Stevens and Mackenzie Martel with the blanket box. And she insists that I run it in
The Point
.”

“Annie usually gets what she wants,” Gwen said, chuckling.

Mary Beth came in just as Mike finished taking photos of the two girls by their decorated box and by the tracking poster.

“Oh! And here is Miss Mary Beth Brock!” Vanessa said excitedly to the other girls. “She’s the owner of A Stitch in Time, and she’s letting us meet here.”

“Hello, Teen Hook and Needle Club members!” Mary Beth said as Mike hustled out the door. He hadn’t even bothered to take off his scarf or coat.

“Hello, Miss Brock!” a chorus of teenage voices responded. “Thank you!”

“You are all so very welcome,” she said. “Thank
you
for participating in our project.”

“OK? No more questions? Good. Let’s get started!” Vanessa said.

The girls rearranged themselves into two groups: the knitters surrounded Gwen, who began teaching them how to cast on, and the other group enthusiastically started making a chain stitch.