A Spicy Secret Read Free Page B

embroidery thread come from? And it seems like pens usually walk off, so how did we end up with so many back here?”
    “Beats me. We have to keep some boxes to pack up the blankets for the mission trip, and for when we have to ship something, but this many?”
    Kate sighed and then brightened. “Speaking of the mission trip,” she said, “what do you think about using the store as a drop-off point for donations? That way, there would always be a place during business hours for people to bring the blankets they’ve made.”
    “That’s a great idea. I knew I hired you for some reason other than your mad crochet skills!”
    “Mad, huh? That means good, right?”
    Mary Beth laughed. “It definitely means good. I think I’ve been hanging out with your daughter too much.”
    “Speaking of my lovely daughter, Vanessa mentioned last night that she has to do some sort of advertising project for her language arts class. I bet she and Mackenzie would be happy to make a flyer or something, if Mrs. Petersen lets them.”
    “That would be fabulous,” Mary Beth said, looking at her watch. “Oops, opening time. Why don’t you clean up back here a little while I open up.”
    “Gee, thanks. You are so good to me,” Kate teased as the older woman washed out her mug and placed it in the drying rack next to the sink. She looked down at the trash can and groaned. “Ugh. The concoction Alice brought in yesterday is still in here. That’s going out first thing.”
    Mary Beth started laughing. “I don’t even think the stray cats will touch it.”
    Mary Beth went to the safe to get out the cash box before flipping on the light switches for the sales floor. In a few moments, Kate could hear the strains of music from the oldies station Mary Beth liked listening to.
    Kate looked at her watch, and since school hadn’t started yet, decided to call Vanessa. The school board hadn’t been crazy about the idea, but had admitted—after parental pressure, of course—that cellphones at school could actually be good, at least from a safety standpoint. The kids had to leave their phones turned off during classes, of course, but were allowed to use them before and after school and at lunchtime.
    Kate picked up her phone and chose Vanessa’s name on her favorites list. There was just one ring before she heard her daughter’s cheery voice.
    “Hey, it’s Vanessa. Well, my voicemail anyway. Close enough. You know what to do if you want me to call you back. If you don’t, oh well. Have a super lovely day.”
    “Vanessa, it’s your mom,” Kate said as soon as it beeped and before she could stop herself. She knew how ridiculous she sounded. Of course her daughter recognized her own mother’s voice, but she still said it every time, so she continued: “OK, you knew that. Didn’t you tell me that your language arts teacher wanted you to create some sort of advertising promotion? Well, we could use your help at the store. We’re going to be making and collecting blankets for an orphanage in Haiti. Mary Beth and I thought you could make a flyer or something, if your teacher approves. Call me back when you get a chance.”
    She hung up, surveyed the room, and started tidying.
    ****
    A little after noon, Kate joined Mary Beth in the front of the store to take a break and eat lunch. On slow days, they both liked to eat in the circle of comfy chairs near the window, surrounded by all the beautiful yarns and threads and paraphernalia needed to craft practically anything.
    Kate handed Mary Beth the brown bag she’d shoved into the fridge that morning and opened her own tote, a mini cooler that looked like a paisley purse with “K” embroidered on the front.
    “Thanks, dear,” Mary Beth said. She put her knitting on the chair next to her, opened the bag, and pulled out yogurt and a spoon. She had decided to try to lose some weight over the winter, and since it was too cold to exercise outside, she figured she’d try eating healthier.