Gone with the Wool Read Free Page B

“And as for the tote bags—I would suggest stuffing them with the folders like you have in the past. They can get a schedule, basic instructions for the looms and probably something about Butterfly Week this time. Maybe put in some yarn. Then we’ll hand out the looms at the first workshop. They can just carry around the one they’re working on and leave the rest in the meeting room.At the end of the retreat, they can take their whole set with them. By then it will be their problem, not yours.”
    I looked to Crystal, who rocked her head back and forth in a semblance of agreement.
    â€œWe’ll deal with the people who fuss about using the looms when we get to it,” Wanda added.
    â€œWhat?” I said. I had expected the group to love the whole idea of using the looms.
    â€œKnitting purists might not be so happy,” Wanda said. “It doesn’t have the same grace as knitting with needles. And the novices still have to learn how to do something.”
    Crystal didn’t seem happy with the comment. “Wanda, you’ll see. It will be fine.”
    With that settled, we started to talk about Butterfly Week. This time I had planned a longer retreat and had arranged for my retreaters to take part in all the town’s activities.
    â€œDid I tell you that Marcy is in the running for Butterfly Queen?” Crystal asked. Marcy was her daughter, and I still had a hard time realizing that the free spirit had teenage kids. She went on for a few minutes about how she’d been in the Princess Court one year. “It was pointless,” Crystal said. “I knew there was a committee, but that woman ran the show, and I’m sure she really picked who she wanted to be queen. What is she doing here now?”
    Both Wanda and I followed Crystal’s gaze into the main room to see who she was talking about. I recognized the woman from the chili dinner as she went by.
    â€œRosalie Hardcastle,” Wanda said. “She likes to think she’s a big mover and shaker in town. My sister is in the Princess Court, too. I better go and say hello to Rosalie. Then it’s off to the football game with the rest of the town. GoMonarchs.” Crystal and I watched as Wanda went up to the woman and really laid it on thick.
    â€œIf she thinks that’s going to help her sister, she’s crazy,” Crystal said, clearly perturbed—maybe because she hadn’t come up with the idea first. Rosalie gave Wanda a haughty smile in response to her greeting, then Wanda sailed out the door.
    I noticed that Gwen’s brow seemed even more furrowed as Rosalie pulled her aside, taking her away from the customer she was helping.
    â€œWhat does she want with my mother?” Crystal said. I was surprised at her tone. Crystal always seemed like a free spirit type who kind of rolled with the punches. But then, I supposed she was protective of her mother. I knew that Crystal had come back to town with her two kids when her rock musician husband had taken off with a younger woman and left her stranded. Gwen had taken them in with no question, even though her house was small and money was tight.
    â€œIt doesn’t seem like good news,” I said as I got a better look at Gwen’s expression. Rosalie was a pretty woman, probably somewhere in her late forties. But by now her personality was catching up with her looks, and I noticed a harshness about her expression. “But maybe that’s just the way she always looks,” I said. “That’s pretty much the expression she had when she said thank you for the muffins.”
    â€œShe appeared a little softer when she came out of the kitchen last night so the team could thank her,” Crystal said. “Kory is such a good kid. He’s the one who said they should give her a ‘Hip hip hooray’ for the chili.”
    I thought of the dark-haired gangly boy. “I just can’t get used to the idea that you