Valise in the Attic Read Free

kiddingly.
    “Oh?” Annie asked, hoping to change the subject. “Do you know who is going to be in the film?”
    “No,” Peggy said glumly. “But I hope Brad Pitt will be the star. I would love to see him in real life. Or Matt Damon. I just loved him in those Bourne movies. Wally and I have seen all of them.”
    “I’ve seen those too and all the Ocean movies. He’s in those,” Alice said, then grinned. “Though I like George Clooney better. Now there is an actor I’d love to see close up.”
    “Or Orlando Bloom,” Gwen said.
    “Gwendolyn Palmer! that boy is half your age!” Stella scolded, clearly scandalized.
    “He is not half my age! Of course, my marriage is older than him,” Gwen said. Annie saw a wicked sparkle in her eye. “I just like his acting, he’s very talented. I admire talented people.”
    Stella just harrumphed, which sent all the women into giggles.

2
    While the rest of the Hook and Needle Club laughed, Gwen kept naming young actors who all had work she admired. Finally Stella refused to react anymore, though the older woman’s knitting needles still seemed to click disapprovingly.
    “Really, Annie,” Alice said when Gwen finally settled back with her own knitting and stopped teasing Stella. “You have to promise to think about it. It won’t be nearly as much fun without you.”
    “What does this audition require?” Annie asked. “Will we have to wear costumes or memorize lines?”
    Peggy shook her head. “We’re just supposed to gather in the Community Center at four this afternoon. I’ve already gotten permission to take a long break at the diner.” At that, her eyes suddenly widened and she looked down at her watch. “Speaking of which, I promised to be back by now. I have to run!” She gathered her things and did just that.
    Stella sighed as they watched the pretty young waitress hurry out the door, trotting past the big front window on her way to the diner. “I wish she didn’t have to work so hard,” Stella said. “I’ve tried to give them money, you know. Then she wouldn’t have to work so many hours. She and Wally wouldn’t take it.” Stella shook her head. “Too much pride.”
    Annie smiled a little at that. Pride was something Stella herself had in great abundance. In fact, her pride had nearly made Annie’s life miserable when she first came back to Stony Point after Betsy died. Annie was glad she could now see Stella’s warm heart under her proud, prickly exterior.
    “So, Annie,” Alice said. “Are you going to join us this afternoon? Please?”
    Annie frowned, and then laughed as Alice clasped her hands dramatically and turned on her most pitiful begging look. “I guess so, but I’m going to feel completely silly,” Annie said finally. “And if I catch cold, you have to bring me some of your homemade chicken soup.”
    “I will,” Alice agreed with a grin.
    “Now, could we possibly spend some time on our projects?” Stella asked with a sniff. “Sometimes I do wonder if we’ve forgotten why we get together.”
    “I would never forget,” Gwen said. “We do it for the gossip.”
    Everyone laughed except Stella, but Annie was fairly certain she’d seen a sparkle in the older woman’s eyes before she dipped her head to stare intently at her knitting.
    “I noticed your knitting when you came in,” Annie said. “That pattern is beautiful. The cables have such an unusual twist. They remind me of vines.”
    Stella beamed at Annie. “I thought so too. In fact, I was going to ask Alice for a favor.”
    “Me?” Alice said, surprised. “I don’t know anything about knitting.”
    “But you do beautiful embroidery,” Stella said. “I was wondering if you would considering putting some silk roses on this dress when it’s done.”
    Stella pointed out where she would like to see roses blooming, near the neckline and then along the patterned hem of the dress. “I know it would be a considerable amount of work, and I would definitely want to