Stitches in Time (23 page)

• The first stitch of every row is slipped; knit-wise on right side rows and purl-wise on wrong side rows, unless otherwise specifically stated.

• Beads are only used on horseshoe lace parts of the pattern (the ends).

• To place bead, after you pass the slipped stitch over the K2TOG, add bead to the K2TOG stitch.

• There will be four beads placed on each RS row for a total of 32 beads per end.

S
itting on Aunt Maude's porch watching the April sun brighten the sky wasn't where I thought I'd be ten months ago. Having experienced two major losses, I found myself still in the small fishing village of Cedar Key . . . and like the boats in the gulf, I was drifting with no sense of purpose or direction.

Life had proved to me once again that it can change in the blink of an eye. I certainly found that out four years ago when my husband, Parker, left me for a trophy wife. But eventually I pulled myself together and made my way from Savannah to this small town on the west coast of Florida. Straight to the shelter and love of my aunt. At the time, I'd been estranged from my sister, Grace, for many years, but eventually Grace and I renewed our bond and now we were closer than we'd ever been.

The ring tone on my cell phone began playing and I knew without looking at the caller ID that it was Gabe's daughter, Isabelle—she was the only person who called me before eight in the morning.

“Hey,” I said. “How're you doing?”

A deep sigh came across the line. “Okay. I just had another battle with Haley about going to school, but I managed to get her out the door. How about you?”

“Yeah, okay here too. Just finishing up my coffee and then I'll be heading to the yarn shop to help out.”

I wasn't even gainfully employed anymore because I'd given up my partnership with Dora in the local yarn shop when I thought I was relocating to the east coast of Florida . . . with Gabe. And now Gabe was gone.

Another sigh came across the line. “It's funny. I didn't see Dad all that much, but I knew he was
there
. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do. Sometimes I think we just take it for granted that those we love will always be with us.”

Losing Gabe in the blink of an eye was a heartbreaking reminder of the fact that life was indeed fragile. We had made great plans for a bright new future together. When he arrived in Cedar Key to spend the winter months, he had signed up to take some men's knitting classes at the yarn shop. I knew immediately that I liked him, and the feeling was mutual. Eight months later we'd made a commitment to relocate together to Ormond Beach on the east coast. Gabe was also an expert knitter and we had put a deposit on a lovely home just outside the city limits, where he would tend to the alpacas we'd raise and we'd both run a yarn shop downtown. But that wasn't to be.

“Exactly,” Isabelle said. “And poor Dad didn't even make it to Philly to sell his condo. This might sound selfish, but if I had to lose him, I'm glad it happened right here at my house.” I heard a sniffle across the phone line. “At least I was with him at the end.”

We both were. Gabe had wanted to make a stop outside Atlanta on our way to Philly to visit his daughter and granddaughter. But on the third day of our stay, sitting on Isabelle's patio after dinner, a grimace covered Gabe's face, he clutched his chest and he was gone. I jumped up to perform CPR while Isabelle called 911 but by the time the paramedics arrived, it was too late. A massive coronary had claimed his life. Just like that.

“No, it's not selfish at all,” I said. “I'm glad I was with him too.”

“We've both had a time of it, haven't we? I lose Dad and then two months later, Roger decides he doesn't love me anymore.”

It was actually the breakup of Isabelle's marriage that had brought the two of us closer. While she had been civil to me when we'd first met the previous June, she had been a bit cool. I remembered how she had emphatically informed me that she wasn't called Izzy or Belle. “It's
Isabelle
,” she'd said.

I chalked it up to father-daughter jealousy on her part. Although she wasn't at all close to her mother, who had taken off to Oregon years ago after her divorce from Gabe, I had a feeling that Isabelle didn't want another woman in her father's life. But when her husband up and left her, I was the first person she called. Sobbing on the phone, she related that she was experiencing the same thing that had happened to me—her husband had fallen out of love with her. Common troubles have a way of uniting women.

“Any further word on the divorce settlement?” I asked.

“Yes, that's why I'm calling. It's been decided that I will get the house. At least until Haley is eighteen, so that gives me five years to figure out what I'm doing. And when we sell it, we each get half.”

“That sounds fair enough.”

“Yeah, except that Haley is so unhappy here. Between the loss of her grandfather and her father leaving, it's been a difficult time for her. And to make matters worse, things at school aren't going well either.”

I knew Haley was a bright girl and a good student, so I was surprised to hear this. “What's going on?”

“Well,” she said, and I heard hesitation in her tone. “In the ten months since you've seen her, Haley has really packed on some pounds. Unfortunately, I think she's taking comfort in food. And you know how cruel kids can be. Especially thirteen-year-old girls.”

“Oh, no.” I didn't know Haley well, but when I met her for the first time we immediately clicked. Unlike her mother, she didn't display any frostiness toward me. Quite the opposite. She seemed to genuinely like me and I liked her. “What a shame. Gosh, I know kids have always been mean but today, from what I hear, they seem to have taken it to a new level.”

“You have no idea. Hey, how's Basil doing?”

I smiled and glanced down at the twenty-pound dog sleeping inches from my foot. I guess you could say that Basil was my legacy from Gabe. I had gotten to know the dog well during the months that Gabe was on the island, and we had taken an instant liking to each other. When Gabe passed away, there was the question of what to do with Basil. Although I know that Haley would have loved to keep him, Isabelle had insisted that wasn't possible and even hinted that perhaps he should go to the pound. That was when I stepped in and offered to give Basil a home. I think gratefulness has a lot to do with loyalty, because Basil hasn't left my side since we flew back to Florida from Atlanta. Basil in his carrier, in the cabin with me, of course.

“Oh, he's great. I'm so glad I took him. He's a great little dog and sure keeps me company.”

“That's good. Well, give him a pat from Haley and me. Any decision yet on what you're doing? Do you think you'll stay in Cedar Key?”

“I honestly don't know, Isabelle. I'm no closer to a decision now than I was after Aunt Maude died two months ago. And Grace has been hinting that she and Lucas might want to move to Paris permanently.”

My sister had married a wonderful fellow four years before. Lucas owned the book café in town, but he was originally from Paris, and it was beginning to sound like he wanted to bring his family back to his roots in France. Which included my sister and three-year-old niece, Solange.

“Oh, gee, and where would that leave you? Would you put your aunt's house up for sale?”

“I just don't know. I think Grace is trying to go easy with me right now. She doesn't want to add any more pressure, but it's not fair of me to hold them back if that's what they want. Besides, in this economy, property just isn't selling on the island. My building downtown has been on the market for ten months.”

“Yeah, true. Well, listen, Chloe, I need to get going here. You take care and keep in touch.”

“Will do, and give Haley a hug from me.”

I disconnected and looked down at Basil, who had his head on his paws but was looking up at me with his sweet brown eyes.

“Well, fellow, time for us to get moving too.”

He jumped up, tail wagging, ready for whatever I suggested.

I headed into the house for a shower and breakfast before we opened the yarn shop at ten.

* * *

Dora and I took turns opening the shop, and today she wouldn't be in till noon.

“Come on, Basil. Time for coffee first,” I said, unclipping his leash and heading to the coffeemaker.

Dora had her own dog, Oliver, who was now elderly and didn't come to the shop with her anymore, so she was more than happy to have Basil with us during work hours. He was a good boy and enjoyed greeting customers, and I think he was a hit with them as well.

Very well mannered, he had just turned two years old. Gabe had gotten him as a puppy from a rescue group. His ancestry was of unknown origin, but he strongly resembled a cross between a Scottish terrier and a poodle. When designer dogs became popular and Gabe was questioned on Basil's breed, he'd jokingly refer to him as a Scottiepoo.

I had just poured the water into the coffeemaker when the door chimes tinkled and I turned around to see Shelby Sullivan enter the shop.

“Hey, Shelby. Just in time for coffee. It'll be ready shortly.”

“Great. I found a nice pattern to make Orli a sweater, so I need to get some yarn.”

Shelby Sullivan was a best-selling romance author, born and raised on Cedar Key, and an addicted knitter, especially when she was between novels.

“How're Josie and Orli doing? I imagine they appreciate the sweaters to keep them warm in the Boston area.”

Shelby laughed as she fingered some yummy lavender alpaca yarn. “They're doing great and they seem to have survived their first winter up there and all the snow. Although I'm told it's not unusual to get some even in April.”

Shelby's daughter, Josie Sullivan Cooper, had married the love of her life and the father of her daughter, Orli, the previous October. The wedding had been the event of the year on the island and thanks to Shelby's expert guidance, it had been on par with many celebrity weddings. Josie's husband, Grant, was an attorney in Boston and the three of them resided on the North Shore of the city.

“I saw on the national weather that the temps are still pretty chilly up there,” I said, handing her a mug of coffee. “I'm sure it's quite a change from the tropical climate they're used to.”

Shelby nodded. “Thanks. Yeah, but they both seem to love being in Boston and that's what matters.”

I smiled as I recalled the control freak that Shelby used to be. But a scare with uterine cancer the year before had put life in perspective for her. She truly did seem to be less stressed and more understanding of Josie, allowing their mother-daughter relationship to strengthen.

“How about you?” she asked. “How are
you
doing?”

I let out a sigh. “I'm doing okay. As well as can be expected, I guess, but I'm beginning to feel like my life is on hold. In limbo.”

“Two major losses in your life within eight months will certainly do that. When the time is right, you'll know which direction to take.”

“I hope so,” I said and took a sip of coffee. “I feel fortunate that we had Aunt Maude these extra years. We knew her heart was bad. The house is just so empty without her around.”

Shelby placed eight skeins of alpaca on the counter and patted my arm. “I'm sure it is. Maybe you should still consider going over to Ormond Beach. You know . . . something different. New beginnings and all that.”

“It just wouldn't be the same without Gabe. All of our plans are gone.”

“Yes, they are, but that's part of life. It constantly changes whether we want it to or not. Believe me, I found that out last year. But, Chloe, that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Life is always full of surprises, and some of them can be quite wonderful. If we pay attention. Maybe you should go over there for a visit. Allow yourself to chill out and renew your energy.”

“Alone? You mean go to Ormond Beach alone?”

Shelby laughed. “First of all, you wouldn't be alone. You'd have Basil with you. But yeah, find a nice place to stay for a while. No pressure. No commitments. I don't think women do this nearly enough. It's good to be alone sometimes. It allows us to reconnect with ourselves. Especially during times of change or confusion.”

“Hmm,” I said, slowly beginning to warm to the idea. “Maybe you're right. Maybe a change is what I need for a while.”

“Give it some thought, Chloe. We just never know what's around that next corner,” she said, passing me her credit card to pay for her purchase.