Quilt As Desired Read Online Free

what she knew about the other stitchers in the Loose Threads.
    "Mavis Willis doesn't care a whit about competition. If she has a project that fits our theme for a particular show she enters it, but her main reason for quilting is to top the beds of her children and grandchildren with covers that suit their individual personalities,” Avanell said. “And you can pretty well count on Sarah Ness to ask you to do her project about two days after whatever deadline you set."
    "Aunt Beth warned me about her. She said Sarah makes a lot of quilts and is willing to pay a lot of money to have them stitched, so it's worth the aggravation."
    "That's the truth,” Avanell agreed. “She's on a mission to give everyone she's ever met a handcrafted quilt made with her own hands. She really cranks them out."
    "Aunt Beth said something like that."
    Avanell laughed. “I can imagine what Beth said. I'm sure the word quality was in there somewhere. Sarah's quite predictable, if you think about it. Your aunt Beth says that as soon as she hears Sarah's doing something for a show, she blocks out the last spot before the real deadline on her schedule and puts her name on it. Beth says she's never failed her yet."
    Harriet laughed. The waiter brought the check, and Avanell had her wallet open and her card out before Harriet even had her purse open.
    "Thank you,” she said. “Next time I'll treat."
    "When you have yourself established as the new It Girl of machine quilters you can pay. In the meantime, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.” Avanell smiled.
    She gave the waitress her card and was waiting to sign the receipt when a thin woman with long stringy hair and bad skin shuffled into the restaurant. The woman looked around and, when she spotted Avanell and Harriet, came over to the table.
    "Can I talk to you?” she said to Avanell, and looked down. A line of sweat dampened her forehead.
    Avanell's face lost its animation. “What's wrong now, Carla?"
    Carla looked at Harriet and back to Avanell.
    "It's all right, Carla. Tell me what's happening."
    "Mr. Tony, he's got Misty in the office. He says she's been stealing vitamins and that's why we been missing inventory. He's called Sheriff Mason and says he's pressing charges."
    "Is she stealing vitamins?” Avanell asked in a no-nonsense voice that was nothing like the friendly tone she'd used during lunch.
    Carla looked at her feet. “Not exactly,” she said.
    "Don't keep me waiting, Carla,” Avanell said. “Tell me the truth. All of it, now.” She signed the Visa receipt and picked up her purse and sweater.
    Carla hesitated, looked at Harriet again and finally spoke.
    "Misty is pregnant. Maryanne and me have been saving the broken and chipped prenatal blends for her. We just throw them out after we count them anyways. The sheriff is on his way now,” she finished.
    "Go ahead and go,” Harriet said. “I'll just take advantage of this nice spring day and walk home. It isn't that far."
    It was clear Avanell was torn.
    "Really, I'm fine. The exercise will do me good after this lunch."
    "Thanks, I'll make it up to you,” Avanell said and hurried after her employee, who was already shuffling out the door.
    Harriet watched her leave. Aunt Beth was right; something was definitely wrong.

Chapter Four
    Harriet turned left toward Post Office Street. Pins and Needles was located around the corner and up the block. Aunt Beth had told her the previous store had been ten blocks down in a less prosperous part of downtown Foggy Point, but over the years had traded its way up as other, less enduring shops folded. Eventually, it moved into the coveted center-of-the-block location on Main Street that it currently occupied.
    She looked at her watch. She still had an hour before her next customer was due to show up. She could spare fifteen minutes to see what was new.
    "Hi, Harriet,” Marjory called from the back of the store. “Make yourself at home. I'll be with you in a minute."
    A slender woman