8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie Macomber Page A

baby blankets.
    “You’ll find that nothing calms you the way knitting does. In fact, there are studies that prove it.”
    Megan smiled. “You like reading studies, don’t you?”
    Faith smiled back. “I guess I do.”
    “The lady at the counter said she’d teach me how to cast on,” Megan said, “but she’s been busy ever since so I’ve been waiting around until she’s free.”
    “Here.” Faith set her fabric on the cutting table. “I can show you.”
    “Oh, thank you!”
    Faith removed the needles from their packaging and pulled the yarn free from one of the skeins. In a few minutes, Megan had caught on.
    While the woman behind the counter measured and cutthe green velvet, Faith reviewed the pattern instructions with Megan to be sure she understood how to get started.
    “I can’t thank you enough,” Megan said when she’d finished.
    With their purchases in hand, Faith and Megan walked to the front door together.
    “I’d better get back to work,” Faith told the younger woman.
    “Me, too. I work at the frame shop on Harbor. If you ever need anything framed, please let me know.”
    “I will, thank you.” Faith almost mentioned that her son, Scottie, had recently had something framed at that very shop. But it was best for her emotional health not to encourage a relationship with Troy’s daughter, so she walked away after a simple goodbye.

Chapter Ten
    T eri Polgar hadn’t heard from her sister in well over a week. A year ago that wouldn’t have been unusual. They rarely saw each other regularly until last summer, when things between them had started to improve. They’d had their share of differences; still did. But despite their difficult history, family was important to Teri. She and Johnny, her younger brother, were close. More and more, Teri found reasons to keep in touch with Christie, too.
    A week without any form of communication from Christie wasn’t typical these days. What bothered her more was that Christie hadn’t returned any of her phone calls. Teri knew her sister wasn’t shy about sharing her feelings. If Teri had done something to upset her, Christie would’ve let her know. All Teri could come up with was Christie’s ongoing determination to avoid James.
    “Bobby, I’m going shopping.” She didn’t say for what. Bobby didn’t concern himself with budgets. He had enough money for all their wants and needs; that was the only thing that mattered on the financial front. His life revolved around chess—and her. He was a master chess player, one of the world’s best. He’d always watched overher with vigilance, and now that she was pregnant, Bobby doted on her even more than usual.
    He barely glanced up from the computer screen. “I’ll call James.”
    “Bobby, no. I can drive to Wal-Mart on my own.”
    The look he cast her was filled with doubt and worry.
    She sighed. “Oh, all right.” It was easier to acquiesce than to argue. Bobby was far too protective, but how could she complain when he loved her so much? Ridiculous though it was to have a driver when she’d been driving all by herself since she was sixteen years old, she knew it set Bobby’s mind at rest.
    Within five minutes James, who lived on the property, had the car parked in front of the house, waiting for Teri. He stood by the passenger door formally dressed in his black suit and billed cap.
    When Teri was first married to Bobby, she felt embarrassed to have a car and driver, especially in a town the size of Cedar Cove. However, she’d grown accustomed to it, and apparently so had everyone else. No one commented on it—not to her, anyway.
    As she approached the vehicle, James held the passenger door open.
    “Thank you, James,” she said as he helped her inside.
    He stepped around the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Where to, Miss Teri?”
    No matter how many times she asked him to drop the Miss, which made her sound like a preschool teacher, James persisted. After all these months