with starched ruffles at the shoulders looking incongruous over her stone-washed jeans and pink tank top.
“Hi, Luke. How was the meeting?”
“Good.” He gestured to her attire. “What’s this all about?”
She smoothed the crisp white fabric over her jeans. “Dorothy was in a bind. She only has two servers, and one of them quit without any notice this morning. Since Dorothy had just shared her scone recipes with me, I offered to pitch in. Seemed like a fair exchange. And you know what? I’m having a blast!”
One of the patrons at a nearby table raised her hand, and Hannah called out to her. “I’ll be right with ya’ll.” Then she gave him a hug. “Gotta go. You don’t mind if I hang around here this afternoon, do you? Kelsey said she’d give me a ride home when the shop closes at four. And she said I could sit in on her beginners quilting class at two-thirty.”
“Sure. That’s fine.” So much for his worries about her being bored.
“You want some lunch? The asparagus quiche is to die for, and it comes with lemon scones and a strawberry salad. There’s homemade apple cobbler for dessert, too, if you’re still hungry. Warm from the oven. With ice cream.”
“Okay. You convinced me. I’ll stop in and see Kelsey for a minute first, though. Is she here?” He scanned the quilt shop, but didn’t see any sign of her.
“She was.” Hannah looked over her shoulder. “But she told me she likes to walk to the lake at lunch. Maybe she went down there. Or she might be in the back room. You can check.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried over to the customer who had summoned her.
Left on his own, Luke strolled into the Not Your Grandmother’s Quilts side of the shop, checking out Kelsey’s home away from home. On his first visit, he’d been so surprised to discover his neighbor was the PR expert recommended by Reverend Howard that he’d hardly noticed his surroundings. And she’d whisked him over to Tea for Two before he’d had a chance to look around her shop.
As he wandered through the merchandise, the conversation he’d overheard between his sister and Kelsey on the beach Saturday came back to him. Now he understood what she’d meant when she told Hannah she didn’t do country. The quilts on display were more like modern art, featuring swirls of color, geometric patterns and 3-D designs. That same artsy look could also be found in the smaller items on display—wall hangings of various sizes, purses, tote bags, table runners, placemats, pot holders, pillow covers. The designs were eye-catching and created with impressive flair.
No question about it, the shop definitely lived up to its name. These quilts were nothing like the homespun version favored by his Grandma Turner, who’d made a quilt or two in her day. He could see why Hannah had found them appealing. And why she was intrigued enough to want to take a class.
Venturing farther back, he noted the work table he’d spotted on his first visit, and the desk with the computer where Kelsey had been working that day. In the opposite corner, a partly finished quilt in shades of blue, green and magenta was secured in a stand-alone quilting frame, the intricate design stunning. A swivel lamp was attached to the frame, and an adjustable chair on rollers was pushed underneath. Bolts of fabric were tucked into shelves along the back wall, and two sewing machines stood at the ready.
As Luke finished his tour, the bell over the front door jingled. He turned in time to see Kelsey enter.
She saw him at once, hesitating for a fraction of a second before she moved into the shop. “Hi. Have you been here long?”
“Less than five minutes. Sorry I’m so late. The meeting ran long.”
“No problem.” She deposited her oversized tote—the one Hannah had admired at the beach—on the work table. “Is everything a go?”
“Yes. Plus, I have other good news. Father Joe met with Steve Lange, who owns the property the board has its
“Hi, Luke. How was the meeting?”
“Good.” He gestured to her attire. “What’s this all about?”
She smoothed the crisp white fabric over her jeans. “Dorothy was in a bind. She only has two servers, and one of them quit without any notice this morning. Since Dorothy had just shared her scone recipes with me, I offered to pitch in. Seemed like a fair exchange. And you know what? I’m having a blast!”
One of the patrons at a nearby table raised her hand, and Hannah called out to her. “I’ll be right with ya’ll.” Then she gave him a hug. “Gotta go. You don’t mind if I hang around here this afternoon, do you? Kelsey said she’d give me a ride home when the shop closes at four. And she said I could sit in on her beginners quilting class at two-thirty.”
“Sure. That’s fine.” So much for his worries about her being bored.
“You want some lunch? The asparagus quiche is to die for, and it comes with lemon scones and a strawberry salad. There’s homemade apple cobbler for dessert, too, if you’re still hungry. Warm from the oven. With ice cream.”
“Okay. You convinced me. I’ll stop in and see Kelsey for a minute first, though. Is she here?” He scanned the quilt shop, but didn’t see any sign of her.
“She was.” Hannah looked over her shoulder. “But she told me she likes to walk to the lake at lunch. Maybe she went down there. Or she might be in the back room. You can check.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried over to the customer who had summoned her.
Left on his own, Luke strolled into the Not Your Grandmother’s Quilts side of the shop, checking out Kelsey’s home away from home. On his first visit, he’d been so surprised to discover his neighbor was the PR expert recommended by Reverend Howard that he’d hardly noticed his surroundings. And she’d whisked him over to Tea for Two before he’d had a chance to look around her shop.
As he wandered through the merchandise, the conversation he’d overheard between his sister and Kelsey on the beach Saturday came back to him. Now he understood what she’d meant when she told Hannah she didn’t do country. The quilts on display were more like modern art, featuring swirls of color, geometric patterns and 3-D designs. That same artsy look could also be found in the smaller items on display—wall hangings of various sizes, purses, tote bags, table runners, placemats, pot holders, pillow covers. The designs were eye-catching and created with impressive flair.
No question about it, the shop definitely lived up to its name. These quilts were nothing like the homespun version favored by his Grandma Turner, who’d made a quilt or two in her day. He could see why Hannah had found them appealing. And why she was intrigued enough to want to take a class.
Venturing farther back, he noted the work table he’d spotted on his first visit, and the desk with the computer where Kelsey had been working that day. In the opposite corner, a partly finished quilt in shades of blue, green and magenta was secured in a stand-alone quilting frame, the intricate design stunning. A swivel lamp was attached to the frame, and an adjustable chair on rollers was pushed underneath. Bolts of fabric were tucked into shelves along the back wall, and two sewing machines stood at the ready.
As Luke finished his tour, the bell over the front door jingled. He turned in time to see Kelsey enter.
She saw him at once, hesitating for a fraction of a second before she moved into the shop. “Hi. Have you been here long?”
“Less than five minutes. Sorry I’m so late. The meeting ran long.”
“No problem.” She deposited her oversized tote—the one Hannah had admired at the beach—on the work table. “Is everything a go?”
“Yes. Plus, I have other good news. Father Joe met with Steve Lange, who owns the property the board has its
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