And here she is, he said. Good morning, Ms. Standish. What did you do with the cat?
She blinked, apparently not expecting that question. As it happens, Mrs. Anderson turned out to be a cat person. As soon as her tabby established her dominance over Hector, they settled down together.
She likes to be the boss, I take it. He felt a momentary sympathy for Hector. Well, youll be wanting to meet your new partner. Sarah, this is Allison Standish. Allison, Sarah Bitler.
Allisons eyes widened as she took in the fact that Sarah was Amish. Then she extended her hand. Its nice to meet you, Sarah. I saw a bit of the shop last night. Her glance swept back to Nick. Speaking of last night, you must have thought it was amusing when I told you I planned to sell the building as soon as possible.
Nick realized he was staring at her blankly. Why would I find it funny? A sale could have serious consequences for all of us.
So you dont know. There was an edge to her voice. Im surprised. I thought you knew all about everything having to do with my inheritance.
Listen, Im sorry. I gave you the wrong impression last night.
She seemed to ignore what he said, preoccupied with some issue of her own that had her fuming. You may as well know. Im sure it will be all over town shortly. It turns out my inheritance has strings attached. I cant sell or do anything else except run the building for an entire year.
* * *
THE AMISH WOMAN was staring at Allison with a puzzled expression.
I dont understand, she said. We were told you inherited Blackburn House and Evelyns share of the quilt shop.
Apparently everyone in town had known her grandmother better than she had. Allison pushed aside the sense that shed lost something of value. How could she mourn a relationship that had never existed?
Sarah turned to Nick Whiting. Did you know about this, Nick?
He shook his head, frowning a little. He seemed honestly confused, although Allison wasnt inclined to take anything at face value where Nick was concerned.
Seen in daylight, her impression of his rough-hewn good looks was confirmed. Attractive enough to cause a quiver in the stomach, if you went for men who wore jeans and flannel shirts to work. She didnt.
Evelyn always was wily about keeping her secrets. His frown dissolved in a reluctant smile. She certainly put one over on all of us this time. Including you, I guess. His smile included Allison, but she thought she detected an edge of malice in the curve of his lips. Evelyn tied your hands, did she?
Sarah gave him a quelling look. Thats enough, Nick. This is no way to get acquainted with the new owner.
Somewhat to Allisons surprise, he took the reproof with a nod. Right you are. Guess Ill get to work and let you two sort it out between you.
Before she could deny there was anything to sort out, he had turned and crossed the hall to his showroom.
And little though Allison wanted to admit it, she was trapped in a situation she hadnt foreseen, with no knowledge of who she could trust. She needed information before she could attempt any decisions, and Sarah might be able to supply it.
At the moment, Sarah was watching her with a slightly anxious expression. Will you come into the shop? She gestured to the quilt store. Ach, it seems strange to invite you in when its half yours, anyway.
Allison responded with a smile. Shed already broken her cardinal rule several times with Nick Whiting by letting him see her reaction to him. There was no point in compounding the problem by letting Sarah see her as anything but pleasant and professional. Shed realized when her father walked out on her and her mother that there was a lot to be said for being independent, and a big part of independence for her had meant hiding her emotions, especially the negative ones.
Id love to have you show me around the shop. Theres so much I dont know.
Komm. Sarah led the way, a tiny bell jingling as they opened the door. They moved into an aura of bright colors and soft textures that seemed to envelop and comfort at the same time.
The shop was in what must have been a parlor in the original mansion. The front windows were angled to form a bay with a bench under them. Sarah must have been responsible for the quilted cushions that turned it into an inviting seating area. The wallpaper, if not original, was a good copy of the flowered style so common in Victorian homes. Allison hadnt had much occasion to decorate homes of this period, since most of Dianes business had been with the busy young corporate execs who moved into a house, decorated in the latest style, then sold and moved on when they reached the next step of the corporate ladder.
But she knew something good when she saw it, and the fireplace was a masterpiece of High Victorian with its intricately carved and mirrored mantelpiece that dwarfed everything else in the room. Sarah had wisely not tried to change the intrinsic charm of the room but allowed her quilts to make their own statement.
Didnt you know that your grandmother intended for you to have this? Sarahs gesture took in the quilt shop and beyond it, the whole building.
I hadnt the slightest idea until her attorney called me. It was pointless to hide the fact, since probably everyone in town would know the details before long. Evelyn Standish had apparently been someone important in Laurel Ridge. As far as I know, she never saw me or attempted to make contact.
Sarahs blue eyes darkened with sympathy. Im so sorry. I cant understand any grossmammi doing that. She flushed slightly. Ach, Im sorry. Sometimes the Deutsch word just comes out when Im talking Englisch. And the other way around, too.
That little tidbit caught Allisons imagination. You mean you use Englisch words when youre speaking dialect? The instant shed asked the question she wondered if Sarah would take offense, but Sarah responded with a quick smile that showed a dimple in each cheek.
For sure. I guess you could say Pennsylvania Dutch is an old dialect. Dates from when the Amish came here in the 1700s. So when new things come along and we dont have words for them, we just use the Englisch words.
Allison nodded, relaxing in the face of the other womans friendly attitude. It would be foolish to let herself be put off by the fact that Sarahs clothes were old-fashioned and her hair pulled severely from a center part and confined under a white covering at the back of her head. Those externals didnt affect the warmth of her smile.
You havent seen much of the Amish, aint so? Sarahs tone was matter-of-fact.
Am I being obvious? To be honest, youre the first Amish person Ive ever talked to.
Sarahs dimples showed. Youre not the first Englischer Ive talked to, thats certain sure. Mostly around here the Englisch and Amish know each other pretty well.
I could see that you and Nick Whiting know each other. She hoped her tone didnt give away her impression of him.
Sarah paused, her hand on a double bed in the front of the shop. It was completely covered by colorful quilts laid one on top of another. Nicks family lives on the property next to my parents farm, so weve been friends since we were small.
So naturally her sympathy would be with Nick. Shed spoken to him as she would to a brother.
Well, that was enough of betraying an interest in Nick Whiting. Hed already made his attitude toward her presence plain.
These quilts are all for sale? she asked, touching the blue-and-white one on top.
Ja, this is what we have in stock now. Sarah seemed happy to turn her attention to the quilts. I always display them this way so folks can see how they look on a bed. She flipped the top quilt back to display the next, an intricately designed one that glowed in jewel tones. The makers name and the price are on a numbered tag in the corner of the quilt, and I keep a card file with all the information about it.
It seemed a simplistic method of keeping track of stock in the twenty-first century, but maybe that was what Sarah was comfortable with. They are beautiful. Genuine admiration filled Allisons voice. Works of art. She stroked the detailed quilting on the border, each stitch put in perfectly by hand.
You have that in common with your grandmother, then, Sarah said. Even though she didnt do much in the shop, she really loved the quilts.
Somehow she was surprised that theyd had anything at all in common. How did the two of you become partners?
Sarahs smile became reminiscent. I worked for Mrs. Standish when I was a teenagercleaning the house and such. When I didnt marry... She shrugged. Well, most Amish are pairing off by the time they hit their twenties. Evelyn was... Again she hesitated. Evelyn asked me what I wanted to do, and I told her my hope was to start a shop to sell the things Amish quilters made. Sarah lost her hesitancy, her blue eyes sparkling. Women like my mamm, who didnt have a gut place to market their quilts. And she offered me this. A sweep of her arm encompassed the shop.
So you became partners. That argued a generosity on the part of her grandmother that surprised her. Evelyn Standish might have been more complicated than Allisons impression of her.
She put up the money to get started, and I paid her back out of the profits. Sarah sounded more knowledgeable than Allison would have expected. I have my copies of our agreements if you want to see them, but Im sure Evelyns will be in her office upstairs.
Allison nodded. The attorney mentioned the office to me. I suppose Ill have to go through it before I can make any decisions.
Decisions, Sarah repeated. But didnt you say that you cant sell for a year?
Meaning theres no decision to make? Allison shrugged. I can always walk away. Go back to my life in Philadelphia and let Blackburn House go to Brenda Conner.
Sarah actually looked disappointed. Shed have thought the woman would be only too happy to see the last of her.
I hope you dont. Ive always wanted to have an active partner in the business.
Me? I dont know anything about quilts.
You appreciate them, Sarah said. I saw your expression when you touched them. She smiled. Its like mine.
I know what goes into them. Im an interior designer by profession, so naturally I have an appreciation. But Before she could add that she had no desire to spend the next year of her life in Laurel Ridge, they were interrupted.
Hey, Sarah, do me a favor, will you? Nick stood in the doorway, holding a large dog of indeterminate breed by a piece of rope that looked inadequate. Even as Allison watched, the dog made a dive for the nearest display rack, which was hung with an assortment of baby crib quilts.
No! Allisons instinctive cry was echoed by Nick, and he hauled the dog back by the rope. The animal didnt seem to show any resentment of the handling. It sat on Nicks foot and looked up at him with an adoring doggie expression, tongue lolling.
Is this bring-your-dog-to-work day? she asked tartly.
Not my dog, Nick replied, his face relaxing in a grin that invited her to share his amusement. A beauty, isnt he?
Her expression must have spoken for her, because he chuckled.
Sarah hurried to interpose herself between them with the air of one who was used to being a buffer between fractious personalities. I see Ruffy showed up again. Mr. Sheldon must have let him slip out of the house.
Who is Mr. Sheldon, and why is his dog here? Surely, as what she supposed was provisional owner of the building, she had the right to ask.
Randall Sheldon had an office upstairs before he retired, Nick said.
And Ruffy used to come to work with him every day, Sarah contributed. Ruffy doesnt seem to understand retirement. He keeps trying to come to work.
By this time the dog was sniffing at Allisons boots, probably smelling Hector on them. She stepped back. Wouldnt it be a good idea to call this Mr. Sheldon to pick him up?
No need. Nick hauled the animal to him, forestalling an effort to pursue Allison and the interesting smell of cat. Ill take him home. Sarah, Im expecting Mr. and Mrs. Pierce in to look at cabinets. Will you tell them to start looking around? Ill be back as soon as I can.
Of course, Sarah said. Give my best to Mr. Sheldon.
Nick nodded. Heel, Ruffy. The dog promptly sat down. Come. Walk. No response. Nick finally had to drag the animal across the polished marble to the front door.
Sarah had already turned back into the shop, and Allison followed her, unable to resist a comment.
With that casual attitude toward his customers, Im surprised Whiting has any business at all. Why didnt he make the owner come and get the dog?
Sarah seemed surprised. Because thats not the kind of person Nick is. He knows Mr. Sheldon regrets retiring, and he doesnt want him to have to come in for the dog. She smiled a little. You might not know it to look at him, but Nick has a tender heart.
Allison felt as if shed been put in the wrong, no matter how gently. And the incident just emphasized her feeling that shed wandered into a world she didnt understand.
Still, you wouldnt leave your shop unattended, would you?
Sarah seemed to consider. Well, usually there would be someone else around. Sometimes my mother is here, sometimes members of the quilting group. But if I had to, I could trust Nick to keep an eye on things.
It was a different attitudethat was all she could think. She would no more walk off and leave a shop full of valuable merchandise than shed take flight.
Of course, if I had a partner here, it wouldnt be a problem. Sarahs smile teased her.
I...Im not sure thats possible, Allison muttered, feeling ill-equipped to cope. Shed assumed knowing more would help her decision become clear. Instead, everything she learned just seemed to make it more difficult.
CHAPTER THREE
SHE REALLY OUGHT to go through the building and introduce herself to the other renters, but Allison decided she needed a break from other peoples expectations. Lunch and a little time to decompressthat was the solution.
Telling Sarah goodbye and trying to ignore the trace of disappointment in her blue eyes, Allison headed across the street toward the café shed noticed the previous night.