The Friendship Star Quilt Read online

  “Sometimes I have trouble reaching zippers,” Jennie confessed, wrinkling her nose. “If I can’t get this one, Miss Anne, will you help me?”

  “It would be my pleasure, Princess Cinderella,” Anne said then showed the youngster where the dress hung.

  While Jennie changed into the gown, Anne fetched her pincushion, tape measure, and a sturdy wooden display table. It would be the perfect height for Jennie to stand on while they measured and pinned the costume.

  “Ow!” Jennie’s yelp of pain sent Anne running to the bathroom door.

  “Jennie, what’s the matter?” she asked, puling open the door to find the little girl holding her head at an odd angle.

  “My hair!” the child cried. “It’s stuck in the zipper, Miss Anne.”

  “My goodness, Jennie, I thought you were going to be Cinderella for Halloween not Rapunzel,” Anne teased as she gently turned the child around so she could see the problem. In no time, she had Jennie’s curls freed and the zipper closed. “There you go, all fixed up.”

  She took a step back to view the costume. “Oh dear, sweetheart, your daddy was right. Your skirt is definitely too long. We can’t have you tripping over your gown at the ball now, can we?”

  “It’s not a ball. It’s just a princess party at my friend Callie’s house.”

  “Well, a party sounds like much more fun than a ball. You won’t have to worry about some clumsy prince stepping on your toes when you dance.”

  “Oh, princes never step on anyone’s toes,” Jenny protested.

  “Oh?” Anne lifted the little girl onto the low table then arranged the skirt of the miniature ball gown so it hung evenly around her. The child was so adorable standing there with her long blond ringlets tumbling around her shoulders. But her earnest expression nearly made Anne chuckle. “How do princes manage that?”

  Jennie sighed. “Princes have to take charming lessons so they learn not to step on toes.”

  “Really? What else do they learn in their charming lessons?” Anne asked. She knelt on the floor and began to pin the hem as the child chattered.

  “Lots of things. Like how to pull out their swords and not cut their fingers. And how to put on those metal suits. And how to kiss a lady’s hands without getting it all slobbery.”

  “A very useful skill,” Brad said, coming into the shop in time to hear their exchange.

  “Indeed,” Anne agreed, giving him an amused glance. “I had no idea all the things it was necessary for a prince to learn, did you?”

  “No idea at all,” he echoed, giving her a quick wink. Before she could decide how to take the gesture, he turned and smiled at his daughter. “Hello, Princess.”

  “Hi, Daddy. Miss Anne is fixing my gown so I won’t trip on it.”

  “I see.” He turned his gaze back to Anne. “Sorry I didn’t come in with Jenny. I wanted to drop a uniform off at the cleaners this afternoon for one of my students. How is the hemming coming along?”

  “Well, I’ve only pinned it so far, but luckily, the gown won’t need to be shortened as much as I’d feared it might.”

  As she started to rise from the floor, he held out his hand to help her up. After a split second’s hesitation, she accepted the courteous gesture and tried to ignore the fluttering sensation she felt when his strong fingers wrapped around hers. Warmth spread from the contact point through her body, stirring long-forgotten sensations. She quickly pulled away and leaned down, pretending to brush dust from the knees of her jeans but more to hide the sudden heat flooding her cheeks.

  “I can easily hem the skirt at the bottom without ruining the embellishment on the edge,” she said, striving to compose herself. “It’s a fairly easy job and won’t take me more than an hour to do.”

  She turned back to Jennie and held out her hand. “Okay, Princess, we’re finished with this part. Let me help you down so you can change.”

  “Will you come and unzip me, Miss Anne, so I don’t get my hair stuck again?”

  “I’ll be glad to.” Her heart melted when the child’s hand slipped trustingly into her own. As they walked to the restroom, Anne glanced back at Brad then gestured toward the nearest sewing table with her free hand.

  “I finished your flag a few minutes before Jennie arrived, Brad. Why don’t you check it out while I help Princess Cinderella with her gown?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Twick o twee!”

  “Aren’t you the cutest little bug?” Anne said as she handed a coloring book and crayons to a little lady bug whose mother, Kirstie, was one of the Tuesday night quilters.

  It was past The Stitching Post’s normal closing time, but Myra had always extended her hours on Halloween so customers like Kirstie could bring in their children and grandchildren to show off their outfits. On their last phone call, Anne told the shop owner she planned to continue the tradition this year, too. Myra had told her it wouldn’t be necessary, but Anne wanted to do it. She never got trick or treaters at her upstairs apartment, and she loved seeing the little ones in their fanciful garb.

  That afternoon, she’d located the big plastic cauldron in the back room where Myra had told her it would be. The shop owner’s stash of inexpensive coloring books and crayons to give out as treats had been stored inside it in a cardboard box. Now, the cauldron sat on a display table near the cash register, and Anne handed out the books, augmented with play jewelry and bubbles she’d bought at the dollar store the previous week.

  The door chimes jingled the arrival of more costumed cuties. Anne looked up from Kirstie’s toddler to welcome the newcomers.

  “Trick or Treat!” called a dainty blond princess with a lopsided crown as she skipped into the shop.

  “Surprise,” the child’s dad said, following in her wake.

  Anne waved goodbye to Kirstie and her son then turned a welcoming smile on the Carmichaels. Jennie was so adorable Anne wanted to sweep her up in a big hug. Instead, she made a welcoming curtsey. “Princess Cinderella, how very nice of you to stop by our humble shop.”

  “I’m afraid the princess and I have come to ask for another favor,” Brad said, motioning toward his daughter’s head. “Do you know anything about crowns?”

  Jennie shook her head, sending the small crown wobbling. “Daddy, Callie said it’s called a tara, not crown.”

  “I stand corrected, Princess,” Brad said, hiding his amusement at the mispronunciation. He turned to Anne, his eyes twinkling. “Do you know anything about taras, Lady Anne? Cinderella’s keeps slipping out of her hair.”

  “I think we can remedy it with a couple of bobby pins. I should have a package of them in here.” She rummaged in a drawer behind the register for a moment then triumphantly held up a cardboard package to show Jennie. “I use these whenever I have a bad hair day, but they work great for holding hair ornaments, too.”

  She glanced at the child’s father. “Would you hand out treats while I take Princess Cinderella into the back to fix her hair?”

  “Of course. Take your time. I’m a lot better at handing out goodies than dealing with costuming snafus,” he admitted.

  It didn’t take long to braid a couple of side sections of the child’s fine hair. Anne pinned them together in the back then used the plaits to anchor the combs of Jennie’s glittery toy crown. When the headpiece was properly centered, she fastened it firmly in place with crisscrossed bobby pins.

  “How does that feel?”

  Jennie bobbed her head vigorously then gave Anne a triumphant grin. “Really good, Miss Anne. It didn’t slip one bit.”

  “Then I think Cinderella is ready for her ball,” Anne announced, holding out her hand to the youngster. “Or rather her princess party.”

  “The party is tomorrow night,” Jennie said, wrapping her fingers around Anne’s as they headed back to join her father. “Tonight, we’re going trick or treating then I get to spend the night at Callie’s house and help make cookies.”

  “Sounds like—” Anne stopped mid-speech, transfixed by the
amazing sight in front of her.

  Brad stood by the treat cauldron with a giggling infant in a bright orange fleece costume nestled happily in his arms. As Anne watched, he cooed at the infant and tickled the rounded belly of her pumpkin costume. On the other side of the Halloween display, Anne’s friend Lila held the hand of a miniature pirate, who also beamed at the band director.

  “I swear I’ve never seen Sally take to anyone quite like this before, Mr. Carmichael.” The proud great-grandmother beamed and straightened the baby’s pumpkin leaf hat. “I wanted to show Anne the children’s costumes before I took them home to their mother. But Sally started fussing ever since I put on her hat.”

  “Babies like me. I think they can sense how much I like them back.” He reached out his free hand and ruffled the older child’s hair. “I’ll bet this fine pirate wants to dig for a treat in Miss Anne’s big kettle, don’t you?”

  The little lad nodded eagerly.

  “Well, go ahead and pick something out,” Brad urged. “A Halloween cauldron isn’t quite as good as a pirate’s treasure chest, but it is a pretty close second.”

  “Daddy, Miss Anne fixed my tara for me,” Jennie stated, running over to where he stood. She studied the child in his arms then glanced at Lila. “Is that your baby?”

  “In a way,” Lila answered. “Sally is my great-granddaughter. And this is her big brother, Jamie. “

  “I wish I had a baby sister,” Jennie remarked, wistfully. “I could share my room and my clothes with her.” She suddenly giggled as Sally reached over and tried to grab the sparkly princess crown from her head. “But not while I’m wearing them, baby.”

  Anne swallowed down the lump in her throat at the bittersweet scene. If her life had only taken a different route. Before she could dwell on it further, Brad glanced over and saw her standing at the back of the shop.

  “There’s Miss Anne now,” he said, gently bouncing the little one in his arms. “Come and see what I found in the pumpkin patch.”

  Forcing a smile on her lips, Anne moved toward the group and greeted them. Avoiding Brad and the baby, she stopped by the cauldron and stooped down to the little boy’s level. “And who is this fierce young pirate you’ve brought to visit me, Lila?”

  “His name is Jamie,” Jennie announced, eager to join the conversation.

  “I just had a burfday. I’m free now,” the lad added and proudly showed Anne two chubby fingers.

  “Are you, indeed? Well, then we need to put up one more finger,” Anne replied and gently helped the child raise a third digit. She reached over and straightened the bandana on his little head. “Have you picked out a treat yet, Jamie?”

  He shook his head.

  “Well let’s fix that,” she said and glanced at Brad’s daughter. “Jennie, can you help Jamie pick out a nice treat?”

  The little girl nodded, eager to help.

  “Good. Pick a treat for yourself, too, and one to take to your friend Callie.”

  Leaving the youngsters to root happily through the treasure trove of goodies, Anne rose from the floor and faced Brad. “Okay, Mr. Carmichael,” she said. “You’ve hogged this little pumpkin long enough. It’s my turn now.”

  He pretended to consider for a moment before finally relinquishing the warm little bundle to Anne’s waiting arms. When he leaned down to kiss the top of the baby’s head, Anne’s insides nearly melted at the tender gesture. “I hope you realize I’m only giving her up because I need to get Jennie to her little friend’s house.”

  Anne nodded, but her attention was focused on the sweet-smelling baby in her arms. Rocking in the instinctive rhythm known to mothers, she nestled the little one against her.

  “Tell Miss Anne thank you for helping you with your crown, Jennie,” Brad urged as he took his daughter by the hand and prepared to leave.

  “It’s not necessary.” Anne smiled fondly at the little girl. “I was happy to help Jennie.” She waited until they were nearly to the door then called to the girl’s father. “And, Mr. Carmichael… it’s called a tara, remember?”

  He chuckled then headed out into the October night.

  “Now, that one is a keeper,” Lila commented as the door closed behind the departing pair. “He has a good job, loves kids, and is just an all-around doll. If I were forty years younger, I’d go after him myself. But he’s the perfect man for a sweet girl like you, Anne.”

  Ignoring Anne’s protest about not being interested in having a man in her life, Lila held her arms out for the baby. “I need to get this little one and her brother home or their mom will be worried something has happened to us.”

  Since the shop was empty for the moment, Anne walked outside with the trio and helped get the children settled in their car seats. As she turned to say goodbye to their grandmother, the older woman surprised her by suddenly giving her a big hug.

  “Happy Halloween, Anne,” she said as she slid into the driver’s seat. “And mark my words, honey, don’t let that good-looking treat get away from you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  A November wind rustled the old oak tree outside The Stitching Post the next morning and sent another shower of dried leaves dancing across the walkway. Anne seized on them as a perfect excuse to go out in the brisk fall day. After all, she needed to deal with the foliage before it piled up against the stoop and became a nuisance, didn’t she? Leaving Courtney to man the store, she grabbed a broom and trash bag from the supply closet then headed outside.

  Anne loved autumn in Michigan. She enjoyed being outdoors on days like this when the sky was postcard blue and the trees were in full color. She leaned on her broom for a moment and took a deep breath of fresh air then immediately wrinkled her nose. Automobile exhaust fumes. Maybe fresh wasn’t the best description for the air on one of the town’s busiest roads. She closed her eyes and tried to remember autumn on her grandparents’ farm.

  The sweet scent of freshly cut hay baled and stacked in the barn. Bushels of ripe apples, waiting to be trucked to the co-op or to be made into Gran’s apple butter. The last of the pumpkins, corn, peppers, and other vegetables piled in the kitchen where Gran would can or freeze them in preparation for the long winter ahead. The air on the farm had been redolent with the scents of growing crops all spring and summer, but it had seemed richer and more fragrant in the fall of the year. She’d forgotten how much she missed the scents until days like this stirred up the memories.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  Anne startled and opened her eyes to find Brad, standing on the walkway below her, holding up a shiny silver coin. “That’s a quarter.”

  He shrugged. “Inflation has driven up the price of everything these days. Even daydreams.”

  “You’re right,” she agreed then plucked the coin from his fingers. Grinning, she tucked it into her front pocket. “Besides, I don’t want to be accused of putting Mr. Washington on the unemployment rolls.”

  They shared a smile at her reference to their conversation at the Meijer bakery.

  “So what were you daydreaming about?” he asked, going back to his earlier question.

  “Just thinking how much I love the smell of autumn.”

  Brad sniffed the air. “It smells like automobile exhaust.”

  “A little. But I was remembering the smell back home. Newly harvested crops, pumpkin pie and apples ripening in the orchard.”

  “You’re a farm girl?”

  “For most of my life.”

  Brad tipped his head and seemed amused. “How fascinating. I had you pegged as a big city girl, Anne. You know, the opera, museums, fancy restaurants. You appear so stylish and—composed.”

  “Not according to my—” She halted and gave a dismissive wave. It was better to leave that particular train of thought at the station. “Where’s your little sidekick?”

  If he’d noted her abrupt change of subject, he was too polite to question it. “Jennie is at her friend’s house for the weekend. She stayed there after trick or treating last night
, and since their party is this afternoon, Callie’s mom asked if Jennie could spend tonight with them, too. I’ll pick her up after church tomorrow.”

  “I’ll bet it feels a bit odd not to have her by your side.”

  “It does, but—” Brad glanced away for a moment. When he turned back, a worried frown creased his forehead. “Would I sound like a terrible father if I say it is a blessing to have her gone, too?”

  Before Anne could comment, he hurried to explain. “My schedule right now is so crazy busy, Anne. I’m trying to get the band ready for the parade, but they have to learn so many new songs in the next two weeks. I’m using every minute of every rehearsal to help the kids memorize the music. It was wonderful to be able to conduct a long rehearsal this morning and not feel I was neglecting Jennie. Again.”

  It tugged at Anne’s heart to see him so distressed. She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “Brad, you’re about the least neglectful father I’ve ever met. Everyone can see how much you love Jennie. And that little girl adores her daddy, too.”

  “I hope so, but I worry about her having to be cooped up in my office after school so many days, and it’s going to be almost every day again for the next two weeks,” he lamented. “I hate having to do it to her, but I have rehearsals and so many other details to attend to every afternoon. Luckily, she has her piano lessons with Mrs. McGuire on Mondays, but I haven’t been able to line up sitters for the rest of the afternoons until the parade.”

  The parade, of course. He’d stopped by the shop to pick up the flags. “Brad, I’m sorry. You must have come for your flags, but they aren’t quite—”

  “The flags?” he puzzled. “No. I knew you couldn’t possibly have finished the rest of them. Not after I dumped Jennie’s costume alterations on you, too.”

  “You didn’t dump anything on me,” Anne protested. “I was glad to help.”

  “Well, I was driving past just now and, when I saw you standing out front, I realized I hadn’t paid you for altering Miss Cinderella’s gown.”