by Alex Bailey
Freda jumped to attention, “Alright, ladies. See you next week.” The mole on her chin trembled as she said, “And that includes you, Ann. Unless you want to pay the price I fear Jasmine has already paid.”
Chapter 27
Ann woke early, eager to get to the airport. After a night from hell at the knitting club, she was more certain than ever she needed to get back to sanity. She still didn’t know what to make of Freda’s preposterous rules. She tried to put the previous evening out of her mind and concentrate on her upcoming trip.
Grabbing the Burrburgh Times newspaper from her front steps, Ann ran down the front walk, with luggage in hand. She shoved the paper into her purse while Gloria insisted she hand over her suitcase. “Thanks, Gloria, I really appreciate the ride to the airport.”
“It’s no problem. I’m quite certain if I needed a hand, you’d be right there for me as well.” Gloria smiled and dumped the bag into the trunk.
Ann agreed. “And you’re a dear for taking care of Honey too.” She handed Gloria her house key.
“That’s nothing. I adore that pooch. We’ll get on fabulously as will she and Diablo. Don’t worry about a thing, except—”
“Except what?” Ann climbed into Gloria’s silver Mercedes.
Gloria slid in behind the wheel and started on the journey to the airport. “I do hope you will reconsider the rules,” she whispered. “It’s not a game, Ann. We’re compelled to remain the rest of our days in the Burrburgh chapter of the knitting club. We mustn’t break the rules. You have no idea what penalty Jasmine has paid. This is deadly serious.”
Something hit Ann that she hadn’t heard before. “Burrburgh chapter?”
“There are knitting clubs at various locations throughout the world,” Gloria mumbled. “Lil Dorsey received special permission to open this chapter, as there was additional need to do so. Otherwise, she would have had to move in order to join one.”
“Why would she move just to join a knitting club?”
“Because we are obliged to do so.” Gloria’s eyes scrunched up as if she were about to cry. “I cannot say any more than I already have. We shouldn’t even be speaking about these things, but I do worry about you. You don’t seem to take the rules seriously and I don’t want any harm to come to my new friend.”
Ann didn’t want to argue again. She was convinced no harm would come to her for violating the silly rules. She was excited to be going home and changed the subject. “Thanks for worrying about me.” She patted Gloria’s shoulder. “I’ve written all of the instructions for Honey’s feeding schedule on a card on the kitchen table. She’ll beg for treats. It’s up to you really, how you want to handle that. I’ve left a bag on the table of her favorites.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Ann chatted away happily for the remainder of the ride and jumped out as Gloria pulled up to Ann’s departure spot. “Thanks for the ride and taking care of Honey and for everything! Call me if you need anything.”
“And you phone me if you change your mind and need a lift for…” Gloria watched the sky hop eyeing them. “Well, at any rate, I strongly urge you, Ann…to return in time for the meeting.” Gloria was shaking as she practically begged Ann to change her plans. But Ann’s plans were set. And she was determined not to let an old biddy, like Freda, rule her life.
* * * * *
Ann checked in far before her plane’s arrival time and had an hour to kill before takeoff. After purchasing a large cup of coffee, she relaxed in a seat in the waiting area near her terminal so she could hear her flight being called. She pulled the Burrburgh Times newspaper from her purse. The front-page headline caught her eye, “Local woman dies on vacation while knitting.” Her heart thumped, as she read…
Yorkchestershiretown resident, Jasmine Cheese was found dead in her hotel room while on vacation in Mexico City with her companion, Felix Descojone. Descojone discovered the gruesome scene last night after returning to the room he shared with Cheese to find her slumped over in a chair. He immediately dialed the authorities and upon further examination, they discovered she had fallen onto her own knitting needles. Descojone was not present when the authorities arrived, as he had pressing business. But we caught up with him later that evening outside the hotel to get this brief statement before he rushed off, “I was very surprised to learn how Jasmine died. I didn’t know she could knit.” Cheese leaves behind a ten-year-old son, Ralph Cheese, mother-in-law Florita Gabriella Juanita Maria Cheese, and sisters-in-law: Maria Cheese, Juanita Cheese, and Gabriella Cheese-Sanchez.
Ann was stunned by the news of Jasmine’s death. Her hands shook as she held the newspaper. She’d just seen Jasmine with Felix; and she seemed perfectly healthy. But Gloria had warned Jasmine not to go on the trip and not to miss the knitting club meeting. And Freda had just warned Ann to return in time for the next meeting or pay the same price Jasmine had paid. But how could Freda have known Jasmine would die? She couldn’t have known! It was absurd; no one could have guessed Jasmine would take her knitting needles with her on vacation.
And Jasmine didn’t knit. She’d made that quite clear during their first meeting. She thought knitting was a bore or boring or something like that. Anyway, Ann clearly remembered Jasmine did not knit, and that made her curious about why she would suddenly take up the hobby when years of Knitting Club hadn’t changed her mind.
A chill ran up the small of her neck. Ann hadn’t believed any of the concerns Gloria had expressed, but now she began to wonder. It wasn’t as if Freda herself could have done something dastardly to Jasmine. And why did it seem everyone else was in fear of showing their feelings toward certain things during the meetings? Like when someone mentioned anyone dying? And about that, wasn’t it extraordinarily coincidental every one of the knitting club’s members’ husbands had died? And while it was very thoughtful of Freda to have each member tell their life story in order for Ann to get to know them better, it was also somewhat strange to know their life story when she had just met them. And what about that weird sensation she had last night when she tried to stop herself from telling her story, where she was physically incapable of stopping?
Ann’s stomach began to curl up inside itself. What was she to make of all this? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want to end up like Jasmine either. She slapped the side of her face. Snap out of it! It was a coincidence! Nothing more. Definitely not something to be concerned about. Or was it? She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Ann felt so mixed up at that moment that she almost didn’t hear the final boarding call for her plane. She grabbed her bag and ran to catch her plane.
Once she was all settled in, she decided she’d enlist the help of the most level-headed person on earth—Alex. Her friend would certainly be able to sort through everything and make a decision as to whether or not to be concerned about this knitting club thing. Once she made up her mind to leave it in the hands of her most trusted friend, Ann leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
* * * * *
Sitting in Alex’s kitchen, Ann explained the entire two and a half months she’d been gone, trying to find a job, landing one, being fired from one, starting her cookie business and working on opening a bakery, meeting and falling in love with Ben, and finally the wackiness of the knitting club. She wondered which part of the story Alex would feel was more unusual—the fact that she’d joined a club where everyone’s husband was dead or that she actually liked this quirky group of women.
“So, what do you think?” Ann asked, wide-eyed after recounting her story.
“About what?” Alex snickered, “You’ve told me so much; my head is about to explode.”
“Yeah, it’s been action-packed. Gotta admit that. But what do you think about this weird knitting…club…thing?”
Alex paused a moment, then finally let out, “I’m not sure what you’re looking for from me, and I certainly don’t want to disappoint someone I’ve missed so much. I think there’s some cause for concern. I mean, this whol
e everyone’s-husband-is-dead thing is a bit too much for me to wrap my head around.”
“Right?” Ann nodded wildly. “And then the woman, Jasmine?”
“Who didn’t knit but was found with knitting needles through her heart? In Mexico? I mean, come on, this sounds too bizarre for real life,” Alex said with concern in her tone. “It sounds like something you’d read about.”
“It sounds like something I’d read about in one of your novels!” Ann said, with a not-too-convincing grin.
“True. How true. But we’re not talking about one of my novels, Ann. This is your life. This is rather strange. I don’t really know what to make of it.”
Appearing more serious than she’d ever been, Ann took a gulp of coffee and asked, “If it were you, what would you do?”
“About which part?” Alex squinted.
“You know, should I change my flight to be back before the next knitting club meeting? Or blow this whole thing off as a quirky happenstance?” She was desperate for an answer.
Alex took a sip of her tea, hesitated, and then said, “I think you need to put this out of your mind for a few days. Let’s have some fun. Sounds like you could use some.” She then offered Ann another cup of coffee. “We’ll get back to the question after we’ve gotten you a little R and R.”
Alex’s husband, Jack walked in and exclaimed, “Ann! How the hell’ve you been?”
Ann stood and wrapped her arms around Jack’s husky middle. “I’m…I’m…”
“Wow, never thought I’d have that affect on you,” Jack teased as he let go of his wife’s best friend.
“It’s okay, Jack, Ann’s just a little dazed from the plane ride. She’ll be just fine though. We need to get her out and have some fun.”
“I’ve got friends coming for a round of poker tonight. Why don’t you ladies head over to your old stomping ground?” he said.
“Trying to get rid of us so you can lose your butt again?” Alex teased.
“Who? Me?” He strained to display his best innocent-boy expression.
Alex ignored him, as she often did and said, “Actually, it sounds good to me.” Then to Ann, “You up for a good old stomp?”
Maybe that’s just what I need. “Sure, why not? Let’s get the whole gang together,” Ann threw up her hands in surrender.
“That’s more like the old Ann.” Alex patted her shoulder. “I think there’s hope for you after all. I’ll make some quick calls and let them all know we’ll meet at Gallagher’s at eight.”
Ann instantly felt the stress float away with the mention of seeing her friends and hanging out at her old watering hole.
* * * * *
Ann slept until almost noon the next day. She’d had way too much to drink the night before and way too much fun. She thought. But she wasn’t quite sure since she couldn’t remember much of it. The smell of coffee lured her to the kitchen.
“Good morning,” Alex teased, “or is it afternoon?”
“Ha ha. Exactly how much did I drink last night?” Ann held her head with both hands.
“Not that much. I’ve seen you pack away far more than you did last night. Maybe even a whole bottle of beer!”
“That’s not good. If I feel this bad by not having that much, then that only means one thing.” Ann looked at Alex and in unison they announced, “We’re getting old!”
“Well, I’ve got a surprise I hope will make you feel much better,” Alex said, sounding perkier than she should after a night on the town.
“Oh yeah?” Ann reached into the cabinet for a bottle of aspirin. “What’s that?”
“The kids are stopping by today.”
Ann’s tone changed dramatically when she heard the news. “What? When? I didn’t call them because I thought they’d be too busy! How did you drag them away from campus?”
“I told them you were coming and they couldn’t wait to see you. They’re busy the rest of the weekend, so they’re skipping classes today. I was worried you were going to sleep through their visit.”
“What time are they coming?” Ann asked.
“They’ll be here any minute.”
“I have to get ready!” Ann threw the bottle of aspirin on the counter and ran upstairs. Soon afterwards the shower began to run and almost before Ann could blink, she was back downstairs, dressed, with wet hair and ready to see her kids.
“Are they here yet?” she asked excitedly.
Alex was carrying a tray with glasses and a pitcher of Arnold Palmers out the back door when she answered, “Yup, come on out.”
Alex set the tray on the table by the pool and announced, “Here she is, Ms. America!”
In spite of her headache, Ann squealed like a little girl when she saw her babies lounging by the pool. She ran over to them. Adam and Adrien jumped from their chairs to hug their mom. She was ecstatic, one of the happiest moments of her life. Ann threw her arms around her kids and danced with them in a circle.
“Mom, it’s so good to see you!” Adam said.
“We missed you so, so much!” Adrien said.
“You have no idea how good it is to see you two!” Ann didn’t want to let go of her twins.
When they’d had sufficient hugging time, Alex passed around the Arnold Palmers.
Alex made some excuse for needing to get back into the house. She wandered in and out of the patio with trays of food now and then, but for the most part, left them alone to catch up.
* * * * *
A week later, Ann said, “It’s been a great visit. Seeing you and the kids. It’s exactly what I needed. Especially the trip to Disneyland. That was so much fun. Why have we never been before?”
“Oh, I don’t know, busy raising children, working, a million things get in the way of fantastic fun.” With coffee pot in hand, Alex asked. “Want another cup?”
“Sure, hit me.”
“I’m glad you had a good visit with the kids. I’m sure they were just as anxious to see you. I know I was!”
Ann took a deep breath, absorbing all that was her old familiar life. But she had decisions to make and needed Alex’s insight. It was the reason for the trip and she couldn’t wait another minute. “Alex,” she began, “can you sit for a minute, I really need your advice on some things.”
Alex sat down and studied her friend’s face. “What’s up? You look upset.”
“Not upset, exactly. I need to explain a little more about Ben. You see, I didn’t tell you he wants me to move in with him.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Alex frowned. “Are you thinking it won’t be a good role model for your kids if you move in with a man? They’re in college. Berkeley—not exactly a convent.”
Ann shook her head. “No, that’s not it. Not at all. You see, he said something that made me wonder if he would truly be committed.”
Alex leaned forward and gave her friend her full attention.
“He said he would never remarry.” She took another big gulp of coffee and held onto the mug as if she was trying to hold onto her old life.
“Re-marry?” Alex looked perplexed. “He’s been married before?”
“His wife died a long time ago.” Ann glanced down, she knew what was coming from her friend.
“Wow, what’s with this town of yours? Sounds like a magnet for anyone who’s lost a spouse.” Alex got up and pushed the button to heat the water in the kettle.
But Ann knew it was no joke. Everyone in Knitting Club had lost a spouse and they had somehow each ended up in this group.
“What are you worried about then?” Alex turned and leaned on the counter.
“Let’s say I move in with him—what does that mean? We’re not married, we’ll never get married, and so where does that leave me in the long run?”
“You don’t know he’ll never get married. The man lost his wife. He may change over time.”
Ann didn’t know how to tell her this was one decision she didn’t believe would ever change. She said slowly, “I don’t believe that. I don’t be
lieve he will change his mind about this. Ever.”
Alex took a tea bag out of a jar, slipped it into her cup and poured water over it. She plucked a mint leaf from the plant on her window sill and dunked it into the cup. “I see the concern on your face. I guess you need to figure out if you want to live with a man for the rest of your life knowing you’ll never marry him. Is that something you want for yourself?”
Ann paused for a brief moment, then said, “I’ve never thought about it. Before Tom died, I figured he would be the only man I’d ever marry.” She lowered her gaze and rubbed her forehead. “It’s not like I want more kids or anything.” She thought about the last rule of Knitting Club, that she can never remarry. And how Helga read her palm and predicted she would only have one husband.
“Ann, living with Ben could be the best of both worlds for you. Like you said, you don’t want kids. By living with him, and if things don’t work out, you’d easily be able to end it. How do you get along day-to-day since you worked with him? That should give you some idea what living with him would be like.”
“Good, great, actually. He’s easy to get along with. He pampers me. He’s even getting me to be greener.” Ann laughed, knowing the house she was sitting in had solar panels on its roof.
Alex gave her a look of disbelief. “What? I’ve known you forever and I’ve never been able to rub any green lotion onto that golden skin of yours!”
“I know, I know. He has a really great influence on me. And so helpful with this bakery thing. As busy as he is with his car dealership, he makes time for me.”
“As long as he doesn’t play golf,” Alex laughed. “Tom used to drive you crazy playing golf every weekend. Ben doesn’t play, does he?”
“He does. But it’s no problem. His golf club meetings are at the same time as my knitting club. It’s made up of men who’ve moved to Burrburgh from all over the country.”