“None,” said Jeremy flatly. “And I say that having met Gordon.
Let me see this alleged sonnet. I bet it came out of a greeting card.”
“I don’t have it on me,” said Anna, flustered. “Anyway, it’s private.”
He gestured for her to hand it over. “Come on.”
She hesitated, but he was resolute, and she wanted to prove to him that Gordon had written her a poem. Unless Theresa had written it—but she squelched that thought and went to her bedroom for the poem. Reluctantly, she gave it to Jeremy, who unfolded the page and read the words with a deepening frown.
“It’s not from a greeting card,” she told him.
“I know,” he said, and he looked as if he were sorry he had asked. “It’s by Sir Philip Sidney, a sixteenth-century English poet.
Gordon just changed the woman’s name from Stella to Anna. Every undergraduate English major knows this poem.”
Anna felt faint. She had been seconds away from calling Gordon to apologize and forgive him everything.
The Elm Creek Quilters were so divided in their opinions about the applicants that the evening of deliberation Sylvia had arranged quickly proved to be insufficient. If they could have chosen by a simple majority vote, they could have selected their two finalists within a day, but Sylvia insisted their decision be unanimous. It would not do to admit someone into their circle of quilters unless everyone could give the newcomer an unqualified welcome.
“But that doesn’t mean Summer and I aren’t leaving if we can’t agree,” said Judy.
“I know that,” said Diane so quickly that they all knew Judy had interrupted her in the midst of plotting an interminable filibuster.
Within four days they reached their first decision: Karen Wise would not be one of the two finalists. Diane thought that anyone incapable of finding a baby-sitter for a job interview was not resourceful enough to handle the various crises Elm Creek Quilters faced every day. The others considered this view too harsh, but they agreed that although Karen was a fine quilter, she was less experienced than the other applicants. Elm Creek Quilt Camp students expected a great deal from their classes and workshops, and it might be unfair to them—and to Karen—to give them a novice teacher.
“She’s never taught quilting, not even at a quilt shop,” said Diane, echoing an earlier concern. “I’m not sure why we invited her to an interview.”
Because of her letter, Sylvia explained. No other applicant had so perfectly articulated the spirit of Elm Creek Quilts. Sylvia had thought Karen deserved to make her case for that reason alone. If she had taught even a single class at a quilt shop, Sylvia might be willing to take a chance on her, but her teaching experience was too different from what she would face at quilt camp. Karen was simply not ready.
“In a few years, perhaps, but not now,” said Sylvia, and with some regret, placed Karen’s portfolio on the pile with the other eliminated applicants.
Everyone loved Anna, and not only for the delicious cookies. “I ranked her first out of all the applicants,” said Bonnie. “If we ever open a quilt shop here in the manor, her experience at her aunt’s store will be invaluable.”
“Her aunt’s store went out of business,” reminded Diane.
“I’m sure that wasn’t Anna’s fault.”
“Gretchen has more relevant quilt shop experience than Anna,” said Sarah, who privately was not convinced that the manor ought to include a retail store. “But our most immediate need is for teachers. Anna has taught quilting, but not recently.”
“Anna has other talents,” remarked Sylvia.
The Elm Creek Quilters exchanged questioning looks. Then Sarah caught on. “Oh, yes. Please. Hire her today.”
Summer looked uncertain. “But she applied for a teaching position. Would she be insulted if we asked her to take a different job?”
“It won’t hurt to ask,” said Gwen.
“Indeed,” said Sylvia. “She can always refuse.”
She set Anna’s portfolio aside.
The Elm Creek Quilters needed another week to decide the fates of the remaining three candidates, who were so well-qualified in different ways that it was difficult to choose. All three had years of teaching experience, each had designed original quilt patterns, each had developed a following that might help boost camp enrollment. Each possessed qualities that made the Elm Creek Quilters eager to welcome them into their circle of quilters, and each raised questions about how they would fit in.
For all Maggie’s skill and depth of knowledge of quilt history, she was not very versatile in her style. Would she be willing and able to teach other classes if their campers were not interested in reproducing the Harriet Findley Birch quilt?
“She has taught other classes,” said Sarah, reading from Maggie’s résumé. “Machine and hand appliqué. Machine and hand piecing. Hand quilting. The list goes on.”
“So does her list of upcoming speaking engagements,” said Diane. “How committed to us can she be if she’s going to be traveling all the time? Are we ever going to get to know her if she just shows up to teach her camp classes and then heads out to a quilt guild as soon as camp is over?”
“I didn’t get the impression that she intended to continue her exhausting travel schedule,” said Sylvia. “I believe that’s why working for us appeals to her so much.”
“Anyway, Russell McIntyre has the same problem,” said Sarah.
Everyone acknowledged that this was true, and the debate turned to him. All agreed that Russell was an accomplished art quilter who had developed his own style and techniques. As a man in a predominantly women’s field, he would indeed bring a new and valuable perspective to Elm Creek Quilts. But he seemed to know very little about quilting history and traditions, and out of all the applicants, he had been the only one to fail Agnes’s test.
“It wasn’t a fair test in his case,” reasoned Gwen, who had placed Russell at the top of her list. “He doesn’t do hand appliqué. We knew that.”
“He didn’t fail the test by not knowing how to help me,” said Agnes, removing her pink-tinted glasses and rubbing her eyes wearily. “He failed by not wanting to help.”
“But he was on his way out, and he wanted to leave as quickly as possible,” said Gwen. “Diane had insulted him.”
“Diane insulted everyone,” Judy pointed out. “Russell was the only one to leave before the interview was over. He was the only one who refused to help Agnes.”
“But …” said Gwen, then shrugged. “Never mind. You’re right.”
Gretchen, on the other hand, had soared through Agnes’s test. Not only had she been willing to take the time to help a stranger, she had offered a solution Agnes had never heard of before. “We should hire her at once,” said Agnes. “She has so much to offer our students.”
“But for how long?” asked Diane. “I like that she’s a traditionalist. No one loves quilting by hand more than I do. But isn’t Gretchen getting a little close to retirement to make such a drastic career change?”
“It’s not that drastic,” said Judy. “She’s been quilting and teaching for decades.”
“Maybe too many decades,” said Diane, sparing a furtive glance for the elder Elm Creek Quilters.
“We can’t discriminate on the basis of age,” said Sarah.
Diane held up her hands. “I’m just saying we need to think of how long the people we choose are likely to stay with us.”
Agnes regarded her coolly. “I’m older than Gretchen. Is my job in jeopardy?”
“Of course not,” said Diane. “Forget I mentioned it.”
But they could not forget, and as the intermittent discussion wore on, the Elm Creek Quilters pieced together a solution with as much care as if it were a quilt they hoped would become a cherished heirloom.
Their first unanimous vote came in favor of Maggie, whose strengths as a quilter, teacher, designer, and historian set her slightly ahead of the other two. After that, their second choice became clear. Most of Gretche
n’s strengths overlapped with Maggie’s, but Russell possessed other skills and experiences Maggie did not. As a pair they complemented each other well, better than Maggie and Gretchen did.
The second unanimous vote came nearly three weeks after the interviews. Once Sylvia was assured all were at peace with their decision, she instructed Sarah to call the applicants.
When the phone rang, Maggie eagerly picked up, hoping the caller was Russell. Since his visit the previous weekend, he had called almost every evening from the road. His quilt guild tour was winding down and he was supposed to return home that afternoon. She had not expected him to call until later, but she was glad he had. She wanted to tell him that she had decided to accept his invitation to visit him in Seattle the following week. She was not sure why she had hesitated, prompting him to add that she should think about it and let him know. No hard feelings if she couldn’t come. The guest room would be ready either way.
But the voice on the line belonged to a woman. “Maggie?”
“Yes?”
“This is Sarah McClure from Elm Creek Quilts.”
“Oh, of course.” Here it came: the moment of rejection she had dreaded. “How are you?”
“Fine, thanks. I’m calling with good news. On behalf of all the Elm Creek Quilters, I’d like to offer you the teaching position. We would be delighted if you would join our faculty.”
“I—” Maggie sat down. “Really? You’re really offering me the job? But I did so badly in the interview. Are you sure?”
Sarah laughed. “Are you trying to talk me out of it? Of course we’re sure. You won’t need to begin teaching until the new camp season in March, but we’d like to have you out here no later than January. Does that sound all right?”
“That sounds fine. Better than fine. It sounds wonderful.” Then Maggie thought of Russell, and suddenly relocating to Pennsylvania lost its appeal. “I don’t suppose you could tell me who the other new teacher is?”
“I really shouldn’t, not until I’ve notified the other applicants.”
Maggie felt a thrill of delight. She was the first new teacher Elm Creek Quilts had called.
She hesitated only a moment, a moment in which she considered Russell’s qualifications for the job and decided that if the Elm Creek Quilters had chosen her, they surely also intended to make an offer to someone like Russell. Even if they did not, she could not afford to throw away the job offer of a lifetime all because of one marvelous weekend and a dozen phone calls with a man she had only just met. No matter how wonderful he seemed. No matter how much she already liked him. No matter how readily he laughed.
She thanked Sarah and told her she would begin planning her move to Pennsylvania. Sarah promised to be in touch.
As soon as Maggie hung up, she dialed Russell’s number. The line was busy.
Maggie smiled as she replaced the receiver. Very likely, he was on the line with Sarah McClure at that very moment.
Russell heard the phone ringing as he unlocked the front door. Dropping his bags on the porch, he bounded inside and snatched up the phone just as the answering machine clicked on.
“Hold on a moment,” he called over the outgoing message, fumbling for the off switch. “Okay, sorry about that. Hello?”
“Hello, Russell McIntyre?”
A woman, but not Maggie. “Yes?” he said, disappointed. He should have let the machine get it.
“This is Sarah McClure from Elm Creek Quilts.”
“Oh, hi.” He had never expected to hear from them after storming out of the interview. The memory of it still embarrassed him.
“I’m calling with good news. After considering all the candidates, we’ve decided to offer you one of the teaching positions. You won’t be expected to teach until the new camp season begins in March, but we’ll need you here by January so we can prepare. How does that sound?”
“Uh—” Russell’s thoughts flew to Maggie, to her warming smile, the feel of her hand in his, and knew he could not move so far away from her. “I’m curious. Who else did you hire?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say. Not all of the applicants have been notified.”
“Oh. Right.” Russell considered. Maggie was convinced that she had failed miserably in the interview. She had told him she was certain that she would not be offered the job. He decided to believe her. “I’m afraid my plans have changed. I’m no longer able to accept the job.”
“You don’t want the job?”
She sounded incredulous, and with good reason. “I’m truly very sorry it didn’t work out.”
“Is this because of a certain overzealous interviewer?” asked Sarah. “I assure you, our decision to choose you was unanimous, and she’s eager to make amends.”
“It’s not that,” said Russell, although he was satisfied to hear it. “I’ve decided that I want to stay on the West Coast, that’s all.”
“All right, then,” said Sarah, still sounding as if she did not believe he was turning her down. “Would you consider joining us as a visiting instructor on occasion? I still believe we have a lot to offer each other.”
“Thanks. I’ll consider it,” said Russell. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
But he was impatient to get off the line. He would rather work out travel arrangements for Maggie’s visit to Seattle than for some future, hypothetical visit to Elm Creek Quilt Camp.
“I can’t believe it,” said Sarah, hanging up. “After all that, he doesn’t want the job.”
Sylvia shrugged. “After what Diane put him through, I suppose we can’t be too surprised.”
“I’m surprised,” said Sarah. “We aren’t the least bit turn-downable. Now what are we supposed to do? Call an emergency meeting and have another vote? Deliberate another two weeks? That’s just enough time for all of our applicants to find other work or to become so irritated at us for taking so long that they’ll brush off our offer just like Russell did.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” said Sylvia. “There’s really only one other choice, don’t you agree?”
After two weeks with no word from Elm Creek Quilts, Gretchen was tempted to call and ask how the selection process was going and if she was still in the running. She refrained, in part because she did not want to nag, in part because she was too busy working out the final details of her separation from Quilts ’n Things. Heidi’s daughter, submitting to pressure from her mother to decline Gretchen’s offer to sell her share of the store, had come around only after other potential buyers surfaced. Rather than allow control of the store to leave the family, Heidi relented, and her daughter eagerly made Gretchen a fair market bid. Now all that was left was the paperwork.
Naturally, all the local quilters were astonished when the news broke that Gretchen was leaving Quilts ’n Things on unpleasant terms. A frenzy of gossip circulated through the quilting bees, spurred on, no doubt, by Heidi’s embellished version of recent events. Gretchen refused to demean herself by carrying on her disagreement with Heidi through the rumor mill. When mutual acquaintances asked her what had happened, she told them, simply and without acrimony. Then she left them to make up their own minds. It was too soon to tell which friends would stand by her, which would abandon her out of loyalty to Heidi, and which would try to balance precariously between them, in hopes that one day they might make amends and everything might go back to the way it was before.
Gretchen knew that would never happen. She also knew—and this was a nagging worry—that she would have to find some work to occupy her time and pay the bills. The sale of her share of Quilts ’n Things would carry her and Joe a little ways, but it would not last forever.
When Sarah McClure finally called, Gretchen’s heart leaped and she eased herself into a chair, holding her voice carefully neutral. She could not tell from the young woman’s greeting if she intended to deliver good news or bad.
Thankfully, Sarah got right to the point. When she asked Gretchen if she could be available by January, Gretchen said, “I cou
ld be available next week if you like. If you need a substitute teacher, I’d be delighted to fill in anytime. Just say the word.”
How fortuitous that she had already cleared her calendar by resigning from the quilt shop.
Joe waited nearby until Gretchen hung up. “Well?” he asked.
She flung her arms around him. “How soon can you pack up your workshop? We’re moving to Elm Creek Manor!”
Karen was in the kitchen fixing the boys a snack of soynut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches when the phone rang. Sylvia Compson was kind and regretful as she delivered the bad news Karen had expected since leaving Elm Creek Manor.
“I’m very sorry,” Sylvia said.
“That’s all right.” Or it would be, if Karen thrived on disappointment and rejection. “I expected as much when I couldn’t find a baby-sitter and the interview turned into a debate on the merits of extended breastfeeding.”
“That wasn’t the reason at all,” said Sylvia. “We appreciate a rousing discussion as much as anyone. We simply found that some of our other candidates had more teaching experience. Perhaps if you teach at your local quilt shop, the next time we hire, you’ll be among the most qualified.”
“Thank you for the suggestion,” said Karen, although she doubted there would be a next time.
When she hung up, she found Nate listening in from the doorway. “Who was that?”
“Sylvia Compson from Elm Creek Quilts.”
“And?”
Karen shook her head.
“I’m sorry, honey.” Nate wrapped her in a hug, and she rested her head on his chest. “I know you really wanted that job.”
“It’s all right,” said Karen, and she meant it. In a way, it was even a relief. She had no idea how she would have managed working outside the home and raising the boys without driving herself to the brink of exhaustion.
“But I know how much it meant to you.” Nate hesitated. “I know you want a paying job so that you can feel like you’re doing something important.”
“That’s not it.” Karen pulled away and picked up the knife, slicing Lucas’s sandwich into squares and Ethan’s into triangles, the way they preferred. “I think that what I do now is important. Not making sandwiches, but all of it. What could be more important than raising my two children to be self-confident, compassionate, moral adults? I just wish other people respected what I do. I know I shouldn’t care what other people think, but I wish other people thought that what I do is important.”
Elm Creek Quilts [09] Circle of Quilters Page 30