“Good girl.”
“Dad, I’m practically a full-grown woman.”
“You and your sisters will always be my little girls.”
Sadie shook her head and headed for the cash desk.
Ray glanced at his watch. There was still an hour to go before the shop opened. He’d let the group work until nine forty-five and then have them start packing up.
He headed to the back of the shop and checked on everyone’s progress, giving more pointers. But he had a question that had been bugging him since Sadie had brought up the subject of owls, and he was determined to ask it.
“So, what does everyone think about the subject of our first project?”
“Will there be more classes?” Jason asked eagerly.
“If that’s what everyone wants.”
“I’m interested,” Marie said.
“Me, too,” Adam said, and Sasha practically smirked.
“Great.” Except that Ray wasn’t running a charity. The instruction materials and the basswood blanks cost money. He’d have to figure out what to charge for the classes, etc. He’d have to mention it before the group left that morning. But in the meantime….
“So what about these owls?”
“I’ve never seen a real one,” Marie answered.
“I have,” Adam said. “They’re big and bulky—like a log with wings. You wouldn’t think they could fly.”
“Really?” Sasha said, sounding immensely interested and batting her eyelashes. Ray had to stifle the urge to roll his eyes.
“They’re a symbol of darkness and mystery,” Jason said, his attention riveted on the rough wood in his left hand and the knife in his right. “They’re wise beyond words, but secretive and very powerful.”
“I like owls,” Sasha said. “I wish we were working on snowy owls—like in Harry Potter. Wouldn’t it be cool if they really could deliver letters?”
“Who writes letters anymore?” Adam questioned with disdain.
Sasha shrugged. “I don’t know. How about lovers? In the olden days, people wrote love letters to each other.” Again, it seemed as though she batted her eyelashes, looking coy.
Ray cleared his throat—loudly.
“I like what I’ve done so far,” Bill said. “I think I’d like to buy some tools of my own. Where can I get them?”
Ray made a few suggestions, and also took a poll as to who wanted to return the next week: everyone. He gave a rough estimate for the cost of materials, and nobody seemed averse. It looked like the Saturday morning carving class was going to continue.
At precisely ten, everyone but Jason left the shop, with Sasha looking longingly out the front window to watch Adam cross the parking lot, heading for parts unknown.
“So, how did you like your first class?” Sadie asked Jason.
“It was good. I know it will please my grandmother if I can do something like my grandfather used to do. But I will choose a different project to make as a gift for her.”
“I’m sure your grandfather would be very pleased to hear you say that,” Sadie said.
The boy tore his gaze from Sadie to Ray. “Thank you.”
Ray shrugged. “Not a problem.”
Sadie cleared her throat. Ray would never let the girls get away with uttering that phrase.
“You’re welcome,” he amended.
Jason looked back to the door. “Here comes my grandmother. I’ll see you next week,” he said, clutching the bag with his instructions, the block of partially carved wood, and a borrowed knife.
“Bye,” Sadie and Sasha said in unison.
Once the door closed behind him, the three of them looked at one another.
“Wow, that went well,” Sadie commented.
“Much better than I expected,” Ray admitted. He focused his gaze on his youngest daughter. “I’m glad you stuck around for the class, kiddo, but you don’t need to come next week.”
“Why not?” Sasha asked, looking crestfallen. “Is my carving that bad?”
“No, but—”
“Don’t you want me to follow in your footsteps?”
“Well, sure, but—”
“I could become a carving virtuoso! Maybe get my work included in the Googleheim Museum.”
“That’s Guggenheim,” Ray corrected.
“Whatever,” Sasha said and laughed.
Ray shook his head and wandered over to the front display window. Jason and his grandmother still stood in the parking lot. The boy gestured wildly, brandishing the rough carving in one hand, with an ear-to-ear grin. One carving class wasn’t going to change the course of his life … or would it?
Only time would tell.
3
The Story Behind The Story
My father, Len Bartlett, was a jack of all trades. Literally. He was known as a “fitter,” and got his training at the Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth, England. When he came to the US, he found similar work, but also had side jobs. One of them was framing houses, which would come in very handy when he added rooms onto our home and family cottage, and gutted and rebuilt my first house. He had lots of hobbies, too. He made jewelry, fixed watches and clocks, and in his later years he took up carving. (Santas were his specialty.)
I love the cover for Carving Out A Path, which was done by Wicked Smart Designs. In it, the designer was able to incorporate three of my father’s wood carvings. The tall Santa even won an award from a prestigious contest in Berea, KY. One of Dad’s carving buddies moved to KY from Western NY and wanted to make the same design, but he needed to actually see the finished project. So my father mailed the Santa to him, not knowing that it would be entered in the contest. So imagine my Dad’s surprise when the carving arrived back home with that first place ribbon!
I own more than 100 of my Dad’s carvings, and I enjoy looking at them every day. I hope you enjoy the three Santas on the cover as much as I do.
About the Author
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett’s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent--whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett—that keeps her in the hearts of her readers. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series, the Tales of Telenia adventure-fantasy saga, and now the Lotus Bay Mysteries, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the descriptions and links to all her works, and sign up for her emailed newsletter here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com
You can also find her on Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, and Goodreads.
If you enjoyed Carving Out A Path please consider reviewing it on your favorite online review site. Thank you!
Find Lorraine on Social Media
@LorraineBartlet
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Also by Lorraine Bartlett
The Lotus Bay Mysteries
Panty Raid (A Tori Cannon-Kathy Grant mini mystery)
With Baited Breath
Christmas At Swans Nest
* * *
The Victoria Square Mysteries
A Crafty Killing
The Walled Flower
One Hot Murder
Dead, Bath and Beyond (with Laurie Cass)
Recipes To Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbook
* * *
Life On Victoria Square
Carving Out A Path
* * *
Blythe Cove Manor
A Dream Weekend
A Final Gift
An Unexpected Visitor
* * *
Tales of Telenia (adventure-fantasy)
THRESHOLD
JOURNEY
TREACHERY
* * *
Short Stories
Love & Murder: A Bargain-Priced Collection of Short Stories
Happy Holidays? (A Collection of Christmas Stories)
An Unconditional Love
Love Heals
Blue Christmas
Prisoner of Love
We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert
* * *
Writing as L.L. Bartlett
The Jeff Resnick Mysteries
Murder On The Mind
Dead In Red
Room At The Inn
Cheated By Death
Bound By Suggestion
Dark Waters
Shattered Spirits
* * *
Jeff Resnick’s Personal Files
Evolution: Jeff Resnick’s Backstory
A Jeff Resnick Six Pack
When The Spirit Moves You
Bah! Humbug
Cold Case
Spooked!
Crybaby
Eyewitness
* * *
Other Stories
Abused: A Daughter’s Story
Off Script
* * *
Writing as Lorna Barrett
The Booktown Mysteries
Murder Is Binding
Bookmarked For Death
Bookplate Special
Chapter & Hearse
Sentenced To Death
Murder On The Half Shelf
Not The Killing Type
Book Clubbed
A Fatal Chapter
Title Wave
A Just Clause
* * *
With The Cozy Chicks
The Cozy Chicks Kitchen
Tea Time With The Cozy Chicks
Carving Out a Path Page 3