The Postman Always Purls Twice

by Anne Canadeo

  The rest of her friends did, too. And none wanted to miss a chance to hang out and knit with Jennifer Todd.

  Chapter Three

  On Monday night, five minutes before nine, everyone but Suzanne seemed to accept that they’d been stood up. But Maggie could have guessed that.

  “Movie stars are always late. It’s part of their mystique,” Suzanne reminded her friends.

  “Two hours is a lot of mystique.” Lucy yawned and covered her mouth with her hand.

  “Stop that, Lucy. It’s not that late,” Suzanne snapped. “You’ll make us all sleepy.”

  “At least we’re being productive,” Dana pointed out.

  “Yes . . . but it’s distracting, waiting for her. I’m not getting much done,” Phoebe admitted.

  “Neither am I . . . though this pattern is so simple I could make it in my sleep.” Maggie shrugged and set her work aside. She had started the group on a ribbed summer tank. It was hardly warm enough out yet to wear it, of course, but no one seemed to mind that. They all liked the flattering style and squared-off neckline, and thought it would look fine with most any summer outfit, and even under a blazer. She’d also pulled some patterns for Jennifer’s baby booties and a hat.

  “I’ll make coffee and bring out Suzanne’s cupcakes.” Maggie rose, knowing dessert would cheer her friends.

  “What kind?” Phoebe asked with keen interest.

  “Chocolate, gluten free. I wasn’t sure if Jennifer was on a GF diet, but it seems likely,” Suzanne added. Maggie knew Suzanne was the last one to worry about healthy ingredients. She obviously wanted to please their guest of honor. Now she felt doubly bad for Suzanne, about Jennifer failing to keep her promise.

  “If you have chocolate, who needs gluten?” Phoebe’s tone was persuasively logical.

  “Very true,” Suzanne agreed. “What are you working on, Phoebe? That looks too big to be a bootie . . . unless it’s for a giant baby? Hey, I thought you broke up with Josh, at least a month ago.”

  They all knew Phoebe had dumped her slacker musician boyfriend, Josh, with no regrets. Though his memory and the name of his band, the Big Fat Whining Babies, still supplied a few laughs.

  “Good one. I’m filling an order. I got a lot of hits this week on Crafty-Cricket.com.”

  “Really? That’s fantastic. Another female entrepreneur in our midst,” Suzanne said.

  “I’m so impressed,” Lucy added.

  “Good for you, Phoebe,” Dana said. “Good things happen when you follow your bliss.”

  “Thanks, guys. I’m wondering why I didn’t think of this sooner. I was definitely giving a former boyfriend—who shall not be named—way too much of my precious time, energy, and brain power.”

  “How true. You’re unleashed, Phoebe. Go for it, girl,” Suzanne advised.

  Phoebe’s knitting passion had always been socks. But instead of making them for herself, or an unappreciative boyfriend, Phoebe was busily filling orders.

  Encouraged by her knitting pals, Phoebe had begun to sell her footwear originals online at Crafty-Cricket, a site that gave fledgling designers and artists a way to market their handmade products without setting up and servicing their own website.

  Her knitting friends were very proud of her. She was making extra money for college tuition and gaining a lot of confidence, too, Maggie thought.

  “She’s turning into the Betsey Johnson of socks, right before our eyes. Pretty soon you’ll quit your day job,” Suzanne predicted.

  “Oh . . . I hope not.” Maggie had returned with the cupcakes and a pot of decaf. As she set the dessert on the table, she and her assistant shared a warm smile.

  “Don’t worry, Mag. I’m not running out on you yet,” Phoebe promised. “I’d miss the knitting group . . . and the food around here.”

  Suzanne leaned over and helped herself to a cupcake. “A consolation prize for being stood up,” she added glumly.

  “Now you agree?” Lucy asked.

  Suzanne just shrugged. But before she could reply, the bell on the front door sounded and they all turned to see who was coming in. Suzanne’s cheeks were stuffed like a squirrel, her eyes bugging out as she caught sight of Jennifer Todd, followed by Alicia Littel.

  “Hello, everyone. Sorry we’re late. We were shooting at the beach today and it went way overtime. Hope you’re not done with your meeting?”

  “Not at all! We’re just getting started,” Suzanne managed.

  “Come right in. We’re just having some coffee and dessert. Gluten free,” Maggie added. “I was showing everyone this summer tank top pattern. I also pulled a quick baby bootie pattern for you, Jennifer. The needles and materials are all set out for both,” Maggie said graciously.

  A short time later, Maggie was showing Jennifer how to start the summer sweater. And how to act like a knitting teacher.

  Alicia took a seat beside Phoebe, content to watch. The bandage on her hand made it hard to hold the needles. “I’m pretty uncoordinated anyway. Even with two hands in working condition,” she apologized with a laugh. “It does look like fun, though. Maybe Jen can teach me sometime.”

  “Don’t be silly, Alicia. You’d be very good at it. You’re very creative,” Jennifer encouraged her. “I’ll teach you,” she promised. “We’ll be a mini knitting group on the set.”

  Alicia seemed to like that idea, but still didn’t want to try now. She was interested in Phoebe’s socks and took a moment to look at the wares on Crafty-Cricket, too.

  “Wow, these are great. I’m going to order some,” Alicia promised. Phoebe looked pleased.

  Was a celebrity endorsement in the offing for Phoebe? Maggie wondered. She imagined the quote: “I love my Socks by Phoebe. I have a fresh pair flown in daily!” Signed, Jennifer Todd.

  Maggie was suddenly snapped from her daydream by a question from the movie star, who was quite an experienced knitter.

  “Do you walk around and help people? Or only if they ask?” Jennifer asked.

  “I do walk around if it’s a class. But I only help my friends if they send up a flare,” Maggie explained. “This is basically what we do. Sit and knit. Learn a new stitch or two. Have some dinner and chat,” she added.

  “We have been known to dish the dirt about mutual acquaintances, too,” Lucy admitted.

  “That sounds fun. Did we miss any good gossip?” Jennifer asked.

  “The movie crew coming to town is definitely the hot story this week,” Dana replied.

  “Especially since you grew up right in Newburyport,” Maggie added. “Has it been hard to come back and film a movie here? It must look very different to you.”

  “When I read the script, all I could picture was this part of New England. I suggested the location to Nick and our producer, Regina Thurston. They loved the idea. But I don’t have much family here anymore. My parents got tired of the cold winters. They live near me now, in San Diego.”

  In a beautiful home Jennifer had built for them, Maggie had read somewhere.

  “There are a few friends I’ve kept in touch with over the years,” Jennifer added. “I hope to visit some of them while we’re here.”

  “I bet everyone says that they knew you,” Suzanne said.

  “Not everyone. But there are a few that do and I have no recollection,” Jennifer admitted with a small laugh. “Maybe I’m just getting old and my memory is going.”

  “There are a lot of people I went to high school with I’d like to forget,” Suzanne said.

  “Have you ever thought of being an actress, Suzanne?” Alicia asked. “Your energy totally projects. Doesn’t it, Jen?”

  “Oh yes. She’s a natural.” Jennifer agreed.

  Suzanne looked surprised, then lit up with pleasure. “Thanks for the compliment. But I think my talents are best used around here for now. In the real-estate biz. I should get an Academy Award for the way I handle some of my clients.”

  “If not acting, maybe just stand-up comedy,” Lucy observed. Maggie thought she was joking, but Suz
anne took the comment seriously. Hamming it up for the visitors?

  “That has crossed my mind. Maybe after the kids go off to college. I know they’d kill me now for embarrassing them,” Suzanne mused. “But how do you get to be a personal assistant for someone like Jennifer?” Suzanne asked Alicia. “I bet there was some tough competition for that job.”

  Alicia smiled and glanced at her boss. It was obvious the two had a close bond. Jennifer was a little young to be Alicia’s mother, but seemed to be a mother figure in some way to the younger woman. Alicia clearly adored her.

  “Let’s see . . . it’s hard to remember how it all came about. I think I started off just walking Jen’s dogs and watering the plants, and maybe cooking sometimes for her and Nick. That sort of thing.”

  “I can hardly remember, either,” Jennifer admitted. “But she was clearly a gem. When my last assistant left for a job writing sitcoms, Alicia was the obvious choice. For one thing, she already knew our entire schedule. And all our little quirks.”

  “It was my dream job. Quirks and all,” Alicia confessed. “But I never thought Jen would actually hire me.”

  “Where did you grow up, Alicia? In California?” Dana asked.

  “My dad was career military. We lived all over. I came back to the West Coast for college because I like the weather so much. I studied education, but I couldn’t find a teaching job. I volunteer with kids when I can, though. It’s very rewarding.”

  “Good for you.” Maggie smiled at her. “There are so many ways to share our knowledge and help others. A person doesn’t need a teaching certificate to do that.”

  “But I bet your experience as a classroom teacher is helpful, here in the knitting shop,” Jennifer said, turning the conversation back to Maggie.

  “It does help most of the time. But maybe some of the time, I’m too instructive.” Maggie shrugged. “I don’t know, ask my friends.”

  All of her friends smiled and rolled their eyes.

  “I think ‘bossy’ is the word we’re looking for,” Lucy said quietly.

  “Lucy . . . you really shouldn’t use the word ‘bossy’ that way,” Suzanne cut in. “It’s like saying it’s all right if a man is assertive and acts with authority. But the same behavior is unattractive or unbecoming for a woman.”

  Phoebe’s head popped up from her sock in progress. “You tell her, Suzanne.”

  “Excuse me. Let’s just say she likes things done her own way, at times. Wouldn’t you both agree with that?” Lucy asked.

  Suzanne and Phoebe glanced at each other, then nodded.

  “I do, too,” Dana added.

  Maggie laughed. “Guilty as charged, I guess. What can you do?”

  Jennifer sat up straighter in her seat. “Wow, that was fun. So this is what a knitting group is like. I didn’t know what I was missing.”

  Jennifer had more questions and Maggie answered as thoroughly as she could, though it was hard to describe her day and routines exactly. Maggie gave her a quick tour of the shop, showing her how to arrange the stock and displays, ring up a sale, or search for buttons in the big cabinet behind the table.

  “I was wondering what you kept in there. I can use that in a scene, sorting through all those buttons. They’re so pretty, too,” Jennifer added.

  “We need a lot of choices on hand. Sometimes you find the perfect match for a sweater right away. Other times, it’s endless,” Maggie explained.

  “Just like relationships,” Jennifer replied.

  “Exactly,” Maggie agreed, appreciating the analogy.

  Despite their enjoyable conversation, her life did sound deadly dull, Maggie realized. The most challenging moment, matching buttons to a project?

  But it was the simple truth.

  Meanwhile, Jennifer Todd seemed to find everything Maggie said utterly fascinating. Was she just trying to flatter her? But for what reason? It wasn’t as if Maggie was a mover and shaker in the film industry. Jennifer was charming, with amazing social skills. That was for sure.

  Jennifer turned from the button cabinet to the knitting group. “I’ve had so much fun at your meeting. I’d love to do something for all of you.”

  Suzanne’s face lit up. Maggie guessed she was thinking an introduction to Heath O’Hara would be the perfect way for Jennifer to show her gratitude. Lunch maybe?

  “Would you like to visit the set this week? I thought Thursday night would be a good time. We’re shooting a big scene here, with my character and Trina Hardwick’s. From about seven until who knows when. I know that you didn’t get to see anything Saturday, except a bunch of lights fall down,” she recalled.

  “All of us?” Phoebe asked eagerly.

  Maggie wondered about that, too. She hoped her friends were included. She didn’t want to come without them.

  “Of course.” Alicia quickly took out her iPhone. “I’ll put everyone’s name on the security list. Just send me the proper spellings, Maggie.”

  “I will do that ASAP,” Maggie promised.

  “I’m so totally there,” Suzanne enthused. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “Great. I’m glad it works out for you. I have an early call tomorrow. We’d better get going,” Jennifer said finally. “I have to look fresh for those close-ups. Even the best makeup artist can only work so much magic.”

  Jennifer Todd hardly needed any magic wand from a make-up artist. Though Maggie was sure that it was hard for an actress to get older, her looks constantly scrutinized, as if they’d been stamped with an expiration date. Men could get craggy and mature looking. Or be cast against an actress half their age. But it was an entirely different ball game for women. A harsh reality of the profession.

  The actress gathered up her knitting, looking pleased at her progress. Maggie gave her a Black Sheep Knitting Shop tote to carry it. She’d just had them made up for the shop—a black recycled shopping bag with the shop logo printed on one side in white. On the other side, one of her favorite mottos read: So much yarn, so little time.

  “That’s adorable. I can really use this, too. I left my knitting bag on the plane. The airline still hasn’t returned it,” Jennifer explained as she held out the tote, admiring it.

  Another celebrity endorsement? Could be, Maggie realized, though she certainly hadn’t given Jen the bag for that reason.

  “You’ve given me so much good material. I’m going to talk to Theo, the scriptwriter, tomorrow and see if he can work some of these details into the shop scenes. Maybe we should have a knitting group in the background,” she mused aloud.

  “If you need any experienced extras, let us know,” Suzanne jumped in. Maggie could see her other friends silently react, shocked once again at Suzanne’s boldness.

  “You’re at the top of the list,” Jennifer promised.

  Did they really have a chance to be extras in the movie, or was Jennifer just being nice? They’d been joking about that the other night, Maggie recalled. Wouldn’t it be amazing if it happened?

  “I guess you should text Victor and tell him we’re ready,” Jennifer told her assistant.

  “I just did,” Alicia replied.

  Jen glanced at Maggie again. “We tried to sneak over on our own, but security insisted on driving us. Poor Victor hadn’t even eaten dinner yet, so I told him not to wait. He’s just up at the inn. He’ll be here in a minute.”

  Before Maggie could reply, a sharp knock sounded on the door. Maggie was surprised. “That was fast. He’s very efficient, isn’t he?”

  Maggie opened the door, ready to face the bearded giant. But the threshold was empty.

  She glanced back at Alicia and Jennifer, who stood just behind her, about to leave. Maggie wondered if the security guard had returned to his car. But only the familiar cars of the knitting group stood parked within view.

  Alicia stepped out on the porch behind Maggie and glanced down the street in both directions. “I don’t see the car, Jen. Don’t come out yet,” she warned her boss.

  “Oh brother . . . I�
�m not in witness protection.” Jennifer sounded cranky about having to be so cautious. It must be odd, Maggie realized, to worry about moving freely around the community where you were raised. She could understand Jennifer’s irritation.

  “Goodness, what’s this?” Maggie suddenly noticed a bunch of flowers on the top step and picked them up—a huge wicker basket, full of long-stemmed yellow roses, the handle of the basket decorated with a dark blue satin ribbon and a big bow. She held it out for Alicia to see.

  A large card set right in the middle of the bouquet read, “For Jennifer, My True Love” in large, cursive script.

  “It looks like a gift for Jennifer. Special delivery?”

  Alicia did not look pleased. In fact, she looked very alarmed. “You’d better put that down, Maggie. Please. We can’t be too careful.”

  Alicia looked worried and Maggie quickly did as she was told. Though she wondered what menace might lurk in the beautiful bouquet, besides a few thorns on the rose stems.

  “Jen has some really obsessive fans. You wouldn’t believe some of the things they do to get close to her,” Alicia confided in a hushed tone.

  “Can I come out now?” Jen asked in a playful, singsong tone. “Is the coast clear?”

  She stood in the doorway, a silhouette backlit from the lights within the shop. Maggie saw that her friends had gathered in the front room as well, and were standing just behind the movie star. Saying good night, perhaps.

  As Jennifer began to walk out to the porch, a voice called out from the empty street: “Jennifer! I love you! We were made for each other . . . We need to be together now . . . You came back . . . to be with me . . . finally.”

  “Get back in the shop! Quickly!” Alicia spun and pushed Jen back inside, then slammed the door closed behind her.

  Maggie was left alone on the porch. She knocked on the door with one hand behind her back, afraid to take her eyes off the street. She swallowed hard, staring out at the empty scene.

  Not a shadow stirred. She had no idea where the voice had come from. From across the street somewhere? It had seemed so at first. But she wasn’t sure.

  Suddenly, it sounded closer. Much closer.