The Healing Quilt

by Lauraine Snelling

  Never a big lover of being in the water, nonetheless, Elaine did her mile of laps every day she could get in the pool without freezing on the way out from the house or back into it. With the heated water, she could swim all year round if only she could talk George into building a cover for the pool. Between swimming and walking the treadmill, she never had to worry about dieting, a fact that made some of her friends resent her trim figure. She set the dog down on the chaise lounge, along with her cover-up with a pocket for her recorder. Haifa mile of laps later, she got out, picked up the recorder, and reminded herself to order a bolt of cream brocade she'd seen in one of her magazines, along with two cards each of the three trims. Back in the pool for more laps, pictures floated through her mind of the various pillows she could make from the new fabric alone or combined with some she already had in stock.

  She'd just finished her mile and was drying off when George strolled out on the deck one level above the pool, wineglass in hand.

  “I poured yours, too, since Juanita said you were out here. You coming up, or shall I bring it down?”

  “We'll come up. Come on, Bug.” Doodlebug raced up the cedar steps ahead of her, rushing over to jump up on George's lap as he leaned back against the cushion of his deck seat, feet crossed at the ankles.

  “You look mighty comfy.”

  “And I plan to stay that way. I told them to call the service. That's what we have doctors on call for.” He handed her the glass of Chardon-nay from the table beside him.

  Okay, George, dear, whan come over you? Elaine sipped from her wineglass, watching her husband over the rim. She toweled her hair again and shook her head, finger combing her hair back into place. “Thank you for the roses, they're gorgeous. Regarding the face-lift, I won't.”

  “Good.”

  “How did you…?”

  “Hear about it? Doctors talk to each other, you know.”

  “Oh.” So much for that patient confidentiality.

  “You're beautiful the way you are. Why take a chance?”

  Elaine nearly dropped her wineglass. You really do notice me. Amazing. “Hard day?”

  “Umm.” George didn't open his eyes. “Lost a woman on the table. All of a sudden her heart just quit. No warning, no response. I hate things like that.”

  “Sorry, dear.” But that goes to prove you are not God, no matter how hard you try. “Must have been her time to go.”

  If looks could kill, George's might have withered her to a stalk. “George, you know you always do your very best, so why blame yourself?”

  “I should have seen it coming.” He rocked Doodlebugs head from side to side, the dog making ferocious noises and loving every minute of the tussle. “Sometimes I think I should get into another line of work. Something that isn't life or death every time I turn around.”

  “Like maybe painting houses or some such?” She knew how much he hated painting. Years earlier, before they could afford to hire painters, he'd made his point perfectly clear.

  “Right. Maybe it's time to retire, let the younger men take over.”

  “Like Ramsey?”

  He nodded. “And Jessica.” He let go of the dog and turned to look at her. “He called today to ask what we thought of her.”

  “And what did you tell him?”

  “What could I say? We hate her looks, disagree with her politics? I said she is beautiful and will be a credit to our profession, and if she wants to join him in our practice, there is most assuredly a place for her here in Jefferson City.”

  “Did he mention the Mercy Ship?” When George didn't answer immediately, she turned to study him more closely. “There is something you are not telling me.”

  “He said he wanted to go too, said he would have chances to do more surgeries there than anywhere else other than war. And they've talked of going to Bosnia or some such place too. I don't like it any better than you do, but he has to live his own life.” He drained his glass and raised his hands. “So there you have it.” He shrugged and let his hands fall. “He said he'd call you tonight if he had a break, but he's on duty. I'm going for a swim. Tell Juanita I'll man the barbecue when I get out.”

  Elaine sat in the encroaching shade and contemplated her wineglass. If only she could solve the problems not only of the world but of her family as easily as bubbles rose to the surface of champagne. No way was this a good time to present her ideas to her husband. As if there really were any good time. Besides, perhaps it was better to present her plans to the guild first. She'd know more by tomorrow night, that was certain, and sometimes handing a man a fait accompli was better practice anyway.

  TWENTY-TWO

  The calendar never lies.

  “If we're going to have this finished, quilted, and everything by October one, we really need to get moving.”

  Kit looked over at the woman who just walked in the door. Somehow, in spite of the gray, windblown day, she had not a hair out of place. “Thank you for the reminder.”

  “Sorry.” Elaine took a seat. “But it just hit me how little time we have. Sometimes you wonder where it goes.”

  “True, and how to hang on to some of it a bit longer.” Teza smiled at each of those gathered around the table. “Now you all received a special invitation to be part of this group that assembles and quilts this project. All of the blocks are in now”—she glanced for confirmation at Kit, who nodded—“so we can lay it out today and begin stitching the blocks together. We have three machines here for that part. I thought while we are laying it out, we can listen to the reports of the various committees and get an idea how things are coming together—pun intended.”

  A chuckle rippled over the group like leaves dancing before a brisk wind.

  “You think we can get it up on the stretcher today?” Elsie Mae asked.

  “Depends on if we want to stay until midnight or thereabouts.” Sue reached for a bag füll of squares, nodding for the others to do the same. “If we get them stacked according to colors, laying it out will be easier.”

  “Some of these aren't pressed well enough.”

  “I brought the ironing board. We can set it up over there.” Kit nodded to the wall where the outlets were free and set one of the machines on the table to get it opened and ready.

  “I'll press.” Beth pushed back her chair and headed for the ironing board.

  “How was your trip to Seattle?” Sue asked as they emptied the plastic bags and started dividing the piles.

  “We had a great time at Pacific Fabrics in Puyallup. I found several more fruit prints for that other quilt I told you about.” Teza set aside a couple of blocks that weren't pressed enough.

  “I know, and a mammogram is a mammogram is a mammo-gram.” Sue nudged Elsie Mae. “You notice that wasn't the thing Teza remembers.”

  “Or chooses to think about.”

  “It wasn't bad, a different machine than we have and not so smashing. Of course it only takes me half as long as the rest of you.” She rolled her eyes at Kit. “Then they did a chest x-ray, I donated some blood, and we left.”

  “And after getting up at four so we could beat the Seattle traffic and getting home about four, she cooked apricot jam until I don't know when and bottled it.” Kit snipped threads off some of the blocks before she put them in the correct pile. “My aunt, the wonder woman.”

  “Do I detect a slight bit of annoyance there?” Sue put some saccharin in her smile to Kit.

  “Of course. I was so tired when I got home, I took a nap and still went to bed early.”

  “But you drove, dear. I catnapped partway both up and back.”

  Kit's snort told what she thought ofthat comment.

  “So now I've done my duty, and certain persons who shall remain nameless can quit yammering at me.” Everyone else chuckled at Kits shrug and innocent face.

  Until next year when we have to start all over again. Kit smiled at her aunt.

  After a brief silence, Teza motioned to Elaine. “Why don't you start off with your report?”r />
  “Good, I will.” Elaine set her briefcase on the table and removed several file folders. “I contacted the places in town large enough for this event, but it really comes down to the community building at the fairgrounds or the high-school gym.”

  “You think we'll have that many people?”

  “I have a feeling this is going to get bigger than any of us ever dreamed. Every nonprofit in town is excited to be part of it, especially those with women on their boards. I heard someone even talking about sponsoring a 10K walk/run where participants get sponsors to pay so much a mile or however they want. Andy Stephanopolis out at the country club wants to have a golf tournament in conjunction with the auction, all the proceeds going to the drive. You know his first wife died of breast cancer?”

  “Maybe that's why interest is so high here. Too many lives have already been devastated by cancer of one kind or another.” Sue laid another block on a stack. “I talked with a reporter at the paper, and she said she'd like to do a series called A Community Fights Back!’

  Elaine looked to Kit with an I-told-you-so expression. “The hospital guild is solidly with us, and they've all been calling everyone they know to ask for items to donate to the auction. So now do we want a silent auction or an auctioneer?” But before anyone could answer, she passed out sheets of paper and went on. “This is the list of things we must make immediate decisions on. As you see, I've narrowed down the date to two possibilities to avoid schedule conflicts with other events. Both of the buildings I mentioned will be available then, but we need to reserve the facility now. So that is the next item. Date, place, and a title. Everyone wanted to know what we are calling this so they could begin working on it right away.”

  “Whew.” Teza laughed and widened her eyes. “Do any of the rest of you feel like a tornado just blew through here?”

  Elaine chuckled along with the rest of them. “I thought I was going to have to convince people to help, but it was like everyone was waiting for something like this to come along.” She shrugged. “Amazing.”

  “Gods timing.” Teza nodded and smiled at the same time. “And yes, that is always amazing.”

  “Well, I don't know about that but…” Elaine ruffled her papers. “Can we go ahead and vote on these three things. Perhaps a show of hands will do?”

  “Hands,” several said at the same time.

  “Good.” Elaine held up a calendar. “We have a choice of the last two weekends in February unless we want to delay until April and the weekend after Easter. The only advantage to that would be the golf tournament. The weather might be more cooperative by then.”

  “Does everything need to be on the same weekend?”

  “No, not necessarily, but if we get some big-name golfers in here, they might have deep pockets to bid on the quilt and all the other items.”

  “Maybe they'd even donate something.” Sue laid her pieces down and leaned forward, elbows on the table.

  “Yeah, like a round with Tiger Woods.” Beth set her iron down.

  “I doubt he'd come to something this small.” Kit shook her head.

  “For sure he won't if he's not asked.” Beth brought another stack of pressed blocks over to the table. “I'd contact him. I'm done gathering donations for the quilt supplies, so that wouldn't be any trouble.”

  “You would?” Sue sat back and fanned her reddening face. “For someone so quiet, you are full of surprises. Whew, ‘bout time to turn on the air conditioning.”

  “Just a hot flash, my dear.” Teza smiled and patted her arm as Sue groaned.

  “Can Andy pull something like that together so quickly?” Kit took another stack to be pressed over to Beth.

  “He'd like April better, but you know February can be such a beautiful month here.”

  “And it can snow,” Elsie Mae reminded them.

  “So I'm sensing we might back up to April?”

  “I'm in favor. I move we choose April.” Elsie Mae smacked her hand on the table.

  “Anyone else? Hands in favor.” Elaine nodded. “Good, that's that then. Now, the place. Here's my opinion. We can decorate out at the fairgrounds and not have to work around school affairs so that would lessen the pressure that weekend.”

  “Decorate?” Kit looked up from the threads she was clipping off some of the squares.

  “Sure, we'll make it a gala event this town won't forget,” Elaine continued. “When I talked with Rod at The Steak House, he suggested we choose a theme and invite area hotels and restaurants to have a cook-off or a tasting where each displays their foods and people pick and choose and vote for the best. He said there's not been an event like that in our area, and it's about time. They call it The Taste of Portland down there. He thought places fromTacoma and Olympia might want to participate.”

  Kit leaned back in her chair. “And here I thought making a quilt was the major undertaking.”

  “It is. The quilt will be the symbol of all we are doing. The final results will show what people can accomplish when they work together.” Elaine could hardly stand still from the excitement.

  “So we all agree on the fairgrounds?” Elsie Mae set a pile of sorted pieces in the middle of the table. “Let's push these tables together so we can lay out the pieces.”

  “The community center—hands?”

  Again it was unanimous.

  “So we will have the event on April 29 at the fairgrounds. Good thing there's plenty of parking there too. Now, for a title.”

  “Save a breast, it may be your own.” Sue shrugged when her suggestion drew laughter. “Well, it might.” lrue.

  “Do we want the words breast and cancer in the title?”

  “Or mammogram umt?Tha.ù what our goal is.”

  Ideas started popping.

  “Stitch in Time Festival.”

  “Festival of the Quilt.”

  “Quilt Fest.”

  “Doesn't it need to mention more than the quilt?” Beth's forehead wrinkled with her thoughts.

  “How about Support a Breast?” Groans.

  “To be specific: Jefferson Memorial Hospital Charity Auction.” More groans.

  “Naming things is really difficult.” Teza propped her chin on one hand. “I'm not good at it.”

  “Me either.” Sue shook her head, then whispered to Teza, “‘Buy a Boob Squeezer.’ No? I'm no good at this either. I'm going back to the blocks.” She laid out some more of the quilt squares. “I know, ‘The Block Buster.’ ”

  “Let's table this for now and come back to it later, okay?” Elaine laid down the pen she'd used to take notes and glanced down the list. “Someone, somewhere will come up with something.”

  “That's something we can pray about.” Teza looked up from sorting blocks.

  Elaine put her files and organizer back in her briefcase. “I'll go get sandwiches at the deli. Turkey all right for everyone?” She glanced around the room. “Okay, any other drinks than the coffee and tea here?”

  With no takers, she waved off their offers of money and headed out the door. “Yes!” She thumped on the steering wheel of her newly returned BMW. “If we can get national coverage, so much the better for the cancer center. The little town that could. Maybe we can even get those power lines moved. Easier than moving a town.”

  She picked up her phone and dialed the deli to place her order. All because a couple of women decided to do something about a community problem. The PR possibilities were endless.

  When she returned with her flat box of sandwiches and set them on the table, the women left off their jobs and came to eat.

  “Here,” said Teza, handing her five dollars.

  “No, this is my treat. You were all working so hard, I figured this was the least I could do.”

  “And you've been doing nothing?” Teza raised an eyebrow.

  Elaine smiled back and turned to answer a question from someone else. When all were served, she sat down next to Beth.

  “So how are you enjoying Jefferson City now?”

  “
Better. Getting to know the women here with the quilting has helped a lot.”

  “I know I'd never have made it as a pastor's wife. Have to be nice to everyone, even though you'd as soon walk away.” Elaine unwrapped her Sandwich. “And most churches expect you to do twice as much as anyone else.”

  “Or they're afraid the new pastors wife is going to come in and take over.” Sue pulled open her bag of chips. “That's what happened at our church.”

  “Who did the choosing here?” Beth looked around. “I mean, from all those other women at the cutting day, why us?”

  “I prayed about it and felt led to ask each of you.” Teza smiled around. “I guess God feels we all have special talents or something to contribute. And with six, even with all our other obligations, we should be able to have four working at a time.”

  “So when will we get together to put this up on the frame, and will that be here?” Elaine took out her calendar.

  “Would Monday be all right for everyone?” Kit glanced around to catch their nods. “And I have a largely unused-at-the-moment living room where we can leave it set up. As far as I'm concerned, anyone can come at any time and quilt when you have time. I thought maybe twice a week for the entire group.”

  “That would be only fourteen sessions until it would need to be done.” Elaine counted the weeks out in her organizer. “Will that be enough?”

  “I doubt it, but that depends on how long we can work at a time. We can discuss that later.” Sue folded up her napkin and papers. “We better get back to work and quit gabbing. I'll take one machine.” She picked up a stack of blocks that now were in sewing order.

  “I'll cut the border squares then, if you want to do the nine-patch pieces.” Kit looked to Teza.

  “That leaves you and me on the other machines,” Elaine said to Elsie Mae. “You can switch off with any of us from pressing, you know, Beth.”

  “I know. Kit, did you get the quilt back stitched together?”

  “Yes, and pressed too. Its folded in that plastic tote over there.”

  The stitchers kept Beth busy as she clipped threads and pressed seams. As soon as they had one stack stitched, they handed the long strip to her and picked up another stack.