As Max turned, he heard Mrs. Van Horn say to her husband, “It would be bigger if there was a pyramid involved.”
Getting to Hall A was more challenging than expected. Along the way, Max was stopped by almost every person he passed. They wanted to chat, to share about their own projects and ask about the current state of the museum. After another twenty minutes, he was no closer to the hall than when he’d started.
When his cell phone vibrated in his pocket, he was actually relieved. He excused himself from the group he was speaking with and answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Max. I need you in the exhibit hall.”
Sure, now Tara needed him. Where was she when his ear was being talked off? “I’m on my way.”
Figuring that people would leave him alone if he looked busy, he strode away with the phone pressed against his cheek, even after Tara hung up. When he reached the hall, she was standing outside the closed doors.
“Is everything all right?” Max asked.
“Yes, just fine.” Tara’s tone was bright, but her smile was a little too big, her eyes a little too wide. She was hiding something.
“Then let’s go in. I want to take a final look before we open it up to the crowd.”
She held up her hand, palm out. “Not so fast. There’s something I need to tell you first.”
He quirked an eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate.
“The exhibit isn’t exactly how you expected.”
His stomach flipped. “In what way?”
“Well, you know that without the quilt, it’s just not the same.”
“I know,” he answered with a frown. Without the quilt the exhibit wasn’t the same. Without Izzy, he wasn’t the same. “But there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Tara nodded. “Well, there was something I could do about it. More to the point, someone else decided to do something about it.”
“Who?”
“Let’s just say a friend of the museum has an early Christmas present for you.” Tara stepped aside and opened one of the doors. “See for yourself.”
Max’s heart raced as he stepped into the room. There was only one person he wanted to see, only one person who would make a difference to him—and it wasn’t the man who held a plate of hors d’oeuvres in one hand and waved at him with the other.
“Gramps? I thought you were going out with Izzy tonight.”
“I am out with Izzy,” Virgil said around a mouthful of crab puff. “This was the surprise.”
A flash of red caught his eye.
“Hi, Max.”
For a millisecond, his heart stopped. Izzy was a vision in red, her hair cascading over her shoulders in a golden waterfall. She was so beautiful, he almost couldn’t speak.
Almost.
“Izzy, I’m so glad you’re here. When I didn’t hear from you—”
“You thought I was upset.” She smiled and shook her head. “We really have to stop assuming that we know what each other is thinking.”
Max nodded, hardly daring to hope that she meant what he thought she meant. “Yes, we do.”
Behind him, Tara cleared her throat. “I don’t mean to interrupt you two, but it’s almost time for us to open up the exhibit. And we still have a few things to … clear up.”
Max looked at her over his shoulder. “What things?”
Izzy put her hand on his arm. “I have a surprise that’s going to make you very happy.”
Max covered her hand with his. “It couldn’t make me any happier than having you here.”
Her cheeks grew a shade warmer and she glanced at Tara. “Let’s show him.”
Tara moved to a tarp-draped display case in the middle of the room. In the excitement of seeing Izzy, he hadn’t noticed it. Tara grabbed the edge of the tarp, and with no fanfare whatsoever, yanked it off.
There was the Wild Goose Chase quilt, the centerpiece of the exhibit, just as he’d wanted. “Izzy, you didn’t have to do this.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
“But that’s not why I’m interested in you. Not at all.” If there was one thing he had to make sure she understood, it was that his heart was drawn to her because of the woman she was, not because of what he could get from her.
“Max, I know.” She put her palm on the glass. “This quilt was made to provide warmth and comfort. It was able to do that for my family. By being part of this exhibit, I hope it inspires other families. This is exactly where it needs to be now.”
“As long as you’re sure.” Max stepped closer to the case. Now that there was no question about why she’d given up the quilt, excitement built in him. “I can’t believe it’s here. Wait a minute.” He leaned in, eyes narrowed. “What happened to the red diamond in the middle?”
The laughter that bubbled from Izzy nearly made him ignore the quilt again.
“We have a lot of catching up to do. Short version, I discovered that those two pieces were basted onto the quilt much more recently. There was a safety deposit key underneath.” She opened her purse. “And this was inside the box.”
He took the tissue-paper-wrapped item. “The last diary?”
“The last one for us to find. The first in sequence.” She tilted her head. “A little late, but you can work it into the exhibit eventually.”
“This is amazing.” Max pulled the tissue paper away and brushed his fingertips against the aged leather. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. And now, I think it’s time you let all your other guests in.”
She stepped away, but Max reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back to him. “We have so much to talk about.”
Izzy nodded, her lips curling up in to a contented smile. “Yes, we do. I’ll be around after the exhibit. We can talk then.”
Max squeezed her hand. “It’s a date.”
27
The Going West exhibit was a huge success. Izzy watched as people oohed and aahed over the quilt and the posted sections of the diaries as well as artifacts ranging from the early 1800s through 1925, the year the quilt was completed and arrived in California. She kept trying to work her way over to Max but he was preoccupied with a nonstop crush of people. And since he had acknowledged her in his opening speech as the donor of the Wild Goose Chase, she was fairly popular herself. Many of the people came to her, asking questions about her family heirlooms. As she shared how Gran had created a puzzle out of finding the diaries, excitement grew.
Even Virgil got involved. When she told a couple that Max’s grandfather had brought the quilt to her, a gift from her deceased grandmother, they latched onto him. Now, he was standing by the display case, telling his story with great theatrical flair.
As the evening wore on and the crowd began to thin, Izzy once again looked for Max. She spotted him across the room, talking to a tall man wearing a black suit and black Stetson. Their eyes met for a moment, but the man in the hat demanded Max’s attention. He had to pull his eyes away from her, but Izzy knew he didn’t want to.
Finally, the gala was over. The last few stragglers exited the museum and Tara locked the door behind them. She turned to Max, Izzy, and Virgil, who stood in the empty entry area. “We did it.”
“We is right.” Max looked at each one of them in turn. “Every one of you had a hand in making this gala a big success. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Tara said, “although I may regret it later.”
“Why’s that?” Izzy asked.
“Did you notice the tall fellow in the Stetson? That was Dalton Reed, and he’s trying to woo Max away to his historical society in New Mexico.” Tara crossed her arms over her chest. “From what I could tell, he was very impressed with the exhibit.”
“Yes,” Max said, “he was.”
Izzy’s breath caught in her chest. “Did he really offer you a job?”
Max put his hands in the pockets of his slacks and rocked back on his heels. “He did. But I turned it down.”
Tara’s hands fell to her
sides. “You turned it down? Why? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you did. But it’s a great opportunity.”
“Yes, it is.” Max looked at Izzy with a smile that melted her heart. “But there are a lot of great opportunities right here.”
Virgil stepped up and patted Max on the back. “You’re a wise man. And this was a grand evening. Can’t remember when I’ve had a better time. But I’m afraid I’ll turn into a pumpkin if I don’t get back to the home.”
Izzy turned to Max. She’d promised him they’d talk after the gala, but she couldn’t make Virgil wait. “I’m sorry. I need to take him home.”
“No you don’t. I’ll take him.” Tara walked up to Virgil and threaded her arm around his. “If you don’t mind.”
Virgil grinned. “Are you kidding? Two beautiful young women in one night? What’s to mind?”
Tara laughed. They said their good-byes, with Max and Izzy promising they’d see Virgil soon. As she led him out a side entrance, he was still talking about what a night it had been. “After talking to that nice couple, I’m considering a trip to Egypt, before I’m too old to get around.”
The door shut. The museum was still. Max and Izzy were completely alone. She’d wanted to talk to him all night, but now, there were no words. They just looked at each other, as if caught in a spell that the sounds of their voices would break.
Max stepped closer, his hand held out. Izzy reached for it, and he pulled her to him. They were so close, close enough that she was sure she heard the beating of his heart. Tilting her head, she looked up into his eyes, and she knew. Before his mouth came down gently on hers, their lips meeting in a blissful hello, she knew. It was there in his eyes, so clear, so plain. There was no disguising it. He felt the same way she did.
He loved her.
On Christmas Day, the peace Izzy always hoped for in her home was turned to chaos. But what a wonderful chaos it was.
Virgil sat on the couch beside Brandon, comparing the sweaters they’d both received. Janice sat beside them in her chair, attempting to take pictures with one hand. Wrapping paper and ribbons were strewn across the floor. By the front door, Bogie yipped and danced, trying to shake off the gift bag he’d stuck his head into.
Izzy sat on the loveseat next to Max, their legs pressed against each other, shoulders brushing. It was a moment in time she wanted to freeze and hold forever in her memory.
Max picked up the varnished wood box from the coffee table and handed it to her. “This is the last one.”
Everyone else quieted down and gave her their full attention. This was it, the last present from Gran. She took a deep breath and tipped back the lid.
A laugh burst from her lips. “I don’t believe this.”
The other three leaned closer to see what was inside. Izzy sunk her fingers into the box and pulled out a handful of fabric scraps, each one cut into a precise triangle.
“Are those what I think they are?” Janice asked.
“Quilt pieces,” Max said. “Just like the Wild Goose Chase.”
Brandon reached out and took one from Izzy. It was white with black blobs. “This is from my cowboy costume.”
Virgil looked at him funny. “You have a cowboy costume?”
“Not anymore. It was for a Halloween party when I was six. Gran made the vest for me.”
Janice pointed, waving her finger wildly. “And that piece there. The light blue with the pink and green plaid. That was from Izzy’s binky.”
Max grinned. “Her binky?”
“Her security blanket. For years, she wouldn’t let it out of her sight. Then one day, she walked into the kitchen and put it in the trash can. I think she was four.”
“How did Gran get it?” Izzy asked.
“I took it out of the trash and told her what happened. She told me to give it to her, that she might use it to make something for you. I totally forgot about it until now.”
Virgil nodded slowly. “Looks like she’s trying to tell you something.”
As always. Izzy looked deeper under the fabric and found what she knew had to be there. “Here’s the note.”
She unfolded the familiar cream-colored stationery and read the message out loud.
My dear Izzy,
If everything worked out the way I hoped, this is my last letter to you. I told you that the Wild Goose Chase quilt held the key to a great treasure. My desire is that it led you to the greatest treasure of all. Remember what it says in 1 Corinthians, “Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.”
Izzy stopped reading and glanced at the man beside her. Max was the treasure Gran had been pointing her to.
He smiled and patted her knee. “Go on.”
The pieces of fabric in this box, and the others I’ve left for you along the way, represent our family. They come from items that were special to you, your brother, your mother, and me. I encourage you to make your own quilt and keep alive the tradition started over a hundred years ago by that first, brave woman.
Izzy, like her, you are strong and brave. I am so proud of the woman you’ve grown to be. Grab love; embrace it. And count on the Lord to direct your path. He will never let you down.
With a sigh, Izzy folded the paper. “That’s it.”
“What do you know,” Virgil said. “She wants you to make another quilt.”
“Are you going to do it?” Brandon asked.
“I don’t know. If I do, I’ll need some help. Quilting for Dummies would be a good start.” Izzy laughed as she looked through the fabric. She turned to Max. “Do you have a handkerchief?”
“You know I do.” He pulled one from his pocket and handed it to her. “Getting a little misty?”
“No.” She smiled, folded the hanky, and placed it in the box. “If I’m going to make a quilt that represents the people I love, then I need something from you, too.”
His arm snaked around her shoulders. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. At the same time, a flash went off as Janice snapped their picture. Brandon and Virgil looked at each other, then both drew out an extended “Awwwwww.”
When Gran died, Izzy had dreaded the upcoming holidays. She couldn’t imagine celebrating without her grandmother, who had meant so much to her. But a lot had happened since then. She’d repaired her relationship with her mother. Her brother was making necessary changes in the way he looked at life and what he considered important. And God had brought her and Max together.
Now, Izzy was thinking this might just be the best Christmas ever—the first in a long line of really great Christmases.
EPILOGUE
One year later
Izzy sat at the dining table, up to her elbows in fabric scraps. Sewing a quilt of her own had turned out to be more challenging that she had thought. Not only did she have to learn the basics of quilting, but she had to come up with a design on her own. Her students had been only too happy to help with that part, resulting in some unusual concepts. It had taken her the better part of a year to get to the point where she felt ready to begin. But today wasn’t the day.
“Hon, we really need to clean off the table. They’ll be here any minute.”
Max leaned out the kitchen door, a wooden spoon in one hand and an apron tied around his waist. It hadn’t taken long for her to learn that her husband was a much better cook than she, so when he offered to take over Christmas dinner, she wasn’t about to argue.
After seven months of marriage she still got a zing through her chest every time he smiled. “I’m putting it away now.”
He tossed the spoon on the counter, came behind her, and looked over her shoulder. “How’s it coming?”
“Good. I think I’ve finally settled on the direction the geese will fly in. I’m going to start here, at an outside edge.” She pointed to a sketch she’d done on a piece of poster board. “Then have the geese move around and inward, until they stop at this square in the middle.”
“You’re sending the geese home.”
She knew he’d understand. “Exactly.”
Max kissed the top of her head. “Why is it a square?”
“Because this is going in the center.” She picked up the handkerchief he’d given her a year before. “I think I started falling in love with you the first time you gave me one of these. It makes sense to put it right in the center, don’t you think?”
“I think you’re a hopeless romantic. And I wouldn’t have you any other way.” He leaned down farther.
She raised her arm and circled his neck, pressing her cheek to his. It was a perfect moment, like so many other moments they’d shared.
The doorbell rang. Bogie barreled into the room, toenails clicking, barking up a storm.
“Uh-oh.” Izzy let go of Max and stood up. She leaned over the table and scooped up fabric and patterns, dumping them in the plastic storage bin she used for the quilt project.
Max put his hand on her waist and turned her toward him. “Slow down. Nobody will care if the table needs to be cleared.” His other hand slid over the subtle bump beneath her blouse. “Especially after we tell them our news.”
Izzy grinned. “Such a smart man.” She rose up on her toes and pulled his head down to meet her kiss.
The front door opened and voices filled the room.
“I told you we could go right in.” Janice said.
“Yeah, and walk in on them making out,” Brandon joked.
Virgil laughed. “You’d think they were still on their honeymoon.”
Max pulled back but kept his face close to hers and his voice low. “We really need to remember to lock that door.”
Izzy laughed and greeted their family, pulling each one into a hug and marveling at the change in their lives.
What a difference a year made. No more chasing after dreams that wouldn’t make them happy even if they did come true. No more being haunted by the past. No more wild goose chases, searching for happiness in the wrong places. Now, the only Wild Goose Chases in her family’s life were Gran’s quilt, once more making its way across the country, but this time in a traveling exhibit, and the quilt that Izzy intended to make.
A Wild Goose Chase Christmas: Quilts of Love Series Page 18