Annie laughed. “No, I’m just out of shape, and I ran down the hall to grab the phone. I was just taking a tuna casserole out of the oven when it rang. How are you?”
“Um—” Kate started to answer, but then she stopped, unsure how to go on.
“Let me guess. Vanessa’s not home from Portland.”
“Nope, and I’m going a little nuts. I wondered if you’d like to come over and keep me company while I wait. I’d come to you, but of course I want to be at home when Vanessa and Harry get back.”
“Of course!” came Annie’s immediate reply. Kate felt a sigh of relief bubble up. “Would you like me to bring the casserole? I have no idea why I made it—clearly I’ll never be able to eat the whole thing—but it just sounded good.”
“That would be very sweet of you!” Kate felt her stomach rumble. “I just realized that I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Well, we have to do something about that!” Annie said. “I just need to do a couple things, and I’ll be over.”
Kate hung up and surveyed the kitchen and living room. She went into “company-is-coming” mode—straightening the books and magazines on the coffee table and putting many of them back on the bookshelf, flipping the couch cushions over, dusting the TV, and then cleaning up the kitchen and putting dishes into the dishwasher. The doorbell rang just as she finished setting the table.
“Annie!” she said, opening the front door. “Come in! Let me take that dish from you. And put your coat anywhere.”
“I’ve always thought your home is darling,” Annie said, shrugging out of her coat and putting it on the back of the recliner.
“Thank you! Vanessa and I really like it. Obviously it’s not huge, but it’s pretty cozy, and we both have our own space. Follow me—I have some tea brewing.”
Kate headed to the kitchen with Annie’s casserole dish and set it on a trivet on the counter. She then poured tea into two brown pottery mugs and put them on the table.
“I don’t know when Vanessa and Harry will get back. Should I put the casserole in the oven on warm, just in case?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Annie said, pulling out a chair at the table and sitting down. She put a spoonful of sugar in her tea from the sugar bowl on the table and then took a sip. “Just on warm, though. I might have already cooked it too much, and I for one am not a fan of burnt tuna.”
Kate laughed in agreement. She turned on the oven and then set the casserole inside.
“So, how are you holding up?” Annie asked after Kate sat down. “Have you heard from Vanessa?”
“No. And I don’t expect I will. She’s very careful to keep her parents separate. But I hope and pray they’re having a good time, and that they have found a car they can both agree on. Do you know that my child actually does know how to drive? I had no idea. Harry took her after school yesterday to get her license, and she passed the test with flying colors.”
“When did she learn?”
“She conveniently forgot to mention their driver’s safety class at school. Apparently if it’s on school grounds, the kids don’t need a learner’s permit, and the parent doesn’t have to give permission. Of course, she could have gotten Harry to sign a permission slip.”
Kate’s stomach rumbled.
“Why don’t you go ahead and dish up some of that casserole? I’m pretty hungry myself,” Annie said. “Believe me, there will be plenty left when they arrive.”
They had just finished eating when they heard a car horn.
“That must be them!” Kate exclaimed, jumping up and grabbing her coat. She ran outside, Annie close on her heels.
Vanessa drove up in a little blue Ford, followed by Harry in his pickup. Vanessa parked, jumped out, and ran to give her mom a hug.
“Mom! Look at my new car! A Ford Fusion! Isn’t it cute? We had so much fun, even though we had to go like ten different places to find one we both liked. And you should have heard Dad haggling with the sales guy. It was pretty awesome. Come take a look!” She grabbed her mother’s hand and dragged her to the car. “You come too, Annie,” she called over her shoulder. Harry climbed out of his truck and leaned against the bumper, a big smile on his face.
She walked her mother around the car. “OK, so it’s not brand new, but it’s in practically perfect condition—it’s only got about twenty-six thousand miles. I really wanted a two-door, but Dad made me climb in the back of a few of them and convinced me that it would be a pain for my friends to ride with me. So, I got the four-door sedan. It has a nice engine—”
“A three-point-five–liter V6, all-wheel-drive,” Harry interjected.
“Whatever that means. It averages 25 miles per gallon. Dad even made them wash it for me,” Vanessa said, giggling.
“Double wishbone front suspension, double overhead cam, and 160 horsepower,” Harry added.
“Again, whatever that means,” said Vanessa. “I can hook in my iPod and listen to my tunes. Climb in!” She got in the driver’s seat, Kate got in the passenger seat, and Annie got in the back.
Vanessa turned the stereo up. “Doesn’t that sound great?”
“Huh?” Kate shouted, reaching over to turn it down.
“I can really crank my tunes, Mom!” She leaned over the parking brake and gave Kate a hug. “Can you believe it? My very own car!”
“I can honestly say I cannot,” Kate replied. “Annie brought us some tuna casserole. Do you want some?”
“Oh yes! I’m starved.”
The three climbed out of the car, and Vanessa proudly hit the “lock” button on the remote.
Kate walked over to her ex-husband and gave him a hug—probably the first one she’d given him in years. “Thanks, Harry. You hungry? Annie brought a tuna casserole and there’s plenty. You’re welcome to join us.”
Harry hugged her back, making her feel both wistful and happy. “Nah,” his voice rumbled against her chest. “Had a big lunch. I’m off.” They released and Vanessa stepped in to give him a hug.
“Thanks, Dad,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome, Scooter.” For once, she didn’t even roll her eyes.
****
“All right, people!” Kate found herself clapping her hands together, trying to get the attention of the Hook and Needle Club at the next meeting. She felt like an obnoxious and demanding school teacher, but figured otherwise no one could hear her over the din. “Ladies, gentlemen! Let’s call this meeting to order!”
The chatter continued unabated, so she sighed, put her fingers to her mouth, and blew an ear-splitting whistle.
That did the trick. “Thank you,” she said in the sudden silence. “Let’s call this meeting to order. First of all, Alice has baked another of the mystery recipes—some sort of bread—and is handing it out now. Please refrain from starting to eat it until we’re done talking. Let’s go around the room and share our progress.”
Jason, attending a meeting for the first time, raised his hand.
“Yes, Jason?”
“Thank you all so much for wanting to include me. I’ve always wondered what Mrs. Brickson did in here, and I’m glad I finally get to experience it.” Everyone clapped, and he continued. “I’m sure she’s shared this with you already, but she taught me to knit years ago. I’ve found it to be a rather soothing pastime, and I’m thankful she shared her talent with me.” He reached behind his chair and pulled out a bulging plastic bag. “I’m certainly not as skilled as Mrs. Brickson, but I’m happy to contribute these seven blankets that I’ve knitted.”
Kate felt her face start to glow. “Jason! How marvelous! Be sure to go color in two blankets on our tracking poster and sign your name!”
They continued around the room, and by the end of the update, six more blankets had been added to the box, and a total of almost eleven had been marked in on the poster.
“Annie, you told me you have something to share?” Kate said.
“Yes, I do,” Annie stood up, blushing a little. Kate figured it had something to d
o with Ian sitting next to her. He’d actually attended every meeting, even though his crocheting efforts were not very good, and despite the fact that the ladies constantly teased him about it.
“I’m excited because …,” she paused dramatically, “we got a front-page story in the Portland Press Herald.” She pulled a newspaper from behind her back and unfurled it. Everyone gasped and then started cheering. The article featured a huge color photo of Mackenzie and Vanessa helping two other teens with their needlework.
When the hubbub calmed down, Annie said, “I contacted them a few weeks ago, and last Tuesday they sent a reporter and photographer to the teen club meeting.”
“We must frame that and hang it in here somewhere,” Mary Beth said, and everyone agreed.
“Can we eat now?” Peggy asked. “I’m starving, and this bread smells delicious.”
“Yes! Have at it!” Kate said. While everyone else starting eating the bread, she took the paper from Annie, looked at the photo of her darling girl, and brushed away a tear. “Not only are you growing up, now you’re famous.”
13
Annie hummed to herself as she climbed to the attic to retrieve more yarn. When she’d gotten home after the meeting, there’d been a message from Cecil asking her to stop by Ocean View.
“Annie, sorry to bother you, but the inmates insisted I call you. Apparently, a few of them have finished their blankets and a couple of them need more yarn.” His voice had droned out the list, and she had scribbled it all down on a scrap piece of paper. “I believe those are the demands for today. Oh, and we have lunch at eleven thirty, and nap time is at twelve thirty, so maybe you could stop by around two o’clock.” Annie heard whispers in the background, him shushing someone, and then he added, “Anyway, hope to see you later. Let me know either way.”
Boots followed her upstairs into the attic. Annie went to the dresser where she had stored some of her yarn stash and opened the bottom drawer. Boots jumped in the drawer as soon as Annie opened it. The cat then rolled around in the yarn, batting at the stray ends.
“Boots! That is no way to behave!” Annie chided as she removed the offending cat. Then she consulted her list and pulled out the requested colors, which she placed in an empty cardboard box. The phone started ringing. Annie ignored it, figuring whoever was calling would just leave a message. Boots stalked over to the attic entryway, sitting at attention and switching her tail back and forth.
Annie heard the answering machine pick up, but no message. Almost immediately, the phone started ringing again. She continued selecting yarn and dropping it in the box until she’d gotten everything that had been requested.
“What in the world?” she said aloud, as the phone rang several more times. She picked up the full box and walked past Boots and back downstairs. She checked her watch; it was twelve forty-five. That was plenty of time for her to make some lunch and still get to the assisted-living facility by two o’clock.
The phone rang again, but the caller had hung up by the time she got to the phone. She set the box by the back door, and waited for it to ring again. This time she grabbed it as soon as it began to trill.
“Hello?”
“Annie!” Alice sounded breathless and panicked. “You’re there. Where have you been? Are you OK? Did you eat much of that bread?”
“Um, I’ve been in the attic getting yarn for the crafters at Ocean View.”
“But did you eat much of that bread I made?” Annie realized that Alice also sounded like she’d been crying.
“I had one piece. Why? What’s wrong?”
Alice had definitely been crying; she began to sob in earnest. “Gwen got taken to the hospital. She’s really sick. She started vomiting as soon as she got home and couldn’t stop. She said that her back started killing her, and her pulse was racing. She managed to call John, and he took her to the hospital.” She paused to blow her nose. “John called Mary Beth, who called me. I’m here now. When you didn’t answer the phone, I started thinking maybe you’re sick too. One more minute, and I would have sent an ambulance to your house.”
“Oh my goodness!” Annie steadied herself on the wall. “Do they know what’s wrong? And why would you think I’d be sick?”
“Because of the vomiting. My bread might have given her food poisoning. I imagined you sick and not able to get to the phone.” Annie heard her take a deep breath as if she attempted to slow the tears.
“Well, is anyone else sick?”
“So far, no.” Alice started crying again. “At least not that we’ve heard. Jason and Stella aren’t home yet, but we’ve talked to everyone else.”
“Hang tight. I’ll be there in a jif.” They hung up, Alice still snuffling and blowing her nose. Annie picked up the phone, called Ocean View, and left a message for Cecil, telling him she’d have to stop by another day. She then put on her coat, grabbed her project bag and some granola bars, and sped toward the hospital as fast at the Malibu would go.
Five minutes later, Annie pulled up at the hospital. She recognized almost every car in the lot, including Stella’s white Lincoln Continental, Ian’s car, and of course, Alice’s red Mustang.
She grabbed her bag and rushed inside toward the reception desk.
“May I help you?” a pretty redhead in a long-sleeve blue polo shirt and khaki pants asked with a smile. Her nametag said “Tracey.”
“Yes, hi Tracey. I’m Annie Dawson with the Hook and Needle Club, and I understand that Gwen Palmer has been admitted. Can you point me in the right direction?” She put a hand on the counter to steady herself. Her heart beat so hard, she felt like she’d run a marathon.
“Mrs. Dawson, yes, hello! We met for about a second when your group made the layettes for the babies a few years ago. There’s a bunch of them already here. Mrs. Palmer’s in the ICU.”
“The ICU?!”
“Yes, the ICU,” Tracey said, putting her hand on Annie’s for a moment. “It just means she’s getting the very best of constant care. They’re on the second floor. Take a left when you get out of the elevators and follow the orange line. It’ll take you right there.”
“Thank you,” Annie said, practically running to the bank of elevators to Tracey’s left. When she stepped off, she could clearly hear Alice crying. No need to follow an orange line, she thought. I can just follow the sound.
“Alice, please stop crying. It won’t help Gwendolyn get better any faster,” Stella said in a commanding voice.
Annie turned left as directed and almost immediately ran into a knot of her friends. Alice flung her arms around her, still sobbing.
“Annie, thank God you’re OK.”
Annie patted her on the back and then eased her into a nearby seat. “Yes, I’m fine. So, does anyone know what’s going on? Is anyone else sick? Where are Kate and Peggy?”
“Someone has to keep the wheels of commerce turning,” Stella sniffed. “Kate is at the store, and Peggy had to work. Apparently Lisa or somebody has the day off, and Jeff couldn’t let her leave The Cup & Saucer. But they’re both well.”
“And what about Ian? Where is he? I saw his car in the lot.”
Mary Beth answered this time. “You just missed him. He had to get back to Town Hall for a meeting. He’s fine. But you can certainly call him if you want. I’ll even let you use my cellphone.” Mary Beth winked, and Annie felt the tips of her ears go red.
Blast it! she thought. Why do I always blush when that man is mentioned?
“So, what’s wrong with Gwen? Is it food poisoning?” Annie asked. As expected, everyone started talking at once. A nurse pointedly clearing her throat interrupted them, so they turned to look her way.
“Hi everyone, I’m Nurse Arabelle,” she said. “I’m sorry I can’t let you all in to see Mrs. Palmer. She’s only allowed one visitor, and of course, her husband is with her at this time. We’re still running some tests, and we’re not sure exactly what is wrong. As soon as we know something, either myself, one of the other nurses, or her doctor will let Mr. Palm
er know. He will have to tell you whatever he feels comfortable with. Privacy laws, you know.”
Once again, everyone started talking at once. The nurse raised her hand to stop them. “I know you are worried about your friend, but we are taking very good care of her. And if you don’t mind, please try to keep the noise down. We have other patients, and we don’t want to disturb them or their families. There’s a lounge at the other end of the hall, and we’d appreciate it if you’d all wait there. I’m sure you’ll be much more comfortable.”
“Thank you, nurse,” Stella said. Turning to the others she added firmly, “We should follow her orders and head to the lounge. She’s right—the last thing we should be doing is causing distress for anyone else.” Stella, Jason and Alice led toward the lounge, with Mary Beth and Annie following.
“Wow,” Annie whispered to Mary Beth. “Alice sometimes can be a drama queen, but that was over the top, even for her.”
“I know,” Mary Beth replied quietly. “I think she feels really guilty because she’s certain the bread from that latest mystery recipe is responsible for making Gwen sick.”
“Not the best bread I’ve ever had in my life, but it wasn’t awful either. Plus, wouldn’t all of us be having issues if it caused the illness?” Annie asked.
“That’s what I told her,” Mary Beth said. “Food poisoning usually comes on pretty quickly, so at least a couple of us would be feeling ill too. It could be an allergy to one of the ingredients, but I think the doctors have ruled that out already.”
“How long can you stay?” Annie asked.
“Kate said she’d watch the store and manage the teen club this afternoon, so I’m here until we get kicked out, I guess.”
They heard the elevator ding, and shortly saw a group of women heading toward them down the hall.
“Mary Beth, Annie, how is Gwen?” June Wallace, the minister’s wife, asked when she reached the pair. “Some of us ladies from the church wanted to come check on Gwen.”
Mary Beth stood to give June and a few of the other women a hug. “The doctors are currently running tests.”
A Spicy Secret Page 13