by Tara Randel
“I’ve no doubt you did,” Gwendolyn assured her.
“I was truly heartbroken when he passed. We never had children, and I was left in a big, empty house in New York trying to make sense of my life. That’s when I decided to come back to Maine and never speak of my past life to anyone.”
Annie grimaced. “So that no one could hurt you again?”
“That and so I wouldn’t reopen the wound of my loss.” Years of sadness lined Stella’s face. “It’s ironic. I never let anyone see the real me, yet that image of me in the cross-stitch bares it all. I’ve never been inside Grey Gables. Charlie and Betsy bought it after I left town, yet your grandmother stitched me there as if I belonged.”
“I’m sure she thought you did.” Annie reached over to cover Stella’s wrinkled hand with hers. Apparently, her grandmother had forgiven Stella, her last cross-stitch work a worthy testament to that. It was the least Annie could do as well. “My grandmother taught me that life was messy, but regardless of that, you need to live life to the fullest.”
“Easy for her to say. She always had a bright outlook on life.”
“She did, but she also had her share of sorrow. I have a feeling losing your friendship was one of those sorrows.”
“When I came back here, I thought the past wouldn’t bother me. It’s amazing how you can make yourself believe something if you’re stubborn enough.” Stella shook her head. “I never had the courage to visit Betsy once I came back. I regret that now.”
Gwendolyn’s lips curved. “And the cross-stitch is proof that Betsy still considered you her friend.”
“Seeing it has shifted a pattern of my life,” Stella told them all. “I hope I can be a different person from now on, thanks to a gift from my old friend.”
She glanced at Annie, the glimmer of a wary smile on her lips. “I thought I was doing fine, until you came to the first Hook and Needle Club. I looked at you but saw Betsy. And I’m afraid I didn’t treat you very kindly.”
“Leaving me to wonder what I’d done to you.”
“After Betsy passed, I realized I could no longer ignore the past, but I still didn’t take steps to move on. Meeting you jolted me into reality.”
“I suppose my showing up was a bit of a shock.”
“Especially when you joined our club. I’m afraid I stubbornly hung onto the belief that if I didn’t engage you, the past couldn’t haunt me.” She sniffled. “But it did. I’d let years of bitterness rule my life. Of my own choosing, I missed out on years of happiness. I watched you become part of the town, saw so much of Betsy in you. I finally admitted to myself that I missed Betsy. Only it was too late to do anything about it. So I made matters worse all over again.”
“How?”
“I hired Mr. Smith to buy the Betsy Original from you, thinking I could get it, and Betsy’s legacy, out of my life again. I’m afraid he took his assignment too seriously. I never, ever meant for him to try to steal it. And I never meant for him to scare you.”
“He did scare me, but he didn’t hurt me. And after word got out about the botched burglary attempt, he’d have been crazy to hang around and take a chance of getting caught.”
“It seems I’m always making the wrong decisions.”
Annie smiled. “You can change all that, you know.”
Stella shook her head. “It’s too late now that Betsy’s gone.”
“Please,” Annie snorted. “It’s never too late to make things right.”
“And how would I do that?”
“I think you know,” Annie whispered.
Stella gazed at Annie. “I’m so sorry for everything. To you. To Betsy.”
“There you go,” smiled Annie as she patted Stella’s hand.
Stella sighed. “You do have a lot of Betsy in you. You have her wisdom and patience. I sensed it the first time I met you.”
Warmth unfolded in Annie at the unexpected compliment. Through Annie’s entire life, Gram had been an awesome example of grace under pressure. And she thought coming to Stony Point would be difficult, especially with Gram gone. Instead, she’d learned more about her grandmother, more about herself, than she ever imagined. The initial sadness had passed, filled now with joyful memories and a sense of pride in the woman Annie had always respected and loved. She only hoped she could follow in her footsteps.
Up to this point, the other women had been quiet, hanging onto every word as Stella related her story. Now that all of Stella’s past had been revealed, the women bombarded her with questions. Stella answered each one, even though her energy had to have been totally drained.
Peggy rose from her chair and crossed to the framed cross-stitch. “I can’t stand it any longer. You have got to tell us what the scenes mean.”
“That was very clever of Betsy,” Stella said as she joined Peggy beside the piece. “But then, Betsy always knew how to create a total picture.” She ran her finger lightly over the stitching. “I loved to run barefoot in the sand, but my father didn’t want me to muss up my clothes or act unladylike. We found this hidden cove and played there during the summer.” She glanced over to the women. “We bought yarn at the store. It was called Five and Dime back then--just Five and Dime.”
“I remember my mother talking about that store,” Gwendolyn said. “I never knew it was the old Bascom’s Department Store.”
“During the autumn months, we used to hide up in Betsy’s uncle’s barn, reading and playing games. I guess that’s why she stitched it. She loved sitting in the freshly cut hay.” Stella’s eyes grew misty. “And of course, my childhood house. I never realized I was so lonely until Betsy came along.”
Annie glanced at the circle of women as they stared at the cross-stitch, each lost in her own thoughts. How odd, to have each one of them seated in her usual chair but not working on her needlecraft. Today their joint project was to support a friend.
“I wonder if your grandmother left that cross-stitch in the attic on purpose for you to find,” Alice said to Annie.
“I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure, but my grandmother never did anything without a purpose. Maybe she meant for Stella to find it somehow.”
“Well, she did,” Gwendolyn exclaimed.
The women laughed and Kate asked, “What happens to the piece now?”
At the question directed to her, Annie went blank.
Stella glanced at her. “It’s yours. What do you want to happen?”
Annie considered this a moment. Honestly, she had no idea. She still had to sort through the effects of Stella’s confession before taking a step forward. And then there was the question of Stella’s input. Annie knew she deserved a part in it to make her whole again. “I think you should have a say in this.”
“No.” Stella stood adamant. “Your grandmother may have created this lovely piece, but ultimately, she left it to you. You must decide.”
And that, Annie found, was easier said than done.
19
Marisa cornered Annie the moment Mary Beth let customers back into the store. “Okay, what do I have to do to exhibit the Betsy Original?”
“Honestly, I haven’t decided what to do with the piece.” So much had changed in the hour. Now Annie had Stella to consider.
“Well, you have an offer. I’d like to show it,” Marisa pressed.
Annie glanced across the room to the cross-stitch, seeing it with a different attitude. Knowing that Stella was the young woman in the picture put a whole new slant on things. This was personal, after all, to her grandmother and to Stella. At this point, Annie wasn’t sure how to proceed. Figuring out the meaning behind the cross-stitch had consumed so much of her waking hours. Now, she was at a loss at what to do next.
Marisa wandered off, leaving Annie alone. Exhausted by the emotional rollercoaster she’d just ridden, she didn’t think she had the energy to drive home, but needed to escape for a while and think about all the events of the day. She grabbed her purse and car keys when Ian stopped her at the door.
�
��Looks like you’re ready to bolt.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Pretty much.” His brows angled with concern. “You okay?”
“I will be eventually.”
“Why is that?”
“I learned that Stella is the Lady in the piece.”
Ian looked at her with surprise. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“No one did.”
“Then I guess telling you that the Robert’s property originally belonged to Stella’s family won’t come as a surprise.”
“If you’d told me yesterday, yes. Not now.”
He glanced over at Stella, silently observing her. Then he turned back and said, “Well, you solved the mystery. Does that mean you’re leaving town?”
Her stomach rolled as she considered that thought. Did she want to leave? She’d spent another awesome summer here in her old stomping grounds. The mystery, her excuse not to leave, had been solved. The work at Grey Gables was almost finished. Summer would soon turn into fall. Was there anything to keep her here?
She watched her new friends, laughing and surrounding Stella in friendship. She thought about how much she’d enjoyed spending time with them. She knew she wanted to get to know them better. And she still had Grey Gables to consider. And then there was LeeAnn and the grandkids. What about them?
“Annie?” Ian asked patiently.
“I’m afraid I don’t have an answer.”
“You don’t have to decide right this minute, do you?”
She smiled warmly at him. “Truth be told, no, there’s no real rush.”
Apparently satisfied by her answer, Ian shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “I’m glad, because you’ve become a real part of this community, whether you realize it or not.”
“High praise, coming from the mayor himself.”
He grinned. “I’m all about town promotion.” With that, he dipped his head in goodbye, exiting the store--his welcome words echoing in Annie’s ears.
* * *
The next morning Annie hurried about, dressing for the day and feeding Boots. She’d called an emergency meeting of the Hook and Needle Club, and she needed to get there on time. Today, along with her crochet, she had two special items with her. She couldn’t wait to get downtown.
After a sleepless night, Annie had made her decisions. The club members had let her be, sensing she needed time to think things through, and she was grateful for that. What she didn’t need was their ever ready opinions and suggestions. They meant well, these good friends of hers, ready to help her … if, and when, she asked. Earlier that morning, she’d spoken to LeeAnn, who, surprisingly, agreed with her decisions. One hurdle, probably the toughest, was over.
When she arrived at A Stitch in Time, she peeked through the window to see the women assembled, seated in their usual spots. Annie grinned. It would be a rare day that she ever beat these women to a meeting again.
“Good morning,” she sang out as she entered the shop.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Mary Beth said in greeting.
“You know what? I am in a good mood. I spoke to my daughter earlier--always a good way to start the day.”
“Have you decided about the Lady?” Peggy asked, coming right to the point.
“I have.” Annie took a seat. “I called Marisa before I came over. I told her my decision depends on Stella.”
Stella dropped her sweater and needles onto her lap. “Oh, Annie. I stopped your grandmother’s work from being showcased years ago. Don’t let me be the reason you hesitate now.”
“Good, because I hoped you’d say that. Marisa and I came to an agreement.”
“Meaning what?” Alice asked.
“Here’s the deal. I’ve offered to let Marisa show it in Boston for the length of the Celebrate Americana exhibit. That way Betsy’s work is finally showcased in a museum. But then it comes back home to Stony Point where it belongs.” She turned to Stella. “I’d be honored if you would then give it a permanent showcase at your new cultural center.”
Stella’s eyes grew wide. “I’d hoped so much … but didn’t want to ask.”
“I think my grandmother would be pleased.”
“Then, of course.” Stella’s voice cracked, “the Lady will always have a home.”
Annie smiled, happy that her part in the mystery had been solved. While the women chatted on about the exhibit, Annie pulled out the letter she’d originally found, along with the frame and the cigar box from Gram’s bedroom.
“I think you should have these,” she told Stella, handing the items to her.
Curious, Stella set the box on her lap and opened the letter first. Annie watched her read the words and seconds later, as the message touched her, Stella closed her eyes and pressed the stationery to her chest, right over her heart. When she opened them again, she looked directly at Annie. A moist sheen brightened her eyes.
“Was that from Betsy?” Annie asked.
“Yes. She had such beautiful handwriting when we were younger.”
Relieved to have that confirmed, she nodded at the box. “Go ahead, open it,” Annie urged.
“You want to give an old lady heart failure,” Stella teased. With shaking fingers, she lifted the lid of the box. Slowly, with great care, she examined the contents.
Realizing all the women were beyond curious, Annie’s heart wrenched as another part of her grandmother’s life was about to be revealed. “I figured those things had meaning to you both.”
After a long look, Stella removed the silver frame with shaking hands. “I can’t remember who snapped that picture. We were down at the docks that day, waiting for her father to finish working. I had a similar picture, but I’ve misplaced it over the years.”
She glanced at Annie, a wealth of regret in her eyes. Knowing Stella’s story, Annie imagined Stella had intentionally gotten rid of the photo.
“May I?” Mary Beth asked.
Stella handed her the frame, then set her attention back to the box. With a grin, she removed the candy wrapper and movie tickets. “We always wanted to go to the movies. Betsy found us a ride to Portland and the brand-new cinema. We talked about that film all summer.”
Stella set the tickets and wrappers back in the box and removed the hankie, chuckling while doing so. “This was my first attempt at fine stitching. The blue wildflowers were Betsy’s favorite. I tried to make my own design, but Betsy was much better at it.” She touched the thread with her fingertips. “Now you can see why I stick to knitting.”
“It’s lovely,” Kate told her, sincerity in her voice.
“No, it’s not,” Stella groaned. “I have no secrets left now.”
A smattering of laughter filled the circle.
“You tried, that’s all that mattered,” Annie reassured her.
Tears threatened again in Stella’s eyes. “That’s just what Betsy said.”
Peggy propped her chin on her hand as she rested her elbow on the arm of the chair. “This has been one amazing summer.”
Alice laughed. “You’re not kidding.”
“There is one more subject we haven’t covered,” Alice brought up. “Are you going back to Texas, Annie? Or are you staying home in Stony Point?”
It all came down to this, Annie realized. For her and the amazing women she’d met this wonderful summer. The Lady in the Attic may have been the conduit that had given Annie back the purpose and joy in her life, but the new friendships she’d made stitched her tattered heart together along the journey.
“I’m not leaving Grey Gables, or y’all, yet,” she announced, her heart full and happy. “Besides, if I know my grandmother, I’m sure she’s left a few more mysteries for us to solve.”
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