Alice turned to scan the other side of the room, lined with identical stuffed built-ins. “Do you still have the step stool that used to be in here? We’re going to need it.”
“It’s in the family room, very handy for dusting the moldings.” Annie went to fetch the stool as Alice began removing books from a few of the lower shelves, stacking them next to a leather reading chair. Annie returned with the white metal, three-step stool and placed it in front of the first stack of shelves. “I’ll climb up and look through the books. When I hand one to you, dust it and give it a place on a lower shelf.” Annie climbed up to the highest step.
“Do you want me to separate fiction books from nonfiction?” Alice asked as she wiped the dust from the shelves she had just emptied.
“Yes! John loves looking at the pictures in encyclopedias, field guides, and other nonfiction books about animals, boats, oceans, you name it. Having them all in one low section will be really helpful.” Annie ran her eyes along the top shelf, while she ran a lamb’s-wool wand along the tops and spines of the books. “Nothing suitable on this shelf.” On the next highest shelf Annie found some nonfiction animal books and a couple of classics—Heidi and Mr. Popper’s Penguins—and handed them down to Alice. Once they were in a rhythm of scan, pull, dust, and reshelve, Annie asked Alice, “Did you have a chance to start your place mats?”
“I only had a little time last night after I had everything packed for the shows today.” Alice reached up for the book Annie was dangling down toward her, Birds of the Eastern United States.
“How is the pattern looking in the actual stitches? Does it look like you thought it would?” Annie stretched over to snag a book at the end of the row, a collection of Beatrix Potter stories. “Of course, I’m asking because I’m the one who’s not so confident about her project.”
“I’ve only done one side of the border, so it’s probably too early to know how it’s going to look when it’s completed. My main concern isn’t if the pattern will look nice, because the colors are looking beautiful together already.” Alice settled the dust-free story collection on its new shelf. “But what if I copied the pattern wrong, and it comes out looking unlike any Micmac pattern ever used? I would hate that.”
“Exactly! I don’t want to put something in the Harvest sale that’s as off-kilter as a three-legged armadillo.”
A muffled snort escaped Alice. “First of all, no self-respecting armadillo would be caught dead—three-legged or not—up here in Maine! Secondly, I don’t think anything you make will be that off!” She dusted a book about clipper ships and slipped it onto the nonfiction side of the shelf. “Hmmm, I wonder if any of the others are second-guessing themselves as much as we are. How about I give everyone a quick call and ask?”
Annie stepped down off the stool. “Good, you can do that while I check on the meatloaf and put the stewed tomatoes and green beans on to cook.” Alice followed her into the kitchen and retrieved her cell phone from her purse. She had entered all the Hook and Needle Club members into her speed-dial list. Annie followed the one-sided conversations, surprised at the evidence that almost all the members were having doubts about their pieces, even Kate.
Alice’s phone shut with a soft click. “Congratulations, we’re normal! What do you think about an emergency meeting tomorrow during Peggy’s afternoon break? Together, maybe we can figure out a solution so we can all finish our pieces by the Harvest on the Harbor celebration.”
“Let’s do it. We don’t have any time to lose.” Annie lowered the flame under the tomatoes. “The green beans need a few more minutes; you have time to confirm the meeting with everyone. Just tell Mary Beth and Peggy to pass it on, and everyone will be there, two thirty sharp.”
After a dinner fit for two hard-working women, Annie and Alice returned to the library. By the end of the evening they had pulled all the appropriate books for the twins from upper shelves, and there was already a nice-size collection in the dedicated section Alice had cleared. Exhausted and pleased with what they had accomplished, Annie walked Alice to the front door.
“I could go home and chug two liters of Mountain Dew and still fall asleep as soon as I crawl into bed,” Alice said as she pulled on her anorak. “Only one Princessa/Divine Décor party after the meeting tomorrow, so I can sleep in late!”
Annie followed Alice out onto the porch. “You earned every extra minute, my friend. Thanks for your help.”