“She just might at that. Thanks, Mike!” Annie grabbed her tote, glanced both ways along Main Street and jogged across to the shop. Jason smiled and tipped his hat in answer to her quick wave as she hurried past where he leaned against the Lincoln. Breezing through the door of the shop, she was surprised to see she was not the last one to arrive. Gwen’s usual chair sat empty.
Alice patted the seat beside her. “How come you’re late? You called me right at nine like I asked.”
“Let’s just say that sometimes having a cat isn’t any different from having a toddler and leave it at that,” said Annie. “Isn’t Gwen coming?”
Everyone looked to Stella. “Gwen had certainly committed to being here,” Stella answered. “She has the portfolio with the designs and comments from the curator. This is quite uncharacteristic.”
“It sure is,” said Peggy. “I hope Lisa didn’t give Gwen her cold. Lisa was pretty miserable for several days.”
Alice shook her head. “I’d think Gwen would be the last one to catch it. The rest of us—except maybe Stella—are at the diner much more often than Gwen is.”
“Gwen might forgo a meeting due to illness or some other household snafu, but she would definitely inform someone first. She hasn’t called here on any of our cell phones,” said Mary Beth.
“I hope there’s no emergency,” said Annie. “Should we give her a quick call?”
Alice took her cell phone out of her purse. “I will.” The members kept quiet as she dialed and waited for an answer. When there wasn’t one, she left a message. “Gwen, it’s Alice. We’re all here at the meeting, hoping you’re just running a little late. If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know. Bye.”
“We should start the meeting, so Peggy can get back to work,” said Mary Beth once Alice had ended the call. “Stella, can you share with us everything you remember?” All the club members knew Stella’s mind was likely to be more detailed than the notes in the portfolio that was still in Gwen’s possession, wherever she was.
“Of course,” said Stella. “Our time with the curator was very profitable. Kezi asked me to send her best wishes to all the members for undertaking this project. The designs pleased her very much.”
“Oh, I’m so relieved!” Peggy wiped imaginary sweat off her forehead with a flourish. “Does this mean leaving out the geometric thing was OK?”
“Kezi gave us an overview of the use of the double-geometric shape in American Indian tribes of Maine and the northeastern United States. Quite interesting. Peggy, the shape has not been linked to any precise symbolism that makes its use necessary, especially in combination with the stars and cattails you want to use.” Stella paused as Peggy danced in her seat with joy. “Kezi also appreciated your color choices. Red and yellow are prominent in the color palette of Abenaki art.”
“Mary Beth, look for me during my break tomorrow,” said Peggy. “I’ll be picking out my red and yellow fabrics. Thank you, Kezi!” She blew a kiss toward Bar Harbor.
“You know, I think your trip yesterday was well worth it, Stella, if only to see Peggy so excited about her quilt!” said Kate, who had been quiet until that moment. She had placed herself as close to the front room as possible to listen for the shop phone, should it ring, or any customer who might arrive. She knew Mary Beth needed to hear the feedback about the projects.
“I agree with Kate,” Mary Beth said. “You and Gwen have done us all a great favor.”
Stella inclined her head, a small movement to acknowledge the gratitude. “Kate, I’ll give the comments about your design next, so you can be free to help customers whenever it’s needed.”
“Thank you, Stella,” answered Kate.
“The curator thought your pattern speaks eloquently to the importance of indigenous trees in the lives of the American Indian people of Maine.”
Kate let out a deep breath. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding it. “Peggy, I’m as relieved as you are.”
“Kezi only cautioned—if you decide to add any beading—that you make sure you don’t give the pattern a Christmas-tree look.”
“Personally, I think the pattern is stunning enough without any embellishment,” said Alice. “And you know I love your beadwork.
“My thought has been to not use any beading or ribbon or anything else,” Kate said. “These comments have cemented that plan.” The bell over the door of the shop chimed. Like spectators at a tennis match all the heads in the club circle turned toward it, wondering if Gwen had at last arrived. But instead, a woman and a teenage girl who shared the same color of light brown hair entered the shop. Everyone smiled to hear the first reaction.