Fall to Pieces

Chapter Two

Chapter Two“ONE OF WHOM?” ASKED Beatrice.

“One of the Cut-Ups,” said Meadow impatiently. “What we were just talking about.”

“I think I recognize her,” said Beatrice slowly. “I’m not sure, though. You’d think in a town as small as this one that I’d have met everyone. Especially a quilter.”

Meadow threw up her hands, startling Maisie the cat, which very coldly rose and pointedly stalked over to sit in Beatrice’s lap. “Some of these women are just not out and about as much as they should be. They need to participate more and be part of the art festivals and quilt shows and different quilting service projects. The fact you haven’t met even one of them is scandalous. Just scandalous, Beatrice.”

Beatrice put a finger in front of her lips, giving Meadow a look. Meadow had a habit of getting louder as she got more agitated. “Then it sounds like Posy is on to something. Get some of the older, more experienced quilters more engaged by creating events especially for them. Make them feel part of the quilting community. And I’ll add, although Posy didn’t mention it, have them spend more at the shop.”

“There’s got to be other things we can do to bring folks in,” fretted Meadow. “Posy doesn’t seem to do any marketing at all, you know.”

Beatrice asked, “Does she have an email list?”

“Email list? She has an email. Is that the same?”

“No, I’m talking about a list of emails for her regular customers. That way she can send out specials for quilters or give them rewards or coupons or newsletters—that kind of thing,” said Beatrice. “Incentives for giving her their email addresses. We maintained those types of lists at the museum when I was the curator there.”

Meadow said, “Well, it certainly sounds like something she needs to start doing, if she doesn’t already. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an email from the shop, come to think of it. And I sure wouldn’t mind coupons. You know Ramsay. He always makes these horrid clucking sounds when he balances the checkbook register.”

“That mystery quilt should be a good way to start collecting emails. The important thing is that the customer knows they’re signing up to receive newsletters or marketing or whatever. Maybe the mystery quilt could be the enticement for them to voluntarily sign up to be on the list,” said Beatrice. She stroked Maisie and the purring cat lifted her chin to allow Beatrice better access.

Meadow beamed at her. “Genius! Now, if only you’d put that brain to use by trying to figure out what Piper’s favorite poem or song verses are.”

Beatrice was eager to change the subject. In a low voice she said, “Going back to our conversation. Was Henrietta involved in the quilting community before?”

“Oh, certainly! That is to say ... well. I don’t suppose she was ever at its center or anything. She’s much more of a periphery person. She’s rather quiet and not extremely social. What little she has done socially has all been connected to quilting. And she’s an excellent quilter, I think. She does some experimental stuff.” Meadow frowned. “We’ll have to reach out to all the Henriettas of Dappled Hills and get them more involved.”

This sounded like one of those statements that people make and then don’t really follow-up on, so Beatrice started a bit when Meadow bellowed, “Henrietta!”

The reaching-out process was immediate with Meadow.

A wide-eyed Henrietta appeared from around a rack of notions. “Yes? Oh, hello, Meadow.”

Meadow briskly introduced Henrietta and Beatrice and then said, “I was just telling Beatrice here that we haven’t been seeing nearly as much of the Cut-Ups around and about as we used to. We used to have such fun together! What’s happening?”

Henrietta colored a little, perhaps feeling called out by Meadow. “Yes we did. Well, you know, everyone is just so busy and everything.”

“Busy with quilting is what we should be,” said Meadow emphatically. “And Posy, Beatrice, and I have ideas about how to get busier.”

Posy, hearing her name, walked over while Beatrice winced at the thought of becoming busier than she already was.

“First thing is a Sew and Tell where we can all brag about our latest projects and get some ideas for future quilts by hearing about everyone else’s,” said Meadow. “We’ll also be working on mystery quilts, which will be fun. We can all make guesses as to what the finished quilt will end up looking like.”

“And I already have an idea for it,” said Posy, looking excited.

Henrietta nodded and asked, “When is the Sew and Tell?”

“Right away!” said Meadow. Then she looked across at Posy. “That is, if Posy can host it quickly.”

Posy smiled at her. “I’m sure I could pull it together.”

Beatrice said, “I’ll help you, Posy. It sounds as if it’s a matter of just coordinating food and drinks and clearing the room a bit.”

“And contacting everyone,” reminded Meadow. “That will be the most important part. Except that Posy doesn’t have everyone’s email.”

Henrietta cleared her throat. “I could let the Cut-Ups know. I’ve got their emails.”

Meadow said, “For that matter, I even have most of the Cut-Ups emails. Let’s say it will be next Friday night.” She glanced up at Posy and got a nodding confirmation. “Why not just start in right away?”

Beatrice had the feeling that she needed to have her calendar in front of her. Then she remembered. “What time, though? I think I’m supposed to have dinner with Wyatt that night. Or maybe it’s actually this Friday that I’m supposed to.”

“Oh, there will be plenty of time to have dinner with Wyatt,” said Meadow. “Even if it’s next Friday, you could always go after the Sew and Tell is over.”

Henrietta said, “Early would be good for me. I’m not great at driving at night anymore.”

“So maybe five o’clock?” asked Posy. Maisie the cat jumped up to bound over to Posy and rub lovingly against her legs.

Beatrice said, “That should work out.”

“It does sound like fun,” said Henrietta. “I haven’t done anything with other quilters for a while.”

Meadow said, “It’s the perfect opportunity! Then you can show off what you’re working on now.” She gushed to Beatrice, “Henrietta is a very talented quilter. I can’t wait to see what she’s working on now.”

“I haven’t even started yet,” protested Henrietta with a small smile. “That’s what I’m here today for.”

“Now you have plenty of time to really get going on it before we have our event,” said Meadow smoothly. “And it will be nice to have Beatrice there, too. Beatrice is a relatively new quilter, but has really fit right into the quilting culture. I think she’s inspirational.”

Beatrice flushed as she usually did when Meadow got carried away.

Henrietta said, “Well, count me in. And now I guess I’d better go check out.”

“Oh! We also need your email address, Henrietta,” said Meadow. “For the mystery quilt, remember?”

Henrietta gave her the email address, paid, and then left.

Meadow said, “At least we’ve got Henrietta committed. She’s great, Beatrice—so, so creative.”

“Hasn’t she been doing some sort of interior design work?” asked Posy.

Meadow said, “She has. On top of her quilting! Well, it’s not exactly interior design. It’s sort of redesign and reimagine. She takes clients’ old things and changes them around to make them look new and exciting.”

Beatrice said, “I see. So she rearranges furniture, paints wood, re-covers chairs, that kind of thing.”

Meadow said, “That’s right. It’s been something Henrietta has been doing for the last couple of years. And now she’s onboard with the Sew and Tell, too.”

Posy said, “You’re both so smart! Fingers crossed that this will prove a success. I already have ideas for the quilt, so I can start right away sending instructions out.” Then she frowned. “Of course, I won’t be able to really start immediately, though, will I? Not without more email addresses. I should have been collecting those all along.”

“We’ll make up for lost time,” said Beatrice. “Meadow said that she already has many email addresses. Maybe she can send out an email on your behalf, letting everyone know about the Sew and Tell and about the mystery quilt.”

Meadow added, “And we can put a note on the shop door telling everyone about the different events. Oh, and hand out flyers at the quilt show on Friday. And I may remind everyone that it’s not too late to be part of the quilt show on Friday. This is going to be so great, Posy!”

It did start out being as great as Meadow thought it would be. Meadow sent out a recruitment email for the quilt show and Posy had lots of signups for the mystery quilt as well as an RSVP for the Sew and Tell.

The first email that Posy sent out to the group told everyone what to buy for the quilt and some introductory instructions.

Beatrice called Wyatt. She realized when she saw her calendar that she’d accepted his invitation for dinner on Friday without understanding that the quilt show might affect her evening.

She smiled when she heard his voice on the phone. Beatrice was happy in Dappled Hills for a number of reasons: she loved being near her daughter and loved the friends she’d made. And she loved being close to Wyatt. She still felt that between all her activities (many of which she felt dragged into) and Wyatt’s duties as minister of Dappled Hills Presbyterian Church, they had to work hard to find time to spend together.

“How are you?” asked Wyatt, his voice warm and kind as he answered the phone.

“Great! Except that I seem to be caught up in a whirlwind of quilting activities,” said Beatrice ruefully. “I’m calling about dinner on Friday.”

Wyatt said, “Need to cancel?”

“No, I think we just need to push our reservation out by thirty minutes. I forgot when we scheduled that I’m at a quilt show that afternoon. I hope that doesn’t interfere with our plans too much,” said Beatrice.

Wyatt’s voice was tinged with relief. “That sounds perfect. I thought you might need to cancel and I’d been looking forward to our dinner. This week has been busy, especially on my end, and I’m glad we get a chance to catch up.”

“Can’t wait,” Beatrice said with a smile.

After they ended their conversation, Beatrice sighed, looking absently at her phone. She knew Meadow was going to continue bugging her about Piper’s favorite poetry or verse or whatever. She simply wasn’t sure that she was going to be able to subtly get that information without Piper being suspicious that something was behind her request. Or, perhaps, Piper would be suspicious that her mother was losing her mind.

Beatrice cleared her throat as she dialed Piper’s number. When Piper answered, she said, “Hi, sweetie!”

“Hi, Mom! How are you?”

“I’m well! Yes, I’m doing well.” Beatrice paused. Maybe she should have had her speech prepared before she called. She sounded just a wee bit too perky, to her ears.

“All ready for the quilt show?” asked Piper.

“Not totally, but I’m working on it. You know Meadow—sometimes she creates distractions. Which reminds me; there’s going to be a Sew and Tell event at the Patchwork Cottage and a mystery quilt project that you might want to know about or maybe sign up for.” Suddenly, she got a mental image of Meadow wagging a finger at her. Wasn’t she supposed to help Piper free up her time so that Ash could propose?

“Oh, okay. Thanks! I’m not sure if I have the time for both of them, but I’ll think about it. Things have been revving up at school lately: there’s parent night coming up and a fundraiser for the PTA. But I’ll take a look.” She paused. “How is the painting coming?”

“Painting?” asked Beatrice blankly.

“Did you decide on yellow? Or another color?”

Beatrice suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be planning on painting her living room. “Oh! Well, I think I’ve decided that maybe I didn’t have time after all to tackle that right now. But I’ve made a note of your input for later on. Yellow and light blue. Lovely.”

Piper said, “So...were you calling to let me know about the quilt events, or did you just call to chat?”

Beatrice stifled a sigh. She wasn’t good at being surreptitious. She definitely hadn’t missed her calling as a spy. She said, slowly, “Actually, I wanted your opinion on something. I was thinking about doing a quilt with a phrase or a lyric or a bit of poetry.”

Piper’s voice was surprised. “Are you? I hadn’t gotten the impression that you were interested in quilting those. I thought they might be too modern for your tastes. They sound more like something that I might do.”

“Yes, well. Sometimes it’s good to try something different to keep abreast of what’s current in the craft,” said Beatrice. “I was curious to hear if you had any ideas of favorite phrases or words. Just as an idea.” She stopped and then added quickly, “I have a new machine and wanted to try out the embroidery on it.”

“I’d think it would need to be something very short,” said Piper thoughtfully. “Otherwise, it might overwhelm the quilt.”

“Right. Do you have a favorite poem, for instance?” Beatrice rolled her eyes at Noo-noo as the corgi looked sympathetically at her. This prying all felt very unnatural.

“I don’t think my favorites would make for very good quilting,” said Piper dryly. “I’m fond of “The Lady of Shalott,” and “The Raven,” by Poe.”

Piper was right. Those wouldn’t work for a proposal quilt at all.

Piper continued, “Why don’t you try something a little less challenging, Mama? Maybe just one word.”

“Such as?”

“Love. Or peace. Something like that,” said Piper.

Much better. “I think you’re right, Piper. Sometimes I set out to do something a little too ambitious. Keeping it simple will work better for me, for sure.”

“Glad I could help, Mama.”

The day was fairly productive. But then, Thursday night, the evening before the quilt show, there was another email to the mystery quilt list. And it wasn’t about the project.