Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series) by Mary Tate Engels Read Free Book Online Page A

pulling together, can make it. And by faith, it worked." Claire took a bite of a blueberry scone. "Carrie, these are downright delicious!"
    "How very . . . heroic," Siena said. She felt sick. What an intruder – a fake - she was. She rode into town and became the other woman, just like the receptionist at her old company with Warren.               
    The Lacy Ladies would not hush. They stayed all morning, sipping tea, nibbling scones, and creating their fine-needled lace. They showed Siena the differences between needlepoint, tatting and basic crochet lace; appliqué lace and Italian cut point; and old Irish laces like Montmellick and Carrickmacross. And she found herself admiring the delicate beauty of the tiny stitches.
    "There are an even dozen of us lace makers in town," Roberta said. "But we try not to all descend on Addie’s shop at once. There’s hardly room."
    Carrie picked up the conversation. "Each of us has a different style that we prefer. But we all make the lace huggies. They’re so easy and fun. If only we could sell them."
    "You can make one while watching the TV news every night. Which is why we’ve ended up with so many," Roberta said.
    "What?" Siena asked. "Huggies?" She put her hand to her forehead, trying to grasp the concept.
    "We called them huggies long before those diaper people used our name," Roberta said. "But we couldn't do anything about it because we didn't have a copyright or any right at all."
    Siena shook her head, perplexed by the idea.
    "You know, little socks for glasses or cups that keep them from dripping or marking the table. Only we made ours of lace. Like coasters. And Claire designed one for a tea cup, so cute and fancy with a ruffled edge."
    "Then the bottom fell out for coasters. Can’t sell the little darlings for love ‘nor money. Here, I’ll show you."
    Claire opened the stock room door and pulled out a large plastic garbage bag full of lace coasters. "Probably have about a thousand," she mused.
    Siena was momentarily speechless. "What – why? Why keep making them if there’s no market for them?"
    "Addie said we would find a market someday and they would be a power source." Roberta sighed. "Maybe she meant loss leader. Looks like we'll have to give them away to get rid of them, if we can find anyone who wants them."
    Siena just shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to kick the Lacy Ladies out, so she made herself busy around the shop, rearranging products, checking on supplies, and making mental notes on everything. Behind the bag of lace huggies, she found an interesting item. "Hey, anyone know this lady?"
    The women put down their stitchery and gathered around.
    "Oh, it’s Venus," said Claire wistfully.
    Roberta put one hand on her heart. "Luciano was so artistic. He made her for Addie, carved from a local birch. Isn’t she beautiful?"
    "Addie named her Venus," said Claire. "She was good at naming things."
    Siena stood back and examined the exquisite, four-foot tall hand-carved manikin. "She’s a beauty. I guess Venus is a good name for her." After a few minutes, Siena asked, "Who’s Luciano?"
    "Don’t you know?" Carrie smiled and seemed proud that they knew some secret that Siena didn’t know. "He was Addie’s lover, who she claimed as her husband. He was tragically killed on the high seas, or so we were told. And she never married again."
    "Some said he went back to Italy where he had a family. But we never believed that. He wouldn’t leave Addie like that. He loved her too much." Claire glared at Carrie. "She believed he died at sea, and so do we."
    "I didn’t know Aunt Addie had uh, anyone," Siena said trying to imagine her white-haired aunt in a man’s embrace. She admired Venus’ feminine beauty and voluptuous assets, carved from the hands of a man who undoubtedly knew Aunt Addie’s youthful beauty.
    "Oh yes, he made all our stained glass mermaids around town. Even has one hanging in the Smithsonian, I hear."
    "He made the