Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman Read Free Book Online Page B

at the auction house or to raise money for a benefit, but now we need to—”
    Deborah stopped, turned, and walked toward the window. She waved at her children. Again Callie waited instead of pressing her. When she turned around, Callie was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
    “It’s not my place to tell you the needs of my friends, but I believe there’s a reason God gave them this talent, a reason he put the three of us together, and a reason that you are here now to help us with this.”
    Callie shook her head. “Deborah, I’m probably not staying here for long. I’m certainly not ready to say that God has anything to do with my being here.”
    “Just tell me you’ll try. It’s very important or I wouldn’t ask.”
    Callie pulled in a deep breath, glanced around at the shop that looked as if a miracle had occurred there in the last three hours, then turned back to the woman responsible for it all—the same woman who had seen to her aunt’s funeral arrangements when she hadn’t made it back in time to do so. “All right. If that’s what you want, I’ll do it. We’ll need to set a minimum bid.”
    Deborah named a number.
    “That sounds like a good starting price to me. I think the quilts will bring more, but I’ll search the listings of completed auctions to be sure—not that I expect to find many Amish quilts there. Also, I want to start by placing only three for sale.”
    “How long do you think it will take?”
    “We’ll start the bidding the day I open. Today’s Tuesday. I don’t see how I could open before—”
    “Saturday?”
    “Saturday would be good. And we’ll close the bidding on the first quilt in ten days—long enough to attract notice, but not so long that people will lose interest.”
    Callie barely had the words out of her mouth, when she found herself enfolded in a hug. She held very still and waited for Deborah to back away. When she did, Callie couldn’t help returning the woman’s smile. Her enthusiasm was a bit contagious.
    “Are you sure you want to do this, Deborah? It seems like a big step, seems very different for you and your friends to conduct business this way.”
    Deborah stood straighter, a look of confidence replacing whatever had caused the tears earlier. “It’s what we need to do. The bishop will understand.”
    “The bishop …”
    “Don’t worry about it. I’ll speak to him. You take care of the auction.”
    Callie agreed, called Max to her side, then followed Deborah outside.
    As she watched Deborah and her children climb into the buggy, watched the horse and buggy trot gracefully down the road into a nearly picture-perfect sunset, it occurred to her that the day had certainly taken some bizarre turns.
    She was still on her own, still lonely if she was honest about it, but at least her life had a bit of purpose. More than in her last job. She didn’t miss the endless traveling or the traffic jams one bit.
    Selling Amish quilts on eBay. She didn’t tumble out of bed ten hours earlier imagining she’d be doing that, which went to show that you never knew where a day would lead you.

Chapter 6
    S ATURDAY MORNING new plants graced the front window display. Deborah’s friend Melinda had brought them by, insisting they were welcome-to-the-community gifts. Quiet and friendly, wearing glasses, and carrying a baby, Melinda reminded Callie of a cousin she had played with at summer reunions. Played with might have been the wrong word. They sat side by side near the creek behind her grandmother’s place, reading their books together and staying away from the boys who insisted on catching grasshoppers and throwing the insects at them for some unfathomable reason.
    With the plants placed among the yards and yards of white lace Callie had found on a top shelf in the store room, the green and white made for a bright, inviting window treatment.
    The grounds outside the window were also in pristine shape, thanks to Jonas who had stopped by and done much more than