The Quilter's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter Read Free Book Online Page B

tightened. “But I don’t think my son’s going to take this news so well.”
    “It will be hard for me, too.” Abby smiled through quivering lips. “I’m hoping Lester will understand.”
    “What will I understand?”
    Abby whirled around. She hadn’t realized anyone had come into the shop. “You scared me, Lester.”
    He gave her a quick hug. “I figured you’d hear the bell.”
    “Guess I wasn’t paying attention.”
    “What were you two discussing?” Lester looked first at his mamm, then back at Abby. “I heard my name, so I suspect it must have somethin’ to do with me.”
    “Actually, it has more to do with my mamm,” Abby replied. “I’ll tell you about it over lunch, okay?”
    “Jah, that’s fine.” He held up a brown paper sack. “I brought the dessert, like I promised.”
    “I’ll get the lunch I packed, and we can go out back to the picnic table.” Abby turned to Lester’s mamm. “Can you manage on your own for a while?”
    Deborah waved a hand. “Jah, sure. You two go along; things will be fine here.”
    A few minutes later, Abby took a seat on the bench across from Lester, and they bowed their heads. When they’d finished their silent prayer, Abby reached inside her wicker basket and pulled out the meal she had provided—cold golden-fried chicken, tangy coleslaw, baked beans, and fluffy buttermilk biscuits.
    “What were you gonna tell me about your mamm?” Lester asked around a mouthful of chicken.
    “She’s having a difficult pregnancy and will probably have to close her quilt shop so she can stay home and rest.”
    “Sorry to hear that.”
    Abby clutched her napkin, rolling it into a tight ball. “I’ve— uh—I think—I mean—” She paused and moistened her lips. Then, gathering up her courage, she began again. “I’ve decided that I should go to Pennsylvania to help out, and your mamm’s agreed to run my quilt shop while I’m gone.” There, it felt better to have gotten that out.
    Lester’s pale eyebrows squeezed together, and his mouth drooped at the corners. “You’re leavin’ me, Abby?”
    She touched his arm. “It’ll only be temporary. I’ll be backsoon after the boppli is born.”
    “But how are we gonna plan our wedding if you’re not around?”
    “We can do it through letters. And if we need to talk, we can call each other. You know, I have a phone here at the shop now, and since Caleb and Naomi took over the general store in Paradise, they’ve put one in as well.”
    Lester didn’t look the least bit convinced, but he made no comment.
    Abby prayed for the right words that would help Lester understand. “I’ll be back in plenty of time for the wedding.”
    “But the boppli’s not due until October. That’s four and a half months away.”
    “I wouldn’t go so soon if I didn’t think it was important for me to be with Mom right now. I’ll not only be running her quilt shop, but I’ll be at the house when I’m not working to make sure everything’s going okay and that Mom’s doing as the doctor says.”
    Lester’s expression softened some. “I know you’ll be doin’ a good thing by goin’ to help out, but I’ll surely miss you.”
    “I’ll miss you, too,” she said, blinking against the tears clinging to her lashes.
    Lester leaned forward, like he was about to kiss her, but a blaring siren sounded in the distance, and he pulled back. “Sounds like a fire truck.”
    Abby sniffed the air. “I smell smoke. Sure hope it’s nothing serious.”
    “Think I’ll run around front and have a look-see.” Lester jumped up and disappeared around the side of the building.
    “Whenever anything out of the ordinary happens, why is it that men always have to see what’s going on?” Abby muttered. With an exasperated sigh, she rose to her feet and followed him.
    Out front on the sidewalk, a group of people had gathered, pointing and chattering about the flames shooting out of the cheese store down the street.
    “My friend Joe works