Thread and Gone by Lea Wait Read Free Book Online

next week.
    â€œFrom nine to five, almost every day,” she said, giving up on her hair. “I played hooky yesterday because of the holiday, and told Glenda she could take the week with her family. But there’s always paperwork to catch up with. You know what it’s like to have your business in your home.”
    â€œYou never leave your office,” I agreed.
    â€œBut there are real advantages when the weather turns horrible. Come on in,” she said, gesturing to the private office in back of her reception area. “Your grandmother’s wedding was lovely, by the way. She and Rev. Tom looked so happy. Are they still on their honeymoon?”
    I nodded. “They’re in Quebec, eating so much they’ll be wanting to hibernate when they get back, according to Gram.”
    â€œSounds like Charlotte,” said Mrs. Pendleton. “I hope she and Tom are happy together.”
    â€œSo far, so good,” I agreed. “Marriage seems to be right for them.”
    â€œPerhaps so,” she said. “But the tough part of marriage comes after the honeymoon.”
    I didn’t know what to say. “I’ve never been married.”
    She saw me glancing at her left hand. “I’m separated. Filed for divorce eighteen months ago. My advice about marriage is simple: don’t rush into it. In my profession I see a lot of couples who marry too soon. Or who think getting married will solve all their problems.”
    â€œI think Gram and Tom are old enough to know what they’re doing.” Gram was sixty-five; Tom, fifty-two. They’d each been married before. Gram’d been widowed years ago, before I was born, and Tom about ten years ago. I hoped they’d have many years together.
    Mrs. Pendleton brushed her hair up again. “Of course they are. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just that marriage and divorce have been on my mind recently. What’s brought you here this morning?” She straightened the line of books on her desk, pushing the marble bookends that held them more toward the center. They’d been dangerously close to falling off the edge.
    â€œYou know Mary Clough, right?” I asked.
    â€œI helped her with legal issues after her parents died. She’s a sweet girl. Horrible tragedy, to be left alone so young.”
    â€œLast night she came to my home with her fiancé . . .”
    â€œHer fiancé?” Mrs. Pendleton looked shocked. “Mary’s engaged?”
    â€œTo Rob Trask,” I said.
    Lenore shook her head. “She’s so young. I hadn’t heard. Sorry to interrupt.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” I said. “She does seem young to be engaged. But in any case, she brought a piece of needlepoint for me to identify. It may be several hundred years old.”
    â€œInteresting,” said Lenore, leaning forward.
    â€œMary wanted to know more about the needlepoint, and how much it might be worth.” I hesitated. “Rob seemed most interested in its value.”
    â€œIt might be worth a lot?”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen a piece like it. We’ll have to do research. But it’s possible.”
    â€œWhat brings you here?”
    â€œIn case it is valuable, I want to keep it out of harm’s way. Secure.” I didn’t add “and away from Rob.” “Mary agreed that, if you wouldn’t mind, we’d leave it with you. You know both of us. And you could put it in your safe.” I held up the envelope. “It wouldn’t take up much room, and I hope you wouldn’t have to keep it more than a few weeks. It could only be days.”
    She nodded. “Most people would use a safe deposit box. But I could do that for you. I assume you don’t want the responsibility of having it in your home.”
    â€œExactly. And I don’t have a safe deposit box.”
    â€œMay I see this