Free Beginnings by Kim Vogel Sawyer Page B

loomed in front of her. Sean’s comment about her being able to hire people to put the projects for his company together while she worked on her own projects had been the deciding factor. It was the best of both worlds, and the excitement of being able to fulfill all of her dreams concerning the studio set her heart pounding in her throat.
    According to the contract, she had exactly two months to complete the first project—the kaleidoscope pattern must be finished by April 1. Charging to the worktable, she flipped open her sketch pad and removed the preliminary drawing she’d made. The pad open, she glimpsed Andrew’s rendition, as well. She started to put it aside, but her breath caught. She held his design at arm’s length.
    Her gaze jerked between the drawing in her hand and the one lying on the table. The two designs were identical through the center, but at a middle row, a circle of diamonds, the similarity ended. Andrew had modified her diamond by lowering the apex and stretching the bottom half. The simple change added a breathtaking shift in the overall pattern, making it appear that the center portion of the design stood out from the background.
    Dimension. Andrew had brought the dimension to the pattern, just as he had said.
    She slapped his drawing on top of hers and closed the cover on the pad. His words rushed back. “The big time ... that’s where I want to go.” Suddenly the discomfort she’d experienced earlier found a basis. Fear struck hard, making her break out in a cold sweat. Would Andrew’s desire for success lead him to undermine her as Mitch had? She shook her head, trying to set aside the worry, yet it niggled.
    “Once bitten, twice shy,” she murmured. Turning her face toward the tiled ceiling, she prayed aloud. “Dear God, I’m going to need help, and Andrew is the only one who has any training around here. I need to depend on him, but now I’m afraid to.”
    When she was a little girl, Beth had always been able to run to her mother in times of fear or doubt. Although she was hardly a child anymore, the solace of her mother’s attention became a pressing need. She glanced at the wall clock. Henry would be in his shop; Mom would be home alone. It gave her the perfect opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with her mother. Something that would be extremely rare once those twins made their appearance.
    A wave akin to fear hit Beth, bringing the sting of tears. The desire to see Mom increased. Grabbing up her coat, she locked the studio and headed for her car. When she knocked on the back door of Henry’s house, however, no one answered. Cupping her hands beside her eyes, she peered through the window. No lights on, no movement. With a frustrated sigh, she returned to her vehicle. Where could Mom be? She rarely ventured outside of Sommerfeld on Saturdays.
    Beth considered going to her own home but decided against it. She didn’t want to be alone right now. Even if she couldn’t be with her mother, she wanted to be with someone. The café, she decided, putting the car into DRIVE and turning in that direction. Although it would be less busy now than it had been during the breakfast rush, she could sit in a corner booth, eat a leftover roll, and maybe visit with one of her cousins who served tables. Not the same as being with her mother, but it beat sitting at home by herself.
    The Main Street parking areas were still filled with the plain-colored, Sommerfeld vehicles of citizens doing their weekend shopping, as Beth had learned was typical for the community. She parked behind her studio and walked to the café. Only two tables were filled, both with Sommerfeld citizens. The occupants sent lazy glances in her direction, then went back to visiting with each other. But Henry’s niece, who waited tables and ran the dishwasher, skipped across the floor and held out her arms for a hug.
    “Hi, Trina,” Beth greeted, appreciating the quick embrace. Trina had been the first person to