Free Out of the Shadows (Bellingwood Book 12) by Diane Greenwood Muir

to you. However, he also told me that it was going to push off a surprise he'd planned for me, so you owe me."
    "If this happens and he builds out the space for us, your first sewing class is on us," Jen patted Polly's hand.
    Sonya leaned in and said quietly. "If he does the work, she can take as many classes as she wants. Right?"
    Jen laughed. "That's our negotiator. She'd give away the shop if we let her. But if he agrees to do this for us, we know it will be done right and done well."
    "Henry said he went to high school with your husband," Polly said to Sandy. She tried to place the young woman's age. They'd waited a long time to have children.
    Sandy watched Polly processing and chuckled. "I'm three years younger than Benji and yes, we waited to have a child. Honestly, I didn't think I'd ever want this and when I got pregnant, I was as surprised as anyone."
    "And you chose to give up your career?"
    "Not completely. I still do freelance work for them, but I don't go into the office every day and it's okay. I'm happy."
    She didn't sound that happy, but Polly let it go. People made choices in their lives and she barely knew this woman.
    Sandy gave her head a quick shake and bent over toward Polly and in a conspiratorial whisper, asked, "So is it true about you?"
    "Is what true?" Polly knew what was coming, but she liked to make people ask.
    "You know," Sandy said. "You find dead bodies?"
    "That's me. Grim Reaper."
    "So you found that body in the field the other day?" Sonya asked.
    Polly nodded.
    "Do they know who it is yet?" This from Jen Dykstra.
    "Not that I've heard. The Sheriff sheriff doesn't tell me much unless I get up in his face. And then it's only because I pester him," Polly said. "Or I sic his wife on him."
    "Lydia’s been good to us," Sandy said. "We live down the street. I couldn't believe it when she showed up with food and then arranged it so other people from church did, too. It made those first weeks a lot easier. I was so not used to being at home and having to learn how to feed myself, Benji and a baby. Benji and I never ate at home before the baby. It was either over at his mom's house or we met after work in Ames. All we did was come home, collapse and go to work again."
    "This is a big change for you, isn't it?" Polly asked.
    Sandy nodded. "I’m trying to get used to it. It's getting easier and working with these two has been fun." She chuckled. "Everyone’s on a mission to teach me to be more relaxed."
    "I need to introduce you to Sal Kahane," Polly said.
    Jen looked around. "Doesn't she own this place?"
    "Yeah, but she grew up in Boston. Sometimes Bellingwood drives her absolutely out of her mind."
    "I grew up in Denver," Sandy said. "This has taken some getting used to, but I've lived in Iowa since college." She glanced up. "We moved to Bellingwood after I found out I was pregnant. Benji thought it would be easier if we were closer to his mother. He was right, but I was so glad when you opened the coffee shop. Even if I couldn't drink caffeine, I knew someday I would again and at least I could come in and sniff it."
    Polly laughed. "Yes, you need to meet Sal. You’ll hit it right off."
    Jen gathered up the papers from in front of her and gestured for the others to be pushed her way. "I'll set up a meeting with Polly's husband," she said. "Sandy, you and I need to find a time when you're available. Sonya, do you want to be there?"
    "Maybe not at the first meeting. You girls have this in hand." She stood up. "I have a quilt to finish for a new grandbaby who’s going to show up any day now, so I should be home and sewing. It was nice to meet you, Miss Giller."
    "Polly. Please," Polly said.
    She nodded and smiled before walking away. Jen stood up and slid the papers into a portfolio. "You two sit and chat. I have things to do before my kiddos come. I'll be in touch, Sandy." She shook Polly's hand and followed her friend out of the shop.
    "What do you do on Sunday evenings?" Polly asked