Free Elm Creek Quilts [06] The Master Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini

Sylvia’s quilt. It would have been nice to have some contributions from more local quilters, but we’ll have enough blocks without them.”
    “Oh, really? The mail came while you were at lunch. The three blocks we got today brings us to a grand total of fifty-eight. We need one hundred forty.” Diane frowned and tapped the rotary cutter on the table. “Think about it. Mary Beth has had our letter since the beginning of January. Why would she wait two months to tell us she can’t announce it at the guild meeting?”
    “I imagine you’re about to tell me.”
    “To make sure we couldn’t get around her, that’s why. Even if we do send letters to someone else in the guild and ask her to make the announcement, and even if she manages to sneak it past Czarina Mary Beth, the guild members won’t have enough time to make any blocks.”
    Summer had to admit that Diane’s explanation of Mary Beth’s motives sounded plausible, but she couldn’t believe that one spiteful woman could ruin the entire quilt. They had plenty of time. She had not started her own block yet, but she would definitely complete it before the deadline.

    Summer left shortly afterward, making Diane promise to call her if she received word from Bonnie. Over the weekend she worked on sample projects for a new course she hoped to teach later that season, and on Sunday afternoon, she phoned Bonnie to remind her she intended to cut back her hours in preparation for camp. She left messages at Bonnie’s home as well as at Grandma’s Attic, but Bonnie did not return them.
    Before driving out to Elm Creek Manor Monday morning, Summer dropped by Grandma’s Attic just in case Bonnie failed to show. To her relief, the quilt shop was open, and Bonnie was inside helping a customer. Summer stopped in just long enough to remind Bonnie about her changed schedule—and to notice the dark circles beneath her friend’s eyes. Bonnie apologized for not returning her messages but offered no explanation for her silence, and with a customer listening in, Summer could not ask.
    Summer spent the rest of the day in the library of Elm Creek Manor helping Sarah prepare for the start of the new camp season. After several hours arranging and rearranging the course schedule, they finally acknowledged that they would have to cancel a few classes. Summer volunteered to phone some of the Elm Creek Quilters to confirm schedule changes, wanting to spare her overworked friend that unpleasant task. Summer contacted Agnes, but could not track down her mother, Diane, or Judy.
    Frustrated, Summer hung up and flung herself into a chair in front of the library fireplace, complaining about their friends’ inaccessibility. Sarah laughed and as usual offered a logical explanation for their absence, then added that Summer was the least accessible of them all. “All anyone can ever get is your machine. By the way, I think it might be broken. There’s no outgoing message anymore, just a beep.”
    “Oh,” said Summer guardedly. “Thanks. I’ll look into it.”
    “You should. Last week I called three times in a row just to make sure I had the right number.”
    Summer nodded. So Sarah was the mysterious caller.
    That evening, Summer told Jeremy what she had learned, making light of the misunderstanding and the argument that had followed. Jeremy laughed with her about it, adding, “I don’t want another fight over something so stupid. Record whatever message you want. My callers will just have to get used to it.”
    “No, you record it. If my mom calls, problem solved.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “Are you sure that’s the best way for her to find out?”
    “No, it’s not. Now I’ll have some incentive to tell her soon.”
    She resolved to do so before the Elm Creek Quilters’ next business meeting.
    On the following Thursday, she tried all day to reach Gwen and offer her a ride out to the manor. They could talk in the car. Summer would time it so she delivered the bad news just as they