Free Monica Ferris_Needlecraft Mysteries_03 by A Stitch in Time

is for her mother-in-law.” There was a little silence as the women thought about daughters-in-law who came to Christmas gatherings with presents for everyone but their mothers-in-law.
    â€œWell ...” conceded Martha, and the talk moved on to the latest patterns in Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine.
    Godwin asked Patricia, “Have you ever bought a counted cross stitch pattern on eBay?”
    â€œYes, why?”
    â€œI saw a doll house rug kit on there I really liked. And the bidding wasn’t very active. Is it a good place to shop?”
    Alice asked, “Where’s eBay?”
    â€œOn the Internet,” said Betsy. “It’s like an auction house that handles just about anything you can imagine. I’ve looked at some things but haven’t ever bid because I’ve heard you can get stung.”
    Patricia said, “I’ve never bought needlework items there, but I have bought antiques. I never bid on anything unless there’s a picture. Do you use a computer, Martha?”
    â€œNo, I’m too old for a computer. Jeff has one.” Jeff was her adult grandson, her partner in the dry cleaning business.
    â€œNobody’s too old!” said Godwin. “I know several people who share AOL accounts with their mothers so they can stay in touch. They send pictures of the grand-children and the grandmothers send pictures of themselves and their new husbands honeymooning in Hawaii. It’s not hard to learn. I’d be glad to show you, or you, Alice.”
    Alice, her large face reddening, blurted, “Oh, I couldn’t afford a computer,” which might have caused an embarrassed silence except she went on, “Betsy, could I see some of that new floss, the kind that’s a blend of silk and wool?”
    Betsy said, “Of course,” and brought a skein to the table. The Bunch, incorrigible fiber fondlers, handed it around and agreed the texture was marvelous. Neither computers nor the subject of Betsy driving in the snow was mentioned again.
    After the Monday Bunch left, Betsy said, “Are you going to put a bid in for that rug kit?”
    â€œYes, but I probably won’t get it. Too many things go for more than they’re worth on eBay. I wouldn’t even bid, except I can’t seem to find it anywhere else.”
    â€œGodwin, what do you think about Patricia?”
    â€œI like her, but I wouldn’t get between her and something she wants. Why?”
    â€œWell, I was thinking about when I get my money. I wonder if it would be a worthwhile project to buy used computers for people who can’t afford them. Alice, for example. She’s a lonely person, and the Internet can be a godsend for the lonesome. Patricia has lived here all her life, and she’s active in her church, and I wonder if perhaps she knows other people who might benefit from a computer. But she’s not the sort I’m comfortable working with, she has that kind of rich person’s veneer that seems ... I don’t know, impermeable, impenetrable. Do rich people send their children to special schools to learn that attitude?”
    â€œWell, yes. On the other hand, Patricia didn’t go to one. I think she tried to marry rich, but her in-laws didn’t approve of her. They thought their son was too young to marry and that Patricia didn’t have the right background, so they cut him off, refused to help out, even when Patricia got pregnant before their son finished law school. Now his grandmother dotes on the boy she wouldn’t acknowledge.”
    Betsy tilted her head. “Is any of this true, or is it just the usual Excelsior gossip?”
    Godwin laughed. “It’s true, really it is. Patricia used to talk about it, until her husband got into politics. Now you’ll never hear a bad word about her mother-in-law. Not that it was ever all that bad, I guess. I think Patricia was just tired from the constant struggle, and Margot was a