Free Crazy as a Quilt (A Harriet Turman/Loose Threads Mystery Book 8) by Arlene Sachitano Page B

few normal dates and some of my mom’s home cooking. She wasn’t that easy to get rid of once I’d figured things out.”
    Harriet stood up and went over to his chair. He opened his arms, and she sat down in his lap. She stroked a lock of silky black hair back off his face.
    “How so?”
    “You name it, she tried it. She threatened suicide. She scratched my car door with a key. She left long rambling messages on our phone machine. One time, she called all my friends and said she and her fictitious baby couldn’t live without me and then hid and wouldn’t answer her phone. The whole town was searching for her. I looked like a schmuck for ditching her in her hour of need.”
    “But you did take her to the prom?”
    “Only after she bought a dress and told everyone she was going with me. Half the town still believed I’d made her get rid of the pretend baby at that point. I hadn’t asked anyone else—I’d been planning on going to a program at the University of Washington with Julio that weekend. Jorge was taking us. It was a pre-college thing. Julio and I were big science nerds back then.”
    “What did Jorge say about it?”
    “To no surprise, he thought I was making a big mistake giving in to her demands. Peer pressure was intense, and I caved in. He was right. It only got worse.”
    “How did things end?”
    “I went off to college. After she’d spent some time trying to get acting jobs in California with no training, she came back to Foggy Point and tried to trap me into marrying her. Remember, she’s a couple of years older than me—I was in high school when she went to LA.
    “Eventually, she got a scholarship to a drama program at a junior college. I guess she got involved in that and forgot me. There were rumors she got into drugs at that school, but I don’t really know. I didn’t want to know anything about what she was doing or where she was doing it.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
    “I should go,” he said. “I just wanted to be sure my sister hadn’t caused us any more trouble.”
    “We’re fine. I really do think the time your sister spent in the mental hospital has done her some good. She’s still no fun to be around, but it seems like she’s beginning to understand that and is trying to change her behavior.”
    “I’m tired of talking about my sister.” He kissed her forehead then worked his way down to her mouth, ending all possibility of further discussion.

Chapter 10
    A light rain was falling the next morning as Harriet guided her car into a visitor parking spot near the covered entrance to the Methodist church.
    “You can get out here, and I’ll park down below in the workshop parking area. There’s no sense in both of us getting wet,” she told Sharon.
    Sharon gathered her quilting bag and purse.
    “Thanks. It’s silly of me not to have brought an umbrella.”
    “It makes you look like a local. Only visitors carry umbrellas. Besides, I can use the exercise.”
    Sharon opened the door and got out.
    “Thanks again,” she said before turning and heading for the entrance.
    “Aren’t we the good hostess,” Lauren said as Harriet got out of her car and locked the door.
    Lauren was locking her own car door, but her roommate, Jessica, was with her. Jessica waved a hand at Harriet and joined her.
    “Don’t let her fool you—she tried to drop me by the covered entrance, but I refused to get out. I need every bit of activity I can get. I’m not used to sitting all day.”
    Lauren walked over to them.
    “I hope your guest isn’t as surly as this one.”
    Jessica poked her arm.
    “You love it, and you know it. I bet you don’t get sparring partners as skilled with zingers as I am every day.”
    Harriet laughed. “You’re right. I’m more of the straight-man type.”
    Lauren slid her messenger bag crosswise over her chest after positioning her quilting bag on her left shoulder.
    “I hope we