Free Elm Creek Quilts [12] The Winding Ways Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

news for years,” added Diane. “She probably gave up all hope long ago.”
    “I’m going to tell her,” Sarah protested. “I have my first prenatal appointment tomorrow morning. I promise I’ll call my mother afterward.”
    “Your first appointment?” asked Gwen. “How far along are you?”
    When Sarah told them she had just entered her second trimester, there were more exclamations. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” cried Bonnie.
    “I thought you had already guessed.” Honestly, didn’t they pay any attention to her at all? “Besides, the later you hear the news, the less time you have to worry.”
    “And the less time we have to work on quilts for the baby,” said Diane accusingly.
    “You should have seen your ob-gyn before now,” said Judy.
    “When would I have had time?” Sarah said, somewhat defensively, for she knew her friend was right. “If I’d had any unusual symptoms, I would have called urgent care, but I wanted a particular doctor and she was fully booked. To be taken on as a new patient, I had to wait until she had an opening. My research indicated that she would be worth it.”
    Diane rolled her eyes. “We wouldn’t want to contest your research.”
    “Your baby’s due in February,” said Summer, thinking ahead, and then her face fell. “And I won’t be here to welcome her. Or him.”
    Judy reached over and patted Summer on the shoulder consolingly.
    “You can meet the baby when you come home for spring break,” said Sarah. “I’ll send lots of pictures, too. I promise.”
    “What are you going to do about work?” asked Agnes, her blue eyes large and inquisitive behind her pink-tinted glasses. “I must say, I always considered you one of those career girls who never really wanted to start a family.”
    “I won’t have to take any time off of work,” Sarah promised. When her friends regarded her skeptically, she added, “At least, not much. The baby’s due in February, which should give me plenty of time to recover before the start of the new camp season at the end of March. I’ll work ahead and get most of the summer’s marketing, scheduling, and registration out of the way. Things should run as smoothly as ever.”
    Diane burst into laughter. “Are you trying to convince us, or yourself?”
    “You, I suppose. I’m not worried.” Sarah noticed the other Elm Creek Quilters struggling unsuccessfully to hide their grins. “Why, do you think I should be?”
    “A baby changes everything,” said Bonnie. “From this point on, you should expect the unexpected.”
    “Nothing’s completely unexpected if you plan ahead.”
    This time, Diane was not the only one to laugh.
    Sarah looked around the circle, shaking her head. “Thanks for your support, oh ye of little faith.”
    “Sarah, if anyone can have a by-the-book pregnancy, it’s you,” said Gwen. “We won’t hold you to it, that’s all.”
    “You shouldn’t hold yourself to it, either,” added Agnes. “If you need to take some time off, we’ll cover for you. If you need extra help now and then, don’t be afraid to ask for it. This would be an excellent time for you to learn to delegate more, and to be more flexible.”
    As her friends chimed in with promises of help, it was Sarah’s turn to laugh. “That’s what you say now, but we’ll see how many of you volunteer when it’s time to change diapers.”
    Everyone laughed, and as the circle broke up to enter the banquet hall, Gwen caught Sarah’s eye. “You are going to use cloth diapers rather than poison the environment with disposables, right?”
    “That’s an excellent idea.” Sarah decided to practice delegating. “You’re just the person to help me find an affordable, environmentally sensitive diaper service. Still eager to help?”
    Gwen accepted the assignment, but she warned, “Not all wrinkles will be ironed out so easily. Some, you just have to learn to live with.”
    “I know,” said Sarah cheerfully, although as a quilter,