Free A Spicy Secret by D. Savannah George

volunteers. They could use a variety of blankets and share as needed.”
    “So the workers would use a blanket during their stay, and the kids could take a blanket with them if they get adopted or find another home, is that right?” Gwen asked. Her knitting needles flashed as she worked on a butter yellow blanket.
    “Yes, exactly. And since it doesn’t get very cold there, they don’t really need heavy winter blankets like we use here in Maine. So hopefully no one is arm-deep in wool.”
    “Nope! But I was arm-deep in flour earlier,” Alice quipped, to everyone’s laughter.
    “I’m volunteering the store as a drop-off point,” Mary Beth said. She handed each member a small stack of flyers copied on different colors of paper. “I’m counting on you Hook and Needle Club ladies to put these up everywhere you go.”
    She paused for a moment and then added, “Didn’t Vanessa and Mackenzie do a great job decorating the collection box and creating the flyers and poster to track our progress?”
    In her haste and embarrassment over Ian, Annie hadn’t even noticed the big, colorful box on the floor next to the register or the tall poster taped to the wall just inside the door.
    “That’s not a hundred and twenty blankets on the tracking poster, is it?” Annie asked.
    “Nope,” replied Kate. “The girls said they didn’t have enough poster board to draw that many. There are forty, so we can color one in for every three blankets we collect. I even brought a bunch of markers so customers can do the coloring if they want.”
    “If that doesn’t get the attention of Stony Pointers, I don’t know what will!” exclaimed Alice. “What talented girls, Kate!”
    Kate blushed. “Thank you. They came up with the concept all on their own. And by the way, the ‘Blanket Haiti’ idea is from a company called Blanket America. They donate blankets to the needy, and they also have a mission in Haiti.”
    “Aren’t those girls astute?” Stella said. Annie knew that was high praise, coming from the woman who wore diamond earrings to an appointment to get her teeth cleaned and who had started and now oversaw the town’s Cultural Center.
    “I’ll put one up at the diner and hand ’em out to everyone with their check,” said Peggy. “I’m sure Jeff won’t mind.”
    “And I’ll make sure John puts some out at the bank,” Gwen chimed in. “He probably can’t ask the tellers to hand them out with the cash, but he’ll do what he can.”
    “I’ll stick one in all of my Princessa and Divine Décor catalogs,” said Alice. “And you know how those get around.”
    “Sounds like we’re gonna blanket Stony Point too,” Kate beamed. “Thank you all so much for your help!”
    “Well, let us know if you think of anything else you need,” Stella said. “Of course, I’ll arrange for flyers to be posted in the Cultural Center as well. Perhaps we can display a few of the nicer blankets we make.”
    Kate clapped her hands. “That would be so wonderful! But how would you do that? Wouldn’t it look weird to just have blankets hanging on a wall?”
    Stella smiled and then said, “My dear, you leave it all to me and my capable staff. Remember, our first big exhibition focused on textiles. I’m certain we can come up with a marvelous display that will help promote the project, and of course, the Cultural Center and our fair town.”
    Peggy glanced at the clock on the wall and began stuffing her quilting supplies into her bag. “Oh no! I’ve got to get to the diner. The lunch rush will be upon us, and I don’t want to be late.”
    Annie suddenly remembered two things: One, she had agreed to have lunch with Ian, and two, she was Alice’s ride. She felt torn; she wanted to spend some time with Ian—alone—but she knew lunch with Alice would be extra fun. On the other hand, Ian knew she had driven Alice to the meeting, but hadn’t invited her along.
    “What to do? What to do?” She didn’t realize she’d said it