Was that Neelie I saw driving your car down the driveway when I came in?” Harriet asked Carla when she entered Aiden's house.
Carla set a bowl of fruit salad down on the dining room buffet.
"I sent her to the store to buy formula and diapers that fit for the baby."
"Did it occur to you she might just take the car and run?” Harriet asked.
Carla's cheeks turned a dark pink.
"She wants something, and it isn't a car,” she said. “Trust me. My mom had boyfriends with that same look she has."
"Our Carla's clever enough not to let Neelie take her car without leaving a security deposit,” Mavis said as she came into the dining room carrying Kissa.
"Aren't you the sly one?” Harriet said.
"Not sly enough,” Carla told her. “I didn't get any new information from her."
Mavis patted Carla on the back.
"Now, honey, she's hardly settled in. You just keep your ears open. Let us do the rest."
The Loose Threads started arriving en masse, fixing plates of snacks and making tea.
"Did you tell everyone what I found?” Lauren asked as she sat down next to Harriet at the table. She had on a pink linen blouse with a Peter Pan collar, and navy blue pants. Her hair was swept back from her face with a navy blue headband. She looked younger and more vulnerable than usual.
"I haven't had a chance. Why don't you tell them?"
"I can't believe you're sitting on this gem. Where is the subject, by the way?"
"If you mean Neelie, she's at the store, and you don't need to say it, I already asked why she got to take a car. Carla's holding the baby hostage."
"Way to go, Carla,” Lauren said. “Looks like our little friend is growing a spine."
Harriet shushed Lauren. Fortunately, Carla was in the kitchen and well out of earshot.
"What did you find out?” Jenny asked. Her shoulder-length silver hair was turned under in her customary page boy style, and she was wearing gray wool slacks and a pale-blue crepe blouse.
The room quieted as Lauren explained her discovery that Neelie's sister was possibly still alive. She also told them about the lack of documentation for Kissa and Neelie.
"That's all the more reason Carla shouldn't be here alone with that woman,” Connie said when Lauren had finished.
"Who are you talking about?” Phyllis Johnson asked as she wedged her soft bulk into a dining room chair.
Three people started talking at once, but after only a few minutes, Phyllis was up to speed.
"Do you really think Aiden abandoned a pregnant woman in Africa?” Phyllis asked. “I've known him since he was a guppie. He used to give Avanell fits bringing home every stray dog and cat in Foggy Point. He wouldn't leave his own baby.” Her chair creaked as she settled her bulk. She tugged at the two sides of her pastel piecework jacket. “Mark my words, something else is going on."
DeAnn came into the dining room, ending all talk of Neelie, Aiden and Kissa.
"This is still happening, right?” she asked Phyllis. She wore a black vest with red appliquéd flowers connected by a green vine that twined from one front panel, around the neck, down the back and onto the other front piece. Leaves in three shades of green were spaced between the flowers. The vest was very striking over the red turtleneck sweater she'd paired it with. She wore tapered black pants and ankle boots to complete the outfit. It was a definite change from her usual jeans and green polo shirt with the Foggy Point Video logo she wore most week days-her family owned the video store, and she worked there part time.
"Yes, it's all real,” Phyllis said with a smile. “If everything goes as planned, this time tomorrow you're going to have a beautiful daughter."
"It's all so hard to believe,” DeAnn said. “I mean, Avery was born while David was still in graduate school. And Hansford…” She paused. “Well, he was a bit of a surprise, so he got AJ's hand-me-downs, which were already secondhand."
"Well, honey, you just enjoy every minute of it,” Aunt Beth said.
"No baby shower is complete without a couple of games,” Mavis said. “Let's move into the parlor across the hall."
In her mind, Harriet groaned. She'd been to a few baby showers when she lived in California, and she'd clearly demonstrated that her upbringing, in the hands of nannies and at boarding schools in Europe, Asia and only sometimes America, had left her without the common cultural references most children grew up with. Her parents believed reading children's books to children stunted their potential. When her mother read to her, it was from the periodic table; her father read her Shakespeare.
"Okay, everyone,” Mavis said when the women were settled on the chairs and sofas of the large dayroom. “In this one, there are small gold ‘diaper’ pins mixed in a bowl of rice. Your task is to pick out as many pins as you can in thirty seconds-while blindfolded."
This task proved harder than it sounded but didn't require previous knowledge of babies or culture. The next two games didn't, either, and Harriet relaxed. She knew she was among friends, but she was still sensitive about her weird upbringing.
Neelie came in the front door as the group was returning to the dining room to have cake and ice cream.
"Oh, hi, Neelie,” Carla said. “Would you like to join us for some cake?"
She looked wary.
"Where is Kissa?"
"She's in the nursery with Wendy,” Carla told her. “I hired a babysitter to stay with them during the shower."
"Okay, but just a small piece for me."
"Here, come sit,” Aunt Beth said and brought another chair to the table, placing it between herself and Harriet. “What would you like to drink? We have punch, tea and coffee."
"Coffee is fine,” Neelie said. Harriet could see the woman was uncomfortable.
"Let me introduce you,” Harriet said. “Ladies, Carla's houseguest is going to join us."
She proceeded to present each Loose Thread, and they, in turn, each said a few words of welcome.
"Phyllis Johnson isn't a Loose Thread. She works for the adoption agency that is placing DeAnn's baby with her.” Harriet looked around. Phyllis had disappeared. “I guess she's in the restroom."
"Welcome,” Robin said. “I hope you enjoy your visit to Foggy Point."
"So, what's Oraba like?” Lauren asked.
"Excuse me?” Neelie said in her lilting English.
"I saw in a video on YouTube that your sister's working in Oraba. I was wondering what kind of place it was."
If Neelie noticed Lauren's use of the present tense in reference to her sister, she didn't show it.
"It is like all of Uganda-hot and dusty."
"Are there problems with the water there?” Harriet asked.
"I don't know,” Neelie snapped. “She had her work, and I had mine. We didn't talk about it."
"What sort of work did you do?” Harriet persisted.
"I work at a bank, just like you have here. I wear a dress. I stand at a window and take people's money or give them their money."
"How about some more coffee?” Mavis said, and refilled Neelie's cup without waiting for an answer. “Pass her the milk,” she told Harriet.
The conversation effectively ended, the group ate cake and chatted.
"I'm going to go check the baby,” Neelie said when she was finished.
She stood and left the room. Phyllis returned to the table when she was gone.
"Are you okay?” Beth asked her.
"I'm fine. I got a phone call I had to return right away, so I stepped outside where it was quiet."
DeAnn looked at her.
"Don't worry, it was good news,” Phyllis assured her. “Your little girl is on her way. This time tomorrow, she'll arrive in Seattle and, shortly after that, in Foggy Point."
DeAnn smiled and sagged back into her chair in relief.
"How about we open some presents?” Connie said and wheeled in the jogging stroller. She and Mavis had set it up and stashed it in the kitchen eating area. The Loose Threads had strapped a baby-sized teddy bear into the seat and surrounded it with smaller wrapped gifts.
"Oh, my gosh,” DeAnn said. “You guys shouldn't have."
"Isn't that the point of a shower?” Sarah asked. “You shower the person with stuff."
Aunt Beth took a package from the stroller and handed it to DeAnn.
Almost an hour later, the last package had been unwrapped, and DeAnn was surrounded by piles of mostly pink pajamas, dresses, pants and shirts as well as more than one little-girl-sized quilt. Harriet had made two nightgowns. Since they didn't know the correct size, she and the rest of the Threads had stuck to flexible, loose-fitting garments.
A knock on the door interrupted the oooh-ing and ahh-ing.
"Am I too early?” Joseph Marston asked when Carla had let him in and escorted him to the dining room. “I found another big quilt that was donated. Mavis said to bring it by here."
"I'll take that,” Mavis said and stood up. “Here-sit down and have a piece of cake."
"I don't want to interrupt,” Joseph protested, but Aunt Beth had already sliced a large piece of the lemon-filled white cake and set it in front of him. Jenny brought a china cup and saucer from the sideboard and put it beside the cake.
"Coffee or tea?” she asked and, when he indicated coffee, picked up the coffee carafe and filled his cup. Carla put the sugar and cream within his reach.
"Thank you, ladies.” he said. “And I hope you know these quilts you're remaking will be put to good use."
"Well, it's a very good cause,” Mavis said. “And we're happy to do what little we can to help those babies get a good start in life."
Joseph looked across the room at DeAnn, who was giggling as she held up a pink tutu and leotard and showed it to Robin and Jenny.
"I've been doing this for almost twenty years now, and that…” He pointed at a smiling DeAnn. “…is something that never gets old."
"Joseph,” Phyllis said from the other end of the table, “do we have a final arrival time to tell DeAnn?"
"Assuming the customs process goes smoothly,” he said, and pulled out his smartphone, clicking buttons as he spoke and staring at the little screen, “they land in Seattle right around noon. Assuming thirty minutes to get through customs, give or take another thirty, depending on how full the flight is, my best guess is between two-thirty and three o'clock."
"Where do we go to pick her up?” DeAnn asked.
"Oh, don't worry, honey,” Phyllis said. “At Little Lamb, we bring your bundle of joy to your home.” She took the last bite of her second piece of cake then hoisted herself up. “Speaking of Little Lamb, I better get back. We don't want any of our new parents to wait any longer than they absolutely have to, to receive their new family member.” She looked over at Joseph. “You take your time, Joe. I can finish up the verifications tonight."
He started to rise.
"I can finish them for you,” he said with a longing glance at his cake.
"Don't be silly. You go home when you're done with these ladies. Thanks to Harriet here, I've got plenty of time to bind my quilt before the wedding."
The expression on Joseph's face said he wasn't comfortable being sent home when the boss was going back to work, but it was also clear he wouldn't argue in front of the assembled women.
"Let me get you some more cake,” Harriet said, breaking the awkward silence.
Phyllis gathered up her quilt, which Harriet had placed under her chair when the shower started, then buttoned her jacket and left.
"Oh, Harriet,” she called, pausing at the front door. “Let me write you a check."
She was holding the invoice Harriet had tucked into the quilt bag with the finished product. Harriet waited in the foyer as she pulled a pink plastic checkbook with a matching pen from her purse and began writing.
Movement on the steps caught her attention, and she looked up as Neelie retreated back upstairs.
"I hope he'll take my advice and go home,” Phyllis said in a hushed voice. “I'm not one to pry, so I don't know what's going on with him, but he looks like a man who hasn't gotten a good night's sleep in quite some time."
Harriet hadn't been in town long enough to know what Joseph Marston should look like, but as she studied him from the foyer, she had to admit the dark circles under his eyes and too-prominent hollow of his cheeks, combined with worn-looking gray slacks that were a bit looser than was fashionable, suggested he wasn't at his peak.
She returned to the dining room and got Joseph a second piece of cake. Aunt Beth and Mavis were picking up plates and cups from the table, while Jenny and Connie helped DeAnn pack up the presents.
"I've got to get back to work,” Sarah announced. “Congratulations,” she said to DeAnn. “Do we have a time to show our next blocks?” she asked no one in particular.
"Since DeAnn isn't going to be doing a block in any case, what about tomorrow?” Lauren suggested.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea,” Robin said. “That will help us all respect DeAnn's request to let the first couple of days with the new little one be immediate family only."
The look of relief on DeAnn's face suggested that plan worked for her.
"I'll check with Carla,” Harriet said. “Anyone see which way she went?"
"She went upstairs to take a piece of cake to the babysitter,” Mavis said.
"I'll see if she's available.” And see how she feels about leaving Neelie here alone for that amount of time, she added silently.
Mavis followed her into the kitchen. “I know you're wondering if Carla is willing to leave home with Neelie staying here, but you don't have to worry. Terry's taking a few days off and said he would come stay here. He said Aiden bought a new sound system, and he had volunteered to hook it up and wire speakers into two other rooms as soon as he had some time off. Now he does, and it will provide a perfect excuse for him to be around the house. Since he lives on the base, and it's so far away, there's a good reason for him to stay here while he's doing it."
"I'm going to go say goodbye and see if she's free in any case,” Harriet said and went up the servants stairs to the second floor. She met Carla on the landing.
"Hi, Harriet, I was just taking Haley some cake. Wendy and Kissa are napping."
"Mavis said Terry was going to come stay a couple of days."
"And it's sort of cute that you all think I don't know you asked him to come stay here until Aiden gets back. Don't worry-when Terry told me he was coming to work on Aiden's sound system, I didn't let on I knew the real reason."
"When did you get so smart?” Harriet said with a smile.
"When I started hanging out with you.” Carla's cheeks turned pink, and she laughed.
Harriet laughed with her then sobered.
"Even with Terry here, you need to be careful. And keep your eyes and ears open. See if you can learn anything more about Neelie."
"I'm trying, but she doesn't give up much. She reminds me of my mother's ‘friends'-they come from some vague place that doesn't have a name and they always have families they don't want to talk about and they're always one deal away from the big score."
"Has she mentioned what her one big deal is?"
"No, but you can tell she's got one."
"Well, like I said, be careful. And it may be cute that Terry is coming to protect you, but we don't know who this woman is or what her intentions are so, until we find out, let him do his job."
Carla looked at her feet.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh, but I don't want you or Wendy to get hurt."
Carla lifted her gaze to Harriet's face.
"Do you really think we're in danger?” she asked, her dark eyes serious.
"I don't know. Right now, it's just a feeling. All the same, you be careful. On a lighter note, are you available tomorrow to do our dog blocks?"
"My block is done…"
"But you don't want to leave Neelie here by herself,” Harriet finished for her.
"Not until Terry is here, and I don't know when he's coming."
"What if we meet here? I mean, you'd have to be invaded by the Loose Threads again, but I can come early and help you get ready."
Carla smiled. “That's a good idea. Not the part about you coming to help get ready, the part about having the meeting here. You can come early if you want to have tea and leftover party food, but with a house this big, there's always a room ready, especially with Aiden away. I think Avanell used to have meetings in the upstairs parlor. I found a portable design wall in a carry bag in the closet."
"That's perfect. Let's go see what the others think."
Connie was standing at the kitchen sink, hand-washing the delicate teacups and saucers. Mavis was drying them, and Aunt Beth was carefully putting them back into the kitchen china cabinet.
Harriet told them about Carla's offer to host a dog block meeting the following day.
"I suppose we're inviting la diabla?” Connie said.
"No, we're not inviting Neelie to join us. Carla would just feel better not leaving her here alone if she doesn't have to,” Harriet explained in a hushed voice.
Connie rolled her eyes. “Dios mio,” she muttered.
"I'll call Sarah, since she's already gone, and Robin, too.” They all could see Robin getting into her car in the gravel parking area outside.
"If you ladies have the cleanup under control, I'm going to go find Randy and say hi to her so I don't have to lie to Aiden when I finally get to talk to him."
"This sounds like the dog ate my homework,” Connie said. “I've heard that one before."
"You gave homework to first graders?” Harriet said and laughed. “No wonder they all fear you, even as adults."
"Don't change the subject,” Connie said. “Go check the table and sideboard and make sure there aren't any more cups that need washed."
Harriet did as instructed and did find two more cups hidden behind a large vase of flowers on the sideboard.
"Now can I go?” she asked Connie as she handed her the dishes.
"Yes, honey, thank you."
She left through the kitchen door and circled around to the back of the house. Aiden's property had a separate kennel with its own fenced yard that had once been home to his father's hunting dogs. Randy was happy to see Harriet, since she lived in the main house when Aiden was home and lately had taken to spending her days following Wendy everywhere as Carla tended to the care and cleaning of her master's residence.
Harriet unlatched the kennel yard gate and let the little dog out. After a minute or two of joyful jumping up and down and circling Harriet's legs, she started running in large circles and figure-eights on the lawn in a pattern only she knew. Harriet moved out onto the lawn, positioning herself in the middle of the pattern. As she got closer to the house, she heard a woman's voice coming from an open window on the second floor.
"Do not come here. You have no business here.” There was a pause. “No, you're the one who's going to be sorry."
Either the conversation had ended or the speaker moved away from the window. Harriet couldn't be sure. She hadn't recognized the voice. Her only two choices were Neelie or the babysitter, Haley. It hadn't sounded like the voice of a teenager, but on the other hand, it lacked Neelie's accent. She wasn't familiar enough with the second floor of Aiden's house to be able to figure out which room the window belonged to.
One more reason to be glad Terry was going to be staying with Carla, she thought as she reached down and patted Randy's head. She led the exhausted dog to the back porch.
"Is it okay if she comes in?” she asked, holding the kitchen door open with her free hand and holding Randy with the other.
Aunt Beth agreed, and she pushed the dog inside and left.