“Yes.” Karla continued to giggle. “And they made us model those aprons in a fashion show. Embarrassing. That’s why, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why you enrolled in quilting class.” Karla wiped at the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand.
“There was a reason.” Finally, the conversation she’d been wanting to share with Karla for some time.
Karla sobered. “I know. You like the guy that runs the quilt shop. It’s not like before, though, is it?”
“You mean one-sided interest?” Sarah searched her friend’s face.
“No, I mean mixed signals. Sarah, I witnessed that married man talking to you, flirting with you, remember. I know your mom never thought so, but he led you on. You weren’t wrapped up in some fantasy crush. He was a player. Please tell me that Mark isn’t a player because—”
“I have the same look on my face when I talk about him?”
The astonishment on Karla’s face pulled another laugh from Sarah. “Mom told me that.”
Karla’s features softened into a smile.
“One thing I know for sure is Mark isn’t married. A family friend of his teaches the quilting class, and Mark introduced me to his uncle the other night.”
“Okay, so he’s not married, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a player and when your class is over you’ll never see him again.”
“Well…” Sarah wanted to jump to Mark’s defense, but really, this was what she’d wanted Karla’s reassurance on for a long time. “You tell me. He’s always happy to see me. He’s polite and treats me with respect. He compliments me, introduces me to people. We’ve only had one official date, but we spend a lot of time together. He drops by and brings me lunch and calls and text messages me throughout the day. He’s always where he’s supposed to be and, like you and Mom, he expresses his concern that I’m doing too much.” Sarah stopped when she realized that she’d hardly taken a breath while she was ticking off Mark’s attributes. Sheepishness stirred in her. “Sorry, I might have gotten a little carried away there. What do you think?”
“I think the only thing you left out is if he’s a good kisser.” Karla winked.
Sarah smiled broadly. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Karla returned her smile. “He sounds like a great person. I hope to meet him soon, maybe at the MS walk?”
“You’re coming to the walk?” Sarah clapped her hands together.
“Yes, to support you, encourage you, or just cheer you as you finish.” Karla stood. “I’d better let you get back to work.”
Sarah walked her friend to the door. What an unexpected joy God sent her today.
Karla stopped in front of the door. She pulled Sarah into a tight hug. “I still think that you are overdoing things a bit, but Mark is good for you. Happiness surrounds you like a halo when you talk about him. I really hope he loves you as much as you love him.”
There was no time to respond to Karla’s statement before her friend disappeared out the door. Where did Karla get the idea that Sarah loved Mark? Sarah never mentioned it to anyone, even though it was true. She loved Mark.
“Am I glad to see you.” Mark’s expression showed his relief as he relocked the main door to the quilt shop. “I couldn’t face another Saturday working alone.”
“It’s my pleasure, although I’m not sure how much help I’ll be.” Sarah stashed her purse and tote on the shelf under the cash register.
“Terri’s family is sure having a run of bad luck. First strep, now food poisoning.” Mark sighed and jerked his head toward the HELP WANTED sign. “I guess it’s just coming at a bad time for me.”
“Well, I’m here now. Just show me what you need me to do.” Happiness bounced through her since Mark phoned early this morning. As soon as he’d hung up with Terri, he’d called Sarah. His first choice. He needed her.
“I think you’re here in plenty of time for some training. Measuring and cutting the fabric isn’t that difficult, but there are some other things I’d like to run through.”
“Okay.” Sarah adjusted the ruffled collar of her light pink top. Glad she’d chosen it along with the white crop pants and flat tennis shoes. On the phone, Mark had said to dress casual, but she thought the tennies might be pushing it. To her relief, Mark also wore athletic shoes, jeans, and a white polo shirt with GRANNY BEA’S stitched across the left side.
“I know it was hypocritical of me to ask you to come in and help me out in the store today when I’m telling you all the time that you overdo it. So, I’m insisting that if you get tired, you go rest in my office. I don’t care how many customers are milling around the store.”
Sarah’s heart swelled with pride and love that she was the first person Mark turned to in his time of trouble. That seemed like a good sign. “I promise I will. But I feel great today. Obviously, you haven’t had any luck hiring someone.” Sarah pointed to the HELP WANTED sign in the store window.
“I’m getting a lot of people who want to work certain part-time hours like afternoons or evenings. But the people who are flexible don’t feel like a good fit for the store.” Mark grimaced. “Sadly, I’ve been down that road, and it’s easier to be under the stress of working alone.”
Sarah closely watched as Mark demonstrated how to lay, smooth, and hold the fabric to cut it to ensure the accurate yardage. When it didn’t take long for Sarah to catch on, Mark left her with instructions on cutting fat quarters while he ran down to the coffee shop for their breakfast.
After an hour of practicing cutting while Mark wrapped and marked the fat quarters, she felt confident she’d be an asset in the store. Time would tell, sooner rather than later. Mark flipped the door sign to OPEN and clicked the dead bolt.
Sarah continued to work on the fat-quarter task since Mark had fallen behind on that job in the last week. With each empty cardboard bolt she stacked in the cart beside the cutting table, a sense of accomplishment filled her. Similar to when she delivered parcels, and the piles became smaller and smaller.
Sarah’s first customer test came about thirty minutes after the store opened. While Mark was busy showing a young woman the difference in the sewing machines, Sarah assisted a lady by cutting several yards of three different fabrics.
“What are you making?” Sarah wrote the number of yards on the preprinted form along with the price from the end of the bolt.
“This is backing for several quilt tops my church circle made. We’re raffling one as a fund-raiser and giving the other two to the family that lost their home in a fire.”
“What a wonderful idea. Will you get them quilted that fast?” Sarah measured a length of the fabric against the yardstick built into the counter. She repeated the process six times then smoothed the fabric and ran the scissors down the crevice in the countertop.
“We’re tying the top to the back. That goes fast, and with many hands we’ll get them finished in a couple of hours.”
Sarah slid the folded cloth to the woman who then laid it in her cart.
“I’m not in a circle at my church, but I might steal your idea and see if the ladies in our circle will make a quilt and raffle it for a mission we sponsor in the fall.” Sarah smiled. “We could choose a simple pattern.”
“A nine patch sews fast.”
“A nine patch.” Sarah hadn’t realized that she expressed out loud her mental note for the next committee meeting. Not knowing what that quilt design was, Sarah smiled at the lady. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Our circle made a pretty nine patch in red and green and backed it with poinsettia-printed fabric. We raised quite a bit of money with that quilt.” The elderly lady’s wide smile and twinkling eyes showed her love of quilting.
“Sounds lovely. Is there anything else?” Sarah smiled back at the lady.
“No thank you, dear.”
“Good luck with your projects.”
As the lady walked toward the cash register, Sarah rolled the bolts to tighten the remaining fabric. She heard Mark excuse himself from ot
her customers so he could ring up the elderly lady’s purchases.
Sarah looked up in time to see both Mark and the lady looking her way. The lady waved and headed for the door as Mark walked toward the cutting table. Sarah’s stomach dropped. Had she done something wrong?
Mark shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest; then he smiled. “That customer just told me that I should give you a raise.” He gathered the bolts of material.
“What?” Sarah giggled. Then she knitted her brows. “You’re teasing me. She didn’t really say that.”
“Yes, she did. She comes in here a lot and told me that even though you don’t know what a nine patch quilt pattern is, you’re a very nice person and you’ll learn.” Mark chuckled.
Sarah laughed out loud. “Guess my expression showed my lack of knowledge.”
Mark shrugged. “All that matters is she left happy. Keep up the good work.”
Sarah watched Mark restock the fabric bolts before returning to the customer in the sewing machine area. She liked that Mark had shared his customer’s compliment. She liked the cheery atmosphere of the store. She liked working with Mark.
After hanging up the phone with Mark this morning, she’d said a prayer for Terri and her family for better health. But Sarah almost hoped Terri needed another day of rest. It was fun working in the store. Sarah had forgotten how enjoyable work could be.
Chapter 10
Mark added more navy-blue thread to the accessories on Sarah’s display. She’d done such a good job helping him out on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t seen much of her since then. She texted him throughout the day, and they spoke briefly once each day over the phone. Her schedule this week was full. Too full for someone with MS, and he’d added to her burden, leaving her little time to rest.
He really hadn’t expected her to come into the store to work last weekend. After he ended the call with Terri last Saturday, he’d dialed Sarah’s number without thinking, because he had a problem and he wanted to talk to her. Actually, she was the one he wanted to share everything with these days.
That was selfish of him, because what free time Sarah had, she needed to use it resting, not helping him out.
The jangle of the door buzzer startled him, and he knocked over four spools of thread. He caught three before they hit the floor, but the fourth rolled away from him.
“Hi, Mark.”
Mark looked up from his retrieval duties. “Hi, Diane. Did you come for my team information?”
“Yes, and I’ll collect donations if you have any.”
“I have a new team member for Gert’s Gang this year—Sarah Buckley.” Mark made a spool pyramid with the navy thread before he zigzagged around material displays to where Diane stood. “The information’s in my office. I’ll just be a minute.”
Diane was leaning against the register counter when Mark returned with the MS walk packet.
She read the list of names on his envelope. “All the regular walkers plus one.”
“That’s right.”
“Is Sarah Buckley a friend of yours?” Diane glanced up from the envelope.
Mark drew a deep breath. Although Diane had no problem telling him she was engaged, Mark found it hard to tell a former girlfriend that he was dating someone else. Generally, he never again saw the women he dated.
“By the twinkle in your eyes, I’d say more than a friend of yours. A girlfriend, perhaps.” Diane’s warm smile encouraged him.
“We’ve been dating. Nothing serious.” The last two words rushed from Mark’s mouth with practiced ease. Why did he say that? This time it wasn’t true.
“Right, nothing serious.” Diane lowered the envelope then scanned the quilt store before looking directly into Mark’s eyes. “Does she know that?”
“What do you mean?” He was always very forthcoming with his dating intentions. Had he been with Sarah?
“I mean, do your actions speak louder than your words? Are you saying you don’t want a serious relationship—yet still doing all those little caring things you did while we dated, things that instill hope in a woman?”
Mark noted the slight edge in Diane’s voice. Not quite sure what she alluded to, he crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels. With a grin, he kept his voice tone even and teasing. “Do I need to remind you that you broke our relationship off?”
Diane smiled sadly then shrugged. “No, you don’t need to remind me. I thought if I broke it off, you’d have a change of heart—but you didn’t.” Sorrow infused her words.
She was serious. Is that what the other women had done, too? They hadn’t gained self-confidence and planned to move on? Instead, they hoped by breaking it off, he’d come running back?
Diane laughed. “Your expression is priceless. You had no idea, did you? I wouldn’t change one thing about my life right now, but Mark, you broke my heart. Just be mindful of this with”—Diane stopped and checked the envelope—“Sarah. Just be mindful of her feelings. They may be stronger than yours and, well…” Diane shrugged. “A broken heart’s kind of hard on the self-confidence.”
Mark felt like he’d walked behind a bowler who, just as the bowler swung the ball back for momentum on his roll, had clipped Mark in the stomach. Mark had broken Diane’s heart, hurt her self-confidence. His body deflated. He was a Sanders man, through and through. “I’m s–s–sorry.” Disbelief filled his words with the realization that his dating theory wasn’t foolproof.
Diane adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder as she jutted out her chin.
The buzz of the air conditioner kicking on broke the thick silence in the store.
Diane fidgeted with the zipper tab on her purse. He’d broken her heart. What could he say to that?
“Well…” Diane sighed and turned to go.
Mark needed to say something. He caught her arm. “I am sorry, Diane. You’re right. I had no idea that I hurt you like that. Please accept my apology.” To how many other women did he owe this same courtesy?
Diane’s lip curled into a sad smile. “I forgave you awhile ago, but I do accept your apology. Again, my life is better than I ever thought it’d be, but I’ve needed to hear that from you. I’ve needed that closure for a long time. So, thank you. And now maybe you could do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“I know this is none of my business, but…don’t hurt Sarah the way you hurt me.” Moisture filled Diane’s eyes, and she blinked rapidly before giving him a weak smile. “I guess I’ll see you Saturday at the walk.” She turned on her heel and headed for the door.
Mark watched Diane leave the store, then the parking lot. He stared blankly through the plate glass store window. What had he done? Followed right in his dad’s footsteps, that’s what. He might not have been married to the women, but he deserted them in other ways. Was he giving Sarah false hope? When push came to shove would he back away from her?
Mark watched a cloud pass over the sun, blocking out its rays, just like Diane’s admission covered his heart with sadness. How on earth did he think his dating plan was fair?
Lord, please forgive me for hurting all the ladies I dated in the past. I’ve been blind to the feelings of others, and I’m truly sorry.
He didn’t deserve Sarah. Maybe he didn’t deserve anyone. Sanders men just weren’t dependable. Mark turned from the window. Yet he’d helped his mom run this store, and he didn’t hesitate when Walt asked for his assistance earlier in the week.
He’d do right by Sarah even if it meant his heart got broken.
Would this light never change? Sarah rubbed her right arm, but it remained dead. Using her left hand, she moved her right arm to a comfortable position on the armrest. With difficulty she guided her car through the intersection, taking it slow for easier steering. Even though it was Saturday, she’d taken the long the way to the park where the MS walk started, to avoid heavy traffic.
She yawned. What a busy week she’d had, but at least after thi
s morning, she could cross one thing off her to-do list. By the afternoon, another item, the last curriculum meeting, would be marked off; then maybe she could get some quilt blocks sewn together. She flexed the fingers of her right hand as her arm rested. Hopefully, her medicine would kick in soon. She’d needed to refill her prescription but just couldn’t work a stop at the pharmacy into her schedule this week. So she’d skipped her dosage a few days, to stretch her meds out until today when she could get to the drugstore.
Maybe she should have taken Mark up on his offer of a ride to the walk. The parking lot was packed. Awkwardly, Sarah turned her steering wheel with her left hand. Pulling her compact into one of the few remaining spots was tricky one-handed.
Sarah slipped from her car then zipped her car keys in the front pocket of her backpack. After several attempts to get her backpack in position with a numb right arm, she finally just inserted her left arm in the arm strap and let the backpack dangle at her side.
With each step toward the Gert’s Gang gathering spot, Sarah’s right leg tingled. She took deliberate and slow steps. Why of all days were these MS symptoms so intense? Mark waved as soon as he saw her. Caroline and Rodney turned and waved, too. Sarah straightened and tried to walk her normal stride but felt like her right foot was sliding into each step.
“Sarah, we were getting worried that you stood us up.” Caroline patted Sarah’s back as Sarah stopped by the group of people gathered around Mark.
“Here is a shirt for you.” Mark held out a red MS walk T-shirt with the corporate sponsors listed on the back.
“I’m glad I wore navy yoga pants.” Without thinking, Sarah tried to pull on the T-shirt. Her right arm failed to move in the direction it needed to.
Mark stared at Sarah. “Are you okay?”
“Just a little MS problem.” Sarah forced a smile and wrestled with the T-shirt sleeve. “I think it’s due to the unseasonable heat and humidity that blew in this week.”
“Let me help.” Mark took her backpack and guided her arm through the sleeve. He pulled the back of the T-shirt down while Sarah pulled the front. “Should you be walking today?”
Dakota Love Page 27
