The Secret of the Quilt

by Olivia Swift

  “Can I come over and ask you about this shop, Jenny?” she asked, and her friend’s mom told her to come straightaway because the pasta was almost ready. Kim laughed and went to grab a jacket and car keys. She locked the house and drove away. The house where Rob still lived with his mom was as familiar to Kim as her own. She knocked and then opened the door as the smell of cooking pasta sauce filled her senses.

  “Mmm,” she said and kissed Jenny on the cheek.

  “Sit down. Sit down. You need a good meal anyway,” Jenny told her and ladled out a bowlful of food. Rob, of course, already had an enormous plate of pasta in front of him and grinned at Kim.

  “We both stay thin because we work so hard,” he said to his mom. “It is good pasta though.”

  “Thanks for the cake,” Jenny said as she sat to eat her own meal. “I did manage to save some before he gobbled the whole lot.”

  “What was it like, this mysterious little shop?” Kim queried, and Jenny stopped eating.

  “You know,” she said, “I didn’t really think about it at the time, but it was a bit peculiar.” Rob asked what she meant. “I felt as if it sort of just appeared. I’m sure it wasn’t there very long, because I know this town inside out. It must have opened quite recently.” She hesitated. “But it looked as if it was ancient, and the stuff had been there for a long time. Does that sound weird?” Kim told her what Corby had said about a spell and then laughed at her own half believing it. But Jenny said that it was exactly how she felt about it. “The people were very friendly though, and helpful, and the prices were very good.” She went and found the two sets of salt and pepper shakers. “She only charged me ten dollars for both sets.” Kim turned them over in her hands.

  “And these are real porcelain, I think,” Kim grinned. “Now I have got to go and see this place. Did you say there were quilts on a shelf?” Jenny nodded and said they looked okay, but she hadn’t picked them up or anything.

  Rob had finished his pasta. “I’ll go with you, Kim. It sounds a bit strange to me.” Kim smiled at him and accepted.

  “That would be great, Rob. What about the parking lot?”

  “I’ll do the bulk in the morning and get Jimbo to come and take over after lunch.” He looked at her. “I’ll treat you to a lunch if you like.” The tone suggested that he thought she might refuse, but Kim said that would be lovely. He beamed and asked his mom if she had any ice cream. Jenny shook her head in despair and went to the freezer. Kim followed and thanked her for the pasta.

  “I’ll let you know about the quilts and the shop,” she said and waved a hand at Rob as she went to the door. He jumped up and followed her out.

  “See you in the morning,” he said and watched as she drove away.

  “You’re still sweet on that girl, aren’t you?” his mother asked as she handed him some pecan and maple ice cream. He smiled and took the ice cream to eat in front of the television. He had long ago stopped rising to the bait.

  Kim detoured off to Chestnut Hall to tell her sister about the plan to be framed, and the trip planned to the mysterious shop. Jazz was delighted to sit and hear the news as Evan brewed some coffee. Molly Kim was in a little buggy thing that she could push with her feet and careened around the enormous kitchen bumping into everything.

  “How is Jenny? I haven’t seen her for ages,” Jazz asked.

  “Same as ever. Fed me pasta. She would love to see Molly Kim. She thinks she is a stand-in granny.” Kim smiled. “Rob starts the parking lot tomorrow. The plan is finally about to start. I am so looking forward to the Christmas grotto.”

  “Would you like me to come to this shop with you?” Jazz asked. “It is down some odd alleyway.”

  “Kind of you, sister mine, but Rob stepped in and offered the same.” She laughed. “He even offered to buy me lunch.”

  “Woohoo,” Jazz replied. “Enjoy yourselves. That will make his year.”

  Kim finished her coffee. “You never give up do you?” She laughed. “We’ve been friends too many years to change now.”

  When her sister had left, Jazz wrapped her arms around Evan’s waist. “I wish she would see what is right in front of her face. He has doted on her since he was about ten years old.”

  “What will be, will be,” Evan replied. “And if you interfere, you will not be popular.”

  “I just want her to be as happy as I am,” she told him and pecked his cheek. “I am one lucky woman.”

  “Perhaps the shop really does have a magic spell, and it will grant your wish. I am really curious about the place myself now,” Evan replied.

  3

  Kim considered doing some quilting, but was just too tired and rolled into bed. The early morning was light and bright, and she grabbed some breakfast before opening up the greenhouses. She checked for watering areas and made sure that the plants were being kept clean. The ones in bloom were looking good enough to go to the sales areas, and she opened up the shop as well to check what space needed to be filled. Jamie came in, and she told him what needed to be done. Then Cherie, and the other part-time lady, came in to tidy the shop, and make sure everything looked spotless.

  Jamie told her that the other man who worked part-time had not been well the day before, and he would be surprised if he arrived for work.

  “Will you manage?” she asked. “I’ll move the flowering stuff to the sales areas if you can water and tidy the rest.” Jamie agreed and set off into the potting area. The first customers started to appear, and she heard the sound of the digger roaring into action. Looking through the glasshouse windows, she and Jamie watched as the first huge amounts of soil were moved and systematically compacted.

  “It’s underway,” she said and asked Jamie to check that the Christmas pot plants were on order. She almost felt like skipping as she went into her tiny office to check emails. The morning slipped away in a flurry of work, and then Kim started to think about what to wear to visit this shop. She chose jeans and a pretty top with a new jacket that she had been looking for an excuse to wear. She gave in to vanity and chose some killer heels and long dangling earrings. She heard Rob downstairs, and he called to ask if it was okay to change in the bathroom. She ran downstairs and told him to help himself as she grabbed a big satchel in case the quilts were worth buying. She slipped out to tell the others she was going out. He was waiting in the living room when she came back and told her she looked fantastic.

  “Thank you, kind sir. You look pretty good yourself,” she answered. “Let’s go and eat before we find this weird shop.” They decided on steak and fries as the restaurant was not very far away. Settled with the food in front of them, Rob asked how many different departments she had in mind for the new store.

  “Starting with pot plants and garden things as we have now but extended. I think a floral art section, crafts in general, and quilts separate. I would really like a small coffee shop, but we might not manage that in time,” she hesitated. “And I’m not sure what the extra cost would be. We have to cover an area for Christmas as well.” Rob stopped eating and pulled out his phone. He flicked to a website and brought up a picture.

  “I knew you were thinking about this and found this place where a system is already in use.” The picture was not a garden center. It was a clothing store, but the divisions were made with the same modular sections that she had in mind.

  “That is exactly what I had in mind,” she said. “Do you know what it would cost?”

  “In fact, I do.” He grinned and told her that he knew the firm that had installed it. He calls me when he needs any groundwork done. His name is Clay Craven, and he emailed me this.” He gave her the phone, and her eyes widened.

  “I can afford that,” she said. “And maybe get the coffee shop as well.” She thought for a second. “What is the catch? He can’t do it until next year?” Rob took his phone back and laughed at her serious face.

  “He can start as soon as we have the structure up, and since it is all modular, will take about a week. Relax Kim. Let Unc
le Rob set it up for you.” The smile that spread over her face was the one he wanted to see, and she leaned across and kissed him on the cheek.

  “You are the best friend in the whole world—the whole universe,” she said. Rob took her hand and told her she was very welcome to all the help he could give. Then he finished his steak.

  “Let’s go and see this weird shop,” Rob said, “and if you like, I can introduce you to Clay Craven.”

  “Really?” Kim answered. “What a great day this is turning out to be.” Rob thought that any day was great if Kim Summers was happy, but he held out a hand and she took it to walk out of the restaurant. They found a place to park near the alley they were trying to find and after a block of walking, found a turn and then another turn into the alley.

  “Thank heaven for GPS,” Kim said as she tucked her smartphone away. “Would we have found it just wandering around?” He didn’t need to answer because the place in question was in front of them. They peered in the rather dusty window which had a selection of goods of all sorts. “Doesn’t look wonderful. What on earth made your mom come and see it?”

  “Let’s be brave and go inside,” he answered, and she held the edge of his sleeve as he opened the door. It felt like stepping into another world. Kim expected it to be dark and none too clean, but in fact, the room was large, airy, and smelled of some sort of pleasant perfume. A woman was sitting doing some needlework behind the counter and smiled at them.

  “Hello,” she welcomed. “Are you searching for something in particular, or would you like to look around?”

  “Quilts,” Kim said and stepped forward. “A friend said that she had seen some here.” The shopkeeper held out a hand.

  “I’m Miranda,” she said. “These quilts are waiting for you.” It was an odd thing to say, but Miranda took them to another room through an archway, and on some shelves at the back were several quilts. They were all neatly folded and laid on top of each other. There was a table in the room, and she took the quilts on to the table. “Feel free to open them out and inspect them.” She invited. “Call if you have any questions.” The woman went back to her needlework, and Kim looked at Rob.

  “It’s not what I expected,” she whispered, and he nodded in agreement. They opened out the first quilt and then the rest. They were an assortment of patchwork and stitched items. One of them was badly torn, but the other five were in reasonable repair, and Kim could see that if carefully washed and repaired, they would be attractive to collectors. There were no prices on any of them. She went back to one, in particular, several times and could not quite reason why. Miranda came back into the room.

  “What do you think?” she asked. “One of them speaks to you more than the others, I would say.” Kim nodded and picked up the quilt in question.

  “This is a most unusual design. I think it was intended to be a Celtic knot pattern, but it has had a lot of wear.” Miranda smiled. “I knew that you were destined to be the one who took it away.” Rob and Kim both looked at her in surprise and with some disbelief. The woman laughed. “I know that sounds crazy but you can just tell sometimes. I believe in fate stepping in, and the right person comes along at the right time.”

  “Why is this one special?” Kim asked, and Miranda told her stories from the previous owner who claimed the quilt had originally come from Scotland with someone who came to make a new life in the new world.

  “It must be at least one hundred and fifty years old,” she went on. “Everywhere the quilt has lived, it has brought pleasure and good things to the owner, but it needs someone to save it now. It needs a home where it can be restored to a thing of beauty.”

  “That is a great piece of sales talk,” Rob interjected. “How much is this thing of beauty going to cost?” Miranda laid her hand on his arm and he felt a sort of shiver as she did.

  “A good question, and this lady will need you to help her with this undertaking, but for the right owner this quilt is a gift.” She turned to Kim and named a price for the other quilts but offered the Celtic one free.

  Kim looked at Rob. “What do you think, Rob? The price for the others is reasonable.” Rob was a practical guy, but the atmosphere in this light and airy room had him spooked just a little bit. He drew out his wallet and handed the woman the price of all the quilts. Kim opened her holdall, and they folded the quilts inside. Kim asked about salt and pepper sets, and Miranda showed them what was on the shelf.

  “She hasn’t got this one, has she?” Kim pointed to one with lavender violets as a design. Rob was not sure, but Kim bought it anyway.

  “You must be related to the lady who bought two sets last week,” Miranda suggested, and Rob said that it was his mom. “She told us about the quilts.”

  “Thank you, and thank your mother,” Miranda said. “Have a lovely life.”

  “You too,” Kim replied as she closed the door behind her. They had walked to the end of the alleyway when Rob held her arm and pulled her to a halt.

  “Was it just me, or did that seem really—spooky?” he asked, and was a bit embarrassed about it. Kim put down the satchel and put her arms around his waist.

  “I didn’t want to say anything in case you thought I was imagining things, but yes, it was spooky.”

  “Thank goodness.” He laughed. “I thought I was losing it. Let’s grab coffee and get back to normal.”

  In the nearest coffee shop, they went over what had happened. The satchel sat on the floor under the table, and Kim opened the top and looked at the shabby piece of sewing. The colors were mostly green, blue, and gold but very faded. Some of it was torn away, and there were a lot of thin and worn-through patches. In parts, someone had attempted repair, and completely different pieces of cloth were attached to the original. She ran her hand over it and started to plan how she would bring it back to life.

  “Now that things are normal, it sounds a bit crazy,” Rob said, and bit into a piece of millionaire’s cake.

  “Even spooky doesn’t stop you liking cake.” She smiled. “The story that it could have come from Scotland is reasonable, and it is not an American pattern. It probably is very old. I wonder what is inside as the filling. They used to fold sheets of plain material inside at one time. Nowadays, we have a zillion different sorts of foam.”

  “What will you do with them?” he asked, and she explained that they would be very gently washed by hand, and then laid out to dry.

  “Eventually, I will go over them in detail and see where they need to be mended. The other four look as if they will come up quite well, and when they are restored and pressed, they can go into the new shop—and sold at a profit, I hope.” She suddenly remembered who had paid for them. “I owe you the cash,” she said, and started to find her purse, but he stopped her.

  “I’ll pay for them, and if you sell them, we can share the profit. Okay?” She grinned and slipped an arm through his. He carried the satchel as they walked back to the car. “I feel that I have an interest in this new place as I am doing the building work.”

  “I think we should give Jazz a call and see if they want to hear about the magic shop.”

  “Good idea,” he agreed. “Evan might cook something.” Still smiling she called her sister who was delighted that they wanted to come and tell the story.

  “When Molly Kim is in bed, it’s lovely to have some grown-up company. Can you bring the plan you told me about?” Kim said that she would, and they drove back to the nursery.

  Cherie was locking up, and Jamie had left already. Kim thanked Cherie and told her to go home. She and Rob walked around the shop and made sure it was secure.

  “I’m gonna put boots on and see what Jimbo got done,” he said. Kim found boots and went along as well. It was a surprisingly big space when you were outside, and they stood and gazed back at the present nursery and shop.

  “The buildings look small. I guess it will be a huge change,” Kim remarked, and Rob pointed out what had been done while they were away.

  “Tomorrow,” he told
her, “we will lay the asphalt and then it can be the new parking lot.”

  “Ooooh!” Kim shouted, and swung around in the space. “I cannot wait.” Rob picked her up and carried her back to the house.

  “It will be fantastic. I promise,” he said, and dropped her in the kitchen.

  4

  “I’ll find the plan to show them,” she called. While he waited, he opened the bag of quilts. He was fingering the Scottish one when she came back; they looked at it carefully. The quilt was still in good condition at the corners and edges, and Kim remarked that they could get a good idea of what the original was like from that.

  “I wish we knew when it came to this country,” she said. “I can almost hear the bagpipes play.” Rob gave her a strange look. “What?” she asked. “What?”

  “You’ll think I’m going soft in the head but when I opened the bag . . . ” He paused. “I thought I heard a snippet of bagpipe music.”

  “That shop has really gotten to both of us. Let’s go to Chestnut Hall and tell them about it.”

  True to form, and to Rob’s delight, Evan was wielding utensils at the huge range and delicious smells wafted everywhere. He wandered over to the stove; Evan gave him the job of cutting the rolls for the burgers.

  “Oh boy,” Rob said, taking the knife. “Burgers with homemade chutney.” Kim shook her head and showed her sister the plan that Rob had given her the day before. They rolled it out on the table and weighted it down. Evan left the stove and came to look over their shoulders.

  “Man, that is a work of art,” he called to Rob. “Is it all your own work?” When Rob said that it was, Evan went back over and slapped him on the back. “Fancy Rob the Wrecker being an artist.”

  “You never said why he was called Rob the Wrecker,” Jazz said, and Rob moaned out loud. Evan laughed.

  “If you needed anything demolished, Rob was your man. Trouble is, he demolished things like tents that had just been erected.”