by Olivia Swift
“Neither do I,” he answered, “but, if we promise to always be best friends no matter what, we could try the occasional date.”
“Like a proper date?” She smiled at him. “We already have meals together and stuff.”
“But not romantic meals and—and stuff,” he finished.
“Promise,” she said. “No matter what, we will always be best friends.”
Rob put his hand on his heart. “Promise, m’lady,” he said solemnly. Then he grinned. “We’ve already got a date tomorrow anyway; I’ll pick you up at eleven.” He took one last look at the quilt and wondered if maybe he should be glad his mother spotted it in the shop.
6
Kim had extra staff during weekends, and after she had checked everything was running smoothly, she checked her wardrobe. There was a different feeling about today, and it set her insides fluttering a little bit. One thing after another was put back in the closet and she told herself not to be so silly.
“Rob has seen me in every sort of outfit from downright scruffy to dressed to kill. He saw me in school clothes and when I fell in the mud puddle.” But she still went on wondering what to wear. By eleven she had found smart trousers and jacket with a soft top to soften the effect. High heels, lots of jewelry, a floaty scarf, and a small shoulder bag finished the effect. She brushed out her dark-blond hair and left it loose but took more care than usual with makeup. A quick look in the mirror told her it looked fine, and she ran downstairs to see him knock and step inside.
“Mornin’,” he smiled and handed her a single rose. “You have more flowers than you can count, but I am trying to start the right way.” She smiled, pecked him on the cheek and found a bud vase for the flower.
“I don’t receive flowers though; I try and sell them,” she answered. “It’s a pleasant change. I’ve put on a jacket and trousers because we sort of have a business meeting after we eat.” Rob had thought in the same way and was wearing a suit himself.
“Haven’t seen you in a proper suit for I don’t know how long,” she said. “We are thinking on the same lines.” They decided on a restaurant and parked as near as they could manage. The place was busy, but they still found a table and ordered.
“Did you have any time to look at the quilt pictures?” he asked and she shook her head. “I looked at them this morning, and I think there is an R in there and maybe an M.”
“Some of them are probably repeated like the L, and that might make things easier as we go along,” she answered. “You can show me the ones you found later. I am going to open the other sides tonight and see if I can wash the back of the quilt. I think I will put new filling inside when it goes back together.” They chatted comfortably about all sorts of things, and Kim forgot that she was worried about being on a date.
They left to drive to the factory unit where Clay Craven made his sectional walls, and there was a car in the parking lot and an open door into the office. Craven turned out to be a pleasant man in his thirties who shook their hands and led the way into the working area of the place. He flooded the place with light, and they saw an enormous hangar-like space. It was eerily quiet and Craven flipped a switch.
“It’s really creepy when you are here on your own,” he said, and music played in the background. They walked down the central passageway, and he talked about the different systems. At one end he had a display area with the walls set up in different combinations. Kim was entranced as soon as she could see how it was meant to work.
“I love that you can get different colors and that the shelves are part of the dividing walls.” Clay showed her how easily the sections uncoupled and slid around to make completely different shapes and areas.
“Feel free to experiment,” he told her, and she found that the pieces were so easy to unhook and move on casters, that it was no contest that she wanted them. “Come and sit in the office and tell me what you need,” Craven invited, and they spread the plan out on the desk for him.
“The walls go up this week,” Rob told him, “and the electricians and people laying the flooring are in right after that. Then we’ll be ready for the sections.” Kim told him how many areas she would need and decided that the dark-green shade would blend in well. He did a calculation on paper and handed it over. She passed it to Rob and he smiled.
“That is a good price, Clay,” he said. “Thanks,” Kim thanked him as well and they made the order definite. Kim thanked him for opening up on a Sunday and they drove away happy with the deal. Rob parked the car and asked if she would like to take a walk.
“Okay,” she laughed, and they set off through the park area holding hands and trying out the date situation for the first time. They bought ice cream and sat on a bench and then wandered on a little further.
“I quite like this date thing,” Kim said, “and what is more, I am out when I should be working, so it’s sort of like a stolen afternoon.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders, and they gazed into one or two shop windows. Kim was now looking at every display area she came across.
“Who would think that shelving and walls could be so exciting,” she said, and he kissed the top of her head.
“I’m happy if you’re happy,” he said and pointed at the next turning. “Look, we are near the alleyway with the quilts. As if drawn by a magnet, they walked down the street and turned into the alleyway. The shop was still there, as in that it had a window and a door, but there the likeness ended because it was just that. It was an empty shop with a dusty window and nothing inside.
“It’s gone,” Kim said. “It really is a very strange set of things to happen.” They peered in the window and saw empty space. “We are in the right place, aren’t we?” she asked, and Rob nodded.
“Let’s get out of here. I don’t like it at all,” he said, and she hooked her arm in his as they walked quite briskly out of the alleyway.
“Enough of this dating stuff.” She laughed. “I will have to get back to the nursery.” Rob was happy to take her home, and they found the nursery winding down for the day. It had been busy but uneventful, and Rob asked if there was anything he could help with. As they were outside in the plant area and Jamie was directing operations, she put Rob to work and laughed as she went back inside to help clear up the shop. The two cleaners had arrived and started sweeping floors. Cherie finished checking the cash and handed the sheets over. Security couriers had already picked up most of the money, so she sent the staff home to finish checking the place herself. Rob closed up the last greenhouse and came inside. The shop was quiet and the cleaners were going through their routine.
“Let’s have a coffee,” Kim suggested, and they went into the house. The quilt was still spread out on the table, and they both walked across to gaze at the patterns. “I still cannot think about that shop disappearing without a bit of a shiver,” she added as she poured the coffee and came to stand beside him. He slipped an arm around her waist.
“How did the date go?” he asked and she smiled.
“I have to say, it felt the same as whenever we go out for a meal or anything,”
“So, the experiment is still going on?” he asked, and she nodded. He took her coffee cup and put it to one side and then turned her toward him. Kim felt the waves of something that she had never expected to feel with her best friend, along with the slight panic that she was entering a relationship that would be hard to control. He took her face between his hands and gently brushed her lips with his own. Kim felt herself relax into the moment. This was Rob. This was the Rob she had known for most of her life, but when she felt the touch of his kiss, the feelings that flooded her system were impossible to ignore. She returned the kiss without even thinking about it because there was no denying that it was what she wanted. Time seemed to be suspended, and the only thing Kim desired was that this feeling would last forever. Rob had waited for about fifteen years for this woman to return his kiss, and he lost himself in the moment as he pressed his lips against hers. He still held her face cupped in his hands and f
inally pulled himself away and saw the glazed look in her eyes as she was still under the spell of her feelings. He dropped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her against himself.
“I like this experiment.” He breathed into her hair, and she smiled at his words. “Go on, admit it, you do as well.” Kim could not find any words right at that moment, but she nodded her head against his chest and managed to get her pounding heart under some sort of control.
In the end, she laughed.
“I blame this bloomin’ quilt,” she said, and he let her move away to look down at the offending article. Then they both looked sharply at each other at exactly the same second. “You heard it as well?” Kim asked.
“I heard some music,” he ventured.
“What was it playing?” Kim asked, and he told her that it sounded like a Scottish dance.
“It was “Màiri’s Wedding”,” Kim answered. “I heard it as well and I recognized it.” She paused. “I don’t believe in magic and things like that.” She sat down on a chair and looked at him. “Should we just stitch it up, give it a wash, and see if anyone wants to buy it?”
He came and sat beside her and took her hand. “I think the quilt deserves to be restored somehow. Let’s try and find the letters and see where it leads us. If we get nowhere, we can do as you say.” Kim knew he was right, and she wanted to solve the riddle of the sewing work so she agreed.
“Let’s have a quick look now because tomorrow will be manic,” she suggested, and they pulled chairs up to the table to peer at the weaving appliqué work that seemed to hold some sort of message.
“We already have three letters: L, an R, and an M,” he told her and put those to one side. “Let’s see if there are any repeats of these.” They looked at the pictures and compared them against the quilt on the table. Kim pointed.
“That is another M,” she said, and Rob added that to the outline he was drawing on a piece of paper. He put the letters they had discovered in the squares in which they were sitting and drew in the little heart to give an idea of how everything was situated. Kim had found a letter A while he was drawing up the plan, and then they were excited to find another two of the same letter.
“Wow,” Kim remarked. “We have three letter As now as well, and she looked at what he had on the paper. “It could be a crossword puzzle now.” She rubbed her eyes. “Enough for my brain for tonight, I think.” She gently folded the material and put the quilt away in a drawer. “I won’t have time tomorrow to look at it anyway, and I never unpicked and washed the back piece.”
“I’ll be here early,” he said. “The building arrives at nine. In a week, we should have a weathertight and watertight structure.” At the door, he drew her in for another lingering kiss before striding away to his car, and she watched him go and closed the door. Kim stood for some time with her back against the door and swore that she heard a breath of the bagpipes hover in the air.
7
Kim was awake as daylight appeared. It was a big day and no point in lying in bed. She grabbed a quick breakfast and went to open up the greenhouses. As she did that, she heard Rob’s car drive into the yard and waved him over to where she was working.
“Morning gorgeous,” he said and claimed a kiss to start the day. She handed him a hose.
“That row needs watering, handsome,” she replied and smiled as she checked what else needed doing. He did the watering and said he was going to check the foundations. “The first truck will be here soon.”
Jamie and the part-time man arrived and took over from where Kim was working, and she went into the shop to find Cherie and Corby already in place.
“Everyone is bright and early today. Thanks.” She listened. “That is the first lot of walls, I think.” They all went to the door to see an enormous lowboy trailer reversing its way onto the site. Rob was waiting to meet the driver, and they pointed at the foundations. Two other workmen jumped out of the cab and directed the driver into place. The three women were fascinated and soon realized that Jamie and Matt, the part-timer, were also gazing at the unloading of the first wall. It swung at what looked like a precarious angle from a crane on the truck, but the driver was used to the task and Rob helped the other two guide the section into place. In fifteen minutes, three sections were in place, and another truck was arriving with more men to do the construction.
“That is so exciting,” Kim said, but customers were arriving, and when she had seen that everything was going well and nobody was in danger, Kim came back into the shop to help out. It was a very short time before she pulled on a jacket and boots to go see how it was coming along. Rob broke off and steered her to a place where she could watch safely and introduced her to the manager of the construction gang. He was a genial, blond giant of a man who looked as if he could lift the boards without the crane. By this time the building was really taking shape, and she saw Jazz’s car arrive, and her sister and Evan both climbed out. They were followed in short order by Dex and Carly and in a matter of minutes, by Jules and Miller. Kim laughed out loud and went to meet them. Rob asked if everything was okay and followed in her footsteps.
“This is a surprise,” Kim cried and tickled young Molly Kim under the chin. The baby was contentedly in a sling in front of Jazz and gazed around with wide eyes.
“We couldn’t stay away,” Evan said, and after the greetings had been said, it was obvious that all of the men wanted to go and see the construction in action.
“Come on into the house, girls,” Kim invited. “Let the boys watch the big toys operate. “
“It is looking fantastic though,” Miller added, and they all took one last look before going inside. Kim introduced them to Corby who said she was enjoying herself immensely.
“That’s what I like,” Kim said. “People happy in their work.” Corby smiled and went on pricing the items in the section where she was working. As they walked to the house, Kim told them about the visit to the factory with the internal dividers and showed the photographs she had taken there.
“It looks great,” Jazz said as she handed the phone to Carly so she could look as well.
“There is so much to think about,” Kim added. “The structure should be finished this week, but then the flooring and electrical work starts and the internal dividers go in. I’m picturing it in my head.” She laughed at herself and passed around coffee and cookies.
“What about the quilt?” Carly asked. “Have you had time to start on it?” Kim brought out the item in question and hesitated before unrolling it onto the table. “What are you thinking about?” Carly added. Kim grinned at them.
“I know this sounds completely crazy, but both Rob and I have heard a little bit of Scottish music when we open the material out.” She looked at them. “Go on, tell me I am losing it.”
“Well Rob must be losing it as well, and that is not like him at all,” Miller joined in. “Unroll it.” Kim looked at the folded cloth in her hands and laid it on the table. As it was opened, they all held their breath. There was no bagpipe music to be heard. “Ah well, maybe it was all imagined,” Kim said.
Carly told her to be open-minded. You know that there are things we don’t understand, like my crystal readings or spirits from the past.” Kim nodded and said that she would wait and see if it happened again.
“Maybe set a recording up,” Miller suggested.
“That’s a really good idea,” Jazz added and looked at the laid-out pattern. Kim explained how they had found some letters, and Rob had put them onto a plan to make it easier to read.
“Not that we can read anything yet,” she said and pointed to the paper. “We have two Ls, one M, one R, and three letter As.” They all looked at the design.
“That looks like two words,” Jazz suggested, “or even three.”
“Could be a place name, or a name and surname,” Carly agreed, and Miller said that if they were love knots, it might be the names of the two people involved. The sound of the men all talking together and coming to see if there
was coffee stopped any more discussion, and Kim found more cookies.
“Sorry, there is no cake. There has just been no time to bake,” she apologized.
“We got a lot done instead,” Rob added. “Did you show everyone the inside sections?” He looked at Kim and she took her phone out and handed it to Jules to peruse and pass around.
“Clay Craven opened up on a Sunday for us and gave us a really good price,” she told them. She glanced at Rob. “I told them about the bagpipe music. Everyone will think I am crazy. It didn’t happen when I opened the quilt this morning.”
“Did you tell them about the shop?” he asked, and when she shook her head, he related finding the shop empty with dusty windows, looking as if nothing had been there for years.
“Mysteriouser and mysteriouser,” Dex quipped. He was looking at the quilt as he spoke and suddenly said, “Is that an O?” They all clustered around, and Kim sketched out the rest of the design on paper.
“Yes,” she said. “Thanks, Dex.”
“It comes after the R,” Rob said.
“It’s gonna be your name.” Jules laughed and Rob looked at him panic-stricken.
“I’m not happy when these coincidences turn up,” he said worriedly.
“But it isn’t your name; it looks like a longer name,” Kim said and slipped an arm around his waist. He smiled, and the gesture was not lost on Jazz or Carly who exchanged quick smiles.
“Whatever the quilt says, it will have to wait because there is so much to do,” Kim told them. “And Christmas is not many weeks away. Jenny says she will come and help. I guess I’m going to need all the help I can get. Jamie’s mom is a shop assistant looking for work, and I hope she will be able to start soon.”
“You know you only have to ask,” Jazz said.
“I have started lists for the coffee shop. Let a firm who does this stuff install it for you and then I will see to the stock,” Evan told her.
