Blooms Bones and Stones Box Set

by Olivia Swift

  “That is exquisite,” Kim cried and fingered the material. “I love it.”

  “The colors are based on Native American designs and colors,” Corby explained.

  “Are you prepared to sell it?” Kim asked. “We will have new quilts as well as preloved ones.” Corby smiled and nodded. “It can have the place of pride in the quilt section,” Kim added and held out a hand. “Thanks.” The price was negotiated and Kim asked Corby to keep it at home until the display was ready. “This place might well be muddy and dirty for at least a couple of weeks.”

  The day passed in a flurry of normal work and trying to start changing things around to make it easier when the actual move happened. Kim sat in the evening and looked at what she was now thinking of as love knots. She switched on the laptop and started to find out more. She found a site, after some searching, and bookmarked it in case she lost it again. This was part of a site claiming that magic spells worked and that wands made of crystal were the thing you needed to increase your power. Kim was skeptical of most of this as it was obviously geared to selling crystals and other items. The website had pages given over to the history of aspects of the magical world. She almost flicked over the page but caught a glimpse of a Celtic pattern that looked identical to the quilt.

  The writer claimed to have discovered that each particular knot was a letter, and messages were written into the quilts. The letters were unique to each quiltmaker, although there were some designs that came up again and again, and there was usually a small heart at the center of the design. Kim leapt up and ran her hand over the pattern on her quilt. She found the middle and peered down. It was faded and very worn, but there was undoubtedly a tiny heart embroidered in the very center of the quilt. She went back to the screen to find out more, and it told her that it was not necessarily a quilt. It could be a picture, artwork, or even a rug for the floor. Quilts were very much thought of as being on the marriage bed, and that is why they were chosen to bear the message.

  “Just the same, the work involved must have been huge,” she said out loud and looked at the quilt. “Maybe you can talk to me after all.”

  She looked at one of the squares that was clear to see and went back to the website. By scrolling carefully, she found an almost identical match and the letter it showed was an L. She picked up her phone and called Rob.

  “Got some news on the quilt,” she told him and explained what she knew so far.

  “So, it has got some magic after all,” he surprised her by saying. “I knew that place felt odd.”

  “I’ve been telling myself not to be so fanciful, and you go and say it out loud.” She smiled into the phone. “Do you fancy coming and seeing if you can see any letters—two heads being better than one.”

  “Thought you’d never ask,” he answered and hung up. Kim went to see what cake she had in the house and decided it would have to be chocolate fudge cake warmed in the microwave. It was only fifteen minutes later when she heard his car and went to open the door.

  “Mom sent you this,” he said and handed her a simple snow dome. “She says it is the start of your Christmas grotto, and can she please help out when the time comes.”

  “That is so sweet,” she said and shook it so that the snowflakes fell over a chubby-faced snowman in a blue hat. He was holding a bunch of blue flowers and she looked up at Rob. “She liked the salt and pepper set and chose this to match them, didn’t she?”

  “I guess so,” he told her. “There is an awful lot to do before Christmas.”

  “That’s the practical Rob I am used to,” she grinned. “Chocolate fudge cake?”

  “The way to a man’s heart.” He smiled and took the plate. “Anyway, explain this knot thing.” Kim showed him the website and the pattern that matched her printed square. She pointed with her finger, and they were able to see a curvy line that—if separated from the rest of the design—could be the letter L.

  “So, is the rest of the design meant to confuse you into thinking it is just a pattern?” Rob asked. He found the site on his own tablet and bookmarked it as well. “We need to photograph all of the squares and just keep on searching.”

  “Maybe it is jumbled as well, to make it harder to find the message,” Kim suggested. They spread the quilt flat and both took photographs with their tablets. Kim sent one of them to her laptop and brought it up to a larger size. “You know, it might be easier to see the shapes on the screen instead of on the actual quilt. Look, that is another L.”

  He leaned over her shoulder and squinted at the screen.

  “Yes, it is easier to see. It’s brighter for one thing.” He had one hand resting on the table and the other on her shoulder. Kim found that her heart was beating a lot faster than it should have been when she was just looking at a picture on a screen. He felt her stiffen a little and eased away.

  “I’m sorry, Kim. I didn’t realize I was leaning on you.”

  “No. No. It was okay,” she stuttered. “Maybe this magic stuff has really gotten to me.” She attempted a laugh that wobbled a bit, and Rob did what he had done many times over the years; he gathered her into his arms and held on. Her reaction was one that he had never expected. She turned into his embrace and put her arms around his neck.

  “Thanks for always being there,” she was saying when he stopped the words by kissing her on the lips. There was a second when she was taken completely by surprise, and the apology was forming in his head when something happened in Kim’s head and she kissed him back. The message had been sitting in there waiting to come out, and it burst forth with abandon. He felt her body against his own, and her hands twisted into his hair. He had held Kim in his arms many times but never thought that she would return his feelings. She didn’t know how or why or even if it was right to be kissing her best friend and enjoying the sensation, but her mouth responded of its own accord. The sensation of something rushing through her bloodstream took her far away from quilts, letters, and the garden center building. He ran his hands up and down her back and felt her melt into his arms. It was something he had dreamed of and wondered if maybe it was all a dream. They pulled apart at last, and he pulled her down onto a seat. She rested her head on his shoulder and tried to find something normal to say, but nothing came to mind.

  “That was something new,” he whispered into her hair. She simply nodded and didn’t speak. “Do you want me to go?” he asked, and she turned and kissed his lips again.

  “I kissed you as much as you kissed me,” she said.

  “But what do we do about it?” he asked.

  “I am always frightened I will lose my best friend,” she whispered. “I don’t want that to change.”

  “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.

  Copyright © 2018 by Olivia Swift

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  1

  Corby Santana was thirty-two years old, and for the first time in a year, was happy with her life. As she entered the garden center to start work, she waved to her boss, Kim Summers. Leaving her coat in the staff cloakroom, she glanced in the mirror and smiled at her own reflection. That was something that would not have happened several months ago. She had come
to visit the old garden shop as Kim was beginning an upgrade. Immediately, the two women had become friends with a joint interest in quilting. The period up to Christmas had been exhausting but wonderful at the same time, and she had settled into her position in charge of the craft and quilting section of the store. The Christmas decorations had been packed away for the year, and the whole staff was looking forward to spring. She remembered the party on Christmas Eve at Chestnut Hall with Kim’s sister and all of their friends. It was good to feel as if she belonged. Another smile made her lips curve and her dark eyes soften with the thoughts.

  Kim watched the slender and petite figure of her employee head for the quilts to make sure everything was clean and tidy and the stock up to date. Her raven-black hair was in a tidy ponytail, and she had slipped overalls over her slim trousers and imitation patchwork top. Kim reflected that Corby really did not realize how stunningly beautiful she was. Cherie, the manager, was putting cash into the registers and talking to the checkout girls. Kim had already checked with Jamie outside in the plant area and went to check that the coffee shop was clean and ready for business.

  “Hi Corby,” Kim greeted as she came over to the craft area. “Do you need anything ordered?”

  “I think we could use another couple of new quilts to replace what we sold last month,” she replied. Kim nodded and said that she would go back online and see what was on offer. “I like this time of the day when the place is not full of customers and we have time to get things sorted out.”

  “Me too,” Kim replied. “Feels like the place belongs to us for a short time. Did you buy anything at the auction, yesterday?” Corby loved to rummage around and see what could be found at auctions. She laughed.

  “I bought a box of bits and pieces for ten dollars, and I found a lovely vintage china cup and saucer in the bottom of a lot of garbage.”

  “Wow. That is great,” Kim replied.

  “It’s washed and displayed with pride on the dresser. It has violets all over both inside and out,” Corby told her with a smile. “I love these little vintage odds and ends.”

  Even as they spoke, the doors opened and customers started to wander in to browse. One regular customer stopped to say hello and ask if there were any made-up hanging baskets. Kim directed her to the greenhouses where the finished articles were hung for protection from the weather while they became established. The two women were just moving away to start the working day properly when two men in suits came into the building. They were so out of character for the place that both women watched as they approached.

  “Where can I find Mrs. Corby Santana?” the first man asked politely.

  “Why do you want to speak to her?” Kim asked, and stopped Corby from replying.

  “This is legal business from a well-known lawyer,” he said. “I need to hand the communication over in person.”

  “How would you know it was the right person?” Kim asked. “I need to protect my staff.”

  The man sighed. “I am not here to cause trouble. In fact, this should be good news, but I must ask her for ID and hand it over personally.” Corby spoke up for the first time and said that she was Corby Santana. Her voice was a little shaky, and Kim picked up on that.

  “I’ll go and get my driver’s license,” Corby offered and walked away.

  “I will stay with her. This is most unusual,” Kim told them and then called Jamie to come and witness what was happening. Jamie dropped what he was doing and ran through the complex. He arrived as Corby came back with her identification.

  “What is wrong?” he asked, but the man with the paperwork in his hand answered that there was no problem.

  “I have to hand this over in person to Corby Santana. She can do with it as she pleases, but the law says she has to be instructed.” He looked at the license and then looked at Corby. “Thanks,” he said and smiled. He handed over the envelope, and the two men said their thanks, turned, and left.

  Corby stood holding the official-looking paperwork and felt a tear welling up.

  “Lawyers frighten me,” she whispered, as Kim put an arm around her shoulders.

  “Come to the office, and take a seat,” she said and thanked Jamie. She led her quilting manager to the small room that passed as an office and sat the woman down.

  “He did say it was good news,” she said. “Open it and get it over with. Whatever it is, we can handle it.” Corby did actually feel a tear run down her cheek.

  “I am so glad I work here,” she said and took the offered tissue. “On my own, I would be terrified.”

  Kim sat as well and touched her friend’s arm. “I know your ex-husband was always in trouble with the law. He’s behind you. It’s over.”

  Corby nodded and gave a shaky smile. She took the envelope and ripped it open. Then she handed it to Kim. “You read it, please.”

  Kim scanned the officially written page and looked up at Corby. “Corby, sweetheart. Looks like you have inherited a house.” She handed the letter back, and there was silence as her friend took in the enormity of the announcement.

  “What?” Corby asked and looked at the document with unseeing eyes. Kim took it back and read it out loud. There was no mistaking that Corby had to contact this particular law firm to obtain the details of the inheritance left to her by her great-uncle. He was her grandfather’s brother.

  “I remember him, but I was very young, and I think the family lost touch,” Corby remarked as she thought back over the years. “What should I do?”

  “You should call this firm and see what they say,” Kim decided. Corby nodded but still looked unsure. A knock sounded on the door, and Rob Manners popped his head into the office. He picked up that there was something going on and stepped inside.

  “You got a problem?” he asked his fiancée, Kim, but Kim shook her head.

  “No, but we had an official visit from a courier for a law firm, and Corby was a bit unnerved.” Rob sat on the small chair beside Corby.

  “Tell him,” Corby said to Rob’s unasked question, and the story was repeated.

  “Wow, that is wonderful, Corby. It might be a mansion,” he joked.

  “And it might be a trick,” Corby replied in a sad sort of voice. “I was so enjoying my new life. Why does something unexpected happen?” The three of them talked back and forth about the situation, and Corby told them what she remembered of her great-uncle. It wasn’t a great deal, other than he seemed a nice man. Both Kim and Rob knew that the real stumbling block was the fear of going and meeting with a lawyer and stepping into the unknown. Rob stood up and gave Kim a sort of wink.

  “I have to make a phone call about the coffee shop. If you call the lawyer, we can find out more about it.” He closed the door behind him and took out his cell phone. Kim knew one thing, and that was that she trusted Rob with every part of her being. There was no problem with the coffee shop. If he was planning something, she was prepared to let him go with it. She looked at the letter.

  “Let’s get this call made and deal with the thing head-on,” she said and called the number. She told the receptionist that she was Corby Santana and explained about the letter.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Santana. Our courier reported that he had delivered the letter as instructed. Would you like to book an appointment? Mr. Garcia can see you today at two in the afternoon.” Kim flicked a look at Corby and agreed to the meeting. Then she put down the phone and said that she would go along with her and everything would be all right.

  “Thank you,” Corby said. “It is best to find out the details, and then I can get back to my normal life.” She jumped up with a start. “I should be working.”

  Kim told her that Rob would make them both a coffee, if that's where he had gone, and gained a smile from the other woman. Rob was indeed behind the coffee counter and had sent away the barista for an unexpected break. He made them all drinks, and they kept an eye on the shop at the same time. Naturally, they speculated about this letter and what it might mean. Corby had no idea whe
re her great-uncle had lived. It was not long before the main doors slid open, and Mario and his brother Carlo came over to where they sat. They had installed the entire restaurant section. Rob knew full well that these two had grown up as close neighbors to Corby and knew her really well.

  “I brought Mario because I am better with spreadsheets than fixing problems,” Carlo told him, and Mario went behind the counter to look at the mythical problem in the plumbing system.

  “Hiya Corbs,” Carlo said with the ease of a long acquaintance and eased his lean body beside her on a bar stool. It was obviously a stroke of genius on Rob’s part, because Corby visibly relaxed. She told him about the letter, and Mario’s head mysteriously popped up from behind the counter.

  “So anyway, she has to see this Mr. Garcia at two today. I’ll go along for moral support,” Kim added.

  “Joe Garcia?” Carlo queried, and they all looked at him. Kim pulled out the letter and it was Mr. J. Garcia at the address that Carlo knew. “That is great, Corby. I know him. He is a good guy. No tricks with Garcia. You’ll be okay.” He looked at Kim. “I’ll go along with Corby if it’s okay. He’ll be pleased to see me, anyway.”

  “That would be fantastic,” Kim told him. “If you know him, Corby will be able to trust what he says.” Carlo nodded.

  “That okay with you, Corby?” he asked, and the tears squeezed out again, but she smiled with it and told them they were all wonderful. Rob handed her a napkin from the counter to dab at her eyes and pretended to thank Mario for fixing the water pipe. Kim went over to talk with Cherie and Jamie and to tell them nothing was wrong. The shop had customers to serve, and she saw Carlo take Corby’s hands and give her a reassuring hug before he set off for the door. Corby pulled herself together and headed for the quilts and crafts. Her legs were still a bit wobbly, but she smiled at the customers and asked if anyone needed assistance. The work took her mind off the shock of the letter, and by lunchtime, she was almost looking forward to the visit. Kim told her to grab some lunch and get ready to see the lawyer, and when Corby said she would work extra time, Kim’s reply was that she wanted to see this house.