“Here, sit down.Did you bring something to work on?”
I climbed up to the tree house earlier today to text Juliet about tonight’s meeting, and when I didn’t receive a response, I grew bored and returned to the reception-less wasteland that was my grandmother’s cabin.Unsure of Juliet’s crafting interest, I brought some extra yarn and hooks.
“I did.”The librarian settles in the chair to my left and reaches into her bag, coming out with a shoebox.There’s a rustle when she sets it on the table and pulls off the lid.
“Paper?”Courtney asks, practically shoving her boobs into my shoulder to stare around me and get a better view of the colorful collection of card stock.“What are you making?”
“Greeting cards.”Juliet holds up one that has a beautifully detailed mountain scene, rendered from carefully cut and layered paper.“I have more than I’ll ever need.”She blushes, as if admitting a failing.
“Lovely.You’re so talented.”This comes from a woman across the way from Courtney.“You just moved here not too long ago—do I have that right?”
“The end of May,” Juliet murmurs, her focus on a set of scissors in her hands while her shoulders grow tense.
“That long ago?My goodness.Can’t believe we haven’t been introduced.I’m Karen Hanson.”
The rest of the women around the table rattle off their names, but from the familiar tone a few use, I can guess they’ve run into Juliet at the library.
I get the sense that Juliet would rather not be the center of conversation, but Ms.Hanson doesn’t seem happy with a simple hello.
“And I believe I heard you were unattached.Have you been out with any of Pine Falls’ nice young men?”
I’m so surprised by her question that I drop my ball of yarn, then stifle a curse as I try collect it off the floor before it gets dirty and tangled.Juliet also flinches, tearing the delicate tissue paper she was cutting.
“I’m activelynotdating right now,” the librarian states, conviction adding an edge to her tone.
Ms.Hanson opens her mouth, but Courtney is faster.
“Activelynotdating?What does that mean?”The wolf tries leaning around me again so she can meet Juliet’s eyes.“Do you chuck books at people who approach you, carrying flowers?”
“Of course not,” Juliet grumbles.Then, she gives the table a smirk.“I value books too much.”
Some of the women chuckle, and most at least crack a smile.Mrs.Applewood, who’s been throwing me disgruntled looks ever since I sat down, glares at the fabric in her hands.
Suddenly, the quilter’s comments from the day Warner escorted me to lunch come rushing back.
“I don’t associate with dogs.”
At the time, I thought she meant my mastiff.Now, I’d bet all the softest flannel in Minnie’s closet that she wasn’t referring to Bruce.
Guess I found another townsperson in the know.Just not an ally.
“Well,” Ms.Hanson says, bringing attention back to her, “maybe you just haven’t met the right man.My son, for instance.”
Juliet’s lips flatten, and she doesn’t respond.
Courtney swoops in with a wicked smirk.“I’m single!Why haven’t you ever setmeup with your son, Karen?”
The woman scowls at Courtney.“Because you already dated my son and broke his heart,” she growls.
“Did I?Wait, who’s your son?”
“Fredrick.”Her face has turned the same bright red as Courtney’s vodka cranberry.
“Fredrick?”The wolf seems to mull the name over, as if the memory of him is hard to recall.“Oh!Freddy!”She settles back in her seat.“Well, I wouldn’t call what we diddating.”
Juliet snorts up half her drink, and the poor Ms.Hanson gasps, reaching her hand toward her throat, as if expecting to find a string of pearls to clutch.
“Courtney …” Amy, unofficial leader of the Sip ’N’ Stitch gathering, uses a warning tone even though I swear I catch a quiver at the corner of her mouth.“Let’s keep the discussion of other members’ offspring PG-rated, okay?”
