“Yes, please. Did it take a long time to learn how to quilt?”
“Not too long. My grandma showed me how to make the fabric squares and add the filling that makes the quilt nice and warm. Once I learned those two things, I tried other ways to make the designs special.”
“Mom wants to open a store that sells quilts,” Nate told Joseph. “She’ll teach people how to make them, too.”
Shona saw the surprise in Joseph’s gaze. He wouldn’t be the only person who thought she was crazy. “I’d never thought of owning a business, but I know it will work. I have enough commissions to keep me busy for the next two years but not enough space. My sewing room is bulging with fabric and supplies.”
Joseph wiped his hands on a napkin. “I’m not surprised people want you to make quilts for them. The ones you make for the tiny homes are lovely.”
A spark of gratitude filled her heart. She made the quilts to help people, but it was nice for someone other than her son to appreciate what she did. “I’m applying for a start-up loan from the bank. If that’s approved, I can buy the furniture and other things I’ll need.”
Adele frowned. “Will your store be here or in town?”
“In town,” Shona replied. “There are two cottages on Anchor Lane available for small businesses like mine. Paris and Andrea, the owners of the two businesses that have already opened, have helped me get the paperwork ready.”
“I know Paris and Andrea,” Adele said. “They help at The Welcome Center.”
Nate pulled out his phone. “I took some photos of the cottage.” With his head bent toward Adele, he showed her the building Shona wanted to rent.
“It sounds like you’ll be busy for the next few months.”
She smiled at Joseph’s understatement. “I’ll be frantic. I can’t afford to take much time off work, so I’m doing everything when I’m not working with Shelley.”
“You should see the cottage, Dad. It’s awesome.”
Joseph moved to the other side of the table and looked over her shoulder. He lifted his gaze to Shona’s. “It looks similar to The Starlight Café.”
“They have the same floor plan.”
Adele grinned. “Dad loves the café’s chocolate chip muffins.”
Joseph smiled at his daughter. “I do, but I like taking you there even more.”
“We go there on Saturdays,” Adele told them. “Can you show us your quilting room, Mrs. Milligan?”
“I’d love to. If it’s okay with your dad, you can call me Shona.”
Joseph picked up Adele’s empty plate. “That’s fine as long as Nate calls me Joseph. I keep thinking he’s talking about my dad when he calls me Mr. Adams.”
“Dad doesn’t look anything like Granddad,” Adele told Nate. “Granddad has a big, bushy beard and pretends he’s Santa Claus at Christmas.”
“That sounds like fun.”
Adele nodded. “He goes to the hospice and gives everyone presents. It makes him happy.”
Nate looked confused. “Why does he go there?”
“Grandma stayed there before she died. Granddad said it makes him feel like he’s making her smile when everyone sees him.”
Shona glanced at Joseph. There was a stillness about him that made her want to reach out and make sure he was all right.
His eyes collided with hers. “Mom died when I was twenty-two. She had cancer. Dad’s gone to the hospice each year since then.”
“He must miss her.”
“We all do. She was the glue that held our family together.” He looked at the plates in his hand, as if he’d only just remembered picking them up. “I’ll take these through to the kitchen.”
Shona picked up her and Nate’s plates. “Do you want to see my sewing room before or after dessert, Adele?”
