Crosspatch: A Southern Quilting Mystery, #17

Chapter One

It had been a lovely church service so far. Beatrice was sitting on one of the old wooden pews. Light was cheerfully streaming through the stained glass, throwing various colorful hues over the members of the congregation. The organist’s music had complemented the choir perfectly, and the hymns were stirring.

But then Ace Lincoln’s cell phone went off in the middle of Wyatt’s thoughtful and meaningful pastoral prayer. And Beatrice’s teeth were suddenly on edge.

It wasn’t the first time Ace’s phone had gone off in the middle of the service. Actually, it had happened every week for the last month. It seemed to be set at an earthshaking volume and appeared to be programmed to go off during Wyatt’s prayer each week—the quietest part of the service. Plus, the phone’s ringtone was Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, which only served to make Beatrice feel rather guilty at her irritation over the disruption.

Ace gave everyone a sheepish grin and strode out the door, phone still warbling its hymn. Even worse, Ace started talking to the caller before he’d even gotten all the way out of the sanctuary. It was most disturbing.

Beatrice’s daughter, Piper, who was seated next to her, gave her a wink before they resumed praying. She’d heard her mother talk about Ace before and bemoaning the fact that his phone never seemed to be on silent mode.

Thankfully, the rest of the service was just as lovely as the first bit. And when Ace did return to the sanctuary, his phone didn’t make another peep.

As soon as church was over, Piper said teasingly, Mama, you did a good job keeping yourself under control. You only turned a little red that time.

Beatrice sighed. There are just a few things that really punch my buttons. Anyway, it was a lovely service. Would y’all like to have Sunday dinner with us?

Ash, Piper’s husband, said, Oh, we don’t want to make you have to cook today.

It’s no problem at all, said Beatrice with a grin. Madelyn Templeton came by yesterday with a chicken casserole, biscuits, and green beans almondine. It’s a huge casserole, intended to feed six or eight people. Besides, Meadow and Ramsay will be there.

That was awfully nice of Madelyn. Do y’all often get great meals? I might have to drop by more often, she said teasingly.

All the time. People can be very thoughtful. Beatrice realized her annoyance at people who were not thoughtful was greatly diminished when she dwelled on the people who were.

Piper said, Then we’d love to come. Ash and I will collect Will from the nursery and meet you over there.

Beatrice smiled at her. "Just let yourself in if you get there before we do. I’ve got to collect Wyatt, which can be a longer task."

As it happened, though, getting away from the church was a fairly speedy process this time. The members of the congregation very quickly told Wyatt he’d delivered a good sermon, and then they all hurried off to their own Sunday dinners with family. Wyatt smiled at Beatrice as they walked home. Were you able to get Piper and Ash to join us?

Beatrice nodded. They’re picking up Will and will meet us there.

He reached out for her hand and she gave his a squeeze. It was an absolutely beautiful day with a strikingly blue sky. A gentle breeze blew around them as they made the short walk home.

Piper, Ash, and Will had indeed beaten them to the house, despite Wyatt’s relatively quick exit. Noo-noo, their corgi, was apparently delighted with the surprise visit and was helping Ash and Will play with plastic blocks on the floor as Piper heated up the sides in the microwave and had the casserole in the oven to reheat. Wyatt started setting the table and Beatrice went into the kitchen to give Piper a hand.

It smells wonderful, said Beatrice.

Well, I spent all night cooking it, said Piper with a wink. I’ll take credit for it, even though all I’ve done is heat it up. How was the past week, Mama?

"Pretty good, I guess. I’ve felt like all I’ve really done lately is to be sedentary, though. I truly love being sedentary and just reading a book or working on a quilt, but I think the inactivity is starting to catch up with me. For some reason, the longer I sit, the longer I want to sit. I haven’t even made trips to the church for the Pilates class. On the upside, I’ve gotten some good quilting done, including some work on my UFO." Beatrice gave Piper a mischievous look.

The quilt guild had a UFO or unfinished objects swap as their activity last month. The members were to hand over a quilt they’d quit working on to another guild member and let them complete it. Beatrice had one of Piper’s.

Piper gave her mother a wry look. Thanks for reminding me. I still have a lot of work to do on my UFO before the meeting.

It’s not as if you have a lot of free time to quilt, said Beatrice sympathetically. It must be hard to carve out some time for yourself these days. Between Will, Piper’s part-time job, and keeping up with things at home, Beatrice knew Piper’s plate was full.

"Oh, I squeeze a few moments in here and there. Quilting is very relaxing for me, so it’s worth it. And Will does take naps, so that helps."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. I thought they always say moms are supposed to take naps when their babies do.

Piper snorted. They do say that, but I think these experts have never had babies before. Naptime’s when I scamper around trying to catch up. But I’ll admit I leave the last ten minutes of naptime for me to put my feet up.

How do you know you have ten minutes? Are Will’s naptimes that predictable?

Piper said, Oh, I just wait until I hear him stirring over the baby monitor. I know at that point I’ll have ten minutes of him gradually waking up before he starts to fuss and call for me. But going back to what we were talking about—do you really feel like you’ve been sedentary? You’ve always been so active. In fact, I always felt like you’ve had a hard time sitting still.

That’s usually the case, but it hasn’t been lately. I’ll have to take Noo-noo out for a longer walk today.

The little corgi, who’d been avidly watching to see if any food fell to the floor, perked up as she heard the magic word walk. Her gaze drifted over to her harness hanging by the front door.

Piper asked, Does walking Noo-noo help you with exercise? I thought she was forever stopping to smell interesting scents on the side of the road.

Noo-noo gave Piper a reproachful look.

Beatrice sighed. You’re right, it probably isn’t enough exercise, especially considering how inactive I’ve been. I’ve been meaning to get out and work in the yard, too, but the weather hasn’t been too conducive to that lately. And, with all the rain we’ve had, the weeds are out of control.

Piper said, I was thinking more of a real exercise class instead of yardwork.

Beatrice frowned. An exercise class? Isn’t that like going from zero to sixty in a few seconds?

For some of the classes, maybe. But this is a beginner’s class. The instructor is Summer Cooper, and she’s supposed to be really good. She taught classes in Lenoir for a long time and then decided to open her own studio here in Dappled Hills. She teaches both group classes and individual.

Wyatt had walked into the kitchen to fill everyone’s glasses with water, overheard their conversation, and noticed Beatrice was still looking unsure. He said, Are you planning on going to one of the classes, Piper?

She nodded. I’m going to give it a go tomorrow. Ash is going to head to work a little later than usual and can watch Will while I go to the class. I’d love if you tried it out with me, Mama. I’m allowed to bring a guest with me.

Beatrice smiled at her. For you? Of course. But I have a feeling I’ll be moving at a much slower pace than everyone else. Where is her studio? I haven’t noticed any new construction lately.

It’s actually right behind the house where Summer and her husband live. You probably know Harlowe—he’s the manager at Bub’s Grocery. Anyway, they have a big lot and Summer thought it would be very convenient if she could just slip back into the back and work there. She just had the place built, and it’s finally finished.

Beatrice said, And there’s enough parking? Even for a group class?

Piper nodded. That’s what she said, anyway. Apparently, they have over an acre and her husband developed some of it into a gravel lot for parking.

Beatrice said, I’ll meet you over there, then, Piper. I have to say I’m curious. Plus, I’m getting a little tired of my own exercise routine. Maybe I need some new ideas.

Piper glanced at her watch. I thought you said Meadow and Ramsay were joining us.

Ash glanced over from the living room. Mom planned on coming over. And when I called her when we arrived to let her know Piper and I were going to be here, she was especially excited. You know she never misses the chance to see Will.

Beatrice frowned. That’s true. Maybe we should give them a call. It’s not like them to run late and they’re only just down the street.

Which was right when Beatrice’s door flew open and Meadow, breathless, appeared. Mercy! I was starting to think I wouldn’t get here at all.

Ash stood up and walked over. Did something happen? And where’s Dad?

Meadow plopped down in a chair around the dining room table. Boris created a bit of drama, that’s all.

Boris was Meadow and Ramsay’s large dog of somewhat indeterminate heritage. He could be a handful, but he had such an engaging doggy smile that it was tempting to forgive him for any misbehavior.

Wyatt put a glass of water in front of her. Dog shenanigans? he asked.

Meadow nodded. "I’ll say. When Ramsay and I got home from church, we discovered Boris had somehow gotten up on the high counter and had eaten all the biscuits from a zipper bag I’d planned on bringing over."

Beatrice had to admit to feeling sad about the devoured biscuits. Meadow was quite the cook. She had the feeling the canned biscuits she’d stuck in the oven weren’t quite the same.

Piper frowned. Is Boris okay? That sounds like a lot of bread to have eaten.

And did he eat any of the zipper bag? asked Ash.

Meadow wagged a finger at him. That’s exactly what the vet wanted to know. But somehow, he got the biscuits out without eating any of the plastic. I was planning on running him over to the vet, but then he had a terrible bout of indigestion and emptied his tummy of most of the food.

Beatrice grimaced. Charming.

I know. Then Ramsay helped me clean it all up. We thought Ramsay better stay home and keep an eye on Boris, so the last I saw them, they were curled up together taking a nap.

Piper said, Well, tell him we missed him.

They filled their plates with food, Wyatt blessed it, and they dug in. Meadow was charmed the whole time by Will’s new ability to handle a fork. Look at him! He’s brilliant.

Although Beatrice found herself disagreeing with Meadow on many things, she had to agree she was right about their mutual grandson. Will beamed at the praise and then promptly dropped the fork on the floor, which made them all chuckle as Ash got up to find him another fork.

Piper said, Meadow, Mama and I just made plans to go to Summer’s new exercise studio tomorrow morning. Want to join us?

No, thank you! I’m not sure group exercise is exactly my cup of tea. Besides, I wouldn’t have anything to wear.

Piper said, Oh, you don’t have to worry about wearing fancy exercise clothes. I’m planning on just wearing a pair of capri pants and a tee shirt.

Beatrice said wryly, I’m likely wearing my Pilates outfit since I don’t really have anything else.

Meadow made a face. I can see my usual excuse isn’t going to work with you two, so now I have to get real. I intensely dislike exercising.

Piper looked surprised. Do you? You always seem to enjoy your walks with Boris.

Walking with Boris is not necessarily exercise unless Boris starts sprinting after a rabbit.

Beatrice helpfully pointed out, You also do a lot of gardening.

Yes, but that’s because I like the outcome. If I weren’t getting tomatoes and summer squash out of the transaction, I certainly wouldn’t be out there working in the garden. No, I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you two with it. Meadow’s voice didn’t sound very sorry at all, actually.

Ash grinned at his mother. Maybe you should give it a go. It could be fun exercising with Piper and Beatrice.

"You’re not helping, Ash! Of course it would be more pleasurable with Piper and Beatrice, but the enjoyment I’d take in their company would not be enough to put up with the exercising portion of the outing."

Meadow was looking quite huffy now and Wyatt, always the peacemaker, quickly stepped in. I’d say you lead a pretty active life, Meadow.

She gave him a tremendous smile. Thank you! Indeed, I do. As do you, I think. Catch us up with everything going on at the church.

Wyatt gave a little wrap-up of upcoming events as Will, ever-mindful of what generates the best response, theatrically threw his fork on the floor again. This time, there was no replacement fork, but since Will was now eating Cheerio cereal, none was really required. Beatrice was enjoying herself so much that she ate a bit more than she’d intended. She reflected later that afternoon that it was indeed good she’d be exercising the next morning.

Chapter Two

Despite her eagerness to work off the Sunday lunch, by the next morning Beatrice felt less like exercising. The sun was just a faint orb in the sky, obscured by dark clouds that hinted at rain or drizzle at the very least. She wanted nothing more than to stay in her well-worn robe and slippers and read her book while curled up with Noo-noo on the sofa. Instead, she dragged herself into her exercise clothes and hurried out to her car to meet Piper.

Summer’s house and studio were in a heavily wooded area not too far away. Beatrice pulled into the gravel parking lot, avoiding a large tree that must have fallen during the storm the night before. She glanced around her. Piper hadn’t come yet and Beatrice had no desire to go in and chat with Summer, who