Arlene Sachitano - Quilt As You Go

"So, you sent the postcard.” Ben said.

"I did. And to tell you the truth, I didn't think anything would come of it. The first couple of years, I thought Dad would show up with some explanation so all this would make sense. Then, for a few more years after that, I told myself he probably did have an accident, or a heart attack or something. If he'd really left us behind, no one would know to notify us."

"Did you ever try to find him?” Ben asked

"How was I supposed to do that?” Gerry protested. “Don't forget, it was twenty years ago. Everything wasn't a computer keystroke away. He was supposed to have died in Malaysia, but other than that, he could have been anywhere. I couldn't leave my job and go searching the world. Besides, I couldn't afford to go anywhere."

"So the first thing we need to do is hire an investigator and figure out where he's been,” Ben suggested.

The brothers bickered for a minute about how to go about hiring and paying for an investigator. It was clear Mavis hadn't told them about Ilsa yet. Harriet didn't want to be the one to break the news, but it couldn't be helped.

"Guys,” she said, and held up her good hand to silence them. “I can save you some time and money."

"Do you know something?” Harry asked.

"Of course, she knows something,” Ben said, “Why do you think she said that?"

"Does anyone need more coffee?” Harriet stalled.

"Let me do that,” Ben said, and took the coffeepot and refilled their mugs.

When everyone was settled again, Harriet took a deep breath and began.

"There's no easy way to tell you all this, so if you could, let me get it all out before you ask any questions.” She proceeded to tell them about Ilsa and the Netherlands, and then Lauren's discovery about their dad's sale of his invention and the resulting money.

"Dad remarried?” Harry said.

"Dad's a millionaire?” Ben said at the same time.

"What do we know about this woman?” Gerry asked.

"I don't think we know anything about Ilsa, except for what she told us,” Harriet said. “She claims to have followed your dad here. I'm not sure how else she would have ended up here unless she got the information from him in some way, or followed him. I know it doesn't mean anything, but I've spent a few hours with her and she seems sincere. From listening to her talk to your mom, she either knew your dad for some amount of time or did really thorough research."

"We should be able to call Dad's cousins in Holland. At least we could verify that much,” Gerry said.

"Lauren did find the information about the fiber formula under Gerard Van Auken, which is the name Ilsa knew him by, so that must mean something, too,” Harriet said.

"I can't believe our dad left us and married someone else,” Harry said in a hollow voice.

"This is all pretty unbelievable,” Gerry agreed.

"There's one more thing,” Harriet said. “I'm not sure if this was a coincidence or if it's connected, but your mom was called to go babysit for your brother Pete during most of the re-enactment. She got back just before we saw your dad lying at the edge of the forest. She told me she thought something was off about the request. Pete told her their babysitter had to attend an out-of-town funeral, and then Mavis ran into the girl at a coffee shop. She fled when Mavis recognized her."

"You're not trying to say Pete's in on this, are you?” Gerry asked. “Why would Dad ask Pete, of all people?"

"I don't know what I'm trying to say. It just seemed weird. It came up all of a sudden, and then the girl was in town when she was supposed to be gone. I think that's a pretty big coincidence."

Gerry stared at the ceiling. “This just keeps getting better,” he said.

"What's so important about that particular polymer?” Harry asked. “Is it poisonous or environmentally dangerous?"

"No more so than any of the other chemicals we use to make the fireman's turnouts. None of the stuff we use is without its dangerous properties, but nothing radical. But I'm a business guy, what do I know. We can ask one of the chemists tomorrow, if you want."

"Speaking of tomorrow, it's going to be here before we know it.” Harriet took her cup to the sink and rinsed it before putting it in the dishwasher. “I'm going to bed. Can I trust you not to tear the place up?"

"I'll behave,” Harry said. “I'm sorry I over-reacted. This has been a lot to take in."

"I'll take responsibility for the coffeepot,” Ben offered.

Harriet thanked him, called Fred and went up to bed.

Mavis was drinking tea in the kitchen the next morning when Harriet and Fred came downstairs.

"How's the shoulder, honey?” she asked.

"It's getting better each day. I'm really tired of this tie-down though.” Harriet wiggled the fingers on her injured side.

"I'm sorry the boys misbehaved last night. They confessed as soon as I got here this morning."

"Where are they?"

"Harry is out running, and Ben went to get doughnuts."

"Did they mention what we talked about last night?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry you had to be in the middle of all this, honey. I'm sure it was no picnic telling them about their dad's new wife."

Harriet looked away. “I wasn't sure if I should be the one to break the news, but they were getting worked up about hiring an investigator. I felt like I had to stop them before they actually did something."

"Well, I'm sorry, honey.” Mavis reached over and patted Harriet's good arm.

"Have you decided what you're going to do?"

"About what?"

"Ilsa, the funeral, all of this?"

"There's not much I can do. Ilsa's the one whose husband just died. Gerald Willis has been dead a long time. Ilsa seems pretty sensible. I thought I'd see what she wants to do about a memorial. If she doesn't want to do anything public, then the boys and I will do something private ourselves."

"Have you talked to James yet?” Harriet asked. “You need to find out where you stand legally. We're assuming Ilsa is the widow here, but if Gerald was never dead, than you were still his wife when he died. It doesn't matter if he changed his name or married a second time or anything."

"Honey, I'm trying to avoid thinking about the insurance money I've been getting all this time. I suppose there's nothing for it, though. James has to be in court this morning, but he said he'd come over when he's finished and see what he can figure out."

"What a mess this all is. I wish we knew what was so important about that polymer. It doesn't make sense. If something made Gerald leave, what about a polymer could make him come back?"

"I think I hear Aunt Beth arriving,” Harriet said. “I'm going to check in with her, and then I'm going to Pins and Needles. The needle I'm using for my hand-piecing doesn't feel right. I realize it could be the fact that I have to hold my work at a weird angle, but my hand gets a cramp if I work for very long. I thought I'd try a short needle."

"I'm going to wait here with the boys until James arrives,” Mavis said. “Could you check and see if Marjory has that extra-wide backing fabric in a pale yellow while you're there?"

"Sure,” Harriet said, and went through the connecting door into the studio.

Driving was a little harder than Harriet had anticipated, and she had to park three blocks away from Pins and Needles in order find a spot big enough to lurch her car into.

"Hey, Carla,” she said as she came into the quilt store. Her young friend was behind the counter. She explained her needle problem, and Carla showed her the array of needles Marjory stocked. Harriet ended up choosing a Jean Lyle big-eye quilting needle. It was short and should prove easy to thread.