chapter THREE
"Ms. Evans?"
Hope stopped in mid-motion, lowered the basket of colorful skeins of yarn she was about to place on the shelf and turned in the direction of the voice to face the woman standing behind her.
"Yes?"
"Hi, I'm Amy Keels from the Houston Chronicle and I wondered if I might speak with you and your son about winning the Texas spot in the Blackstone Group's Conservation Summit for Kids.
"Oh." To say she was surprised didn't come close to Hope's astonishment. When did a contest like this become of interest to the media?
Pay attention and find out. It always struck her as odd that her inner voice sounded remarkably like her mother, or perhaps her grandmother. But regardless of whose voice it used, it made a good point.
"Well, my son's not out of school yet, so that would have to wait until he is."
"Of course. Perhaps I could speak with you, first?"
"Sure," Hope agreed and gestured across the room to a nook set up with a sofa, chairs, small tables, and colorful throws on the furniture.
It looked every bit like a bohemian gathering spot, complete with hand knotted macrame plant holders that moved slowly when a current of air pushed them one way or the other and crystals dangling at varying lengths that sent colorful sparks of light dancing.
They took a seat, two cushiony wing chairs, separated by a small wooden table painted with vines, flowers, butterflies, and even a small frog on a leaf.
"This is charming," Ms. Keels commented. "Did you and your mother do all this or buy it this way?"
Hope smiled. "My mother did this. It's been revamped a couple of times but never lost its bohemian flare I guess."
"Is that how you'd describe your family? Bohemian?"
Hope considered the question. "I suppose. When my grandmother died, the ranch was too much for my mom to manage, so she used every cent she had or could borrow, and opened this shop. We moved into the apartment in the back.
"And did you ever live on the ranch?"
"Yes, until I was a teenager. When we moved here, we leased the farm for extra income. Now Andy and I still live with her in the apartment. We made almost everything in the place, the curtains, rugs, spreads for the bed. We even wove the fabric we used to upholster the furniture. I suppose that's rather unconventional, so yes, I suppose we are a bit on the bohemian side of things."
"Your clothing as well," Ms. Keels remarked. "That top you're wearing is gorgeous. Did you make that?"
"I did. It's one of my favorites. The fabric was one of the last things my grandmother made and the trim is something my mother and I created."
"Well, it's gorgeous. Any chance you have some for sale?"
"Yes, of course. Would you like to browse while we chat?"
"I'd love that."
"Then let's start at the back of the shop where the clothing racks are."
Hope led the reporter to the clothing area. The woman stopped just inside the door, snatched out her phone and started taking photos. "You and your mother couldn't have made all this?"
"Sure we could."
Ms. Keels walked over to a rack of dresses, all flowy feminine creations with intricate stitching and beading. One in particular drew her attention. With the myriad shades of blue flowing through the fabric and the added beads and silvery thread, it was reminiscent of a glistening pool of water, moving as if from a gentle breeze on the surface.
"Oh my God, this is gorgeous. Can I try it?"
"Of course. This way." Hope led her to the dressing room, hung the dress on a hook and got out of the way.
"Do you mind if we talk while I try this on?" Ms. Keels called out.
"Not at all."
"Super. So, you, your mother, and your grandmother are—were—sorry, is your mother still alive?"
"Very much so."
"I bet you both miss your grandmother."
"We do, but we try to celebrate the life she lived and what she passed on to us."
"Was she ill before her death?"
"No, one night she said she'd done just everything she wanted to do in this life, and thought it might be time to go home. We thought she was just talking but went along with it and told her how much we'd miss her and how we didn't know if we could make it without her."
"She called us silly women with big hearts that she adored, and said we'd be just fine. It was time for Audrey Rose to be head of the family now. We said she would be one day, when the time was right and Grandma agreed.
"She kissed us all goodnight and went to bed. After mom went to bed, I snuck into Gran's room and leaned over to ask if I could snuggle with her. She pulled back the covers and I climbed in, put my head on her shoulder and my arm over her body.
"For a long time we lay there, not talking, just breathing. Finally, I couldn't stand it and said I wasn't ready for her to leave. I didn't know how to live without her. She was my best friend.
"She smiled and said when the time came, I had to let her go. She had a destiny to fulfill, just like I did and the next part of her destiny was in Spirit, or perhaps just another realm. But that time hadn't come yet because she still had things to teach me."
Hope couldn't share any more with the reporter, so she ended the story with, "So, we had her for a few more years, and I was grateful for every day she was with us."
"It sounds like you loved her very much."
"How could I not?" Hope used one of her mother's sayings.
"So, it's just you, Andy, and your mom, now?"
"Yes."
"And what about your father?"
"I never met him."
"Never?"
"Nope."
Ms. Keels stepped out of the dressing room and walked over to the full-length mirror. "Oh my. I love this."
"It's beautiful on you. Truly. The blues bring out your eyes, and the silver is an accent that matches the glistens in your hair which is very lovely and shiny."
"It's incredible. I'm going to buy this."
"That's great, I hope you'll enjoy wearing it."
"Oh, you know I will. But I want to try on more if you don't mind."
"Are you kidding? We love for people to enjoy wearing what we create. That's the magic of threads, things here make you feel like magic, as well."
"You're right and what a perfect name. Magic Threads." She gathered up an armload of items and disappeared back into the changing room.
Two hours later, with four shopping bags filled with clothing and a rather lengthy interview concluded, Amy Keels left Magic Threads, thrilled with her purchases and the story she planned to write about Hope and Andy and Magic Threads.
As she was leaving, all smiles and waves, Charli and Grady arrived. "Hi," Hope greeted them. "And wow, I rarely see you out of uniform. You actually got a day off during the week?"
"Just long enough for a checkup. Me and the peanut," Charli's hand went to her abdomen, bringing a question to Hope's mind. Did every pregnant mother subconsciously put her hand over her baby whenever the child was mentioned?
"And?"
"And mama and baby are A-ok," she said and smiled.
"Wonderful. So what brings you in this morning?"
"This." Grady pulled out his phone and accessed something on it before turning it to show her the screen. "This text is from Judson Blackstone. His family is responsible for the camp Andy will be attending."
Hope read the text.
I'm coming down next week to talk to Mr. Walker about a horse he's selling, and Brady wants us to take a look at one of their bulls, so we thought we'd fly down for the day, look at the animals, have some of that barbecue the Sweet's dish up at the Honky Tonk and head on back.
Since it's just days away from the start of the Camp we're hosting, I thought maybe we should offer the kid from Texas and his mom a ride. It'll give them a couple of extra days.
Grace, Dad's wife, and her friend Sadie wanted to tag along and spend the day looking around the town while we're at the Walker's place, and they're eager to meet Andy's mom and grandmother Seems Sadie has heard about her and her mother's magical clothing.
Anyway, ask Ms. Evans if she'd have time to show them her shop and maybe hang out with them for a bit, then join us for dinner – her and her family. We'll leave after dinner and head home.
Hope read the long text, looked at Grady, glanced at Charli, and basically wrung her hands, suddenly in the grip of nervousness.
"I—I…" She looked away for a moment. "Do you think I should accept?"
"Why not?" Charli answered. "Andy will love getting to go early, and it'll give you a chance to get to know Grace Blackstone and Sadie—"
"Three Rivers," Hope interrupted. "She's one of Mom's and my favorite authors. I'd be thrilled to meet her. Nervous but thrilled. I bet Mom would, too. But…"
"But what?" Charli asked.
"I don't know," Hope admitted. "I reckon I'm the scaredy cat in the family. I just keep having these feelings that once we do this, go to that place, nothing is ever going to be the same."
"As in it's going to be worse?"
"No. I mean I don't think so. Just different. I don't know how."
"That could mean it's going to be better," Grady pointed out.
"True." Hope told herself to stop being so scared. And so negative. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her son and she couldn't let herself ruin it for him.
"You're right." She made up her mind that from this moment on, she'd only allow positive thoughts about the trip. "So, yes, thank you very much for delivering the invitation and please extend my appreciation to the Blackstones.
"Also, please let Mrs. Blackstone and Sadie Three Rivers know that I will be honored to show them around town, and they're welcome to call this their base and come and go as they please."
"That's kind of you, Hope," Charli commented. "And I have a feeling you're right about this event changing things. You and Andy get to see a part of the country you've never seen. Andy gets to work on his cowboy skills and be around kids every bit as insightful and smart.
"And who knows, you might be like me and spot an oh-so-fine cowboy who will change your whole outlook on life."
"From your lips…" Hope looked skyward then smiled. "Thanks, Charli. You, too, Grady. I appreciate all your friendship and kindness."
"Just like we appreciate yours." He gave her a smile reminding her once again just how handsome he was. "The folks at the senior living center are still going on about all the warm lap blankets and shawls you and your mom created for them, not to mention the warm gloves you made. That was really kind of you."
"They're nice people," Hope replied, feeling a little shy about receiving such praise. She didn't do those things for attention, but because she liked the people at the senior center. Not all of them had family, and she wasn't about to let folks go unnoticed or unloved.
People deserved better. So, she knitted and crocheted, sewed and embroidered pretty items for them, little things that reminded them someone cared.
They all appreciated it, and even more so when Andy went with her. He was such a kind and loving child, and he always made the older folks smile if not outright laugh with his silly jokes and antics.
Just another reason she saw her son as someone extraordinary. His heart was as big as the Texas sky, and true through and through.
Because of that, and because she loved him more than life, she'd buck up, shove her insecurities in her sock, and go on this adventure with him, keeping a smile on her face and her thoughts focused on only the positive.
But sure as the world, there was a shift coming. Otherwise, this persistent feeling that everything was going to change would vanish. However, it seemed to be gaining strength rather than losing it, so she decided then and there that they best thing she could do, was pay attention and hope that whatever was to come would bring happiness.
She'd had enough of the other side of that coin to last her a lifetime and was determined to never let the ugliness of the past touch her son.
Not ever. No matter what.