A Wild Goose Chase Christmas: Quilts of Love Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

favorite, without a doubt. Izzy had gotten to the point where she usually didn’t let it bother her. But today was different. Today, the three of them were together because Gran had died. Izzy had been Gran’s favorite, and vice versa. Watching her mother and brother interacting, knowing that Gran was gone, Izzy felt more alone than ever.
    Brandon pulled away from their mother and put his arm around Izzy’s shoulders. “How are you holding up, Tiny Dancer?”
    The childhood nickname brought a smile to her lips. He hadn’t called her that in years. “I’m OK. I miss her, though.”
    Janice smoothed down the front of her skirt. “Of course you do. We all do.” She looked at the office door. “Now that we’re all here, let’s go in.”
    She took one step and wobbled on the uneven pavement. Brandon rushed forward and offered his arm. Izzy shook her head as she walked behind them. Why Janice insisted on wearing those ridiculous heels was beyond her. They had to be five inches, at least.
    “Are those new shoes, Mom?” She knew better than to prod her mother, but she couldn’t stop herself.
    “Yes. And before you tell me I’m too old for shoes like this, don’t. Do you know who I sold a pair of these to just yesterday?”
    “Someone important, I’m sure.”
    Janice sniffed. “Only if you consider Meryl Streep important.”
    “Seriously?” Izzy asked. “Meryl Streep walked into your store?”
    “Don’t be silly,” Janice said with a wave of her hand. “Meryl doesn’t do her own shopping. But her assistant came in and bought a pair.”
    “Huh.” The more Izzy heard, the less she thought her mother had all the facts. “So she came right out and told you she was Meryl Streep’s assistant?”
    “No. But when she bought them, she said, ‘Meryl will love these’.”
    Brandon chuckled. “You know, there are other women in the world named Meryl.”
    Janice shook her head. “Not in Hollywood.”
    Izzy opened her mouth to argue that it was much more likely the assistant to someone named Meryl just needed a new pair of shoes for herself. But the look Brandon gave over his shoulder shut her down. He was right. Janice considered it a point of pride that, although she hadn’t made it in Hollywood as an actress, she at least worked at an upscale boutique that catered to actresses. And their assistants. It would be a waste of time to point out that she spent entirely too much of her paycheck trying to emulate women thirty years her junior.
    Thanks to her own sensible tennis shoes, Izzy jogged ahead of her mother and brother, grabbed the office door, and held it open for them. Since it was after regular office hours, Pastor Quaid greeted them by his secretary’s desk.
    “Izzy, so good to see you.” He opened his beefy arms and she walked into his welcome bear hug. “How are you holding up?”
    So much better now, she thought. “I’m good. Happy for Gran; sad for me.”
    He stepped back and smiled down at her. “Of course. This entire congregation feels her absence.” He turned to Izzy’s mother. “You must be Isabella’s daughter.”
    She removed her sunglasses and held out her hand. “Janice.”
    “So nice to meet you, Janice.” He grabbed her hand and pumped it in both of his. “I feel like I already know you. Isabella talked about you all the time.”
    A brief look of shock flitted across her eyes, one corner of her mouth lifting in a half-smile. “She did?”
    “Yes. And I’d know you anywhere. You certainly take after your mother.”
    Izzy cringed as her mother yanked her hand away, not at all happy to be told she resembled an eighty-seven-year-olddead woman. Poor Pastor Quaid. He’d been doing so well up to that point.
    “Pastor.” Izzy spoke up, hoping to diffuse the tension. “This is my brother, Brandon.”
    He and Brandon shook hands and exchanged pleasantries without incident. Then Pastor Quaid turned back to Izzy. “If you’re ready, we can go back to my office and talk about