The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club - 02 - The Tattered Quilt Read Online Free PDF

finish that before your students arrive? It might help settle your nerves.”
    Emma took a seat and picked up the cup. “All right, I’ll try to relax.”
    “How many people did you say are signed up for this class?” Lamar questioned.
    “As of yesterday, only three—two women and one man.”
    Lamar rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Seems like the classes are getting smaller. We had only five people for our last class. Maybe folks aren’t as interested in quilting as they used to be. Maybe it’s time for us to retire.”
    Emma set her cup down so hard that some of the tea splashed out.
“Ach
, Lamar, I’m not ready to do that. I enjoy teaching others to quilt, and it doesn’t matter how many people are in the class. Besides, the smaller classes allow me to give more one-on-one attention to each person.”
    Lamar sat quietly, then patted Emma’s shoulder and said, “You teach them quite well, I might add.”
    Emma smiled. “I think my students get even more from the class when you help me, Lamar.”
    Sure hope I won’t let you down
, Lamar thought, staring at his stiff fingers. With the colder weather, his arthritis was acting up. It was one of the reasons he wanted to vacation in Florida—along with thinking it would be a nice break for both him and Emma. He’d purposely not told Emma about his pain and stiffness because he didn’t want her to worry or feel guilty about teaching another quilting class. He just hoped he could get through these next six weeks without letting on.

     
    “Are you certain your Amish friend won’t mind us dropping by unannounced?” Carmen asked as she climbed out of Paul’s minivan and spotted a large, white house at the end of the driveway.
    “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Paul said, stepping onto the porch. “Emma’s very hospitable, and Sophia and I have come by here many times when Emma didn’t expect us. We were always welcomed with open arms.”
    Carmen didn’t know why, but she felt a bit apprehensive. She’d conducted many interviews and never had a nervous stomach before—not even in her early days as a reporter. Today, however, she felt jittery.
    She glanced around the yard, and her gaze came to rest on a black, box-shaped buggy parked near the barn.
I wonder how it would feel to ride in one of them
, she mused. Carmen knew from the things she’d read that the horse and buggy were the Amish people’s primary mode of transportation.
    The
ba-a-a
of a goat drew Carmen’s attention to the other side of the yard, where a few goats frolicked in a pen. Nearby were several chickens pecking in the dirt, and just as Carmen and Paul stepped onto the porch, a fluffy white cat streaked across the yard, chasing a smaller orange-and-white cat.
    I can’t imagine what it would be like to live in this rustic-looking place
.
It’s a far cry from the fast pace of Los Angeles. It might be interesting to be here for a while, but I wonder how long it would take for me to become bored or restless with the solitude
.
    Carmen stepped to one side as Paul knocked on the door. A short time later, an elderly Amish man with a long gray beard greeted them. His green eyes sparkled as he shook Paul’s hand. “It’s good to see you. It’s been awhile.”
    Paul grinned widely. “It’s good to see you, too, Lamar.” He motioned to Carmen. “This is my sister-in-law, Carmen Lopez. She’s visiting from California. Carmen, this is Emma’s husband, Lamar Miller.”
    Carmen offered the man her best smile, while shaking his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Miller.”
    “Good to meet you, too, and please, call me Lamar.” He opened the door wider. “Come in and say hello to Emma. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you,” he said.
    “If you’re busy, we won’t stay long,” Paul was quick to say. “I just wanted you both to meet Carmen.”
    “We have a quilting class in an hour, but we can visit till then.” Lamar motioned them inside and led the way down the hall. They