The Scarlet Thread Read Online Free PDF

so she could remove the wrapping. “Oh,” she said in wonder
    and excitement. “I think it’s a crazy quilt.” She unfolded it
    enough so that Sierra could take one end of it and then stood,
    spreading the folds to reveal the full pattern.
    It wasn’t a crazy quilt, but a picture quilt with squares made
    of hundreds of different scraps of cloth, each with a different
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    scene, each framed with an edging of brown, and all stitched together with vibrant scarlet thread. Each picture block was surrounded by a different stitch: blanket, crosses, herringbone,
    doves, fern, olive branches, feather, open cretan, fly, zigzag
    chain, wheatear and sheaf filling stitches, Portuguese border,
    and star eyelets.
    “It’s beautiful,” Sierra said, wishing she could have it.
    “If I’d known it was here, I would have had it cleaned and
    hung on the living room wall years ago,” her mother said.
    Sierra looked at the squares one by one. Along the top row was
    a homestead with a man, a woman, and three children. Two boys
    and a girl stood in the open space between the cabin and barn.
    The second square was bright with consuming flames. The third
    showed a baby in a manger, a young girl watching over him
    while darkness surrounded them both.
    The telephone rang downstairs. A second later, the portable
    phone rang from nearby. Sierra’s mother handed her the other
    end of the quilt and went to pick up the phone from the top of a
    box and answer it.
    “Yes, she’s here, Alex.”
    Sierra’s heart lurched. Hands trembling again, she folded the
    quilt while listening to her mother’s side of the conversation.
    “Yes, she told me. Yes, but that’s to be expected, Alex.” Her
    mother’s tone held no condemnation or disappointment. She was
    silent for a long moment, listening again. “I know that, Alex,” she
    said very gently, her voice husky with emotion, “and I’ve always
    been thankful. You don’t have to explain.” Another silence. “So
    soon,” her mother said, resigned. “How are your parents taking
    it? Oh. Well, I imagine it’s going to be a shock to them as well.”
    She smiled faintly. “Of course, Alex. You know I will. Let me
    know after you’ve spoken to them, and I’ll call.”
    Marianna cupped her hand over the receiver. “Alex wants to
    talk to you.”
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    Sierra wanted to say she didn’t want to talk to him but knew
    that would put her mother between them. She laid the folded
    quilt back over the trunk and crossed the attic to take the phone
    from her mother’s hand.
    “I’ll make us some coffee,” her mother said with a gentle smile.
    Sierra watched her go down the stairs, knowing her mother
    was allowing her privacy to speak with Alex. She felt a tangle of
    emotions, from relief to despair. Her mother hadn’t said one
    word to discourage Alex from his decision. Why not?
    “Yes?” she said into the receiver, her voice coming out thin
    and choked. She wanted to scream at him and could barely draw
    breath past the pain in her chest. Her throat was tight and dry.
    “I was worried about you.”
    “Were you?” Why should he worry about her just because he
    was ripping her life apart? Resentment filled her and hot tears
    welled again in her eyes.
    “You’re not saying much.”
    “What do you want me to say? That I’m happy?”
    He sighed. “I suppose that would be expecting too much, especially considering this is the biggest opportunity of my career.”
    She heard the tinge of disappointment and anger in his voice.
    What right had he to be angry with her after making a
    life-changing decision without so much as hinting it to her?
    “I’m sure the children will be thrilled to hear they’re being
    uprooted and torn away from their friends and family.”
    “We’re their family.”
    “What about Mom? What about your parents?”
    “We’re not moving to New York, Sierra.”
    “I guess you’re saving that for next year’s big