Thread and Gone Read Online Free PDF Page B

Mother Twitchett had but one eye,
And a long tail which she let fly
And every time she went through a gap
A bit of her tail she left in a trap.
    Â 
    â€”Traditional English riddle/nursery rhyme

    My telephone woke me the next morning. “Gram?”
    â€œTom and I were thinking of you last night. How’d your dinner party go?”
    I sat up in bed. “Really well. Your advice on baking the salmon was perfect. How’s the honeymoon going?”
    â€œWe’ve been sightseeing, mostly. Been to a couple of wonderful museums. Now we’re checking antiques shops for Ouija boards Tom can add to his collection and local galleries and craft stores to find a perfect souvenir to bring home. Not that we’ll need anything to remember this trip! And we’re overindulging in French food. I may come home ten pounds heavier. I could become addicted to drinking a bowl of hot chocolate for breakfast, even in July.”
    â€œYum. Sounds great!”
    â€œWe’ll be home in a couple of days. Tom has to preach next Sunday.”
    â€œDon’t cut your trip short. Enjoy yourselves.”
    â€œDon’t worry. We are. Anything else new?”
    â€œOne thing. We have another piece of needlepoint to identify.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œTwo young people stopped in last night. Rob Trask, Ethan’s younger brother, and his fiancée.”
    â€œMary Clough?”
    â€œYou know her?” Silly question. Gram knew everyone in town.
    â€œI’ve known the Cloughs all my life. They’re one of the original Haven Harbor families. Mary’s the only one left in town now. Her parents died a couple of years ago and she moved in with the Currans to finish high school. You’ve met Jude, their oldest daughter.”
    Jude Curran. She was the girl Sarah had seen at the Harbor Haunts with Rob and Josh and Arvin.
    â€œShe’s one of the hairdressers at Maine Waves,” Gram continued. “She’s a couple of years older than Mary. Cos Curran is closer to Mary’s age. They’ve been best friends since they walked to elementary school together.”
    Now I was sure. Jude was the twentyish hairdresser with the curly red hair who always wore an orange coverall at the salon.
    â€œMary must be seventeen or eighteen by now, though,” Gram continued. “Near old enough to take ownership of the house she inherited.”
    â€œEighteen in September,” I said. “And planning to sell it.”
    â€œSell! Out of the family? That’s a big decision to make at eighteen. I’d heard she and Rob were engaged. She’s young, but maybe she’s looking for a new family. Someone to take care of her. The Trasks are good people. I hope she’s made the right choice. I don’t know why she and Rob wouldn’t live there, in her house. Rob still lives with his parents.”
    â€œThey want to sell her house so Rob can buy a lobster boat. They’re planning to get a smaller place to live in.”
    The silence on the other end of the line told me of Gram’s disapproval. “I hope she knows what she’s doing. With the history that house has . . .”
    â€œWhat about the history?” I asked. “Of the house, or the family? Knowing the history might help us identify the needlepoint Mary’s found.”
    â€œShe hasn’t told you?” Gram said. “I know young folks aren’t as interested in their heritage as they might be. But that family has a fascinating history, if my memory serves. You pay attention to anything she’s found in that house.” She paused. “My husband is telling me to get off the phone now. He’s actually found a list of galleries we haven’t visited yet, and he’s anxious to get started. I’ll fill you in on the Cloughs when I get home if you haven’t heard it all by then. Love you!”
    The history of the Clough house? If Mary wasn’t sure about it, who would