Threads of Hope: Quilts of Love Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

half her scone and still the “family business” angle confused her. Daisy nevermentioned her father in any of their conversations, and all she ever said about her mother was that they had made peace with each other. She knew she didn’t have any siblings because they’d had the “only child” discussion soon after they met. And why didn’t Daisy call her? They didn’t spend too much time together outside of the magazine, but they did text and phone chat at least about office business. So, if Daisy wanted to contact her, she could. Nina checked for a text message, a voicemail. Nothing. She opened her laptop to check her email. Nothing from Daisy, but what she did see there could be a silver lining or another cloud in waiting.
    Elise had sent her another email. “Please see me as soon as you arrive this morning.”

5
    Nina stared at the email from Elise, then started to roll her chair back to tell Daisy. Only there was no Daisy. No Daisy to demand that she not focus on her unmanicured hands, go-to faux-wrap dress and overdue highlights. No Daisy to reassure her that every communication from Elise was not an invitation to disaster.
    She closed her email, checked her makeup using the mirror she kept in her top desk drawer, and wished praying did not seem like a foreign language. Too late to wish an Elise-summons didn’t go directly to her inner child—the one biting her nails as she sat by the telephone and listened as it didn’t ring.
    The office stirred around her, awakened from its overnight sleep by phones that rang like alarms, doors that yawned open, and desks that claimed their owners. Still, she hadn’t heard Janie’s voice, so if she just pushed herself into action now, she wouldn’t have to endure the knowing glances as the elevator doors closed.
    Nina walked up and found Shannon, the intern from the night before, at the elevator. She held two venti-sized Starbucks’ cups and wore a discombobulated expression. When shespotted Nina, she smiled as if she’d been rescued from a bad blind date.
    “Are you going up, too?” Shannon rolled her eyes. “Well, that was a stupid question. Why else would you be standing at the elevator. Right?” She looked at the cups in her hands. “Guess I should’ve bought a caffeine jolt for myself. But I couldn’t figure out how to juggle all that.”
    “Can I help you with one of those?” Nina stepped in the elevator first and pushed the button to keep the doors open.
    “Thanks. But if you could just press seven for me, I can handle these.”
    “Is one of those a skinny soy chai tea latte no foam?”
    “Actually, they both are,” Shannon answered.
    “So, you’re on your way to Elise’s office,” said Nina, ashamedly relieved that at least she wasn’t the person asked to make the coffee run before the visit.
    “Right again.” She held up one cup. “Elise.” The she hoisted the other. “Whoever orders for Elise. How did you know?”
    “She’s the only thing the 7th floor and chai tea have in common,” Nina said as the elevator doors opened. She nodded in Shannon’s direction. “Go ahead. I’m getting off here, too.” And she hoped not for the last time. “Wait. I can deliver those for you.”
    Shannon hesitated, and Nina imagined she weighed the awkwardness of being the coffee waitress against the possible payoff of being willing to serve. Not that she blamed her. “You know, maybe it’s better for you to bring them. I should stop by the bathroom first.”
    “Oh, okay. Then I’ll see you downstairs.” Shannon headed to Elise’s office, while Nina veered in the direction of the bathroom that she didn’t really need, but spared the intern from having to make a decision.

    “Shannon said you were on your way,” said Tammie, Elise’s assistant. “She’s expecting you.”
    “Thanks,” Nina said and smiled when she saw the Starbucks cup by Tammie’s keyboard. She wondered what came first, the order or the boss?
    Nina opened the door and