Yarn to Go Read Online Free PDF Page B

the side.
    I had never paid much attention to the area behind the counter before. Now when I looked I was surprised to see a wall of dark wood pigeonholes with room numbers below each. It went along with the old-time atmosphere of the place, as did the actual keys that Kevin St. John was handing out. No plastic cards like most hotels used these days.
    “Can I have two keys?” Edie said. Of course she didn’t leave it at that but went on to explain how she always liked to keep one in her pocket, just in case.
    The manager just nodded and turned back to take the second key off the hook below one of the pigeonholes. He offered her directions to the building that housed her room as he handed it to her.
    “Don’t be silly, Kevin,” she said. “I know this place like the back of my hand.” I expected him to dismiss her and go on to Olivia, who had followed us to the counter, but he continued to talk to Edie. I’m sure dropping his voice was deliberate, and I only heard bits and pieces, but he said something about wanting to talk to her over the weekend since she’d been a regular at the retreats. He wanted her input for something he had planned.
    “I’d love to help,” she said, breaking in before he finished. And she definitely didn’t drop her voice. “It would be a shame for the retreats to end. You should take them over. I can give you a lot of information.” She glanced over her shoulder in my direction. “I’m sure she means well, but she certainly isn’t like Joan.”
    As if I didn’t know that already.
    But there was no time to feel bad, because there was a commotion at the door as a man came in. He was clutching a briefcase to his chest and trying to pull his suitcase through the door as it banged against it. Was he one of our retreaters? It didn’t seem likely. He looked like the definition of Mr. Businessman with his neatly trimmed light brown hair and blazer over nice slacks along with slip-on shoes with tassels. The pale yellow dress shirt and striped tie finished the look.
    Apparently Kris didn’t agree with my assessment and went right up to him. “You must be Scott Lipton,” she said in a friendly voice. When she held out her hand, he shrank back and then glanced around furtively. His cell phone began to ring. He dropped the briefcase and let go of the suitcase as he dove in his pocket for it. As he answered, he started to walk toward an empty corner of the large lobbylike room. I caught the beginning of his conversation as he passed.
    “Yes, I landed. I know it’s lousy that they’re having the sales meeting on the weekend. No, no, you shouldn’t jump on a plane and come up here.” There was more conversation, and he kept smoothing his hair with his hand with short, nervous strokes. Finally he hung up, and when he approached the registration desk, I introduced myself.
    “I thought someone named Joan was in charge,” he said, looking confused. Scott had been the one person I hadn’t called because there was no contact information for him. I got ready to explain about Joan again.
    Before I could start, Edie rushed toward him and threw her arms around him.
    “Scott, you’re here. Welcome.” She turned to the rest of us. “I’m the one who got Scott to sign up for this. I found him in the yarn department at the Super Yarn Store in Chatsworth. He has a problem and I knew this retreat would be just perfect for him.”
    Was it my imagination or was Scott wincing more and more as she continued? “I’m afraid she was mistaken,” Scott said. “I’m here, but I’m not really part of your group.” Edie opened her mouth, but Kris stepped in and shushed her.
    I heard a car door slam outside and a flurry of conversation. I couldn’t hear any words, just the tone, and it sounded like squabbling. The door opened and two women walked in, continuing to fuss. My immediate reaction was that they were related. They both had the same cascade of brown hair, had a similar lean body shape and