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“Miss Laverne?” I called out.

“Up here, honey.”

I jogged up the steps to the bedroom she had converted into her quilting room. I was always assaulted by the rainbow of myriad colors strewn about whenever I entered her quilting domain. Today she was in the rocker in the corner doing some hand stitching.

“What are you working on?”

“Trenda asked me if I could work on something for her nephews, Holden and Zephyr. The boys don’t have grandparents on Aiden’s side of the family, and God knows that on the Avery side, Evie and Trenda’s parents aren’t worth a damn. Evie was telling Trenda how she felt bad that her sons didn’t have any grandparents, and Trenda asked me to step in.”

My heart melted. “Miss Laverne, that’s beautiful. Are they coming for a visit anytime soon?”

“Yes. Evie and Aiden are coming out here for a short vacation. Trenda is planning for a pool party at their house.”

I frowned. “Why not at Trenda and Simon’s house?”

“Aiden and Evie had a big house built outside of town. According to Trenda, it’s perfect for entertaining. Evie wanted it that way for her big family.”

“Is Piper going to be coming with them from California?” I asked, talking about the youngest Avery sister. I hadn’t seen her in years, and she used to be one of my closest friends.

“All of the Averys should be there. Even the oldest boy, Drake.”

I’d never met Drake, but I’d heard stories about him when I was growing up.

“This is Holden’s quilt. I’ve already finished Zephyr’s.” She held it up so I could see. Holden had a big tree pattern stitched in the middle with trains and trucks stitched around the edges. It was all done in shades of green. I picked up Zephyr’s, and his had a cloud with wind in the middle, and airplanes around the edges. His were all done in shades of blue.

“They’re going to love them.”

“Oh, I hope so.”

“They will,” I assured her.

I loved this woman. I’d seen some of her other quilts for the people she considered hers. Miss Laverne was part of the fabric of this town, pun intended. I wanted to be her when I grew up. Okay, I probably still wanted to be Little Grandma, but Miss Laverne was a close second.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“I had an orange this morning.”

“Why don’t I make you a little something while I’m baking?”

“Is Graham coming over for lunch?” Miss Laverne asked.

“No, he’s taking me out to lunch.”

“Oh yes, you told me that. You’re going to have brisket. This darn quilt has been taking up all the space in my brain. I’m trying to get it done in time for the party.”

“That sounds nice.”

“I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.” She smiled as she set aside the quilt and got up.

“What are you talking about? I’m not going,” I corrected her.

“What are you talking about? You’re my houseguest, and you’re going on a date with Graham. You’re a friend of Piper’s, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes,” I admitted.

“So, you’re going. Everybody’s going to be there.”

“But who’s going to watch the animals?”