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"It is you!" Daht so and wished like crazy that she’d said sorade at Jackson Elementary? It took ht it rade school and she narrowed her eyes as she studied him "We were in the sarinning, "was that you sat next to Jih it was yesterday She’d given him a bloody nose and ended up in the principal’s office, and all because Ji to irls in the sixth grade had been agog over the preacher’s son--and now, apparently, Jordan had followed in his father’s footsteps He was a minister Damn, wouldn’t you know it?

"I had a valentine for you"

She stared up at him, overwhelmed by the memory of that fateful year--the year her ht it to school and you weren’t there and you never carade Valentine party, herheavily and then, inevitably, a fight had broken out Soon the police had arrived, followed by paramedics Her mother was led away in handcuffs and because there were no relatives to take them, Alix and her brother had been shuffled off to foster ho of the end of Alix’s family life, sad as it’d been Her mother had been sent to prison, and her father, once he was released fro contact with his children Soon she and Tom ards of the state With all the turmoil, Alix had never returned to Jackson Elementary…and the valentine Jordan clai closer "I ondering what you would’ve said if I’d asked you to be hed aloud Yeah, sure The daughter of drunks and the son of a preacher So to last

CHAPTER 17

"With a little practice and patience, our hands learn to knit, then our minds are free to enjoy the process"

--Bev Galeskas, Fiber Trends

LYDIA HOFFMAN

B usiness was beginning to pick up and I was pleased I’d sold out of ht I already had inners’ class was about to officially end I couldn’t believe six weeks had gone by so quickly I was thrilled that after five weeks, reed to extend the course Because each classon a different project now, except Alix, I suggested we turn Friday afternoons into a knitting support group That way, they could all bring in whatever they wanted to work on, and I’d be there to help thee of development Despite their differences, these three dissi Friends with each other and my friends, too

As for their skills as knitters, Carol’s the most adept and has started a felted hat project

Alix and Jacqueline still struggle with the basic stitches, but Alix has limited time to knit and Jacqueline--well, Jacqueline’s attitude bothers h she’s never spoken openly about her Jacqueline has started eyeing other projects now and is leaning toward the pricier yarns Alix paid for her yarn a little each week, which ance Still, the group simply wouldn’t be the same without her

Just when I was ready to close on Tuesday afternoon, I sawacross the street toward the shop She’d only come here once before, on my first day of business She’d taken such pride in forecasting financial disaster, but I refuse to allow her to get aret entered the store, I knew instantly that soloom or chastise aret, what is it?" I hurried toward her

"I--I…" She had trouble speaking and grabbedher to the back of the store where I had the table and chairs set up for aret shook her head I’ve never seen ine what had caused her distress or driven her to approachup at ure out the problem from that little bit of information I didn’t knoho Dr Abram was I wondered if Matt had fallen ill or been involved in some kind of accident Another possibility loomed and filled ht of so Dad terrified me

"No," she cried "This is about rabbed ain "It seems--it seems I have a lump in my breast" My sister stared up at me, eyes wide and fearful

I’ll admit I was shaken by this and sat down next to her The pressure on my hand increased when she realized I understood

"I’aret whispered

"This doesn’t , but it was difficult Margaret was thinking the sa I was I’d already been on inti C Moenetic flaw that randparents had died of it When I’d first been diagnosed, Mohly checked, as well Everything had seeram scheduled?"

"I…was just there… The technician wouldn’t tellShe said Dr Abram would have the results read Then he’d like to see aret, I’m so sorry What can I do to help?"

"I…don’t know I haven’t told anyone"

"Matt?"

She sighed heavily "I didn’t want to scare hiht to know"

"I’ll tell hi to report"

Her voice was cold, and I knew better than to argue My sister did things her oay and in her own tiood

"How did you feel when you found out you had cancer?" Margaret asked