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off to the attic in search of Loretta Mae. I left him to it, so I could get started on Delta’s apron. I plowed through the armoire in the sitting room, looking for the other specific pieces of organza and silk I had envisioned. Once I found them, I sketched out a rough pattern and went to work cutting the underskirt out of muslin. Next I cut the ties from a denim blue silk organza and the waistband out of a pale-rose-colored silk dupioni. I used another polyester organza, this time in cream, for the bottom ruffle, a subdued pink silk chiffon for the top ruffle, and finally, a pop of blue tulle for the center ruffle.
    I marked each center point, hemmed each piece of fabric, and layered and pleated as I put them all together. Once the waistband and ties were added, I went on to the finishing touches to add some charm and whimsy. I attached puffy little rosettes at the waist, as well as putting them in a few strategic points on the front where the top layer of taffeta would be gathered and secured with a round puff of fabric with a hole in the middle. These yo-yos, placed every six inches along the lower edge of the taffeta layer, gave theruffle a scalloped edge. The heart-shaped pewter button at the hemline was the final accent.
    By the time it was finished, the apron was gorgeous. A showstopper, which was just what Delta wanted. If only my charm allowed me to sew something specific into the garments I made, weaving in a little compassion, or stitching in a little joy. From what I’d seen, Delta seemed preoccupied and a touch unhappy. But changing something specific wasn’t my charm. Once she wore the apron, her greatest wish would come true. I just hoped Delta wanted something honorable.
    Will had long since said good-bye, lightly kissing my lips. “Did you find Meemaw?” I’d asked when he was on his way out a couple hours back.
    He’d nodded, that crooked grin showing up again, for all the world looking like he was up to no good. “Can’t really talk to her, you know. I think she wanted my help fixing a squeaky drawer in one of the dressers. ’Course I could be wrong about that, since she disappeared again after a while. I did clean up the attic a little bit.”
    He was a hero. He’d accepted not only my charm (and Gracie’s), but also the fact that a ghost lived here. Not many men could come to terms with that. My own father hadn’t been able to, walking out the moment he’d discovered my mother had a little magic in her.
    By the time I placed the last stitch on Delta’s apron, it was nearly three in the morning. I could wait until morning to deliver it, or I could wrap it up and go put it on her doorstep. Finishing a project for someone was exciting. It always felt like Christmas morning when I’d discovered the perfect gift, which filled me with anticipation as I waited for the recipientto open it. I wanted Delta to see the apron first thing, so I decided to sneak over in the middle of the night when she was fast asleep. Patience was not my strong suit.
    I wrapped the apron in a sheet of textured ecru tissue paper, tying it with a rustic burlap ribbon. The temperature outside had finally dropped, so I threw on a BLISS CHOIR hoodie Gracie had left behind on her last visit, tucked my feet into my slippers, and headed next door. The house was completely dark—not surprising given the time of night. But the front porch, with its overhang, was especially black, and I hadn’t thought to bring a flashlight.
    It took me all of twenty seconds to drop the pretty bundle on the doormat and hightail it back home. I lay down, exhausted but satisfied. The apron was gorgeous, and I hoped it would help me turn over a new leaf with Delta. No more family feud. No more animosity. I wanted to see the side of her that her friends knew and loved.
    My little teacup pig, Earl Grey, was asleep in his bed beside mine, and I looked forward to nothing but six blissful hours of sleep ahead of me. The week ahead would be busy, but