Read Casting About for Free Online

across the table to take my hand. “Monica, listen to me. First of all, nobody gets a set of instructions, even when they birth their own babies. It’s trial and error. You do the best you can and you learn from your mistakes. But you cannot put the entire burden on Adam. You’ll be spending a lot of time alone with her. She has to know you and Adam are on the same page. You have to show a united front when it comes to discipline.”
    â€œYeah, you’re probably right. God, it’s so incredible how one’s life can change in a heartbeat.”
    â€œDon’t I just know that,” she said and I got the feeling she was probably recalling the day she found out that my mother and I were related to her. “Have you inquired about a bank loan yet?”
    I shook my head. “Not yet, but our inventory is pretty high and I think we’ll be all right for a while. I’m just concerned, though. I hope I don’t lose too much income without the mail orders for the spinning.”
    â€œWell, then…you’ll just have to get a little creative with other ways to increase your sales.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know…. Have you considered doing knitting classes? I don’t mean the weekly get-together. I mean actually offering various classes and advertising this fact, and of course, you’ll charge for this. You could offer various ones—ones for adult knitters, maybe one to teach young girls to knit. Do you know if Clarissa Jo knits?”
    That was only one of the many things I didn’t know about Adam’s daughter. “I don’t have a clue.”
    â€œWell, it might be nice to have a class with girls in that age group. And even something for mothers and daughters. And you could keep them theme oriented. In other words, in August or September you could be doing a class to make a Christmas ornament or stocking and then in the spring, maybe a lightweight cotton scarf.”
    â€œYou’re full of great ideas,” I told her.
    Dora laughed. “Just don’t worry about it. We’ll certainly put our two heads together and come up with projects to keep the sales coming.”
    I prayed Dora knew what she was talking about.

5
    O n Tuesday I returned home from the yarn shop at 2:00, made myself a quick salad with tea, and launched into turning the sterile bedroom into a little girl’s delight. Aunt Dora and I had shopped for hours and we came home loaded down with all kinds of items for a child. I had to admit, I was excited about transforming the bedroom into something more appealing for an eight-year-old.
    Just as I was about to unload the bags and get to work, Grace called.
    â€œNeed some help, Mary Poppins?”
    I laughed. “Sure, come on over. But be sure to bring me a double latte. I have my work cut out for me and need the energy.”
    â€œBe there within a half hour,” she told me.
    When she arrived, I had a few quick sips of coffee and we set to work. Pulling throw rugs, towels, sheets, stuffed toys, and assorted items from the bags, we got to laughing so hard that it struck me that this was what Christmas morning with siblings might have felt like.
    â€œThese are adorable,” Grace said, holding up sets of sheets with Disney characters all over them.
    â€œYeah, I thought I’d go with the primary colors of the Disney theme. It’ll brighten up the room a bit.” Pulling out a pink stuffed angora kitten, I held it up. “Think she’ll like this?”
    Grace nodded. “Perfect to put on the bed.”
    â€œAnd I got a few stuffed dogs to go with it,” I said, continuing to dig into more bags.
    A couple of hours later, we stood back and surveyed our work. Sheets were on the beds, stuffed animals arranged, towels with ballerinas hung in the bathroom, throw rugs in place.
    â€œNot bad,” I said.
    Reaching into the last bag, Grace pulled out wallpaper border.