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sighed. “That’s the worst part. His wife has heart problems, and he’s got to have money for all her medical expenses. No—I just have to face facts. Unless something happens, and that does not mean all of you bankrupting yourselves buying things here that you don’t really need, then I’ll have to close up.”
    Stella reached over and squeezed her hand. “I wish there was something I could do, dear. Mr. Brickson left me fairly well off, but most of what I have is in annuities and trusts. I couldn’t lay my hands on enough cash at one time to really make much difference at this point.”
    “When do you have to give Mr. Huggins your answer?” Alice asked.
    “I have till the end of next month to let him know.”
    “I thought you had some money put aside for times like this,” Gwen said. “I know my husband advises you at the bank—not that he gives me details about any of his clients of course.”
    “I guess I should have listened to him when he told me to make safe, long-term investments. But I had a ‘sure thing’ awhile back and lost quite a bit of my savings. Now here I am.”
    “I was afraid that was what happened,” Kate said. “I’m so sorry, Mary Beth. And I’m sorry for being such a blabbermouth.”
    “You’re not a blabbermouth.” Mary Beth reached across the circle to squeeze Kate’s hand. “And thank you for worrying about me. Thanks, all of you, but you can stop now. I’ll be fine. God knows what He’s doing. If He wants me here, then He’ll show me that. If not, I just have to believe He has something new for me to do. Now let’s all get to work, or I’ll have to change our name from the Hook and Needle Club to the ‘Everybody Worry About Mary Beth Club.’”
    ****
    “We’re not really going to forget about helping Mary Beth, are we?” Alice asked as she and Annie walked back to their cars after the meeting was over.
    “Of course we’re not. And we’re also not going to let this Burly Boy thing ruin the atmosphere of downtown Stony Point. I can’t believe Ian would let that happen.”
    “There’s big money behind that franchise, money Stony Point could use for a lot of good things.”
    Annie stopped in her tracks. “You’re not saying you’re behind this, are you?”
    “Of course not. But nothing has happened yet. All we have to do is figure out how to keep A Stitch in Time right where it is, and there won’t be any Burly Boy.”
    “I suppose you’re right.” Annie scowled. “That doesn’t make me any happier with our local government.”
    Alice laughed. “Just remember, they have tough decisions to make too. Don’t snap Ian’s head off next time you see him.”
    “Somebody mention my name?”
    Alice and Annie both turned. Ian was leaning his tall, rugged frame against a lamp post, his smile crinkling the corners of his dark brown eyes.
    Annie had to press her lips together hard to keep from doing just what Alice had warned her against.
    “Hello, Ian,” Alice said. “How’s the lumber mill these days?”
    He winced just a little. “Staying afloat.”
    “I guess times are hard for everybody,” Annie said coolly. “Obviously you know about Mr. Huggins having to sell the Bijou Theater and the building that houses A Stitch in Time.”
    Ian straightened away from the lamp post. “I do, in fact. It’s part of my job.”
    Feeling the heat rise in her face, Annie put her hands on her hips. “Is it also part of your job, Mr. Mayor, to sell out Stony Point to the highest bidder?”
    Ian smiled and put his hands up, warding her off. “Whoa there. I’m the mayor, not the town council. There’s only so much I can do on my own.”
    “But a Burly Boy? Really, Ian?”
    “Don’t be so upset, Annie. It’s not a done deal yet. Not by a longshot.”
    “That’s what I told her,” Alice put in.
    “I’m just sorry to hear Mary Beth is having a bad time,” Ian said. “If she could stay in her building, then Burly Boy would have to go somewhere else.