Heart's Design: A Contemporary Christian Romance Read Online Free

other side of the rack. “One of our local ladies, Francie Todd, makes them. Her work is well-known across the region and she’s been written up in magazine articles all over the country.” She pointed to a framed article hanging on the wall behind the display. “Francie’s teaching her daughter, Hilary, to make them now. Passing the torch, if you will. From what I’ve seen, Hilary inherited Francie’s talent. That makes a lot of the townspeople happy, believe you me.”
    “This one is gorgeous. What’s the design called?” Caroline traced her hand lightly over the design before thinking better of it and withdrawing her hand. This was a work of art, to be treasured, and she could have oils on her hands. Even more than the one-of-a-kind sculptures and expensive comforter on her bed at home, this quilt represented countless hours of love and dedication. How could you put a price on something like this? Caroline didn’t bother glancing at the price tag. Whatever the price, it would be well worth the cost.
    “You can touch it if you want, dear,” Clara said with an understanding smile. “I only worry about the youngsters who come running in here with ice cream cones from Barron’s down the street. Then I watch over them like a hawk. Sometimes parents don’t always watch over their little ones the way they should. The design in this quilt is the double wedding ring. The girl getting married this weekend—the daughter of the Landons—has had her eye on it for a while now. I’d love to buy it for Liesel myself, but I just can’t spend that kind of money no matter how much I love that girl. I’m thinking of getting some people rounded up to pitch in and give it to Liesel and Paul for their first wedding anniversary.”
    For a few seconds, Caroline considered purchasing the quilt for the so-called “hope” chest her mother started for her years ago. She hadn’t looked inside that chest in forever and couldn’t remember what was stored there. Knowing her mother’s high-priced and impractical choices, they were probably pretty things she’d never use. She wondered if Eleanor would appreciate the value in one of the handmade quilts.
    After talking with Clara for a few minutes, Caroline turned to leave. “I’d better join my friends so we can go find out if Landon’s has a vacancy.”
    Clara nodded to where Paulina and Kat still occupied the park bench. “Looks like they’ve made friends with Humphrey. Have a great time in Evergreen, honey. Real nice to meet you. Stop in and see me again if you have time.”
    “I’d like that. Thanks again.”
    “You enjoy getting to know Clara?” Kat asked as Caroline stepped outside the store. “You looked like you fit right in.”
    “She’s a nice woman.” She’d learned that Clara was a recent widow with five children, two girls and three boys, all scattered in New England but they visited often. Eight grandchildren with two more on the way. Two-year-old Lacey woke up with the croup this morning and Ben was a star player on his Little League team.
    As they walked farther down the street, they passed Barron’s—the ice cream shop Clara had mentioned—a couple of outdoor cafés, and a number of specialty boutiques for ladies and children’s apparel. For the men, there was a sporting goods store, but it looked like most of their customers were sitting in lawn chairs lined up along the front window.
    The sun had risen higher in the sky and the townspeople called out greetings to one another while tourists leisurely strolled up and down the streets. The tantalizing aromas from a small candy store lured the girls inside where Caroline indulged in a sample and then bought a small brick of maple fudge. “Made from pure Vermont maple,” the owner told her as he rang up the sale. “Doesn’t get much better, or richer, than that.”
    “This place is just too cute for words,” Kat observed as a young couple jogged by pushing a stroller with boy and girl twins. A