"Sure I can," she snarled. "Just like I could trust you to tell the truth to the cops." She wasn't letting Laurel forget that she'd taken the fall for her.
"All right," Laurel snapped and held up both hands. "Have it your way."
That was exactly what Alix intended.
CHAPTER 9
"We are all knitted together. Knitting keeps me connected to all the women who have made my life so rich."
- Ann Norling, designer
LYDIA HOFFMAN
A lthough I'd taught knitting for a number of years, I'd never worked with such an eclectic group as the women in my small beginners' class. They had absolutely nothing in common. The three of them sat stiffly at the table in the back of the store, not exchanging a word.
"Perhaps we should begin by introducing ourselves. Explain why you decided to join this class," I said and motioned for Jacqueline to start. She was the one I worried about the most. Jacqueline was clearly part of the country-club set, and her initial reaction to Alix had been poorly disguised shock. From the look she cast me, I was afraid she was ready to make an excuse and bolt for the door. I'm not sure what prompted her to stay, but I'm grateful she did.
"Hello," Jacqueline said in a well-modulated voice, nodding at the other two women who sat across from her. "My name is Jacqueline Donovan. My husband's architectural firm is responsible for the Blossom Street renovation. I wanted to learn how to knit because I'm about to become a grandmother for the first time."
Immediately Alix jerked her head up and stared at the older woman. "Your husband's the one behind this whole mess? You tell him to keep his hands off my apartment, understand?"
"How dare you speak to me in that tone of voice!"
The two women glared at one another. Alix was halfway out of her chair, and I had to admire Jacqueline, who didn't so much as flinch. I quickly turned to Carol. "Would you mind going next?" I asked and my voice must have betrayed my nervousness.
I'd come to know Carol a little; she'd been in the shop twice already and had bought yarn. I knew why she'd joined the class and hoped we could be friends.
"Yes, hi," Carol said, sounding as unsettled as I felt.
Alix continued to glare at Jacqueline but the older woman did a masterful job of ignoring her. I should have known something like this would happen, but felt powerless to stop it. Alix and Jacqueline were about as different as any two women could be.
"My name is Carol Girard and my husband and I are hoping for a child. I'm currently undergoing fertility treatments. I'm having an IVF attempt in July. The reason I'm in this class is that I want to knit a blanket for my yet-to-be-conceived baby."
I could see from Alix's face that she didn't understand the term.
"IVF refers to in vitro fertilization," Carol explained.
"I read a wonderful article about that in a recent issue of Newsweek magazine," Jacqueline said. "It's amazing what doctors can do these days."
"Yes, there are quite a few miracle drugs available now, but thus far Doug and I haven't received our miracle."
The look of longing on Carol's face was so intense, I yearned to put my hand on her shoulder.
"July is our last chance at the IVF process," she added. Carol bit down on her lower lip and I wondered if she knew how much of her anxiety she revealed.
"What do they do to you with this in vitro stuff?" Alix asked, leaning forward. She seemed genuinely interested.
"It's a rather long, drawn-out process," Carol said. "I'm not sure you want me to take class time to go though it all."
"Would you mind?" Alix asked, surprising me with her curiosity.
"By all means," Jacqueline chimed in, but I doubted that her interest was as sincere as Alix's seemed to be.
"Well," Carol said, clasping her hands on the table, "it all starts with drugs."
"Doesn't everything?" Alix laughed at her own joke, but no one else joined in.
"I was on this drug that stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs, and once the eggs appeared, they had to be harvested."
"Did it hurt?" Jacqueline asked.
"Only slightly, but all I had to do was think about a baby, and any discomfort was worth it. We both want to be parents so badly."
That much was obvious, and from what I'd seen of Carol I was sure she'd be a wonderful