Page 88 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Faith
Having gathered one of the quilts, Ruby and Claudia held it up, displaying the red, white, and blue pattern. Maybelle and Rosie told the history of the organization, filling Zach with pride at being a member of the foundation Catherine Roberts had started after a dream where she’d seen a dejected soldier being wrapped in a quilt and finding comfort and healing.
Maybelle glanced toward their table. “Cliff, can you and Zach join us up front, please?” Then she turned toward where Isabelle sat. “Isabelle, you, too.”
Wondering at why he needed to be up front, Zach’s gaze immediately sought Isabelle. Her face had gone pale as she realized what Sophie had planned.
Sophie was going to wrap their father in a quilt to welcome him home.
*
No, Isabelle thought.Sophie wasn’t doing this to her. She wasn’t a part of Sophie’s quilting group. She didn’t need to be up front. Her sister had bride brain.
Isabelle must, too, because she made her way to the front. Avoiding looking toward her father or Zach, she kept her gaze focused on where Sophie and Cole held hands. But then Sophie was taking the microphone from the Butterflies.
“Isabelle,” she said. “Come stand beside me.”
Heat burned Isabelle’s face as she moved to where her sister indicated.Oh Sophie, what are you doing?
“All of you know that my father has just returned home,” Sophie addressed her guests. “Many of you wonder where he’s been. Where doesn’t matter. What matters is that he is here now, back in Pine Hill, where he belongs.”
Isabelle closed her eyes, then took a deep, steadying breath. As she opened her eyes, she realized her father, apparently feeling just as awkward, had done the same.
“Daddy,” her sister turned to him. “Today has been full of dreams come true. Every Quilts of Valor quilt I’ve ever made has been made with wrapping you in one filling my heart.”
Aunt Claudia and Ruby stepped forward, handing off the quilt to Sophie and allowing her to wrap the patriotic material around her father’s shoulders. “Thank you for your service. Welcome home, Daddy. We’re so glad you’re here.”
Hugs were exchanged. Her father mumbled words of gratitude and regret. Isabelle’s heart pounded so hard that dizziness threatened to steal her consciousness. Fortunately, before that happened, Sophie finished, and Isabelle readied to make a quick exit. She needed air.
“I want to thank the Butterflies for all their help. They made my gorgeous dress, you know. My sister’s, too.” Sophie gestured toward her, and more heat burned Isabelle’s cheeks. “I’d planned this presentation weeks ago, before I knew my father would be here, and I already had someone in mind and knew the exact quilt he needed wrapped within.”
Isabelle’s gaze went beyond her sister to where Rosie and Maybelle were bringing another quilt to the stage. The quilt that had been hanging in the shop when they’d closed Thursday evening.
“I know you’re a member of our great organization, but when I checked the database, I realized you’d never been presented a quilt of your own, Zach.”
Her sister was going to wrap Zach in the quilt that he’d admired so much, he’d bought Sarah the kit. Isabelle just wanted this day to end so she could go home and pour her woes out to Bobbin. Maybe the cat could help her reconcile everything that had happened. Or maybe not, she thought, as Sophie turned imploring eyes her way.
“Izzy, I need your help with this one.”
Isabelle gave her sister a what-are-you-doing look. “I’m not a member,” she reminded in a panicked whisper.
“Actually, you are. Merry Christmas a bit early.” Sophie took her hand as if she thought Isabelle might make a mad dash from the reception.
Good thinking, because that was exactly what she wanted to do. This wasn’t happening. Sophie gave a short spiel about Zach’s service, briefly mentioning his injuries that had ended his military career, then glanced toward where Maybelle and Rosie held the quilt. They moved closer, and Sophie took one end. “Izzy, take the other side, please.”
Not moving, Isabelle stared at the quilt.
“Please, Izzy.”
All her life’s frustrations accumulated in that moment. Her frustrations with her father. With Zach. With everything. Isabelle shook her head. She wasn’t doing this. Not even for Sophie. She shook her head again. Shock registered on her sister’s face, then Sophie turned to Zach. She and the Butterflies wrapped the quilt around him and welcomed him home.
Without a word to anyone, Isabelle walked off the stage and left the reception.
*
Stomach clenching, Zachglanced around the foyer, then, acting on gut instinct, headed out of the church. Where had Isabelle gone? She could have walked home, but he doubted it since she was too practical to have left her car parked at the church. Which left the quilt shop as the most likely place for her to have gone to get away for a few minutes.
Only, as he headed down the street, he paused. There she was, sitting on the bench and staring at the monument. The inscribed words ran through his mind. Goosebumps prickled his skin. What did those words mean to Isabelle? Was she thinking about the sacrifices her family had made? Not with their last breaths, but with their family unit? Her head bowed into her hands and her shoulders shook. Zach took off down the street, determined to get to her, determined to hold her until every tear had dried.
“Let me do this, son.” Surprised Cliff had caught him, that his grasp was as firm as it was, Zach paused, turning to look at the pale man who wore his quilt about his shoulders. “This is my mess.”
