A Wild Goose Chase Christmas: Quilts of Love Series by Jennifer Allee Page B

abscond with her bag of fries.
    Izzy took a bite of her burger. She chewed slowly, savoring not just the food but the silence around her. One of the things she loved most about this house was its sense of calm and peace. She used to think it came from Gran, but even after Gran moved into Vibrant Vistas the serene atmosphere remained. How long would it last once Janice Fontaine moved in?
    Izzy swallowed and the once delicious mouthful hit the bottom of her stomach like a rock. She forced herself to finish half the burger and nibble on a few fries but her appetite had been mostly chased away by the thought of how her life was about to change.
    She tossed a fry to Bogie, who seemed to catch, chew, and swallow it all in one motion. Then she crumpled the bag around the remaining food, took it in the kitchen, and tossed it in the trash. What would Mom say when she got here? She hadn’t been to the house since last Thanksgiving. Walking back to the living room, Izzy took in the curio cabinet of knickknacks, the pictures on the walls, and the furniture that had been in the family for generations. All of it would be a daily reminder to her mother that Gran had chosen to hand down the house to Izzy.
    This was not a good situation.
    Flopping down on the couch, Izzy looked at the dog. “Brace yourself. My mother is moving in with us for a few months.”
    If they were living in a sitcom, Bogie would have jumped from the couch and dashed from the room. At the very least, he would have stuck his head under a cushion. But since it wasreal life, he yawned and lay down, completely uninterested in anything she had to say now that the food had disappeared.
    “I wish I could be so relaxed.”
    What she really wished, more than anything, was that Gran was still with her. But Gran was gone, and she’d left a bunch of questions and cryptic gifts in her place.
    Gifts .
    Izzy got to her feet, teetered for a moment, and then headed for the bedroom. There it was on her nightstand, the box Pastor Quaid had given her.
    “What other surprises have you got for me, Gran?”
    Sitting cross-legged on her mattress, Izzy undid the twine bow and lifted the top off the box. There was a note inside. She put the box on her pillow, unfolded the paper, and began to read.
    My sweet Isabella,
    If you’re reading this now, that means I’m gone.
    Izzy couldn’t help but laugh. It was the same line she’d started the other note with. Gran must have stolen it from a movie or book in which a dying woman left gifts behind for her loved ones. Admonishing herself to be serious, she kept reading.
    Very soon, you’ll be contacted by Virgil, a dear friend of mine. He has a very special gift for you. I trust Virgil implicitly, and you can too.
    Obviously, Gran underestimated how seriously Virgil took his position as guardian of the quilt and expected Pastor Quaid to get to Izzy first.
    Your mother and brother will want to see my will, but there isn’t one. I did that on purpose. Initially, this will cause contention, but my hope is that, in the long run, it will bring our family back together. But it can only happen if you are the peacemaker. Isabella,you are stronger than you know, and God’s love abides in you. No matter how difficult things get, you are never alone.
    You may wonder why I’m being so mysterious. Let me just say that some things are better learned than told. Some truths mean more when they are lived than explained. Live the truth, Isabella, and it will lead you to a treasure greater than anything you could imagine.
    She signed it, All my love, Gran .
    Izzy sniffed and wiped the tears from her cheeks with the cuff of her sweatshirt. Where were Max and his handkerchiefs when she needed them?
    The clicking of toenails announced that Bogie was coming into the room. He stood at her feet, head cocked to one side, eyes gazing up at her. The four-poster bed was too high for him to jump onto by himself, so she reached down and scooped him up with her free