Tainted Mind by Tamsen Schultz Page A

yourself. Even though it sounds like maybe you aren't, right now.” Vivi opened her mouth to make excuses, but her aunt kept talking. “Vivi, dear, you do what you need to do. If it's work, work. If it's driving all over the world, then go ahead and do that, even if it gives your uncle an ulcer. The shower is a shower. Kiera knows you're thinking of her. Of course, if you don't come for the christening, that might be a bit of an issue, since you're the godmother.”
    “I'll be there,” Vivi promised. And she would. There was no way she was going to miss her goddaughter's christening.
    “I know you will.” The certainty in her aunt's voice was comforting. Vivi may be on a different path right now, but her family still considered her family—still expected her to be family, as well.
    “Well, I'll be letting you go. But you be careful. I ran into Mary today and, though she swears that Windsor is the most beautiful, peaceful place, obviously it isn't, since they've had a murder.”
    Vivi promised to be careful and to stay in touch, then hung up. She made a few more calls, and by the time she finished the last, it was late and she was tired. She called Rob, and he sent someone to pick up the dishes. Once that was out of the way, she brushed her teeth and climbed into bed, wondering just what she was getting herself into.

    *   *   *

    Vivi, feeling agitated by either her fitful night of sleep or, more likely, a guilty conscience about not going to Kiera's shower, decided to spend the next morning doing something ‘normal’—shopping forher cousin's baby. She had already sent a gift, but still, she wanted to do more. And after perusing the stores on Main Street, she hit the quilt shop, searching for something unique to send and hoping that Kiera wouldn't see it for what it was, a guilt offering.
    “Ah, Rebecca,” a woman called as she opened the door. “I was wondering when you might come in for your fabric. Oh wait, I beg your pardon.” The woman stopped short a few feet away from Vivi. “I took you for one of my regulars. I apologize.”
    Vivi smiled at the stylishly-dressed woman in her sixties. “No problem. They say everyone has their doppelgänger somewhere in the world.”
    “That they do. I'm Julie, the owner. Can I help you with something?” She stepped forward and they shook hands.
    “Hi Julie, I'm Vivienne. Do you have baby quilts?” Vivi looked around and didn't know where to let her eyes land. The shop was filled with fabric and rows and rows of shelves with everything from needles to books to thread. Even the walls were covered to the ceiling with folded, hanging quilts.
    “To make or to buy?”
    “Definitely buy.” Vivi turned back to Julie.
    The woman smiled at Vivi's self-deprecating comment. “On this wall here,” she said, pointing to a line of quilts hanging along the back wall. “Most are locally made. But we do carry a few from Amish friends I have. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?”
    Vivi answered that it was a girl and Julie spent the next several minutes walking her through some of the quilts that might fit what she was looking for. Finally she settled on a soft-colored quilt of green and lavender.
    “I assume you want this wrapped?” Julie asked as they headed for the counter.
    “Please,” Vivi answered, looking around the store. “Have you been here long?” she asked, making conversation as Julie went about taking care of her purchase.
    “Yes, nearly forty years.”
    “Wow. And have you always had this shop?”
    “More or less. I opened it about thirty-six years ago.”
    “That's impressive—to keep a small business going so long. Is it hard in a town of this size?”
    “It has its ups and downs to be sure. The fall is always a big season for us. We get a little bump at Christmas and on the weekends when all the folks come up to their weekend homes. Though I have a string of regulars that kind of smooth things out for me. Not every business is so