Patterns of Change

Book 1: Ormond Beach

by Terri DuLong

Genres: Family Life; Sagas; Women's Fiction

Synopsis

A new town and a local knitting group help a woman at loose ends makes a fresh start in a Southern romance by the New York Times bestselling author. Chloe Radcliffe was ready to shake off the dust of Cedar Kay and sink her toes into the warm sands of Ormond Beach, Florida, with her soon-to-be husband. But when tragedy struck, she found herself alone, unraveled—and unsure of where to go next. But recurring dreams of a Victorian house with a beautiful fishpond convince Chloe to take a leap of faith and rent a condo in Ormond Beach on her own. There, Chloe makes fast friends with a group of knitters who gather at a local tea shop. She then discovers that they shop owner happens to have a house nearly identical to the one in Chloe’s dreams—and she’s willing to rent her the property. Just as Chloe begins casting on her grand plans for the home, her tangled past comes back to haunt her—but her dreams and newfound friends just might point her toward the love she’s been missing all along… Includes an original knitting pattern! “DuLong reminds me of a Southern Debbie Macomber but with a flair all her own.”—Karin Gillespie

Release date: November 24, 2015

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Print pages: 262

Sample

Sitting on Aunt Maude’s porch watching the April sun brighten the sky wasn’t where I thought I’d be ten months ago. Having experienced two major losses, I found myself still in the small fishing village of Cedar Key . . . and like the boats in the gulf, I was drifting with no sense of purpose or direction.

Life had proved to me once again that it can change in the blink of an eye. I certainly found that out four years ago when my husband, Parker, left me for a trophy wife. But eventually I pulled myself together and made my way from Savannah to this small town on the west coast of Florida. Straight to the shelter and love of my aunt. At the time, I’d been estranged from my sister, Grace, for many years, but eventually Grace and I renewed our bond and now we were closer than we’d ever been.

The ring tone on my cell phone began playing and I knew without looking at the caller ID that it was Gabe’s daughter, Isabelle—she was the only person who called me before eight in the morning.

“Hey,” I said. “How’re you doing?”

A deep sigh came across the line. “Okay. I just had another battle with Haley about going to school, but I managed to get her out the door. How about you?”

“Yeah, okay here too. Just finishing up my coffee and then I’ll be heading to the yarn shop to help out.”

I wasn’t even gainfully employed anymore because I’d given up my partnership with Dora in the local yarn shop when I thought I was relocating to the east coast of Florida . . . with Gabe. And now Gabe was gone.

Another sigh came across the line. “It’s funny. I didn’t see Dad all that much, but I knew he was there. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do. Sometimes I think we just take it for granted that those we love will always be with us.”

Losing Gabe in the blink of an eye was a heartbreaking reminder of the fact that life was indeed fragile. We had made great plans for a bright new future together. When he arrived in Cedar Key to spend the winter months, he had signed up to take some men’s knitting classes at the yarn shop. I knew immediately that I liked him, and the feeling was mutual. Eight months later we’d made a commitment to relocate together to Ormond Beach on the east coast. Gabe was also an expert knitter and we had put a deposit on a lovely home just outside the city limits, where he would tend to the alpacas we’d raise and we’d both run a yarn shop downtown. But that wasn’t to be.

“Exactly,” Isabelle said. “And poor Dad didn’t even make it to Philly to sell his condo. This might sound selfish, but if I had to lose him, I’m glad it happened right here at my house.” I heard a sniffle across the phone line. “At least I was with him at the end.”

We both were. Gabe had wanted to make a stop outside Atlanta on our way to Philly to visit his daughter and granddaughter. But on the third day of our stay, sitting on Isabelle’s patio after dinner, a grimace covered Gabe’s face, he clutched his chest and he was gone. I jumped up to perform CPR while Isabelle called 911 but by the time the paramedics arrived, it was too late. A massive coronary had claimed his life. Just like that.

“No, it’s not selfish at all,” I said. “I’m glad I was with him too.”

“We’ve both had a time of it, haven’t we? I lose Dad and then two months later, Roger decides he doesn’t love me anymore.”

It was actually the breakup of Isabelle’s marriage that had brought the two of us closer. While she had been civil to me when we’d first met the previous June, she had been a bit cool. I remembered how she had emphatically informed me that she wasn’t called Izzy or Belle. “It’s Isabelle,” she’d said.

I chalked it up to father-daughter jealousy on her part. Although she wasn’t at all close to her mother, who had taken off to Oregon years ago after her divorce from Gabe, I had a feeling that Isabelle didn’t want another woman in her father’s life. But when her husband up and left her, I was the first person she called. Sobbing on the phone, she related that she was experiencing the same thing that had happened to me—her husband had fallen out of love with her. Common troubles have a way of uniting women.

“Any further word on the divorce settlement?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s why I’m calling. It’s been decided that I will get the house. At least until Haley is eighteen, so that gives me five years to figure out what I’m doing. And when we sell it, we each get half.”

“That sounds fair enough.”

“Yeah, except that Haley is so unhappy here. Between the loss of her grandfather and her father leaving, it’s been a difficult time for her. And to make matters worse, things at school aren’t going well either.”

I knew Haley was a bright girl and a good student, so I was surprised to hear this. “What’s going on?”

“Well,” she said, and I heard hesitation in her tone. “In the ten months since you’ve seen her, Haley has really packed on some pounds. Unfortunately, I think she’s taking comfort in food. And you know how cruel kids can be. Especially thirteen-year-old girls.”

“Oh, no.” I didn’t know Haley well, but when I met her for the first time we immediately clicked. Unlike her mother, she didn’t display any frostiness toward me. Quite the opposite. She seemed to genuinely like me and I liked her. “What a shame. Gosh, I know kids have always been mean but today, from what I hear, they seem to have taken it to a new level.”

“You have no idea. Hey, how’s Basil doing?”

I smiled and glanced down at the twenty-pound dog sleeping inches from my foot. I guess you could say that Basil was my legacy from Gabe. I had gotten to know the dog well during the months that Gabe was on the island, and we had taken an instant liking to each other. When Gabe passed away, there was the question of what to do with Basil. Although I know that Haley would have loved to keep him, Isabelle had insisted that wasn’t possible and even hinted that perhaps he should go to the pound. That was when I stepped in and offered to give Basil a home. I think gratefulness has a lot to do with loyalty, because Basil hasn’t left my side since we flew back to Florida from Atlanta. Basil in his carrier, in the cabin with me, of course.

“Oh, he’s great. I’m so glad I took him. He’s a great little dog and sure keeps me company.”

“That’s good. Well, give him a pat from Haley and me. Any decision yet on what you’re doing? Do you think you’ll stay in Cedar Key?”

“I honestly don’t know, Isabelle. I’m no closer to a decision now than I was after Aunt Maude died two months ago. And Grace has been hinting that she and Lucas might want to move to Paris permanently.”

My sister had married a wonderful fellow four years before. Lucas owned the book café in town, but he was originally from Paris, and it was beginning to sound like he wanted to bring his family back to his roots in France. Which included my sister and three-year-old niece, Solange.

“Oh, gee, and where would that leave you? Would you put your aunt’s house up for sale?”

“I just don’t know. I think Grace is trying to go easy with me right now. She doesn’t want to add any more pressure, but it’s not fair of me to hold them back if that’s what they want. Besides, in this economy, property just isn’t selling on the island. My building downtown has been on the market for ten months.”

“Yeah, true. Well, listen, Chloe, I need to get going here. You take care and keep in touch.”

“Will do, and give Haley a hug from me.”

I disconnected and looked down at Basil, who had his head on his paws but was looking up at me with his sweet brown eyes.

“Well, fellow, time for us to get moving too.”

He jumped up, tail wagging, ready for whatever I suggested.

I headed into the house for a shower and breakfast before we opened the yarn shop at ten.

Dora and I took turns opening the shop, and today she wouldn’t be in till noon.

“Come on, Basil. Time for coffee first,” I said, unclipping his leash and heading to the coffeemaker.

Dora had her own dog, Oliver, who was now elderly and didn’t come to the shop with her anymore, so she was more than happy to have Basil with us during work hours. He was a good boy and enjoyed greeting customers, and I think he was a hit with them as well.

Very well mannered, he had just turned two years old. Gabe had gotten him as a puppy from a rescue group. His ancestry was of unknown origin, but he strongly resembled a cross between a Scottish terrier and a poodle. When designer dogs became popular and Gabe was questioned on Basil’s breed, he’d jokingly refer to him as a Scottiepoo.

I had just poured the water into the coffeemaker when the door chimes tinkled and I turned around to see Shelby Sullivan enter the shop.

“Hey, Shelby. Just in time for coffee. It’ll be ready shortly.”

“Great. I found a nice pattern to make Orli a sweater, so I need to get some yarn.”

Shelby Sullivan was a best-selling romance author, born and raised on Cedar Key, and an addicted knitter, especially when she was between novels.

“How’re Josie and Orli doing? I imagine they appreciate the sweaters to keep them warm in the Boston area.”

Shelby laughed as she fingered some yummy lavender alpaca yarn. “They’re doing great and they seem to have survived their first winter up there and all the snow. Although I’m told it’s not unusual to get some even in April.”

Shelby’s daughter, Josie Sullivan Cooper, had married the love of her life and the father of her daughter, Orli, the previous October. The wedding had been the event of the year on the island and thanks to Shelby’s expert guidance, it had been on par with many celebrity weddings. Josie’s husband, Grant, was an attorney in Boston and the three of them resided on the North Shore of the city.

“I saw on the national weather that the temps are still pretty chilly up there,” I said, handing her a mug of coffee. “I’m sure it’s quite a change from the tropical climate they’re used to.”

Shelby nodded. “Thanks. Yeah, but they both seem to love being in Boston and that’s what matters.”

I smiled as I recalled the control freak that Shelby used to be. But a scare with uterine cancer the year before had put life in perspective for her. She truly did seem to be less stressed and more understanding of Josie, allowing their mother-daughter relationship to strengthen.

“How about you?” she asked. “How are you doing?”

I let out a sigh. “I’m doing okay. As well as can be expected, I guess, but I’m beginning to feel like my life is on hold. In limbo.”

“Two major losses in your life within eight months will certainly do that. When the time is right, you’ll know which direction to take.”

“I hope so,” I said and took a sip of coffee. “I feel fortunate that we had Aunt Maude these extra years. We knew her heart was bad. The house is just so empty without her around.”

Shelby placed eight skeins of alpaca on the counter and patted my arm. “I’m sure it is. Maybe you should still consider going over to Ormond Beach. You know . . . something different. New beginnings and all that.”

“It just wouldn’t be the same without Gabe. All of our plans are gone.”

“Yes, they are, but that’s part of life. It constantly changes whether we want it to or not. Believe me, I found that out last year. But, Chloe, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Life is always full of surprises, and some of them can be quite wonderful. If we pay attention. Maybe you should go over there for a visit. Allow yourself to chill out and renew your energy.”

“Alone? You mean go to Ormond Beach alone?”

Shelby laughed. “First of all, you wouldn’t be alone. You’d have Basil with you. But yeah, find a nice place to stay for a while. No pressure. No commitments. I don’t think women do this nearly enough. It’s good to be alone sometimes. It allows us to reconnect with ourselves. Especially during times of change or confusion.”

“Hmm,” I said, slowly beginning to warm to the idea. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe a change is what I need for a while.”

“Give it some thought, Chloe. We just never know what’s around that next corner,” she said, passing me her credit card to pay for her purchase.

When Dora arrived at the shop, I could tell right away that something was wrong. Normally she was very chatty, but for the past hour she’d replied to my attempts at conversation with only brief answers. Although she was now in her late seventies, she’d always been in excellent health. However, I wondered if perhaps she wasn’t feeling well.

It had been another very slow afternoon. The weakness of the economy over the past few years had hit Cedar Key especially hard. Restaurants had closed. Some gift shops and galleries had either closed or cut back their hours. Even Lucas had said recently that sales were way down at both the bookshop and café.

When I had first moved to Cedar Key, restaurants and shops might close, but it wasn’t long before a new owner was taking over. That simply wasn’t happening now. And without choices for restaurants or shops, tourists were not as likely to visit either.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been very chatty today,” I heard Dora say.

I looked up from the yarn I’d been pricing. “Are you feeling okay?”

She let out a deep sigh. “Physically, yes. But I guess it’s time we have a talk.”

I nodded and walked over to the coffeemaker, where Dora had just filled two mugs, and we sat down.

“I’m not sure where to begin,” she said. “As you know, business has really slacked off during the past year.”

“Right. We’re not getting as many knitters from out of town.”

“Yes, and I know local knitters are finding it more difficult to afford the cost of good yarn. I bumped into Flora and Corabeth last week at Walmart. I’m not sure who was more embarrassed, me or them. They each had a basket filled with yarn. I think they felt disloyal not purchasing it from me, but hey, I certainly understand. They can get it much cheaper than our prices. And if it’s a toss-up between high-priced, quality yarn and putting food on the table . . . well, who can blame them?”

I nodded. “Yeah, Lucas pretty much said the same thing about books. He said at first he thought maybe people were buying ebooks simply as a matter of taste, but since the price of a print book can be much higher, he realized some of it has to do with the economy. With many ebooks either free or at such low prices, they become much more appealing to readers with financial problems.”

“Exactly.” Dora let out another sigh. “And so . . . I’ve been giving some serious thought to closing the shop.”

I wasn’t surprised, but to actually hear the words spoken out loud broke my heart. The yarn shop had initially been opened under the name of Spinning Forward by Dora’s niece, Sydney Webster. After a couple of years, Sydney had sold the shop to her daughter, Monica, who changed the name to Yarning Together. When Monica gave birth to triplets four years ago, the shop still remained in the family when Dora Foster fulfilled her dream and took over as owner. And now . . . it appeared that the demise of the shop was in the near future.

I reached over to give Dora’s hand a squeeze. “I’m so sorry. I know how much this shop has meant to you, and I love being a part of it.”

She nodded and I saw her gaze taking in the display tables of yarn, the cubbyholes along the wall filled with alpaca, cotton, and all the various fibers that knitters were drawn to.

“Yes, I have enjoyed every single day of owning this shop, but sometimes . . . we just have to let go. I think at my age I’m simply grateful for being given the chance to do something I’ve loved for the past four years.”

“Does Marin know yet?”

“I think she has a pretty good idea. I thought expanding the shop with needlepoint last year might help to boost sales but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I know Marin enjoyed running that part of the shop, but to be honest, I think she’d be fine with not working here, closing up her house, and permanently moving into Worth’s home in Ocala. With Fiona graduating from UF in June, she’ll be busy working at Shands as a nurse and being a mom to Andrea. Besides, I hear she and Greg are planning to be married in the fall. So Marin’s life is also changing, and I think she’s welcoming more time with Worth.”

“And what about you?” I asked. “What will you do?”

A smile crossed Dora’s face and she patted my hand. “Oh, Chloe, I’ll be just fine. I’ve lived here all of my life and I can’t see myself leaving. At least not permanently. All of my friends are here and even without a yarn shop, we’ll still meet at each other’s houses to knit and gossip. Just like we always did before the island had a yarn shop. It’s sad to lose this place, but I think it might be the best decision. Now, what about you? I know you’ve only been working part-time these past months, but . . . at least it was some income for you. So I feel bad about that.”

“No, no. Don’t be silly. I’ll be just fine too.” I managed to force a smile to my lips. But would I?

I had left Basil at home after lunch and when I returned at five he was eagerly waiting for me. We always had dogs when the boys were growing up, but they had been more family dogs, not just mine. Basil was different. He showed excitement when he saw me, followed me everywhere, and slept at the foot of my bed every night. He was my pal and my companion. Plus, he made Gabe seem a little bit closer.

“Hey, fella,” I said, bending down to give him a pat. “I think after the news of this afternoon, I’ve earned a glass of wine.”

That was another benefit of having Basil around: I didn’t feel foolish for talking out loud. I headed to the fridge, grabbed a wineglass, and poured some pinot grigio.

“Let’s go on the back porch so you can sniff around the yard.”

He dutifully followed me outside, ran over to a bush, and promptly lifted his leg.

I took a sip of wine and thought, Now what? I hadn’t been completely honest with Dora about my financial situation. I certainly wasn’t destitute, but I also wasn’t on Easy Street.

“Oh, that wine looks good.”

I looked up to see my sister and niece coming in the gate.

“Auntie Chloe, look what I painted at school today.”

Solange ran up the steps and handed me a piece of paper filled with bright colors, but I wasn’t able to discern exactly what the drawing was. “It’s gorgeous,” I told her, glancing up at Grace for assistance.

“Doesn’t she do a great job with scenery? I love the park and all the flowers.”

“Beautiful,” I said, still not able to see much beyond a splash of colors. “Help yourself to a glass of wine, Grace, and there’s lemonade in the fridge for Solange.”

My niece crawled up on my lap, still clutching her paper.

“So did you have a good day at school?” I asked her.

“Yeah, but it’s not big girl school. Mama says I can’t go there for three more years. That’s not fair, is it?”

I laughed and kissed the top of her head. Better she find out at a young age that life isn’t always fair.

“Here ya go,” Grace said, coming back out and passing a plastic glass to Solange. “Now be a good girl and let Mommy and Aunt Chloe have a chat.”

“Okay,” she said, jumping off my lap. “I’ll go play with Basil.”

A smile crossed my face. “Kids are so easily entertained and satisfied, aren’t they?”

Grace laughed. “Not always. What’s up? You’re looking a little glum.”

I took a sip of wine and nodded. “Well, I can’t say this was one of my better days. Dora had to give me the sad news that she’s going to be closing the yarn shop.”

“Oh, no. I’ve been hearing rumors to that effect. The economy and lack of sales?”

“Yup, and I think she’s been struggling to hold on for a while now. She finally made her decision and, actually, I think she’s comfortable with it.”

“What about you? Where does this leave you, Chloe?”

“Good question. I honestly don’t know. The pay wasn’t much, but it helped supplement my income. My building downtown has been on the market almost a year and zip. Nothing is really moving with real estate right now.”

“Yeah, Lucas is finding the same thing with the book café. He’s not losing money, but he’s not making much either. I guess the good thing for us is that he leases the space now. He was fortunate to sell the building last year to an investor.”

“I sure wish an investor would come along and buy mine. But I guess I’m lucky to at least be renting my apartment. The rental income is a plus, and I’m living here at Aunt Maude’s rent free. And of course I have the rent from Berkley for both her chocolate shop and her apartment. But it’s a scary situation for a woman alone in her early fifties. I was stupid enough to listen to Parker all the years I was married to him. Telling me I didn’t have to work. Financially, I didn’t, but here I am now with no pension to fall back on, no retirement fund. The smartest thing I did was take the divorce settlement money and put a hefty down payment on the building I purchased. At least my mortgage is low enough that I can handle it without fear of foreclosure like so many other people.”

Grace nodded. “That was a very smart decision on your part, but . . . you’re still not sure what you want to do long term, huh?”

I let out a deep sigh. “Not really. Although Shelby mentioned today that I should still consider going to Ormond Beach. At least for a visit. Alone.”

Grace swung around in her chair to face me. “Oh, Chloe, I think that’s a great idea. I know I suggested this to you at the beginning of the year, but then Aunt Maude died and it didn’t seem right bringing up the subject again. But I really do think a change would do you a lot of good.”

“Hmm, yeah, maybe. Just for a week or so.”

“Don’t be silly. Give yourself more time than that. You’ll just be getting used to the area and finding your way around when it’ll be time to come back. Who knows . . . you might find yourself loving the town and the people, and you’ll want to settle there permanently.”

I seriously doubted that would happen; then it hit me that Grace’s encouragement might not be all about me. “You and Lucas want to move to Par. . .