“I know, morning comes early.” She locked the door behind them, and she and Gary turned off the lights as they made their way out the back door to where their car was parked.

* * *

MJ and Roxie met at the gate to the white picket fence the following morning. They let the dogs go through the normal doggy greeting before striding out to get their mile in. Both dogs trotted on ahead at the ends of their leashes, knowing full well where they were going.

“Talk about a perfect spring day.” MJ raised her face toward the sun. “What did Loren have to say about the meeting?”

“You know her, never does look too excited about something but she was trying to decide which project to get back to first. I said the most recent start, she figured the oldest one. She decided on the set of Christmas placemats because those are the closest to done.”

“I see. Ever practical. And she has how many to choose from?”

“Somewhere around ten, I guess.” Roxie tweaked Sir Charles’s leash. “Just because Looper gets sidetracked, you don’t have to.”

“The day I see ten again will be a miraculous day of celebration.” MJ heaved a sigh. “Come on, I am needing coffee more each second.”

Roxie suggested, “Let’s go the long way around so we don’t decide to head on home after Annie’s. In fact, perhaps we could stop by Mona’s quilt shop.”

“You’re not starting another project, are you?”

“I wouldn’t dare. I found a project I had tucked way back, a crib quilt for my niece’s first baby. She’s having her third baby in three months.” Roxie shrugged. “What can I say?”

MJ giggled. “Better late than never.”

At the quilt shop, Mona was displaying her new summer fabrics, gorgeous flower percales, and rich, swirling prints. While Roxie bought quilting thread and double-fold quilt binding, MJ stood with her eyes squeezed shut and her ears covered, going, “La la la la la la…”

Roxie took her purchase and change. “It’s safe now. We’re leaving.”

A bit later, after several more shoulder jerks, they panted their way into Annie’s.

“That bad, eh? Ready in a moment.” Anne greeted them with a commiserating smile and a rapping of the used espresso grounds on the edge of the container. “Hey, you still want the used grounds for your compost?”

“Of course. I’ll tell Daryl it’s time to pick up. Our roses love coffee grounds.”

“He doesn’t compost it all?” While she talked, Anne steamed the milk and poured the latte together, taking that extra moment to make a heart on the top of the full cup. “Here you go. Roxie, you have that pondering look. What’s your pleasure?”

“I think I’ll have mine iced. Getting hot out there.”

“Okay, you realize my phone’s been buzzing all morning?”

“About the meeting last night?” At Anne’s nod, MJ snorted. “My phone started at seven forty-five. If three-fourths of everyone who says they’re coming show up, we either need a bigger place or to have two groups.”