A Spicy Secret by D. Savannah George

“Anything to help the Hook and Needle Club, not to mention promote the young talent in our town.”
    “Thank you. Kate will be thrilled,” she said. “But I still can’t figure out why everyone in town always thinks that I’m the only person who comes up with and does good deeds. Our little town is chock-a-block full of wonderful, giving people.”
    “Well, you always seem to get things organized and people …” he started to reply.
    “Here you go, Mr. Mayor, Annie,” Peggy interrupted. “Enjoy your meal.”
    “Wow, Marie’s fast today,” Ian said.
    “Your ham-and-cheese sandwich proved quite a challenge for her, but she managed to get it made,” Peggy said in a rare display of sarcasm. “Annie, here’s your tomato soup. I got you some cheesy bread instead of plain garlic. Let me know if you two need anything else.”
    After she had gone on to the next customer, Ian leaned over and said softly, “Guess Peggy has forgiven me for getting in her way—my lunch seems safely ensconced on my plate.”
    “I guess so,” Annie laughed. “Lucky for you, Peggy isn’t one to hold a grudge.”
    They were quiet for a minute as they started eating, and then Annie told him all about Blanket Haiti.
    “That’s got to be the Hook and Needle Club’s most ambitious project to date,” he said, polishing off his sandwich and the last of the chips. “Think you ladies will be able to pull it off?”
    Annie groaned as she wiped the last bit of soup up with a piece of bread. “Well, we’ve got a few months, but I sure hope so. I’d hate to see Kate’s face if we failed. It practically glowed while she told us about it.”
    Ian smiled. “I can only imagine.”
    “Oh!” Annie sat up straight so suddenly her knees knocked the underside of the table. The salt and pepper shakers fell over, and all the dishes rattled.
    “Goodness, now you’re gonna get us kicked out of here,” Ian said. “Whatever is the matter?”
    “Nothing’s the matter. I just had a brilliant idea! Why don’t you knit a blanket or two for the project? I know your mother taught you how to knit; Mary Beth told me so on our trip to the needle-art conference in Texas. She said you knitted a sweater for Tartan. You could be a temporary member of the Hook and Needle Club!”
    “Me? Annie, I hardly think …”
    “Yes, you! Or I can teach you to crochet. Oh, that would be great! There are tons of simple stitches you can learn, and I’m told I’m a pretty good teacher.”
    “I’m sure you are,” he said, a twinkle in his eye. “But I don’t know if it would be a good idea.”
    Peggy dropped off the check, picked up their empty plates, and asked if they wanted any coffee.
    “Yes please, I’d love some,” Annie replied. “Hey, don’t you think it would be a great idea for Ian to participate in our project and learn to crochet?”
    Peggy actually smiled at Ian and said, “That would be fabulous! You’d be welcome to attend our Hook and Needle Club meetings, and we’d all be glad to help if you got stuck.”
    “Well, I don’t know …,” he said.
    “Aw, come on, Mr. Mayor,” she said. “If you agree to help, the rest of the town will feel like they should too! Think of the great publicity it would be!”
    “Yes, Ian, think of the publicity!” Annie gushed. “I’m sure Mike would love to put a picture of you crocheting on the front page of The Point . I bet we could get something in the Maine Sunday Telegram and the Portland Press Herald. Maybe even a TV station would talk about our project! And of course, they’d talk about Stony Point too.”
    Ian threw his hands up in the air, mimicking a suspect who’s been caught red-handed. “OK, I surrender! I’ll learn to crochet and attempt to make a blanket to donate.”
    “Hooray!” Peggy said, leaning down to give him a hug. “I’ll be right back with your coffees, and I’ll have Marie make that club sandwich for you, Annie.”
    “So,” Annie smiled smugly at Ian, “when