32. Zeth
Zeth
With Amby’s artistic eye and craftsmanship, combined with my tenacity and business acumen, our partnership was off to a solid start.
We boarded the window, discussed merchandise, and agreed to wallpaper the main shop walls to liven them up.
We even snuck in a few heated kisses before I escorted him out of the shop that evening.
That affection would have to hold me over until I saw him again. We left off with plans to meet for dinner tomorrow, and I couldn’t wait. Even more so since he gave me some money and detailed instructions for the wallpaper he wished me to shop for while he worked.
Doing as he asked gave me a thrill. Relationships were about give and take, and once Amby and I started being honest with our feelings, we got along so well.
Even better than old times. When I saw his sparkle of excitement, I was willing to do anything for him.
Now I was actually looking forward to the next week of preparation for the festival.
It was bound to go quickly, and I wanted to make Amby proud of me for completing his tasks while he earned us funds to do more.
I just wished there wasn’t a shadow over Amby whenever he mentioned his dad. That cloud would hang over him and our relationship until something was resolved between those two. Hopefully, it would resolve soon. I hated seeing Amby hurt by that silent rejection.
The sun was setting in gorgeous pinks and golds as I entered the tailor shop. Inside, the circular dais with the half circle of mirrors stood empty, and the blue-cushioned chair where Amby once lounged with his book was bereft of his flashing annoyance.
I strolled over to the chair and trailed a finger over the cool, wood trim, wishing Amby were sitting there and leaning back to glance at me with daring eyes. We just parted. How was I missing him this much already?
Glancing around, I found the dressing curtains all open and empty, so I called out, “Sassy Cat, where are you?”
I was rewarded with a deep sigh through the slightly ajar workroom door. Some rattling came next, and then Millie popped her curly head out of the gap with a squint that said she didn’t appreciate my interruption.
“What are you doing here?” she asked with less kindness than her wonderful big brother deserved.
I shrugged. “I thought you might enjoy my company for the walk home, and I also wanted to see what you’re making. I’m sure it’s magnificent.”
Millie stood up straighter in the doorway and gave me an odd look before opening the door wide enough for me to see through. A well-lit room housed tables, sewing machines, and barrels with bolts standing tall like pencils in a cup.
“See enough?” Millie teased. I didn’t know why she was acting so nervous, but she also appeared dashing in new pants that hugged her curves and paired well with her yellow blouse with rolled up sleeves.
“You didn’t leave the house in those,” I noted as I joined her at the door and pecked her cheek. “Are you trying to make the old biddies in town blush from your boldness?”
“No,” she grumbled. “But, is it a problem if I do?”
When we entered Everdeen, it would have been. Now… “Not at all. I want you to be yourself.”
I didn’t blame Millie for squinting at me like I had lost my mind.
I spent the last month harping about ladylike behavior.
It was surprising that she put up with me at all.
I needed to turn those habits around, or I didn’t deserve her in my life.
“Seriously, Mils, I like the pants on you. Your design is flattering.”
“Why are you being so nice?”
“Me? Nice?” I gasped with mock affront. “How dare you make such a dastardly accusation.” I grabbed her shoulders to spin her around and nudged her to walk as I followed. “Now, show me what else you’re making.”
“But it’s not ready.”
“Pish posh,” I replied, using her own words against her. No matter how poorly her sewing looked, I would make sure to praise it. “Ready or not, you’re trying a new skill, and that’s worth showing me. You can’t get better without trying.”
I thought my fancy saying was worthy of a pillow, but Millie grumbled and led me over to a smaller table by a back window.
There, a pile of black fabric puddled on the surface, and a basket of sewing notions sat at the foot of a chair.
When Millie lifted the black fabric, it unfolded to resemble a suit jacket.
It was… inside out. I was looking at the inner seams without lining. The basting work was neat and orderly, and brought back memories of when Memaw used to hem and alter clothes for customers.
Surely Millie didn’t have those skills. She always made me do the sewing at home. I took the jacket, holding it closer to see the rows of straight lines. “Are you tailoring?”
“Heavens no, Arthur does that. I’m learning how to design and pattern like Emiline. But do you see this?” she asked with growing excitement as she pointed to some neat stitches that attached reinforcement to the pockets. “I did that.”
“Oh… well done,” I enthusiastically praised, like I did over her ugly school projects when we were young.
Maybe one day I could do the same for the little rascals Amby and I hoped to raise.
If they were lucky, they’d learn from Amby’s excellent craftsmanship.
Aunt Millie could teach them too. What a thought.
“Try it on,” Emiline’s voice intruded.
I turned to see her and Arthur entering the workroom. Arthur made the space less spacious but all the more welcoming. They must have stepped out and just returned, and it struck me as nice that these two trusted Millie with their shop already. They even trusted her to sew on pockets.
I was going to ask Amby’s sister what she meant by trying something on when Millie turned her black jacket right-side out and handed it to me.
The cut and color reminded me strongly of the suit Amby picked out for me, the one he said looked swoon-worthy. I had decided to forego that one, and the loss to my wardrobe had been noticeable.
“Is this for me?” I asked Millie. It was probably a stupid question, but I wasn’t used to receiving gifts.
When she nodded, my heart swelled at her kindness.
At all of their kindness. Feeling grateful, I pulled out my handkerchief to dab at my eyes.
Then I let Millie help me into the new jacket.
Emiline watched with an approving grin while Arthur inclined his head and folded his thick arms over his apron.
It was only after I turned to find Millie staring at me with pride that I knew we both found a new place in our lives.
I couldn’t be happier that we returned to Everdeen.
Once dressed, they encouraged me to model it in the mirror.
I didn’t give a shit how the jacket looked.
They made it for me, and I loved the damn thing for that reason alone.
Regardless, I modeled the jacket on the dais.
As I rubbed a hand down my fabric, my pinky ring glimmered blue, and I swelled with importance.
I couldn’t wait to see Amby’s reaction when I showed up at the Founders Day Festival wearing my new jacket with the ascot and ring he’d chosen for me.
Those thoughts made me happy as Emiline pinned a few adjustments. Arthur hung the closed sign and made his way to the back room while Millie began cleaning her station.
“By the way, Zeth,” Emiline said as she placed another pin, “I’m glad you decided to come home. Amby’s glad most of all. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time. Seeing the two of you together again really stirs up good memories.” She stepped back and smiled. “He chose the right person.”
Her words made me glow with happiness, because the last time I spoke to Emiline in the shop, she’d told me of Amby’s sad mood, back when I foolishly believed we could just remain friends. No one had been happy then. I nodded in agreement to her now. “Maybe I can call you sister one day?”
“I’d be delighted.” Emiline’s eyes lit up, and I let go of a breath, grateful to gain her approval. She squeezed my arm before helping me out of the jacket.
Even if Mr. Somerset disapproved of Amby, at least his daughters would still call Amby family.
Call us family. I liked the idea of adding three spirited and intelligent siblings to my life, and that included Marigold.
She had some promise. Maybe after Amby and I fixed up the laundry, we could invite Marigold and her husband, Jack, over for dinner and casual conversation.
I had a feeling we could win them both over too.
As Emiline, Arthur, and Millie finished closing, I redressed and waited in the chair. It was dark through the shop windows by the time Millie and I said our farewells.
Not two steps down Main Street, Millie turned to me. “You’re in a good mood.”
I crossed my arms and strolled a little faster. “I am not.”
She gave a lighthearted laugh and smacked my elbow to make me slow my gait, so I did.
“You’re right, I’m feeling blessed. Amby and I started planning our future.”
“About time. You should’ve picked him in the first place.”
I sent her a glare for her bratty reply. Then I offered her my arm so we could walk together. She made me think, though… “If we tried to con Amby into marriage, things wouldn’t have worked out as well as they did.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I’m always right.”
She snorted, and I pretended she agreed with me.
“More seriously, Mils, would it be alright with you if we kept the laundry? I know we need the money, but Amby wants to help with renovations, and I’m going to sell his craftwork at the festival to raise funds. We’ve been talking about turning it into a shop.”
She puckered her face long enough to make me worry before she smiled deviously, “Of course, you idiot. I never wanted to sell our home.”
Our home. She’d called the laundry a home from the start. Perhaps I was the idiot. “Yes, well, I assume you plan on moving in with Anna?”
“Are you trying to kick me out already?” She snickered and tilted her head in thought. “Anna says her place is too big, so she’s been thinking about selling, maybe to Amby’s dad. She’d like to find a smaller house, perhaps a country cottage.”
I could imagine the decorations already, busy and cozy.
“And then?” I asked.
“ And then, I’m hoping she might marry me. How does a winter wedding sound?”
“Appropriate,” was my teasing answer.
Winter was half a year away. Perfect. My excitement for her plan was three-quarters about her, and one-fourth about Amby moving in with me by the Winter Feast. Part of me knew he would be traditional and want marriage first, just like the girls.
We had some talking to do, and some planning too, if I was to warm him up in my bed on Feast morning.
“Maybe we can plan a double wedding?”
“No way, get your own,” Millie teased and hugged my arm.
“You’re right, maybe spring. I’d rather see him surrounded by flowers as he becomes mine, officially.”
Millie’s mouth opened to bully me, so I nudged her to the edge of the sidewalk, enjoying her curses as she clung to her loving brother’s arm.
Once she agreed to be nice, we settled into an even pace that felt companionable.
The sidewalk was empty except for a bakery shop girl putting their chairs upside down on the table tops and a townsperson walking in the opposite direction.
The townsperson passed us in a lovely gown, and I tipped my cap to her. I would need to be friendly if I wanted to make sure our shop succeeded. Unfortunately, the woman ignored me and went so far as sneering at Millie’s pants, so I flipped her off.
The woman huffed off and Millie smirked from my side. At least I made Millie smile. “I guess Anna was correct, we don’t need everyone’s approval.”
“Anna’s very smart,” Millie cooed from my side.
“How long have you liked her?”
“I think I liked Anna even before we left Everdeen. She used to stay after school every day to tutor me. I remember thinking she had the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen as she lectured me.”
“A teacher crush? So, that’s why you never did your homework.”
Millie turned her head to hide her blush, and I laughed even harder.
My life was full of adorable brats, and I loved them.
In only a month, our lives had changed so much.
From leaving the City in mourning to facing the challenges of being on our own.
Now, Millie and I had found new careers and reunited with old loves.
I had a feeling Mum would be proud of us.
But the biggest change might have been my own.
I was such a grumpy bear when we first walked into Everdeen.
Now I was reciting poetry and learning how to wear my heart on my sleeve.
I was learning trust. Amby and my new friends were teaching me so much.
My life’s equation changed, and I couldn’t be more pleased that Amby was the solution.