Chapter 32 #2
Glo snorts, turning back to the rack she was working on before our break.
But when I look up at Viv again, I can see she isn’t laughing. She’s looking at us with a kind of…sadness. Or maybe a yearning.
My heart twists.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve learned Vivian’s not the evil ice queen everyone says she is.
She’s taking care of someone on the other end of that phone—I hear her tender words between her sharp barks.
I wonder if she’s ever had a friendship like the one Glo and I have—instant and close. Or if she’d even want that.
But then the bell jingles, and the spell is broken.
As another woman comes into the shop, I vow to invite Vivian over to my place once things calm down.
I know she’ll give me an earful about all the things I’ve done wrong in decorating, but I suspect inviting her somewhere just for her might warm her icy heart just a little, too.
My attention goes to the woman who’s come in. She looks young—younger than me. She’s thin and pale and tucks her hair behind her ear. She looks around nervously, like she doesn’t know where to start.
“Hey,” I say, coming up to her and smiling.
She startles when I speak to her—I’m off to the side, and Glo’s fully hidden as she rearranges shoes on a low shelf. She clears her throat tentatively, as if building up the nerve to speak.
She’s painfully shy. She reminds me of Nora when we first met in London.
I give her a warm smile. “Can I help you find anything?”
“Yes. I, um, I have a job interview. A really important one.” Her smile comes out then, but it quickly disappears. Clearly this is a hard-won interview, because if I wasn’t mistaken, I’d swear that was the tiniest glimmer of pride. “But I have no idea what to wear.”
“Can you tell me about where the job is?”
The woman explains it’s in the administrative office of the hospital.
Glo stands up and smiles encouragingly, and we come to learn it’s the woman’s first big office job.
She just finished her office administration training at Greenville College.
She shifts, and it’s then I notice a fast-food uniform under her coat.
“I don’t have much time,” she says. “I have to pick my son up at school soon, but I thought maybe I could try something on and, um, put some money down for it? Do you…have layaway? My interview is next week, but I could pay you after—”
“No,” Vivian says. I hadn’t noticed her coming up behind us. “We don’t do layaway here, and certainly not after a customer leaves the shop with our clothing. You can’t leave the store without paying for items in full.”
“Vivian,” Glo says. Her anger’s showing. “We can let her try something on.”
“Are you joking?” Vivian sniffs. “Our blouses cost more than this girl is paid in a month at Burger Barn or whatever place whose employ she’s in.”
The girl’s eyes have gone wide, and I can see her swallowing hard, her eyes rimmed red. She’s holding back tears.
Now my anger flares, all charitable thoughts about my boss from a moment ago vanished. “Glo, why don’t you and—what’s your name, honey?”
“Melissa,” the woman squeaks.
“Why don’t you and Melissa check out the Going Soon rack?” The fall clothes are on sale, though the discount only brings them down from atrocious to insulting.
Glo nods, immediately understanding what I’m about to do. “Come on, Melissa. I bet we can find something amazing over here.”
“Excuse me,” Vivian says, but I hook my arm through hers like we’re going for a stroll.
“Come with me a minute,” I say, tugging her none too gently in the opposite direction.
I’ve surprised her enough that she claps her mouth shut and comes with me to the front desk, far away from Going Soon.
“Vivian,” I whisper once I’ve tugged her behind it. “What do you have against someone trying on clothes—someone who could use a little confidence boost?”
“She’s never going to buy anything from this store. Don’t you know that? I thought you were a smart girl.”
“Right. That’s why you hired me, right? You think I’m smart?”
“Not anymore, I don’t.”
I fold my arms. “Tell me why you like me so much, Vivian.”
She huffs, narrowing her eyes. “I don’t like you right now.”
“Tell me.”
She lets out a breath. “This is ridiculous. But fine. You speak your mind.”
“And?”
She lifts her chin and presses her lips together, which I know means she’s got an answer.
“I think you like me because I’m not afraid of you.”
Vivian looks indignant. But I see the way she won’t meet my eyes. I’m right.
“Listen,” I say. “I’ve known plenty of nasty women in my life”—Vivian’s eyes grow wide—“And you’re not one of them.”
Now her brows furrow in confusion.
“You act like you’re all mean and tough, but I know you’ve got a sweet, soft heart in there.
” I point to her chest. “Not many can see past those walls you’ve put up, but I can.
I know you’re hiding because it’s safer if people don’t see you.
It’s better if they don’t see how hard it is for you, how much you give.
Because if they did, you’d see it, too, and you might just collapse under the weight of it all. ”
The words come out so clearly I know I’ve been thinking them about someone else, too. Someone who acts like he doesn’t care about anything but cares more about people than anyone I’ve ever known.
“Now. Why did you open this store?”
She juts out her chin once more.
“Come on, tell me.”
“Because I love beautiful things, just like you.”
“That’s right, and this is your place that you created. You brought luxury to this sweet little town. So why not let people see it? Don’t you want more beauty around you?”
“You’re forgetting the part where that woman can’t afford to purchase anything.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got piles of cash at home.
” I suspect Vivian does, too. It’s the only way this place stays afloat when only about five people actually buy anything here, myself, Glo, and Cassandra included.
“If Melissa wants an outfit for her job interview, I’m going to buy it for her, and you’re not going to say a damn thing.
She’s taking care of someone just like you, and everyone deserves a little generosity sometimes. Just like you.”
I didn’t know it was possible for Vivian to pinch her lips harder, but she does. Finally her shoulders sag. “Fine. You buy, but you need to show her how to wear it, too. I’m not going to see some slouch walking around putting a Gucci suit to shame.”
I smile, then wrap my arms around the stiff little woman. She softens, just the tiniest bit, before shoving me off her.
“Thank you, Vivian.”
“Your funeral, Smart Girl.”