7. HEATHER
Chapter 7
HEATHER
The next few days almost feel normal. I work on the dress design and discuss the sketches with Violet, making small adjustments and sending her each new draft.
She comes by one more time to discuss it, with all of her wedding accessories on the table again, but this time, Trey isn’t with her. The experience is almost fun.
Through it all is the looming feeling of my imminent death. I know Trey said he wouldn’t kill me, but the words he used sounded more like, “I won’t kill you…YET.” I try to keep that out of my mind and instead, just enjoy what I do best.
The design that Violet wants is going to be iconic. I’m legitimately sad that I won’t be able to take credit for it.
We’re doing a strapless design for the main dress with a sweetheart neckline and beading all across the bodice in this floral pattern I drew out myself using pastel beads.
The main dress will be a cream color with the pastels being in pink, gold, and a sort of opalescent color.
The skirt will be tiered organza, flowing with embroidered designs that match the beading but in a bolder metallic thread. To get it right, I’ll have to split the metallic thread and stabilize it with a silk strand of the same color.
The train will start just above the bustle and be removable. We decided to do it that way because I’m also making her a matching bolero to go with her signature everyday blazer style.
Her train is not quite cathedral length but a little longer than the average chapel length. I’ll be doing matching embroidery to the skirt there, along with some beadwork at the very end.
I want to make sure it has a decent subtle sparkle. After the ceremony, she’ll be able to remove the train and the bottom two tiers of her skirt. It’ll be a tea length with the matching bolero.
For her shoes, I’m doing something really special. She’s wearing cream-colored ankle boots with a heel, and I’m going to paint them to match the floral designs on her skirt, train, and bolero. Her outfit is going to be setting the stage for brides all over the country for this whole decade, I can already see it.
I set up video calls for the weekend with my friends, as well as Jessie and Gretta.
Technically, I don’t usually work on weekends, but with all the detailing that’s going with this dress and the time frame, as well as the fact that I’m trapped in this shop anyway—I’m working. I still need to catch everyone up and pretend everything is normal.
Jessie and Gretta gush over the designs and ask if I’m really going to be able to get it done by the end of the three months.
I promised to do it because I am representing Jessie’s brand, and I’m pretty sure her shop will be teeming with orders as soon as Violet makes her bridal debut down the aisle.
Then it’s time to FaceTime my friends. I can’t keep leaving them on “read,” and they specifically asked for this date and time so they could all be together when I called.
I can’t get out of this. I have to put on a smile, take a deep breath, and pretend I’m having the best time ever in New York.
When the call comes in, Samantha, Callie, and Logan are crowding into the diner so they can all be on the screen. I find I have to hold back tears when I see them. I didn't realize until this moment how much I miss seeing them every day.
“Heather!” Samantha shouts in her mom-tone voice. “Sweets, I see you holding back that cry face. It’s okay. We miss you too.”
I let the tears roll out. There’s no holding back after Samantha uses that tone. She doesn’t have kids now, but one day, she’s gonna be an amazing mom. She reaches out, then remembers we’re on a screen, and she can’t get to me.
“How’s NYC? Are you eating way too much pizza?” Logan chimes in.
Of course, he’d think of pizza. I pull myself together, wipe my tears on my sleeve, and take a breath in, hold it, then let it out. Okay, I can do this.
“Yes, Logan, I’m eating way too much pizza. I’m barely gonna be able to walk home.”
I smile at him, sniffling. Callie speaks up next.
“Have you gotten to see all your friends and family yet? I bet they missed you!”
Hold it together, Heather . “No, I’m way too busy with this dress. This client is really important, and the design is incredibly intricate. I’m working around the clock to get it done in time.”
“You don’t want to see your family?”
Shit, Callie is on to me.
“You three are my family. This isn’t my home anymore. I’m just here for a job.”
Saying that with a straight face is not easy but I get through it. They all smile at me on the screen. It’s that “we love you, but we know you” smile.
Better they think I’m overworked than that my life is in danger. I’m not sure what they’d think if they found out I’m a wolf, too. They might have been okay with it if I hadn’t lied to them for five years.
Samantha is the first to break the tension. It feels like half an hour has gone by, but it was only a few seconds.
“Okay, I guess we’ll let you get back to it then. We love you, Heather! Miss you!”
Logan and Callie repeat the same sentiments, and we all wave goodbye through the screen. I end the call and slump back in my seat. I need a cup of coffee. Thankfully, the food that Trey had brought over the last time he was here was a pretty good selection.
I’m starting to run low because the fridge and freezer are pretty small, but I don’t know if I should ask for more. Maybe I can just ask Violet.
It’s obvious to everyone that I’m afraid of Trey coming around again—with good reason. I’d rather communicate with Violet only. For now, that’s what we have going on.
After a snack and a new cup of coffee, I return to my task in the workroom. The fabric for the main dress pieces is pinned onto a dress form, and I’m working on sketches for the final floral patterns for each section.
Violet said she’d stop by tonight to get them. She likes to see things in person, and she says the pencil marks don’t show up right on the screen.
I’m in the zone, and I sense him before I see him. Trey darkens the doorway to the work room, and something smells delicious in the bags in his hands. Regardless, I’m startled, and I jump and squeal in a seriously embarrassing way.
In response, he drops the bags on the table and some of the food falls out of the cartons, right near my sketches. I scramble to get them off the table, scowling at him without thinking.
Then I notice what I’m doing and remember who he is. The feeling of terror he evokes is growing familiar. It sets in when I look up at him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
He says nothing but goes to the break room and returns with some wet paper towels. He wipes up the sauce and sets the bags on the floor.
“I’m just here to get the sketches for Violet. I knew I’d be passing by on my way home.”
“Oh.”
I feel like a complete idiot. I gather up the sketches and put them into a folder.
“Please tell her she can message me with any changes. These are the updated colors for the floral sections we discussed. She’ll know what it means.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
I look down at the bags now on the floor. “Did you bring me food? I’m actually starting to run low on supplies. That’s from Sun Li, right? I love that place.”
He looks at the bags, too. “No. This is for me and Violet. It’s our favorite spot, too.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to presume. I just really miss Chinese food from the city. Nowhere else can make lo mein or egg rolls right.”
“I’ll pick up some things for you tomorrow and drop them off on my way to work. This place isn’t far from the meeting I have in the afternoon.”
“You don’t have to do that. Whenever you’re able to is fine. I can stretch what I have for a few more days.”
“I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He turns to leave, and he’s a few steps out of the workroom when he stops. He lets out a huge breath and turns around.
“Come with me,” he says.
I obey without a word. I don’t care if it’s an order I’m being given when I’m not part of his pack. He can kill me in seconds.
If he says to go with him, I’ll go. He heads to the break room and puts his bags down on the table, then goes over to the cabinets above the counter where the coffee station is and pulls out some paper plates.
“How did you…never mind.”
“The owner showed me around before you got here to make sure the place would be adequate for accommodations.”
“I see.”
He takes out the cartons and loads up the plates with a little of everything. There’s sesame chicken, shrimp lo mein, egg rolls, spring rolls, scallion pancakes, boneless ribs, some wonton soup, and he even adds a couple of those cream cheese-filled crab rangoons.
I’m speechless. My mouth is moving, and I’m trying hard not to drool. I haven’t had a normal hot meal since the night before I left.
He packs the rest of the food back into the bags and turns to walk away again. I try to call after him, but it comes out in a soft voice like I lack the breath to be louder.
“Thank you.”
He stops but doesn’t turn around. I can’t see him, but I know he’s smiling when he responds,
“Everyone deserves a good last meal.”
Ouch . He’s joking. Right?
He leaves and I sit down at the table with all the plates full of food and a paper cup with soup in it. I don’t know where to start. I decided that the best thing to do is to send Logan a photo of this.
He’s gonna flip when he sees it all piled on the plates. My stomach rumbles as I snap the photo and compose a message.
Me: Look at this feast!
His response comes back in seconds.
Logan: So jealous! Enjoy! Glad you’re doing something besides working.
At least Trey’s almost nice gesture serves to placate my friends. If this is my last meal, I’ll die happy. Sometimes, the little things matter. After being basically imprisoned in a bridal shop with only a sink to bathe in, some good Chinese food totally matters.
I bite into one of the egg rolls and I’m in bliss. Eating alone is weird for me because I’m always at the diner. Whatever, it’s Sun Li’s. It reminds me of dinners with my parents and living here before my exile.
I thought all of those memories had trickled away, but one bite of that egg roll brings it all back.
I turn on one of my trashy reality shows on my computer as I eat, blending my new life with my old one. I wonder what my mother would think.
She’d probably laugh along with me at each drama-filled episode that we know is staged. I hope one day I’ll get to find out.