Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
“What now, Tante Wilma?” Yvonne van Dijk tucked a strand of hair back into her ponytail.
She and her Aunt Wilma spoke Dutch since the only customer in the shop was out of earshot.
She been in Kansas City for three weeks and had barely left her uncle and aunt’s house.
Her Uncle Cameron was recovering from a bad case of pneumonia following open-heart surgery, and Yvonne had come from the Netherlands to help for a few months.
Cameron didn’t like strangers in the house and was much more comfortable with her help.
Tante Wilma was a skilled designer, and although her husband had retired, she still enjoyed running her business.
The shop served several purposes. It gave Wilma an outlet for her love of clothing and design.
She was incredibly talented, especially when it came to remaking older out-of-style clothing into contemporary wonders.
It also gave Wilma an opportunity to dispense advice to all who came in.
Her customers were like the children she’d never had, and they all seemed to understand Wilma’s need to help.
Lastly, it helped Wilma keep her fingers on the pulse of the area.
More than once, it had provided her with information on charitable opportunities the McGruders had become significant sponsors of.
Wilma had started her in the back, unpacking new fabrics and dresses, but since lunchtime she’d been helping in the main space with the slow but steady stream of customers.
Although customers, they seemed more her aunt’s personal friends.
Today seemed a general clothing and advice day.
Right now, Wilma fitted a partially finished dress onto a slim, forty-something woman she seemed to know well.
“I think this dress will be perfect for you. Not too frilly, more elegant. You’ll look like Audrey Hepburn. You know she was Dutch, don’t you?”
“No, I didn’t know that.” The customer turned in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, and Yvonne noticed how well the dress fit and suited the woman. “I learn something every time I come in here. I don’t think even one of your dresses will make me look like Hepburn, though. She was one of a kind.”
“True, but you have that same something about you she did, don’t you think so, Yvonne?
” It wasn’t the first time Wilma had tried to include Yvonne in the conversation.
Although Yvonne liked the interactions, she was self-conscious about her accent.
Besides, she didn’t know half as much about clothes as her aunt did.
“I don’t really know, Tante Wilma. I don’t think I ever saw her movies, except for My Fair Lady, and this doesn’t look anything like her clothes in that.”
“Spoken like a diplomat. I don’t think we’ve been introduced.
” The other woman smiled her way. “I’m Suzie Carmichael.
Your aunt and uncle go to the same church as my family does.
We’ve missed them both since his surgery.
I’m so glad he’s doing better. You were the answer to many prayers when you arrived to help. ”
“I… I don’t know what to say. I’m not a churchgoer, but thank you, I guess.” Taken aback and unsure of the appropriate response, Yvonne fixed her gaze on her shoes and tried not to fidget.
“That’s all right, dear. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Suzie patted Yvonne’s arm.
“Suzie, when I tell you to stand still, you will please do so,” Wilma interrupted.
“Yes, Wilma. I’m sorry.” Before Suzie could properly resume her position, the muffled sounds of Imagine Dragons’s Whatever it Takes started coming from her purse.
Suzie groaned. “I’m sorry, but I have to get that.
It’s my partner, and she wouldn’t be calling on a Saturday afternoon if there weren’t a problem. ”
Wilma sighed. “If you must, you must.”
Suzie got to the phone before it rolled into voicemail. “What’s up, Sonja? Everything was fine when we left each other two hours ago.”
She paused, and Yvonne could hear bits of the other woman’s voice sounding anxious as she explained the problem.
“What do you mean, we need another server? Wasn’t Krystal going to cover the party?
” Suzie massaged her temple while she listened to the other side.
“Damn, and you’ve called everyone else?” She started pacing.
“Of course you have, I’m sorry.” Another pause from Suzie.
“I know, I know. We’ll find someone. Relax.
Take a deep breath. I’ll see who I can think of.
We’ve got till Friday. We’ll find someone. ”
She ended the call and sighed. “I’m sorry, Wilma.
Sonja just found out that one of our servers has broken her wrist, and apparently none of the others are available.
She was wondering if my kids were mature enough to help out yet.
As if. We’ll find someone. I know a caterer who can probably loan me some help.
I bailed her out last month when she over-booked herself. ”
“What about my Yvonne, here?” Wilma patted Yvonne’s hand, and Yvonne’s heartbeat sped up.
“She’s been trapped in the house since she got here.
It would be good for her to get out, and it would give her a chance to meet people.
I don’t need her in the evening.” She turned her attention to Yvonne.
“What do you say? You waited tables when you were younger, didn’t you? ”
“Ja, Tante Wilma. I did. B-but Suzie already knows who she’ll ask. She doesn’t need a stranger.” She turned to Suzie. “I’m sorry, but my aunt likes to make everyone’s plans for them.”
“No, you’d be perfect, Yvonne. You’ve had experience, you say?” Suzie squinted.
“It was years ago. I’ve mostly been a shop assistant, but I think I can manage to serve tables again.” Yvonne cleared her throat. “What kind of affair is it?”
“Normally, we’re only open for breakfast and lunch, but Friday night we’re catering a party.
It’s not that fancy, and the service will be easy.
You just have to pass hors d’oeuvres and drinks around and pick up the empties.
We’ll pay you, of course. Let me get you a card.
Here is the name and address of the café.
Why don’t you drop by one day this week around 2:00 pm and we can discuss what you’d be doing? ”
Before she knew it, Yvonne found she had agreed to help at a party for a café full of strangers. Maybe her time in the States would have a little more excitement than she’d anticipated.