Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
“ W hy are you nervous?” Holly asked Nina. “You’ve been selling clothes since you left college.”
“That’s true, but none I actually made myself. Somehow it seems so personal,” Nina replied.
Jaz picked up a dress displayed on a small wooden hanger. “They’re gorgeous, hun. No one could say otherwise.”
“I’m not sure if they’re too expensive.”
“These are special occasion clothes, a bit like your boutique was! For when the parent wants to show their child off. I’m sure you’ll do fine. Holly gets a lot of the rich crowd coming here from all over the county.” She gestured behind her. “That’s why I always bring a super RV over. Chick, some people still have money to burn! And we need to convince them to part with it.”
Nina laughed at Jaz’s words. She hoped the clothes would sell; she’d put her heart and soul into them. Dressmaking had been cathartic and it was if she’d thread her own love into every garment. Whether or not she was emotionally ready for the sale, she was certainly ready physically for a long day and had spent the prior evening at her parents having an early night without the distraction of the darts match taking place in the pub. She knew she would not have been able to resist going down to watch.
“Oh, my goodness. These are so sweet!” a young mother said as she held her daughter in her arms.
Jaz gave Nina a thumbs up and moved on.
“I love your stall, what design are they?” the potential customer asked, lifting a top she had made.
Nina pointed to the sign behind her which said By Nina . She’d kept it simple without too much thought.
“And are you Nina?” the woman frowned. “I think I know you.”
Nina realised she recognised her as well. But then a lot of people were familiar to her, having spent years in the bridal boutique. She assumed this was a previous customer. “I used to have the bridal boutique in Wells.” It still hurt her to refer to Something Special in the past tense, so she did not call the shop by name.
“Oh, I saw it was closed, but these dresses are amazing. It’s great to try something new.”
Nina felt a flutter of excitement as she sold her first two pieces and the customer didn’t even blink an eye at the price. And more followed. Soon the entrepreneurial fire was reignited.
“I’ve been watching you.”
Nina looked up to find Warren smiling down at her. “You’ve had loads of customers at your stall.” There seemed to be something different about him, but when she looked at him, she couldn’t see anything. His hair was the same. He wasn’t wearing new clothes and he hadn’t suddenly grown facial hair.
“Hi.” She hadn’t seen him since he’d got back from Bristol. Part of her realised she had been avoiding him, since their last chat in which she thought he was asking her out in a roundabout way. “How was the wedding?”
“Yeah, it was great.” He caught her eye. “It brought a few things home to me.” He gestured at the children’s clothes. “You seem to be doing well.”
“Better than I thought. I’ve enough to cover the new materials I’ve ordered and more.”
“So what’s next?” He stepped aside to allow a woman to take a closer look at a dress.
“I’ve ordered some soft materials so I can put together a baby hamper. I want them for the next market. As there are a lot of repeat visitors here, I’m going to offer something new each time. It’s also a good marketing exercise to see what’s popular if I go online.”
Warren waited as she sold an item.
“Thank you,” Nina said as she handed over the dress to the customer. She paused, then turned back to Warren. “I need to get a knitter on board. It’s never been my thing, or crochet.”
Warren gestured behind. “I have to get back but can you join me for lunch in an hour?”
“Yes, I really fancy another chicken kebab.”
Nina smiled to herself as she continued to sell more clothes, wondering what was so different about Warren. She decided that he just had a different energy about him. A confidence? She presumed he was feeling elated from having watched his parents marry. Although she also found this confidence made him even more attractive. Just go with the flow, she told herself.
Once they’d ordered their lunch from the food carts, Nina and Warren found seats on the end of a long bench after a family had moved along to allow them space. The market was especially busy and she wondered how much busier it would get when the school holidays started. Holly left leaflets with all of the campsites to entice holidaymakers over. Sumitra was covering for Nina at her stall and was in her element telling customers that her daughter designed all of the clothes. If the clothes were not selling themselves, Nina would have considered leaving her mother on the stall all day. She found herself almost apologetic when explaining she designed them herself. Sumitra did a much better job.
“When do your new materials arrive?” Warren asked before taking a bite of his burger.
“I’m picking them up from Dad’s shop on Monday. I placed a bulk order, it was more reasonable that way.”
He swallowed his food. “I’ll take you in the van if you like?”
“That would be great, if you don’t mind.” She could probably fit all the material in her car if she put the seats down, but at least it would negate the need for a possible double trip.
“Of course I don’t mind, I want to.” He smiled at her and she looked down at her chicken kebab. What’s got into him? she thought. His eye contact made her feel as if he was attempting to read her mind.
“I’d like to spend more time with you.”
Nina felt the heat rush to her cheeks and she looked up. “Oh, this chilli sauce is quite spicy.” She fanned herself with a leaflet she picked up from the bench, not knowing what to say. Had she misheard him? She decided to change the subject, just in case. “So, you said the wedding was great?”
Warren grinned at her. “It was good to catch up with family. Jane said she wished you could have been there.”
“That’s sweet of her. I’ve been invited to many customer’s weddings but if I’d attended them all, I’d have been going to more than one a day!” She laughed and felt some of her tension release.
“The wedding reminded me of the atmosphere in The Eversley Arms. Joining the darts team’s been great.” He picked up a chip and ate it. “I guess as a teenager, pubs were like home to me. When I played darts I was appreciated. People suddenly liked me, they wanted me to win. It spurred me on to be better, not just at darts but to be a better person as I realised I liked it when people liked me.” He smiled at her.
Nina gulped. The new Warren was a lot more forward and open. Without him actually saying it, she was picking up loud and clear that something had changed. She felt it. And as he smiled at her, she found herself feeling a deeper connection.
“Where are The Eversley in the darts league?” she asked, trying to calm herself down. What’s happening to me?
“Bottom,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s a new team. I’ve told Jaz this summer season is for learning and practice. We’ll take it seriously at the start of the winter season. Then we’ll have our game on. Not that Jaz is taking any notice of that, she wants a win every week.” He popped the last of his burger into his mouth and took a drink from a bottle of water. “She’s already building in a bonus scheme as an incentive.” He laughed.
“Jaz has always wanted to win,” Nina said.
Warren checked his phone. “I’d better get off, but I’ll come over and help you pack away when we close. If there’s anything left, that is.”
“Thanks,” she said and looked forward to it. As she returned to the stall, she felt light and had a small smile on her face.
“You seem happy?” Sumitra asked with her eyebrows raised.
“Yes, I’m really enjoying the day. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s buying more sausages, the pork and apple flavour, before they run out.” She pointed to the display. “I’ve sold two pinafores and a sundress, and here’s a number of a woman interested in the baby hamper.” She handed her a slip of paper, then lifted her sunglasses so Nina was looking straight into her eyes. “So, how was your lunch?”
“The food was great.”
“That’s not what I meant. I saw you with that young man.”
“I’m not having a romance.” It was clear to Nina that Sumitra must have spotted her at the food cart with Warren, even though she’d made sure they were on a bench masked from view of her stall. Nina gave a short laugh. “I’m not going to reject his friendship because he’s too young to be my husband… Ma, I’m focussing on the baby.”
Sumitra pursed her lips then her face changed to one of surprise as she looked over Nina’s shoulder. “Tony! What on earth?”
“I bought a box.”
“That will fill the entire freezer. How many sausages exactly?”
“Not sure, I bought them by the pound. But we’d better go, love, as I’ll have to get them frozen as soon as possible.” He nodded to Nina. “I’ll see you back at our place later. You’re doing great.”
Sumitra’s expression softened. “Yes, well done on the clothes, Nina. They’re beautiful and I’m so proud.” She rubbed her arm and then kissed her on the cheek. “I’m making your favourite for tea tonight.”
Nina sat down and put the money belt above her bump. Her waist had long disappeared.
“Nina?”
She looked up. “Lindsey!” It was someone she used to attend college with. Lindsey had a double buggy with a toddler one side and an older girl in the other.
“You haven’t changed a bit,” Lindsey said.
Nina instinctively put a hand on her bump.
“And you’re expecting?”
“Yes,” Nina said. “October.”
Lindsey picked up a dress. “I love this. What a great idea to move into children’s clothing.” She pointed to the By Nina sign. “And you’ve designed them yourself! I keep meaning to get my sewing machine down from the attic. I said to Becky, we should both do textiles again.”
“You’re still in touch with Becky?”
“Yes, we should all meet up. Is it your first?” she gestured towards Nina’s bump.
“Yes.”
“Becky can give you some tips, she’s on her fourth!”
“I’d love that,” Nina said, retrieving her phone so she could take Lindsey’s number, although her motive had nothing to do with chats on motherhood.
Nina carried the few unsold items into the art barn. During the farmers’ market Jacky, the mosaic artist, had held a workshop there to promote her classes.
“How did it go?” Nina asked as Jacky pulled her car keys out of her bag.
“Great, but tiring, I didn’t expect so many people, but I’ve already had a few sign-ups for my weekly workshops. Which is marvellous. I see you’ve sold most of your stock. Well done. I’d better be off.” She gave a short wave and left the barn leaving Nina in the space, alone.
Over at her corner, Nina placed the unsold items in a drawer. She heard engines from outside as the other vendors drove their vans away.
“Hey.”
She turned to see Warren puffing as he came through the doorway. “I’m glad you’re still here. Sorry, I thought I’d be free much earlier but both sets of Harry and Millie’s parents had come to Somerset for the day, so I felt bad asking them to clear away. I sent them off to spend time with their folks.
“I didn’t have much to bring in. It’s been a great day and I also made contact with an old college friend who I took textiles classes with and I’m thinking of asking her to run up some of my designs.”
“You’re the definition of entrepreneur!” Warren said. “And with all you’ve got going on.” He continued to walk towards her.
“It’s because when I’m working my mind is elsewhere, not thinking about where I’ll be living or childbirth.” She grimaced. “I’ve not even thought about that one yet. I’ve booked some antenatal classes and will clear my mind until then, when I really need to think about it.”
Warren smiled at her again, his brown eyes a similar shade as her own. His pupils were large and as he smiled at her, it was as if her mind had been rid of all thoughts, and she could find nothing to say.
“I keep waiting for an appropriate moment,” he said as he took another step towards her. “I want to ask you…” He broke off as if faltering.
She took a breath, not knowing whether to comment, and then he continued.
“I want you to know that… I… Well. I like…the times we spend together. I feel that you…and me…”
Nina continued to look up at him. “Are you sure about this?” She had no doubt what he was referring to as his eyes appeared to search her face. It was as if the world was melting around them.
“Positive,” he said, giving her a smile that made her face heat up.
There was no escaping him this time. He might not have explicitly said it, but she knew for sure that he was clearly asking her for a relationship. “I’m on my way to forty and I’ve got baggage,” she said.
“I’ve already explained that age doesn’t matter.” He smiled then looked at her baby bump. “It’s not baggage, it’s a cute package.”
She laughed and took a step back, trying to break the way she was drawn to him, not knowing what would happen if she remained there. She pushed her hair behind her ears. “You make everything sound so simple, Warren. But it’s not.”
“It is simple and crystal clear. Being in Bristol, it seemed so obvious to me. I like you, and I think you like me. And nothing about you is going to put me off. I don’t care about the decade between us.”
“It’s actually nine years?” she said with a smile, trying to lighten the thick atmosphere, worried they would be vacuumed together in an intense embrace she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
He laughed and took a step closer. Then he looked down at her, his expression suddenly serious. “All I think of is you. From the instant I first saw you. Even when I shouldn’t have, as you were engaged. But since then, I’ve wanted to spend time with you. Can we just...”
As she looked up into his eyes, it was as if something switched inside, and as she took the last step between them, she shut her eyes.
“Are you ready?” Holly called from the doorway. “I’m closing up.”
Warren stepped back and ran a hand over his hair.
“Oh,” Holly said, looking from Nina and back to Warren. “I didn’t interrupt anything did I?”
“No,” Nina said quickly. She grabbed her bag and walked around Warren, feeling very warm. “All done and thanks so much for everything Holly, you’ve really given me a step up. And as from next week I want to start paying for my station.”
“There’s no need.”
“There is for me. I need to feel I’m doing something viable.” Nina paused, very aware of Warren behind her as she exited the barn. “It’s more than something therapeutic. I’m serious about the line and I’m going to be recruiting others to help me.”
Holly locked the door behind them. “Who are you taking on?”
“Well,” Nina said with a laugh, feeling the cool air on her body which had become incredibly warm. “I bumped into Lindsey and she said she’s still friends with Becky. Not sure if you remember them from college?”
“Of course I do!”
“I haven’t asked them yet but we’ve arranged to meet up.” She checked her phone. “I’m going back home. Dad’s got a sausage casserole on the go as he couldn’t fit them all in the freezer.”
“What time Monday? To collect the material,” Warren asked, now at her side.
“Is the morning okay? About ten?” she said and then gulped.
“Perfect. I’ll help you with the litter picking,” he said to Holly.
“You’re a star!” Holly said. “See you Nina, and you’re looking great.”
Nina watched as Warren followed Holly across to the sales sheds. I’m always willing to take a punt on a business adventure…why not take a chance on romance?