Chapter 8 #2
Claire sat next to Rachel on an oversize ivory sofa that faced the ocean. The room had a cathedral ceiling and a soaring wall of glass overlooking Nantucket Sound. The view was stunning.
Just about everyone loved the assigned book, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
“I know it was considered historical, but I don’t think things have really changed all that much. I felt her frustration at trying to be taken seriously as a scientist in a man’s world,” Jenna said.
Mandy nodded. “I loved how she reinvented herself and was able to use her science background with her cooking show.”
“I loved the dog,” Stephanie said, and they all laughed.
“The dog was awesome,” Rachel agreed.
They discussed the book a bit more and then Rachel, as the host for the next month, chose the book The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. “My mother raved about it and asked if I’d read it. She said it’s impossible to put down. Have any of you read it?”
None of them had, but all agreed that it sounded good.
“How are you feeling, Claire?” Molly asked once the conversation turned away from books.
“Better, thanks. The morning sickness finally seems to be easing up.” She grinned. “And my appetite is roaring back.”
“Any cravings yet?” Rachel asked.
Claire laughed. “So far, just peanut butter. I’ve woken up every morning for the past week craving peanut butter on toast.”
“I had peanut butter cravings with both of my pregnancies,” Mandy said.
“It was ice cream for me,” Jenna said. “I had a big bowl of vanilla with a squirt of caramel just about every night. Once I had the baby, I didn’t want it for over a year.”
The conversation turned to work, and Molly mentioned that the hospital had to MedFlight two people to Boston that week. “Heart attacks with complications. They got them stabilized and sent both to the Brigham.”
“Does that happen often?” Claire asked.
Molly nodded. “Yes. Nantucket Hospital is great, but if it’s complicated and someone needs a specialist, we fly them to Boston. It happens more often in the summer.”
“How’s your job search going, Claire?” Emma asked.
Claire made a face. “Not well. There doesn’t seem to be anything out there yet.
Hopefully in another month or so. Or I might have to start selling off my stuff,” she joked.
“I have a bunch of designer stuff, mostly bags, in a spare room at my mother’s house.
It is kind of ridiculous. I don’t really need it all now. ”
Jenna’s eyes fell on Claire’s bag. “I’m interested. Especially if you want to get rid of that bag. It’s gorgeous.”
Claire was startled. She’d joked about it but hadn’t seriously considered selling her stuff.
But maybe she should. She wondered what Jenna would be willing to pay for the bag.
She wasn’t sure what Ellis had paid for it new, but she knew they not only held their value, but the mini Kellys were actually worth more used because they were so rare.
It seemed like an obvious answer to her money problem.
Before she could say anything, Jenna spoke again.
“I’m serious,” she said. “If you are too, I’d love to stop by tomorrow and see if we can work something out. I’d also like to look through that room and see what else you have. If you are open to getting rid of anything else.”
Claire nodded. The thought of selling this bag to Jenna was suddenly very appealing. She wouldn’t have to look at it anymore and be reminded of Ellis, and her short-term money problems would be over. She could take Lily shopping for a dress and not stress about the cost.
“Can you come by around eleven or so?”
Claire didn’t say anything to Lily or her mother about Jenna coming over to possibly buy the Hermès bag. She didn’t want to get Lily’s hopes up, and she didn’t want to count on anything too soon.
When she’d gotten home the night before, she’d looked up retail and resale prices for her Hermès mini Kelly, and even though she knew about what they cost new, she was shocked at the suggested resale price.
It was double what the bag had retailed for.
That seemed crazy at first, but her research indicated that some colors were more in demand than others, and there was a limited supply.
Only a certain number of each color and style were made each year.
And her Blue Brume color was difficult to get.
Claire also knew that if she listed the bag with one of the reputable consignors, they’d likely keep up to a third of the amount collected as their fee.
She decided that if Jenna offered close to the retail value, she’d take it.
The bag had cost Ellis about twelve thousand dollars.
And that would go a long way to easing her expenses.
It would also let her start saving for when she and Lily moved into their own place eventually.
Claire hoped that wouldn’t be too long after the baby came.
She wanted to stay on Nantucket near her mother, and she appreciated her support so much.
But she wanted their stay in Marsha’s house to be a temporary one.
Jenna pulled into the driveway at exactly eleven. Claire showed her the room where she’d spent some time the night before, unpacking and displaying all her bags and shoes. She had an impressive number of shoes, and some of the nicer ones—Jimmy Choos and Christian Louboutins—had barely been worn.
Jenna was like a kid in a candy store as she roamed around the room.
She picked up a pair of Louboutins, black leather with the famous red sole.
The heel was three and a half inches, which was higher than Claire liked, and she’d only worn them once.
They were not comfortable, and she’d had blisters the day after the event.
She’d only worn them indoors, and the shoes still looked brand-new.
“What size are these?” Jenna asked.
“Eight.”
Jenna grinned, picked up the shoe, and slid it on. She put on the other one and walked around the room. Claire had to admit they looked good on her.
“They fit perfectly. And there’s a charity event coming up in a few weeks at the country club. I definitely want these. What did you have in mind for them?”
Claire had mostly focused on looking up the bag prices. She hated those shoes so much that she would happily take whatever Jenna offered. But she didn’t say that. “I’m not sure. What were you thinking?”
Jenna immediately named a price, and Claire tried not to show her surprise. It was a generous offer. “That works for me.”
“And I definitely want the mini Kelly. If you are serious about letting it go?” She looked worried that Claire might have changed her mind.
Claire smiled. From the moment Jenna had suggested the possibility, Claire was determined to get rid of the bag, either sell it to Jenna or someone else. As much as she’d once loved it, when she looked at it now, all she saw was Ellis’s indiscretion and the answer to her money problems.
“I’m very serious.”
“Good. I’m sure you know what it’s worth?”
Claire nodded. “I do. It was surprising actually. It seems like too much,” she admitted.
Jenna shook her head. “I would expect to pay that though, whether I bought it from you or a reseller. There’s a woman in Boston I’ve bought a few pieces from. It’s worth it to me.” She named the exact price that Claire had found in her research.
“Are you sure?” Claire felt a bit guilty taking that much money from her new friend.
But Jenna insisted. “I’m sure. I brought my checkbook.” She looked around the room. “You know you have the start of a business here if you wanted to sell more of your stuff. I have some friends I could send your way. Unless you want to keep it all. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
Claire looked around the room, and she didn’t just see shelves of beautiful bags and exquisite shoes. She saw money. And opportunity.
She smiled. “I don’t need all this. Definitely have your friends get in touch. I’d appreciate that.”
Jenna pulled out her checkbook and wrote out what seemed like a huge sum to Claire.
She couldn’t just go cash this check. It was too big.
But she could open a bank account that afternoon and deposit it.
She still had the famous orange Hermès box and dust bag to protect the mini Kelly.
She nestled the bag in the box and did the same with the shoes.
Claire had all the original boxes for all her bags and shoes.
She found a shopping bag to put Jenna’s purchases in, and they walked back to the kitchen.
“Would you like a coffee or tea?” Claire offered.
But Jenna shook her head. “I have to run. I’m going to drop these at home, then head to the hotel to help them get ready for a luncheon.”
Claire walked her to the door. As she was about to leave, Jenna turned back for a moment.
“You know, if you do want to turn this into a business, you could consider donating one of your less expensive bags to the silent auction at our event. I’ll bring my new Kelly, and when people ask me about it, I’ll tell them where I got it.”
Claire hesitated but recognized the genius of the idea. If she did want to try and make a business of this or at least clean out her room and make more money, donating a silent auction item could be a smart move.
Jenna sensed her hesitation though. “I know it’s a lot and you might not want to do that. Think about it, and give me a call if you do. Just let me know by Friday if you can?”
“I will. Thanks so much, Jenna.”
Jenna grinned. “No, thank you! I’m so excited and can’t wait to wear both of these. Talk soon.”
Claire watched her go, and her head was spinning when she shut the door. She made herself a cup of lemon green tea, sat at the kitchen island, and opened her laptop.
Did she want to do this? Could she do it? She typed into the search bar, “How to start a high-end retail consignment business.”