Chapter 31
A nita stopped at the information desk inside the main entrance to the Highpointe College library.
The young woman behind the desk greeted her with a warm smile. “You’re Miss Archer, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Anita said, surprised. “How did you know?”
“I recognize you from your photo in the exhibit hall.”
“Oh,” Anita replied. “I didn’t think anyone would pay attention to that.”
“Lots of people have gone through the exhibit. I went on the first day. It was absolutely fascinating! I told my mom about it, and she brought my grandmother and my aunt. We all loved it.”
Anita placed a hand on her chest. “That’s nice to hear,” she said.
“Everyone who works here has seen it. And lots of other people, too. You must be here for the grand opening.”
“I am,” Anita said, unzipping her heavy coat and pulling the scarf from around her neck.
“If I didn’t have to work at the desk, I’d attend your talk.”
“Will your family be here, do you think?”
“Mom and Grandma had planned to come,” the young woman said, “but it’s too cold for Grandma to go outside. She lives with us, and Mom can’t leave her alone for that long.”
Anita cast a worried glance over her shoulder at Gordon.
“I’m sure plenty of people will come out to hear you speak, sweetheart,” he said.
“The library set up chairs and a podium,” the young woman added. “Someone delivered snacks this morning, too. Normally those aren’t allowed in the library, but Sunday okayed it. She said they’re a surprise for you.”
Gordon placed his hand on the small of Anita’s back. “Let’s go see that surprise,” he said, steering her toward the exhibition space.
A red velvet rope cordoned off the entrance.
Five rows of ten chairs faced a wooden podium.
The only person inside the exhibit was Sunday.
She leaned over a rectangular table covered with a black tablecloth.
A crystal vase filled with red roses sat at the center of the table.
Sunday was removing decorated sugar cookies from bakery boxes stamped with theLaura’s Bakerylogo and placing them onto silver trays.
Gordon unhooked the rope, and Anita preceded him into the exhibit.
Sunday turned to them. “Good morning! Are you excited about today?” She walked over and held out her hands for their coats and scarves. “I’ll stash these in a closet near the staff break room. My goodness—you look fabulous,” she said to Anita. “That red dress fits you to a T.”
Anita smiled. “Given the business I’m in, my clothes have to be perfectly tailored.”
“I guess that’s true.” Sunday chuckled. “It’s an excellent advertisement for your services.
” She turned to Gordon and took in his black suit, white shirt, red tie, and red pocket square.
“You’re dapper, too. You both look like you’re straight out of an advertisement for a swanky restaurant on Valentine’s Day. ”
“Thank you,” he said. “I’ve got a tough act to keep up with.” He winked at Anita.
“Come look at these cookies,” Sunday said, leading them to the table. “Laura toured the exhibit last week and asked if she could furnish them. I thought it was a wonderful idea and approved the exception to our no-food rule.”
Anita and Gordon leaned in to look. The cookies were shaped like sewing machines and elaborately decorated with black, red, blue, and green icing. The wordSingerwas piped in gold.
“My goodness,” Anita said, studying one. “These look like the Singer Model 15K that sits at the entrance to the exhibit!” She looked at Gordon, her eyes wide.
“They’re miniature works of art,” he said. “I’m amazed by Laura’s skill. This must have taken her a very long time.”
Sunday chuckled. “Laura dropped them off about an hour ago. She said she stayed up very late last night to finish them. She wanted them to be nice for you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Anita said. “The roses on the table are gorgeous, too.”
“Josh sent them to me for Valentine’s Day. I brought them down from my office to dress up the table.”
“That was extremely thoughtful of you.” Gratitude warmed Anita’s voice.
Gordon took a photo of Anita and the cookie table, followed by close-ups of the individual cookies.
“Laura set a dozen cookies aside in individual cellophane bags for you to take to your shop,” Sunday said. “She wanted you to share them with your crew.”
“Laura’s the best. I know what I’m going to order for the grand opening of the museum itself,” Anita said. “These cookies are just the thing.”
“It’s twenty minutes before noon,” Sunday said. “People will arrive soon. I’ll put your coats away and be right back. We’ll set you up with a lapel microphone so you can get comfortable at the podium.”
Gordon and Anita took one last turn around the exhibit before Sunday returned. She clipped a lavalier mic to the collar of Anita’s dress and showed her how to turn the power on and off.
“I’ll introduce you,” Sunday said. “Even though everyone in town already knows you, it’s the thing to do.”
Anita forced herself to swallow.
“Are you nervous?” Gordon asked.
Anita nodded. “I’ve never done public speaking. I woke up this morning in a panic, thinking, What in the world am I doing? ”
“That means you’ll give an excellent speech,” Gordon said. “A touch of stage fright sharpens your focus.”
Anita slanted her eyes to his. “You make speeches in your line of work all the time. Is that how it works for you?”
“Absolutely,” he replied.
“Have you got notes?” Sunday asked.
Gordon reached into the breast pocket of his suit coat and handed Anita a 3x5 card.
“I put bullet points on here,” she said, lifting the card. “Gordon said it’s a good way to remind myself of what I want to say, and it prevents me from reading my speech. That would be boring.”
“Well done, you,” Sunday said, leaning over to peek at the card.
Anita turned her back to the podium and faced Sunday.
“I’m going to talk about learning to sew on the very machine that’s at the front of the exhibit,” she said.
“My grandmother used that machine in the bridal shop until 1980. I’ll briefly describe the machines the bridal shop acquired over the decades and used through the three generations Archer’s Bridal has been in my family. ”
Sunday smiled, encouraging her to go on.
“Rather than talk about the technical aspects of the machines themselves, I’ll explain the impact that owning a sewing machine had on a woman’s daily life.
The sewing machine became popular before premade clothes were readily available.
Using a sewing machine slashed the time needed to make clothes and household textiles.
Women used their newfound free time for housework, studying, relaxing, and even paid employment.
That’s what happened to my grandmother. She started her alterations business and grew it into a bridal salon because she owned her own sewing machine. ”
Sunday clasped her hands together. “This is going to be a fabulous presentation. People will love hearing that.”
“A sewing machine was a highly coveted item,” Anita continued.
“They were often given as engagement gifts instead of diamond rings. It was a status symbol to have one. That’s why these early machines are so exquisitely designed and decorated.
My museum will showcase some of the furniture cabinets that housed them, too.
The Singer Sewing Machine Company was once the largest cabinetmaker in the country.
If you had one of these beautiful machines, you wanted to show it off—in your living room. ”
“Brilliant,” Sunday said. “I can’t wait to hear more. But I think it’s time we start.” She took Anita’s elbow and turned her toward the audience.
Anita gasped. The seats were all full, and people stood behind the last row.
“I was so focused on talking to you, I didn’t hear anyone come in,” she whispered to Sunday.
Maggie, Susan, and the eight other women from their book club filled the front row.
Gordon squeezed Anita’s elbow. “You’re going to be brilliant,” he said quietly before joining the group standing at the back.
Sunday stepped to the podium and began her introduction.
Anita spotted Gordon in the crowd. He gave her a thumbs-up.
Sunday concluded her remarks, and Anita took a deep breath. She squared her shoulders and began her talk.