Chapter Nineteen
Beep -beep!
I groan as I glance at my phone screen and swiftly stuff it deep into my trouser pocket. Mama has been blowing up my phone all week, eager to set up another video call, but I’ve told her I’m too swamped with work, which isn’t un true. There’s enough stress polluting my life right now, I don’t need her criticisms and judgements adding to the mess.
Huffing and puffing with effort, I lug a mannequin downstairs from the flat and place it in the middle of the shop floor with a thud. Tanya’s dress got a little creased in the struggle, so I grab the steamer and give it a quick going over. The ruching was a nice touch, and the soft purple satin is simply stunning. All in all, I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve come up with in the last week, and I hope Tanya will be too.
I’m expecting her in a matter of moments, and the fact that Kit will be accompanying her has got me a little jittery, though I know it’s ludicrous. I mean, I’ve seen him on countless occasions now and left each one relatively composed, today should be no different. But Lucy’s comments have got me sort of rattled. Not only that, but Zoe’s coming along too, which only adds to the dark dread in my gut.
As if reading my mind, the door opens gently, signifying their arrival. Sure enough, when I look up from preening the mannequin, there’s Kit and Tanya. Kit tries out a small smile but then he quickly darts his eyes away, the subtlest shade of pink skittering across his cheeks.
‘Hi.’ He clears his throat. ‘We’re here for Tanya’s dress fitting.’
I move with such ungainly speed that I trip over my feet and almost tumble straight into the mannequin. ‘O-of course.’ I do a visible double-take when I realise it’s just the two of them. ‘Oh, I thought Zoe was coming too?’
Kit rubs at his neck, an unmistakable sign that he’s feeling particularly uncomfortable.
‘She, erm, couldn’t make it.’
Figures. At our last appointment, she barely seemed interested in her own dress, why on earth would she care about Tanya’s?
I have them take a seat while I give the dress a final steaming. I know I should remain focused on the task at hand, but it’s hard to keep my wandering eyes from lingering on Kit. Dressed in a pair of belted, faded blue jeans and a close-fitted grey t-shirt, he looks especially handsome, now that his stubble is just the teeniest bit overgrown ...
Stop it, stop it!
This guy is getting married, for goodness sake, I shouldn’t be ogling him like a school girl with a crush. This is all Lucy’s fault, messing with my mind and putting those forbidden thoughts into my head. I don’t fancy Kit, what a ridiculous notion! Okay, he’s attractive, anyone with eyes can see that. And he’s a lot sweeter than his first impression suggested, that’s true enough. But he still drives me up the wall with his incessant jibing and boyish smirk …
Get a grip, Lottie!
Forcing a professional (if a little shaky) smile to my lips, I turn my attention to Tanya. ‘Shall we?’ I motion toward the changing rooms.
She nods hesitantly, trembling with nerves. To be honest, I’m nervous too. I’m proud of what I’ve done to the dress and I think it will look great on her, but what if she hates it? What if she takes one look at herself and bursts into tears?
These worries buzz around my head like persistent honey bees, but I swat them away and offer Tanya a reassuring arm as I lead her toward the velvet curtain, determined to be strong for her.
‘I’m certain you’ll like what you see,’ I whisper in her ear. ‘And if you don’t, we can fix it. There’s nothing I can’t do with a needle and thread!’
Tanya gives my elbow a grateful squeeze.
Before we slip into the changing room, I catch a glimpse of Kit out of the corner of my eye. He’s watching closely, his ordinarily piercing eyes soft and mild and squared in on me . My stomach flip-flops and I close the curtain with such haste, I nearly pull it off the rail.
As speedily as I can, I help Tanya into the dress and slowly pull back the curtain to show Kit. Anxious, I watch Tanya’s reaction in the mirror, and my knees go weak with relief when a huge grin appears on her face.
‘I - I love it!’ She twirls around, holding out her skirts prettily. ‘Look, Kit!’
‘It’s wonderful, sis,’ he agrees, standing up from the chaise lounge to get a closer look. ‘You look lovely.’
She prances around the shop, swishing about and giggling with joy. I almost feel bad when I tell her it’s time to take it off so I can get started on the final alterations.
‘But I love it so much!’ she insists. ‘Can you take a picture of me, so I can show my friends?’
‘Sure, but it will look so much better next time when I’ve actually put the laces in.’
After snapping several shots, Tanya pops behind the curtain to put her street clothes back on. Now it’s just Kit and I, all alone, and I could swear the air in the room has suddenly grown thinner. Flustered, I pretend to busy myself with my notebook, but I can feel his gaze on me, boring into my back. I try to resist, but my resolve falters and I instinctively turn to face him head-on.
‘Thanks for being so great today,’ he begins, picking awkwardly at a nail. ‘Tan hasn’t been herself lately, but I can’t get her to tell me what’s wrong.’
‘I think she’s just having a bit of a confidence crisis,’ I suggest casually, careful not to spill the beans. After all, I don’t want to lose Tanya’s trust. ‘All teens go through it. A lot of grown-ups do too, actually.’
‘Well, she told me you guys had a talk and that you helped her.’ He looks away, then back again. ‘I just want to let you know I appreciate it. And I wanted to say I’m sorry.’
I frown. ‘You’re sorry?’
Brow furrowed with contrition, he gives a firm nod. ‘For calling you an amateur when we first met.’
‘Oh, well I don’t think you actually called me one.’ I mean to shrug my shoulders, but it comes out crooked and I suspect I look like I’ve got a crick in my neck. ‘You sort of just implied it.’
‘Well, either way, I was a rude arse. I shouldn’t have passed judgement before getting the facts. I know it’s not an excuse, but Tanya means the world to me, and I want her to have the best.’ He looks at me through dark eyelashes, his eyes intense and deep, as if they might peer into my very soul. ‘And I realise now that’s you. You’re incredibly talented, Lottie. You have more dedication and passion for your craft than anyone I’ve ever known.’
‘Well … thank you.’ Though I’m fairly certain I’m blushing, I dare to smile at him. ‘I know how much you care about your sister, and you can trust me when I say I’m going to make this dress perfect for her.’
‘I know you will.’
The atmosphere between us is taut and tense, as if it might snap like an elastic band pulled too far. He takes one pace closer, close enough that I inhale the earthy scent of his cologne. My lips part, perhaps to speak, but I find all words have dried up in my throat …
Suddenly, the curtain swishes open and Tanya emerges.
‘I wasn’t looking forward to the wedding all that much, but now I’m super excited!’ She tilts her head, her face dubious. ‘What’s with you two?’
‘Nothing!’ We respond in unison, surely only adding to the suspicion.
‘Come on Tan, we better get going.’ Kit grabs her by the arm and hurries her toward the door, only pausing to call a quick thank you over his shoulder.
And then they’re gone.
My heart still pounding, I run into the back studio and lean against the door, a palm pressed to my heaving chest. I can’t be doing this, I can’t let whatever I’m feeling for Kit get in the way of my work. He’s engaged to be married - and I have a wedding dress to make.
As much as I can’t stand it, I have to put my emotions aside and get on with what I’ve been paid to do.
Damn it, I guess Lucy was right after all.
The irritating sound of my ringtone blares through my spiralling thoughts, and I scowl down at the pixellated name on screen. Ugh, I guess I better finally answer her call, or she won’t leave me alone.
‘Hello?’
‘Charlotte? It’s your mother.’
Yeah, I know, I do have your number saved, unfortunately. Of course, I don’t say that, much as I’d kill to see her reaction.
‘Salut, Mama. Erm, is everything alright?’
‘Well, I should be asking you that!’ She claps back. ‘You’re the one who’s been avoiding my messages for days.’
‘Ah, well I’ve been really busy lately.’
‘Uh-huh, too busy to talk to your mother?’ She clucks her tongue in disapproval. ‘Well, if you can spare a moment for your family, I thought it might be good for us to have another video call. Say, tomorrow?’
I gulp down the lump rapidly rising from my gut. Tomorrow I have an appointment with Zoe. I’m not sure I can handle both her and my mother in one day.
‘Tomorrow’s no good, how about the next day? I’ll be free at noon, English time, of course.’
‘Of course.’ I can practically hear her eyes rolling. ‘Goodbye.’
That should placate her for now. If I could only figure out a way to put off the video call indefinitely, I’d be feeling fairly relaxed right now. Well, relaxed is maybe a bit much, given I’m supposed to present a design worthy of Princess Zoe tomorrow, keep my business running, all while concealing the inconvenient feelings I’ve developed for Kit.
Has a head ever exploded from stress? Because if not, I believe I might be about to make history!