Sewing in Circles (12 page)

Now that the shower is over, I'm full speed ahead getting everything made and ready for the gift fair next weekend. It's going to be all sewing and accessory making, all the time. Wish me luck!

When Zoey checked her e-mail after school on Monday she was thrilled to see Daphne Shaw's name in her in-box—and even more excited when she read the e-mail:

Zoey,

I LOVED the second batch of items you sent—so much so that I couldn't just pick one thing to feature in the pop-up store: I'm going to have to feature two items instead. I really like the flared
skirt and the origami-inspired top. What do you think? Can you manage to produce two pieces for me? I'd need five pieces in each size to start.

Best,

Daphne

Zoey e-mailed back right away.

Hi, Daphne!

When does the store open? As soon as you let me know, I'll let you know if I can do it! But I'd do just about anything to make this happen!

Zoey

She was itching to start sewing, but figured she should wait to hear from Daphne. Luckily, the designer responded within minutes.

Silly me! The pop-up shop launch is in three weeks' time—on Saturday evening. And I'd love for you to come to the grand opening! I think you're ready for the red carpet.

Red carpet? That sounded amazing!

Zoey wrote back:

I think I can get the pieces ready in time. I have to see if someone can bring me to the opening. But I definitely
want
to come!

When Dad got home, she told him the good news.

“So, can you take me to the opening?” she asked. “I'd normally ask Aunt Lulu, because I know these fashion events are more her thing, but with the baby-to-be and everything . . .”

“Good thinking,” Dad said. “Let me check the football schedule.”

Zoey's dad was a physical therapist for the local university team and had to be available to treat the players before and after games. He looked at his calendar and frowned.

“I'm sorry, honey, we've got an away game on Saturday afternoon. I wouldn't be able to get back in time to get you up to New York.”

Seeing Zoey's crestfallen face, he
continued, “Why don't you ask Lulu? I know she's getting close, but knowing your aunt, I bet she'd enjoy a night on the red carpet before the baby comes.”

“I hadn't thought of that,” Zoey said. “I'll give her a call.”

Aunt Lulu was thrilled to hear Zoey's exciting news.

“I'm so proud of you, honey. And I wish like anything that I could take you to strut down the catwalk at the opening. Or in my case, waddle down the catwalk,” Aunt Lulu said. “But I saw the doctor this morning, and he told me to take it easy and stick close to home. I guess just to be safe, since I'm getting close-ish to the due date.”

“Oh . . . ,” Zoey said, trying to hide the disappointment from her voice. “I understand.”

“I hope you find someone who can take you,” Aunt Lulu said. “I'd hate if you had to miss the chance to be there on your big day!”

Zoey sighed. “Me too!” she said.

As disappointed as Zoey was, she didn't have any time to sit around and feel sorry for herself. With
the gift fair opening in a few days, there was just too much to do. She spent Tuesday and Wednesday after school making more bracelets out of a variety of fabrics, and making scarves and headbands with fabric she'd screen printed with images of Ezra's painting. She was so happy with the way they were looking that she wanted him to see. She asked Ezra if he wanted to video chat, saying that she had a surprise for him.

“So what's the big surprise?” he asked when they were both on camera.

“Well, I felt bad about the fact that you couldn't get a booth at the gift fair, and I loved the painting you gave me as a gift so much that it gave me an idea,” Zoey explained. “I figured out a way that I could have more accessories to sell, and you could get more exposure for your art.”

She held up one of the silk-screened scarves. “What do you think?”

“Wait—that's my painting,” Ezra said.

“I know!” Zoey said. “That's the surprise!”

“Oh.” Ezra's face looked blank.

To Zoey's dismay, while Ezra did seem genuinely
surprised, he
didn't
seem all that happy.

“What's the matter?” she asked. “I thought you'd like it.”

Ezra hesitated. “I . . . well . . . I think of my paintings as art. Not as decoration for other things.”

“It
is
art,” Zoey said. “But you can buy clothes and T-shirts and scarves with famous paintings on them at art museum gift stores, right?”

“Yes, but . . . I guess I'm also kind of upset that you didn't ask me first.”

“The only reason I didn't ask you was because I wanted to do this as a surprise,” Zoey said. “And because you seemed to think copying is a compliment. But I guess I should have asked you, now that I think about it. And the other thing is that I plan to give you all the profits from the headbands and scarves.”

“I don't know,” Ezra said.

“Also, I can get my brother, Marcus, to make a stack of postcards to hand out at the booth—he's really good at graphic design,” Zoey said, hoping to make Ezra feel better about everything. “That way people who like the painting on the accessories will
know where to find you to buy original artwork.”

“Look, Zoey, I get that you were trying to do something nice for me, because of the booth thing, and that's really sweet,” Ezra said. “But I'm still not sure how I feel about my paintings being used on accessories. I have to think about it.”

“Okay, I understand,” Zoey said, although she wasn't sure she did. “Just . . . Can you let me know soon? Because if I can't use these, I have to make something else and the fair starts on Friday.”

“Yeah. I'll let you know tomorrow,” Ezra said.

When Zoey hung up, she panicked. Why if Ezra said no to the scarves and headbands? She'd already made a bunch, and then she'd still need something else besides bracelets to sell as accessories. And time was running out!

By lunch the next day, Zoey still hadn't heard anything from Ezra, and she was starting to freak out.

“Why hasn't he let me know yet?” she wailed. “The gift fair setup is tomorrow! Even if I can think of something else to sell, I'm not going to have enough time to make enough of whatever it is!”

“I know you wanted this to be a surprise,” Kate said. “But you really should have asked Ezra first.”

“Yeah, I can kind of understand why he's miffed,” Libby said. “How would you feel if Allie had taken one of your designs and put it on a tote bag without asking you?”

“I would be upset,” Zoey admitted. “Listen, I know
now
that I should have asked Ezra first.”

“But it's too late now,” Priti said. “He's already upset.”

“And I have to set up my booth tomorrow after school,” Zoey said. “What am I going to do if he says no?”

Her friends all looked at her sadly.

“I wish I had a great idea to help, but I don't,” Kate said.

“Me neither,” Libby agreed. “Not on such short notice.”

“I just hope he says yes,” Priti said.

“You and me both,” Zoey said, hoping like anything that he'd let her know—soon! She decided to make some infinity scarves and headbands out of fabric from her stash after school, just in case.

Zoey had just finished sewing her third infinity scarf out of conflict-free fabric when Ezra finally called.

“Oh, hey, Ezra,” Zoey said. “I've been on pins and needles waiting to hear from you. So . . . have you made a decision yet? What do you think? Are you okay with me selling the scarves and headbands?”

“Well, I guess it's okay this time,” Ezra said, and Zoey felt a huge weight of worry disappear. “But I still wish you'd asked me first.”

“I know! So do I!” Zoey said. “I realize now that it was kind of silly of me not to.”

“For one thing, I probably would have chosen different paintings if I'd known they were going to be on accessories,” Ezra said. “It would have been good to have some input.”

“I understand,” Zoey said. “And I'm really sorry.”

“So I was thinking—it's not really fair for me to take all the profits from the silk-screen accessories,” Ezra said. “I mean, yeah it's my painting, but making the accessories was your idea. Plus, you had to spend all the time designing and silk-screening
and sewing. So, I say we split the profits.”

“Are you sure?” Zoey asked.

“I'm one hundred percent sure that I should only get fifty percent of the profits,” Ezra said.

“I'll agree to that if you agree to come keep me company at the gift fair,” Zoey said.

“Fine—as long as I don't have to wear a scarf or a headband!” Ezra said.

“Well, then,” Zoey said. “You've got yourself a deal!”

She breathed a sigh of relief when they hung up, and made a few headbands out of the stash fabric, too, so the display would look balanced. She was finally getting excited!