Three Weddings and a Dress (34 page)

She had nothing to hang in her locker so she went straight to her office. The clock above her window indicated she was a few minutes early. Enough time to breathe deep and have a cup of coffee. They kept a supply of fresh ground and array of teas for clients, and the smell of a fresh pot wafted through to her.

“What has you all gussied up?” Darlene asked. Ari was glad she hadn’t started to pour or she’d have had stains down the front of her dress. It would ruin the entire look she strived to achieve.

“Is gussied up still a word people use?”

Darlene was only a few years older than she was, but sometimes her language fit their salon. Classic.

“Gussied is a timeless word. Just ask Gertrude.”

That explained it. Darlene worked closer with their boss, face to face. Ari was lucky in the fact most of her files she transferred via the office Intranet.

“Tell me why are you dressed in your finest?” Darlene stepped in to inspect the edging along her shoulder knot. “This is hand stitched, and it’s lovely. Is this one of yours?”

“Yes.”

“So it has a story. Okay give up. What’s going on?”

“Come over to my office.” She grabbed her mug to lead the way, paused and glanced back. “Is Gertrude in yet?”

“No. She had an early meeting with a new client at their home.”

Ari did her best to shrug off the disappointment. It would just delay things, not cancel her plan. “Since when does she take appointments away from the salon?”

“Since it’s one of the Long Island Rochester’s.” By Darlene’s tone, Ari knew she wanted to add a la-teti-da to the end of her announcement.

“I hope things go well, then she’ll be in a good mood to listen.”

Darlene settled across from the desk, “Well?”

An addendum to her plan was forming, “I’m not going to tell you, I want you to be surprised.”

“You’re killing me. Surprised when?”

“Do you have a client meeting this afternoon?” Ari sipped her coffee as she waited.

“No, I’m going over the new stock the florist has for this weekend. See what I can do for some new designs.”

“Will you come with me to present my idea to Gertrude?” She sat the mug down on the desk so she could scoot in and lean toward her friend. “Please?”

Darlene slouched into her chair and narrowed her eyes. “Wouldn’t it be better if I went in knowing what you were going to pitch?”

“Nope, because I want your honest reaction.” Ari let herself drop back into the cushion on her chair. “You’re worried that you’ll have the wrong reaction, aren’t you?”

Darlene swallowed her neck muscles working. “Yes. I know you’ve been working on your designs, so it has something to do with them. What happens if I blow it for you? I’d never forgive myself.”

“I have enough confidence in my work that I don’t think that will happen.” She raised her mug toward Darlene. “Here’s to a successful meeting.”

Darlene barely tapped her rim, “If you’re sure.”

“I’ll leave a message for her to call me when she returns. When she calls, I’ll ask for a meeting with the both of you. You won’t have to pretend any emotion. And if you don’t like it, Darlene I’ll survive. I’m counting on you being honest.”

Her friend rose to her feet. “It’s a deal. I have things to do so I’ll chat with you later.”

“Yes.” Ari smiled. “You will.”

Ari logged onto her system to begin her day’s work. She had four upcoming weddings and they needed preliminary planning. Once she had an idea, she’d meet with the couple and match her idea to their plans.

Wouldn’t it be great to offer one of her designs?

When the phone rang, she’d been so busy with her schedule, she’d actually forgotten she’d left a message for her boss. She pressed the speaker button. “Hello?”

“You wanted me to call.” Gertrude’s voice gruff as always filled the room. “I’m busy, what do you need?”

“I would like to present an idea to you and Darlene. If I could have an hour of your time? Your office, sometime this afternoon.” She held her breathe while the seconds ticked by, until her answer came.

The silence was almost overwhelming. Droplets of sweat beaded to her forehead, the strands of hair stuck at her temples.

“Only an hour.” The speaker line went dead.

Shooting up from her chair, it rolled until it hit the wall. She didn’t care, her feet were dancing a victory jig.

“Should I have brought my umbrella?” Darlene sounded amused.

“Oh, you startled me.” Ari pounded her fist to her chest. “Gertrude said yes. Dang I forgot to ask what time.”

“Now, she called to give the order to me.” Darlene grabbed Ari to begin pulling her.

“Wait, I need my bag.” She reached down, swiveled and patted her hair into place. “Okay ready, let’s go.”
 

Ari gave a tap on the door, then opened it at Gertrude’s gruff, “Enter.”

Darlene was the first to sit. Ari wasn’t sure what to do. Then she spotted the easel, a perfect place for her sketches. She walked to the board and propped her bag on the side table, then turned toward her boss and co-worker.

“Ms. Schneider, I have a plan to expand Classic Manhattan.” When the woman opened her mouth to object, Ari hurried on. “Please let me finish, and then you can both give me your thoughts.”

Ari waited for nods before continuing. “Both of you know I design clothing.”

She stepped away from the flip board for a moment to turn around. “I designed this dress for my cousin’s wedding. Each of my creations have a story, a love story. And this dress is no different.”

Darlene grinned at her, and Ari was thankful for the encouragement. “My cousin’s groom was from Australia, a little town on the east coast near the barrier reefs. The place where he lives is rich in folklore about ghosts. One in particular was about a young girl who died on her wedding night. She was on the beach looking toward the beautiful ocean and a wave washed her to sea. It’s been said that on cool autumn nights the villagers can hear her crying and some say they see her standing in the waves with her dress whipping around her knees.

“The delicate fabric I imagined would be what they see and I picked the color for the coral known in that area.”

An indelicate snort came from Gertrude’s direction. “I don’t have time for these stories, get to the point.”
 

She’d better do that, or she’d lose her chance. “I wanted you to understand my inspiration. Each design has a different story and all are classic. My designs are mostly wedding dresses. Classic Manhattan could have its own wedding designs.” She held up her hand to stop the words from the woman. “Please just hear me out. I have a few of my designs with their stories, and each new bride could look at them. For instance, if we have a young Italian couple, I could show them this.”

Ari carefully placed her design on the board. “Picture a small early 1900’s town on the cliffs of Italy overlooking the ocean. A young girl waits and watches for her young man to return from the war.”

She used her pencil to point. “I’ve used an ivory satin to accent the beaded lace. Notice the beads are amber they give the dress a gossamer appearance. Picture the color of the wet glistening rocks as the wave’s crash onto them. The skirt flares as if the wind is angry and blowing as she waits.”

Darlene clapped a hand to the desk, Ari and Gertrude both jumped and stared. “I love it…” Darlene must have noticed both were glaring in her direction. “Sorry I got caught up in the moment.”

Ari hid her smile. It was exactly what she’d hoped. She peeked under her lashes to see what the older woman’s reaction, her expression unreadable.

Gertrude finally gave a brief nod. “Continue.”

“Next I have an exceptionally talented girl who sings the blues in saloons and theatres trying to scratch out a living. Hoping to find someone special. Think Memphis early 1930’s.” She laid the design out. “I’d use a lace over silk chiffon, fashioned after the evening dresses of the period. The chiffon would be a light cashmere color, the lace an ivory with the barest hint of blue. Which of course would represent the blues.”

“Okay.” Her boss interrupted her, frowned. “This is all well and good.” She humphed. “I’ll admit you’re designs are… adequate.”

Ari did her best not to show her indignation at that comment. Darlene’s raised brow helped.

Gertrude humphed again. “Even if I did agree, where and how would you create these gowns?”

Ari was prepared for the question. Nevertheless, butterflies swamped her tummy and flittered up her throat. “There’s the third floor that we use for storage. If we cleared it out, I could set up a sewing room there. I know the equipment would cost some…” She swallowed to fortify herself to continue. “…and I’d need an assistant.”

The woman’s eyes were so round, Ari thought they would pop out. Rushing before Gertrude put a stop to her plan. “I don’t make much money, but I save a hundred dollars a month. I could apply for a business loan. Then I’d be vested in the designs.”

There. She’d finished. Now she had to wait. Darlene wore an eager expression. Clearly, she was on board. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the one who mattered.

Gertrude stood and paced to the window, apparently to gaze at the building across the road. A moment later she twirled around.

Here it came. The denial. Ari braced herself.

Taking a deep gulp of air, Ari gripped the pencil still in her hand until a tiny crack sounding like a gunshot undulated over the room. She reached over and dropped the two pieces in the garbage. Then she continued the torturous wait.

Good lord, how long was Gertrude going to make her stand beside the presentation while droplets of sweat rolled down her back? The beautiful coral tulle was already plastered to her spine.
      

 
“It’s a good plan, and will give us a niche. Heidi has done well, but women have to shop there and take their purchases to another salon. In fact, it could be Classic Manhattan’s new slogan. ‘We do everything… From Dress to Dessert.’ Good work.”

She went to her desk and sat behind it. Then looked at both Ari and Darlene as if they’d grown two heads or something. “Off with you, I have work to do. Arabella I expect a professional business proposal on my desk by the end of the week. I’ll present it to our banker.”

“But…”
 

“Do not worry, we will work the details of investment out, you deserve to own your share.”

Darlene held the door, “Come Ari, we’ve kept Gertrude long enough.”

Once the door was shut and they’d gone the few steps to Ari’s office, Darlene ushered her into the room. She threw her arms around her in a bear hug.

“You did it. Your designs are perfect. And your plan is solid.”

Ari stepped away and grinned at her friend. She put her hands above her head and wiggled her butt in a victory jig.

“I hear the forecast now, flooding in downtown Manhattan.” Darlene chuckled.

Ari smiled stopped her dance and faced her friend. “I can’t believe she’s going to go with my ideas. I was prepared for more of a battle.” Her brow wrinkled. “It’s sort of a letdown.”

Darlene’s hand slapped her back knocking her a step forward. “But you did it! I can’t wait until we can start showing our clients. If only we had a better way.”

“What do you mean?” Ari went to her desk relief caused her knees to give out. Her chair caught her before she hit the ground.