As they stepped off the elevator onto the second floor, Betta gasped. Floor to ceiling windows covered the front of the room and flooded it with light. She could see how the crisp white wedding dresses she had designed would capture and reflect that light. The hardwood floor would have to be covered with deep carpet, but that couldn’t be helped. The mood upstairs was to be elegant not modest, a place where dreams came true.
“It’s perfect, Taylor!” Betta turned around and smiled at him. “It’s everything I dreamed of.”
Taylor felt a wave of relief. He had been fairly sure she’d like it but there was always a chance…the building, and he, had passed the test. “You still have to see the third floor. After all, you’ll be living in it.”
“It could be a dump and I wouldn’t care. This room is…Taylor, I might as well have designed it.”
“Still, you should look at the living area. If that meets with your approval, too, we can close on the purchase of the building by the end of the month.”
Betta took one more look around what would become her Bridal Salon. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
“Betta?” She turned to find Taylor holding open the door to the elevator.
“I’m coming, Taylor. But there’s nothing up there that could possibly talk me out of this building.”
The third floor had only the rudimentary necessities of living. A small bathroom was sectioned off in one corner. A kitchen in another. Other than that it was open space. She could instantly see how she could add walls for bedrooms but preserve the majority of the space for casual living. “Did Meg like it?”
“She said you’d know exactly what to do with it.”
“She’s right. I do. How did you know this was the right place?”
“Well, Meg found it first but I knew right away it was what you were looking for. The location’s good. The building is sound—I had an inspector check it out. All it needs is the Betta touch and it will be the place to see and be seen.”
“Thank you, Taylor. How can I ever thank you enough?”
“I have all the thanks I need in that glow on your face. I have to run to rehearsal now. Here’s the key. It’s yours, so you can stay as long as you like.” He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “I’m so proud of you. Enjoy your dreaming, Betta, but try to come home in time for dinner, okay?”
“Sì, Taylor.” He could see she had already drifted off to the visions that claimed her attention right now.
“Have fun,” he said as he entered the elevator. She never heard him but he didn’t mind. He stepped out onto the sidewalk and locked the door behind him. Looking back at the building he imagined what it would look like with color in the windows. Then he turned and hailed a passing taxi. Time to pursue his own dreams.
Chapter 24
Betta made it home for dinner but only because Meg came to find her. She’d been lost in doing sketches of how the rooms would appear when her phone startled her out of her planning.
“Betta, I’m downstairs. Come let me in.”
She ran down the stairs to open the door for her.
“Taylor suggested I might want to check on you and remind you that it’s getting dark and the electricity is not on yet.”
“I had lost track of time but I’ve been having so much fun. Look at these sketches.”
The two young women looked at the drawings while Betta clarified where each would actually be. Megan was caught up in the dreaming and it wasn’t until they both realized they could barely see anymore that they noticed how much time had passed.
“Yipes! Laura will be frantic if we don’t check in soon.”
You call her on your cell,” Betta said. “I’ll use mine to call for a taxi.”
* * *
As they waited inside the door for the taxi to arrive, Betta turned for one last look. Even in shadow, the room was perfect and she could see how it would gleam. Track lighting down here…could she dare to dream of a chandelier for the salon?
“Hello?”
Betta turned to find Meg smiling at her.
“Where were you?”
“I was thinking about the lighting. Oh, Meg, I just love this place. I feel like I’ve come home.”
“You have. I’m looking forward to being part of this.”
“I’m so glad you’re staying. I mean…I don’t want you to give up on medical school but I’m still glad you’re here.”
“I’m not giving up. Just postponing.”
“How are things, Meg? Is the counselor helping?”
“I think so, but there’s a long way to go. She asks questions that I find hard to answer sometimes.”
They were interrupted when the taxi honked outside. Meg showed Betta how to set the alarm system then they left for home. Betta couldn’t resist turning and looking back as long as she could see the building. It was hers. Soon Morganna’s would be real.
* * *
Taylor didn’t have rehearsals in the evenings so he was home for dinner and anxious to hear what Betta had been doing all day.
“After dinner, Taylor,” Betta said. “We can talk during dinner then I’ll show you the sketches afterwards. Right now, I’m starving! I never even thought to eat lunch.”
“Betta!” Annie exclaimed. “Tomorrow I’ll ask Rosina to make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She uses grape jelly and it’s really good!”
“Thank you, bambina. It sounds delicious and I appreciate you taking care of me.”
Annie fisted up her hands and placed them on her hips. “Well, someone has to,” she said sternly, sounding just like her mother. She didn’t understand why everyone laughed but she laughed with them anyway. She was always happiest when she made people laugh.
“Let’s go eat, Annie.” Meg said, still giggling.
“Eat Annie? What a wonderful idea!” Taylor growled as he scooped his youngest daughter up and carried her to the dining room. “What kind of sauce shall we use?”
* * *
It was good to be home, Betta thought as she looked around the table. Her Aunt Rosina and Uncle Matteo had been wonderful to her after her parents’ deaths and they’d understood when she decided that she wanted to be adopted by Taylor and Laura. It wasn’t that she loved them any less but she had been a member of the Morgan family from the beginning and it was nice to take the name.
“Betta has the most wonderful ideas for Morganna’s,” Meg was saying. “We were looking at some of the sketches and they’re great.”
“Tell us some of the details, Betta,” Laura said as she helped Annie wipe her hands.
“Laura, it’s a wonderful building. Exactly what I wanted. Taylor and Meg must have read my mind. I want to use natural lighting as much as possible, all those wonderful windows! But I thought track lighting for the first floor, keeping the hardwood floors. I want it to be inviting, vibrant, friendly…maybe a small coffee area in one corner for customers.”
“That sounds perfect. What about the salon? I’m really curious about what you plan there.”
“The hardwood has to be covered with carpeting. Plush, extra thick. Pale gray like a dove, I think. If I can find one I can afford, I’d love to have a crystal chandelier. It would reflect the sun during the day and fill the room with rainbows. I won’t have music on the first floor, or if I do, it will be very quiet, but in the salon, it will be strictly classical and instrumental. A lot of Yo-Yo Ma and Llewellyn. The wedding dresses will be displayed on dressmaker’s dummies; the walls will be light, maybe a pale, pale yellow to reflect the sunshine. It will be a place that inspires dreams.”
“Wonderful, Betta. I can almost see it. Would you let me do a photo essay about the building of your dream? I’m sure I could sell it to one of the magazines, maybe even the New York Times. It would be wonderful publicity for you.”
“Really, Laura? I’d be thrilled to
have you do an article about Morganna’s. Will you do the photography?
“No, I think I’ll ask my friend Christopher to do it. He’s a wonder with light. I could have him drop by every day in between other jobs so he’d get a variety of pictures.”
“Grazie, Laura. I’m overwhelmed.”
“We’ll work on the details. Right now, there’s a certain young miss who needs her bath before bed.”
“Betta! Come give me my bath, please?”
“If you promise not to splash and to let me play with the rubber ducky.”
“Sure. Come on!”
She ran out the door with Betta following her. “I have some lovely soap from Italy, Annie. Let me get it and you will smell like a garden!”
Meg excused herself to go help, leaving the older generation at the table.
“She’s so happy, Taylor,” Rosina said. “You’ve done a wonderful thing.”
“Not me. All I did was find a building. The rest is up to her.”
“Morganna’s will be a great success. She’s going to be a famous designer,” Matteo said with pride. No one disagreed.
Chapter 25
Betta’s hands trembled as she signed the last set of papers. With that signature she was in debt for probably the rest of her life but the building was hers! Morganna’s was going to be real. Crystal, the closer for the mortgage company, shook Betta’s hand. “It sounds like such a wonderful project, Ms. Morgan. I hope you’ll send me an invitation to the opening. I can’t wait to see it.”
“I will. Right now, we’re aiming for a spring opening.”
Taylor heard the edge of panic in her voice. “You’ll make it, Betta. Everyone’s ready to help.” She smiled at him. Without his help, this wouldn’t be happening. He’d put up a large amount of investment money for the store—a silent partner—but she wanted to make sure he got back every penny he put in.
“Shall we go see if it’s still there, now that you own it, Ms. Morgan?” Taylor asked with a teasing smile. They said their goodbyes and hurried out of the building.
* * *
As their cab pulled up in front of the building, Betta was overwhelmed by a sense of panic. She sat frozen in place, her hand on the handle of the car door, staring at the building. “Dio Mio,” she whispered. “Taylor, what have I done? What if it doesn’t work?”
Taylor got out of the cab and came around and opened the door and helped her out. “I remember feeling the same way when the plane was about to land in New York when I first came here. Maybe my parents had been right. Maybe I should have gone to school. I was never more scared in my life. But I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. I think you know the same thing in your heart, Betta.” He gave her a hug then said, “Let’s go see your new home.”
Taylor stood back and let Betta open the door. As she stepped through she was greeted with cries of “Surprise” and “Congratulations”. They were all there. All of her family and friends. Even her beloved grandparents from New Mexico were there. The tears she’d been holding back finally overwhelmed her when she saw the banner they were holding. “Morganna’s – When You Want To Be Noticed!”
Meg was beside her with her arm around Betta’s shoulders as Betta tried to speak. “Grazie, grazie! I don’t know what to say. It’s been an incredible day and I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed and lonely—so much resting on my shoulders. But finding you all here, I realize I’m not alone at all. Morganna’s will be fine as long as I have such wonderful friends and family.”
A cheer was raised and someone put a glass of champagne in her hand. Raising his own glass, Taylor said, “To Elisabetta Morgan and Morganna’s. New York isn’t going to know what hit it!”
“To Betta!”
Two of the young men from the crew that had been doing some of the preliminary work on the building disappeared up the stairs. A few minutes later they called down, “Ready!” and everyone ushered Betta out the door.
“Close your eyes, Betta, no peeking!” Annie ordered as she took Betta’s hand to guide her. She could hear whispers around her and someone turned her around so that she was facing the building. “Okay,” Annie said, “You can look now.”
She hadn’t noticed the white sheeting that had hung from the second-floor windows when they had arrived. It was gone now and in its place, raised, gold, calligraphic lettering flowed just under the second floor windows—Morganna’s. It was her sign, the sign she’d designed. She smiled with delight. It was exactly as she’d seen it in her mind and translated to paper. Exactly—only better!
She turned to find Taylor and Laura standing behind her. “Oh, how…”
“We stole your design and had it made,” Laura said with a smile. “A housewarming present. I hope it’s right.”
“It’s perfect! Thank you!”
Betta became aware of a photographer recording the moment. When he lowered his camera, Laura beckoned him over. “This is Christopher, Betta. He’ll be keeping the photo log of your progress for my article.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Christopher,” Betta said as she shook his hand. She registered that he was almost as tall as Taylor and quite good-looking—dark hair, eyes the color of amber. He actually distracted her from the excitement of the moment as she felt a reaction she’d never felt for anyone before.
“Nice to be part of this, Ms. Morgan. Looks like it’s going to be pretty posh.”
“Betta—please, call me Betta. It’s so much easier than Ms. Morgan.”
“Betta it is, then. And only your mother calls me Christopher. Make it Chris, please.”
“Come back inside, Betta,” Meg said. “You, too, Chris. We have food and more champagne.”
As the two young women turned away, Meg whispered to Betta. “He is gorgeous, Betta. I’ll give you first dibs but if you don’t make a move quick enough, I may snatch him up!”
“Megan! He’s a friend of Laura’s. She sent him to take pictures not to romance one of her daughters.”
Meg stopped and looked at her, “Are you sure, Betta?” she asked with a wicked grin.
“She wouldn’t!” Betta exclaimed, her eyes widening at the idea.
“You’ve been away from home way too long! C’mon. We’ve got some celebrating to do.”
Chapter 26
Jamie walked to work just as he had every day since he’d come to New York. He no longer consciously looked for Megan but she was always there at the back of his thoughts.
Telling his parents of his decision to move half a world away had not been easy. His father had raged, his mother had cried, but he wouldn’t change his mind. Although he and his father had made a peace of sorts, Jamie had never quite forgiven him for his part in driving Meg away, for tearing him apart from the woman he loved.
He’d found a bartending job here in Soho. A good job with a decent wage. He’d put down new roots and was doing well.
This morning, as he passed the big white building on the corner he noticed something new. Stopping to look in the window, he saw workmen painting the walls and hanging light fixtures. No clue what was going in there but it would add an interesting break in his walk. As he walked on, he missed the sight of Betta coming down the stairs and out the door, where she turned the other way to meet Meg for lunch.
* * *
Soon the morning peek at Morganna’s became the highlight of his walk. Since he didn’t go into work until just before the lunch rush, there was always something going on, something new to see. The wooden floors had been stripped and polished to a high gloss. Fixtures and shelves that proclaimed it a fashion shop—a boutique he reminded himself—were being arranged.
One morning he watched in amazement as highly decorated wooden benches, tables, chairs, and stools were carried in. He’d never seen the like of them! As the parade continued, he’d been drawn to the door where he could hear a woman’s voice directing wh
ere things were to be placed. A photographer was documenting the whole thing.
When the photographer put his camera down to change film, he noticed Jamie in the doorway. “Come on in and take a look,” he invited. “I’ve seen you peering in lots of times in the last few weeks. By now you’ve earned a closer look.
“Thanks,” Jamie said as he walked in. “It’s quite a place. And I’ve never seen furniture like that.”
“Those are Sarah Smythe’s pieces. She’s a bright young artist/designer that the owner’s decided to foster. She’ll be introducing others as she goes along, especially up and coming fashion designers, including herself.”
“Beautiful place. I work around the corner at Margie’s. Drop by and I’ll buy you a pint.”
“Chris? Can you come up here?” The woman’s voice floated down the stairwell. For a moment, Jamie found it familiar but couldn’t grasp from where.
“Gotta go. The boss lady calls. Name’s Chris. I’ll be by for that pint.”
“Name’s Jamie. Come by anytime,” he answered as he headed out the door.
“Chris, were you talking to someone?” Betta asked as he came into the salon. “This could have waited.”
“No one important. Nice guy who comes by here every day— works around the corner at that bar. I think he found Sarah’s work a little startling.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” she laughed. “But they always come back to buy it.”
* * *
“Hey, Jamie, is that promise of a pint still good?”
“Sure and certain! And it’s a good time for it, too. The place is quiet and I can join you for a bit.”
The two men settled at a small table where Jamie could keep an eye on the door and the bar. It was always quiet this time of day with the lunch rush over and the happy hour crowd yet to arrive. “I haven’t seen you come by lately, Jamie. New hours?” Chris asked.
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