“Why don’t you think of them often?”
She placed the parcel in her lap and laid her hands upon it. “I shouldn’t be here in America.”
“They disapprove.”
“They don’t know.”
“That is peculiar.”
She nodded. “By saying I shouldn’t be here, I mean that the opportunity to travel or to work in a fine store like Macy’s are achievements I never dreamt of as a child, because I couldn’t even conceive of such possibilities. I grew up poor.”
“There’s no shame in having meager beginnings. Many of us did.”
Us? She’d ask him more about his roots later. She wanted him to understand hers. “Being poor in status is one thing. My family was poor in spirit. In their attitude.” She looked at him, needing to see his eyes. “It is possible to be happy and poor.” She put a fist against her chest. “Happiness comes from in here, doesn’t it?”
Sean was quiet for a moment. “It should. But often the outer details of life complicate and cloud happiness. They stir people up and feed their discontent.”
Annie nodded. “I know it’s not as simple as I make it out to be, but I think there has to be a certain amount of will involved. People need to will themselves to be happy so the harsh particulars won’t faze them.”
Sean nodded. “God gave us free will to choose our own way.”
“To choose happiness?”
“To choose Him and His way—which will give us that deep-down happiness and contentment, no matter what happens.”
“Now, you make it sound too easy.”
“It’s not that difficult to say yes to Him. And the subsequent yeses get easier.”
Annie remembered her last encounter with God at Edna’s, when she felt His presence and love. “Come to Me first. You are Mine and I am yours.” God wanted her to say yes to Him. Now Sean was telling her to say yes to Him. Surely it couldn’t be as simple as that.
“Annie?”
She changed the subject. “Back to my parents—”
He smiled. “You’re willing to talk about a flawed father rather than a perfect one?”
“I know the one better than the other.”
“That’s too bad.”
She huffed at him. “Do you want to hear my story, or not?”
He gave her a by-your-leave with his hand.
“Where was I?”
“Being happy in here.” He put a fist by his own heart.
Her thoughts sped across the ocean to her family home. “I was determined to be happy, but my parents were just as determined to be unhappy, to be dissatisfied, to be victims of life, with no hope of changing it or making things better.” Before he could respond, she finished her point. “Yet they did worse by begrudging everyone else of their happiness, wanting to pull the rest of us down into their hole to moan and complain.”
“So you moved away from that hole.”
“I ran from it. I ran to a life that offered hope and a chance to be something more, first with the Kidds, and now on my own.”
He took her hand in his. “You’ve done well, Annie Wood.”
His words filled her up. “I hate that your compliments mean so much to me.”
“Why?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Do you want me to tell you why?”
She was amazed at his audacity. “Be my guest.”
“To accept compliments means someone else has seen into your world and has judged it.”
“I’m used to being judged.”
“In the negative.”
She felt the sting of tears and nodded.
“Having others point out the good in you means you need to acknowledge the good in you.”
She swiped a stray tear away. “Where did you get your keen, logical mind, Mr. Culver? It’s quite impressive.”
Edna arrived home before Sean and Annie and was at the stove when they entered. The delicious smell of sausages and onions filled the flat.
“Dinner will be ready soon,” she said. “Not as fine as in a restaurant, but I made bubble and squeak to honor Annie’s British roots.”
Sean hung his coat and hat on a hall tree. “I have no idea what that is.”
Edna pointed at the stove. “Sausage served with mashed potatoes, cabbage, and onions.”
“Thank you, Edna. It’s one of my favorites.” Annie began setting the table.
“Why the ‘bubble” and why the ‘squeak’?” Sean asked.
Edna smiled. “Listen.” She leaned her ear toward the pan. The onions bubbled and the sausage squeaked.
Sean laughed. “Food that makes music. I know it will taste as good as it sounds.” He took on the job of slicing bread. Annie loved how he pitched in without asking.
“So, Sean,” Edna said as she stirred the onions. “Annie said you were going to take her to dinner and share some great idea?”
Annie felt herself blush. She’d told Edna about it, never intending for Sean to know. What if his idea was of a more personal nature? He wouldn’t want to share it here. “If you don’t want to tell me tonight—”
“With me in the room,” Edna said.
“You don’t have to,” Annie said. “I can wait.”
“But I can’t.”
His enthusiasm fed her own and eased her mind about the subject matter. Within minutes they sat at the table, said grace, and set to work eating dinner.
“Hmm. The bubble and squawk is now a favorite.”
“Squeak,” Edna corrected.
Sean winked.
“Oh you,” she said. “But enough about the food. Annie’s dying to know your idea.”
“Dying might be too strong a word. I’m interested.”
“That’s all?” Sean said, pretending to be annoyed.
She played along. “Very interested.” Just tell me.
Sean ate another large bite to fuel himself, then stood. He stepped into the parlor and returned with Annie’s drawing. “This sketch is going to change your life.”
Really? “You have my attention.”
“After seeing your talent, I approached my superiors at Butterick and told them about you, about your fashion sense, and your artistic ability.”
“I hardly think helping a few customers choose the materials for a dress or skirt reveals any acute fashion sense.”
“But you did more than just choose the materials; you looked beyond the patterns that were shown in the catalog and innovated a new piece of fashion altogether. You designed something that previously didn’t exist.”
“You did do that,” Edna said.
Did I? “So what did your superiors say?”
“They want to hire you to work at Butterick in the pattern design department.”
Annie felt her jaw drop. She pointed to the parlor. “I’ve only used two patterns. Ever. How am I going to help create new ones?”
“They are willing to hire you and help you learn.”
It was all too much. “But why? They don’t know me. They haven’t even seen my sketch—my one sketch. Why would they risk so much on a girl who two months ago was a housemaid in England?”
He returned to his chair. “I can be very persuasive. And, there’s an opening in that department.”
Her thoughts collided, one into the other. “Let us say I am able to do a good job at Butterick…. What about Macy’s? They’ve been nothing but kind to me, and have been so understanding about letting me take time off to deal with Danny’s death and Grasston. I can’t just leave them.”
Her point was met with silence.
“Actually, you could,” Edna said. “Clerks come and go all the time. It’s the way of it.”
“But you’ve been there many, many years.”
“Because I found my niche selling sewing machines. Do you really think your destiny lies in selling fashion? Or designing it?”
The thought of abandoning Macy’s overwhelmed: Mrs. MacDonald, Mildred, and even Mr. Straus …
“There is ano
ther reason you should take the new job,” Sean offered.
Annie pressed a hand to her forehead. “More? I’m already at sixes and sevens.”
“The other reason is that Grasston is loose. He knows where you work. But if you worked at Butterick, he couldn’t find you and hurt you.”
“Oh my,” Edna said. “He’s right.”
It would be such a relief to not have to look for Grasston lurking around Macy’s anymore.
Edna interjected. “If Annie is interested—which she most certainly should be—what is the next step?”
“I can’t take any more time away from Macy’s. I’m sure someone at Butterick would want me to come to their offices and interview and—”
“I thought of that. I got them to agree to an interview on the telephone.” He retrieved a slip of paper from his pocket. “Here is the name and number of Mr. Burroughs. Call him tomorrow during your lunch break.”
Annie stared at the number. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“I’ve certainly tried.” He took her hand. “I want you to become all you can be, Annie-girl. I also want you to be safe. Accepting this job will bring about both goals.”
She thought of their discussion on the streetcar, the talk about free will, choosing God’s way, and saying yes to Him. With a surge of certainty, Annie found herself saying, “Yes. I say yes.”
Sean jumped out of his chair, pulled her to her feet, and encased her in a hug. Then it was Edna’s turn.
“Once again, Annie makes a quick decision,” Edna said.
“I hope it’s the right one.”
“I assume it is.” Edna turned to Sean. “That’s some idea you had.”
He nodded but only had eyes for Annie. “You’ve made me very happy—in here.” He put a fist to his chest.
She mimicked his motion, pressing a hand against her own happy heart.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Annie skipped lunch to call Butterick. As she stepped into the telephone booth in Herald Square she was glad she hadn’t eaten. Her stomach clutched and rolled.
This one phone call will change my life.
Did her life need changing? She had already endured so many changes: coming to America, leaving her job as a maid, taking refuge with the Tuttles, getting a job at Macy’s, moving to Edna’s, losing Danny to Grasston.
Grasston was one of the biggest reasons she wanted to change her place of employment. Leaving Macy’s would gain her much-needed distance from the threat of him.
She retrieved a coin from her purse and thought of yet another huge change in her life: Sean. If someone asked her to pinpoint when their relationship started, she would have a hard time giving them an answer. In so many ways Sean always was. He was indelibly linked to her time at Macy’s. And now he would be a part of her time at Butterick.
If I get the job.
If she didn’t make the call, there was 100 percent certainty she’d get a no. She had to risk asking the question.
But as she risked, she found herself turning to the One who knew all the answers. God? Is this You at work? If so, let it happen. If not, I’ll get back to work and be satisfied at Macy’s.
Annie hesitated a bit after realizing that her prayer was a bit confrontational, as if she was demanding God do the work to get her life where it needed to be.
Yet that’s what she wanted Him to do. Sean had talked about saying yes to the Almighty. Doing so required surrender on her part but also demanded work on His part. Was He busy right now? Did God have more important things to do besides listen in on her phone call?
She shook the theological musings away. Whether God had time or not was out of her control. What was in her control was putting the coin in the slot, dialing the number, and saying “Hello” when someone answered.
With one last intake of breath, Annie did just that. “Butterick Pattern Company, may I help you?”
“I would like to speak to Mr. Burroughs. Please.”
“I’ll connect you.”
Annie took advantage of the delay to breathe deeply. She saw a man standing outside the booth, waiting to use the phone. She covered the receiver and said, “Sorry, but I am going to be a while.”
He shrugged and went on his way—which was for the best. She didn’t need an audience.
“Burroughs here.”
Annie’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes, sir, Mr. Burroughs, my name is Annie Wood, and I was told by Sean Culver to—”
“Yes, indeed, Miss Wood. Mr. Culver has told me all about you.”
What was she supposed to say to that? “Good things, I hope?”
“Very impressive things. Apparently you have a talent for fashion?”
She regretted that Sean may have overstated it. “I have an interest in fashion.” She thought of something to add. “And a desire to learn about the business.”
“Very good. What is your background?”
She wanted to fudge about the maid part, but not knowing what Sean had told him, she had to tell the whole truth. “I was a housemaid for the Viscount Newley and his family in England.”
“Not much fashion involved there.”
“At first, no, sir, there wasn’t. But I quickly became involved in making alterations to the ensembles of her ladyship and her daughter.”
“That doesn’t sound like the usual duties of a housemaid.”
“It wasn’t. But I had an interest and helped the lady’s maids do their jobs.”
“So they taught you how to sew?”
Had they? “Not really. I learned by doing. By studying the dress construction of Lady Newley’s couture gowns and dresses.”
“Couture?”
She wasn’t sure why he was asking the question. “She has all her clothes made in Paris after attending the fashion shows at the couture fashion houses.”
“Your knowledge of such construction might come in handy.”
Annie tried to contain her surprise. “I’m glad you think so. I am also currently working at Macy’s and—”
“Mr. Culver has told us about your ability to sell multiple patterns to one customer.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I must admit I didn’t do it to gain sales as much as to fulfill the needs of the customer.”
“That’s a good answer.”
Since he seemed impressed, she offered her own question. “What does the position at Butterick entail?”
“That depends on you.”
“I … I’m not sure how to respond.”
“Let’s just say that with Mr. Culver’s hearty recommendation and our conversation today, I am intrigued by the possibilities of having you work for our company. Are you interested, Miss Wood?”
And there it was. A yes or no stood between Annie and the path of her future. She found herself praying a very simple prayer: Yes, Lord?
With but a moment between the prayer and her answer, she heard herself saying, “Yes, Mr. Burroughs. I think I would be very interested.”
“Very good. When can you start?”
Today would be ideal. But then she thought of Mrs. MacDonald and Mr. Straus…. “I will give my notice today and let you know. I don’t want to cause Macy’s more trouble than I have to.” Than I have already caused with the Grasston business.
“Although I’d like you to start immediately, I find your loyalty and work ethic commendable. We shall be in touch.”
“Thank you, Mr. Burroughs. I shan’t let you down.”
“I don’t believe you will, Miss Wood.”
Annie hung up and bowed her head in gratitude.
Annie needed to talk to Edna or she would burst with excitement. Luckily, Annie was helping a customer who was interested in sewing machines, so she had the chance to go to Edna’s department.
As the woman tried a new Singer, Annie whispered to Edna, “I did it. I took the job.”
Edna’s eyebrows rose. “Congratulations. Have you informed Macy’s yet?”
“I will as soon as there’s a lull.”
&
nbsp; The customer looked up from the machine. “How do you make it go in reverse?”
Annie left her in Edna’s care and returned to her own counter, eager for the chance to wrap things up. If only the customers would go home so she could talk to Mrs. MacDonald.
Finally, there was a lag in business, and she had her chance. “May I speak with you a minute, please?”
Mrs. MacDonald nodded, but the furrow in her brow revealed her concern. “Is everything all right?”
“It is. Yet …” She’d best just say it. “I need to give notice.”
Mrs. MacDonald’s head drew back. “I thought you liked it here.”
“I do, and I appreciate everything that you and Macy’s have done for me.”
“Do you have another job?”
She nodded. “I’m going to work at the Butterick Pattern Company.”
Mrs. MacDonald smiled, her face glowing with a revelation. “I’m betting this is Mr. Culver’s doing.”
Annie felt a bit of a pull in her stomach. “Yes, it’s true he initiated it, but I had an interview and—”
Mrs. MacDonald waved her defensiveness away. “I’m sure you got the job based on merit. You are a very talented girl, there’s no denying it.”
Annie was embarrassed for overreacting. She touched her friend’s arm. “I learned so much from you. I’m sorry to leave, but I can’t ignore this opportunity.”
Mrs. MacDonald patted her hand. “Nor should you. Have you spoken with the powers that be?”
“I have not.”
“Best go do it. Mildred and I will cover for you until you get back.”
Annie was going to miss this place.
Annie spoke to the person in charge of employees and resigned. It was as painless as such an act could be. They asked her to finish out the week. Only three more days …
But on her way downstairs, Annie spotted Mr. Straus standing outside an office. Of all people, he deserved to be told in person.
She walked toward him and waited until he was finished giving his secretary some instruction. He looked up, saw her, and smiled. “Miss Wood. How are you today?”
“I’m fine, sir, but may I speak with you a moment?”
He blinked once then nodded and led her into his office. “Have a seat.”
The Pattern Artist Page 16
