Stitches in Time

by Terri DuLong

  Yes, I thought. Things are going very well.

  And then I remembered that in a few short weeks my mother was moving to Ormond Beach.

  Chapter 13

  After I returned from my deliveries on Friday morning, I filled the washing machine with a load of clothes and decided to give Petra a call. I hadn’t yet had a chance to tell her about my date the following night.

  “Well, you go, girl,” she said after I told her. “And it sounds like quite the swanky date. Your dress sounds gorgeous. Good for you, Isabelle. It’s time you begin a new chapter for yourself. Any further word on the divorce from Roger?”

  “He texted me the other day and said his attorney was mailing out the documents for me to sign. Since it’s uncontested and we both agree to the settlements, it’s pretty cut and dried. He’ll be free to remarry soon.”

  “Have you explained anything to Haley yet?”

  “Not yet. And she wants to fly up to visit him in April during her vacation.”

  “Isabelle, you have to be honest and share the entire situation with her. Kids are more resilient than you think. Especially Haley. She’ll hate it more if you don’t say anything.”

  I let out a sigh. “I know. And I will. Soon.”

  When we hung up I had made a promise to call Petra on Sunday with all the details of my date with Chadwick. I smiled as I recalled how many times we had each done this throughout our teen years. Life seemed so much simpler then with our biggest problem being a blemish or what to wear to an upcoming dance. Now I was faced with a divorce and a mother I hadn’t had much contact with in thirty years.

  I hunted for Tina’s mother’s phone number. I wanted to make arrangements to have them over for dinner.

  “Hi,” I said when Brenda answered the phone. “This is Isabelle, Haley’s mother.”

  “Oh, hi. How are you?”

  I heard just a hint of an accent in her voice. “I’m good. The reason I’m calling is that I’d like to invite you and Tina for dinner some evening next week when you’re free.”

  “Oh, yes, Tina had mentioned that. I’d like to meet you. Well, I’m off work next Wednesday if that will work for you.”

  I walked to the cabinet door in the kitchen to check the hanging calendar. “Yes,” I told her. “Wednesday would be great. Why don’t you come over around five?”

  “Okay. And Isabelle, thank you so much for the invitation.”

  “Great. See you then.”

  Shortly after three, Haley raced through the back door and headed upstairs.

  “Hi, Mom,” she called. “I have to change and get to the florist shop.”

  That’s right. Haley had agreed to help Maddie for the busy Valentine’s holiday.

  A few minutes later she ran into the living room. “I’m not sure what time I’ll be back,” she said. “But Maddie said it wouldn’t be any later than nine. She’s going to order takeout for us for supper and she said she’ll drive me home when we close.”

  “That’s fine,” I told her. “Tell Maddie I said hi, and do a good job, which I’m sure you will.”

  She ran over to kiss my cheek and flew out the door.

  I felt a smile cross my face. I was convinced that moving from Atlanta had been a wise decision. I hadn’t seen Haley so happy and content in a long time. But then I realized I had to sit my daughter down very soon and explain to her the real reason for the breakup of my marriage. I dreaded the repercussions this might have.

  * * *

  I had spent the rest of the afternoon knitting my baby blanket, so when I heard my stomach growling, I was surprised to look at my watch and see it was after six.

  Walking into the kitchen, I debated whether to have a glass of wine. It had been a week since I’d consumed almost two bottles. I hadn’t had any since. I decided to pour a glass while I prepared myself a salad.

  I turned on the radio and began to sauté some shrimp while humming to a tune I recalled from my college days. I was always struck by the way music had the ability to transport one back in time.

  I set the shrimp aside and began slicing tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, and other vegetables. I recalled how fortunate Petra and I had been to take almost a year off following college graduation to do a road trip out to the west coast, stopping here and there, following only our own schedule.

  When we returned, I wanted to use my journalism major and I was able to secure a position with the local newspaper covering community events. That was how I’d met Roger Wainwright. He had a top position with our local television news station and I had been sent to cover a fund-raiser that the station was having.

  Tall, personable, and good looking, he had been extremely kind to me. By the time the evening ended, he had asked me out on a date. Our dating lasted for eight years until finally I gave him an ultimatum—either we take our relationship to the next step or I was moving on. We were married within six months and Haley was born the following year. Even at the beginning, Roger and I had never shared a romantic kind of love. It had always been just a notch above friendship.

  I mixed my salad together and brought it to the table before refilling my wineglass. I couldn’t help but wonder how my life would have gone had I not given Roger an ultimatum but rather had just moved on. I discarded this thought immediately when I realized that had I done that, I also would not have Haley. And that was unthinkable.

  After eating and cleaning up the kitchen, I topped off my wineglass and headed to the living room for some knitting. Just as I began my row, Chloe called to tell me she’d be staying at Henry’s condo and she’d see me in the morning.

  Thinking of Chloe and Henry made me think back to my parents. I remembered some minor disagreements between them, but certainly I never witnessed any fights that would warrant my mother taking a lover and leaving my father and me. At the time I’d often wondered if there was more to the story, but over the years I came to accept what my father had explained to me, and all that remained was resentment toward my mother.

  I must have dozed off, because I heard Haley calling, “Mom?”

  I sat up on the sofa and rubbed my eyes as I glanced at my watch. Just after nine.

  “In here, Haley,” I called.

  My daughter came into the living room and plopped down in a chair. “Whew,” she said. “Maddie and I really worked hard, but it was so cool. You should see some of the flower arrangements people will receive tomorrow. There are going to be some happy sweethearts in Ormond Beach.”

  I laughed and saw the look of accomplishment on my daughter’s face. “That’s great. I’m sure Maddie was very happy to have your help.”

  “Yeah, I think she was. She taught me how to do the bows and even taught me how to do a few of the simple arrangements. I’m tired, but I really enjoyed the work. I felt like I got to use some of my creativity.”

  “What time do you have to go back in the morning?”

  “Eight. And she’s going to leave me alone in the shop while she goes out to do the deliveries. So she must trust me.”

  “I have no doubt she does. You’re a real asset, Haley. Oh, don’t forget that you’ll be spending the night at Mavis Anne’s tomorrow night. David and Clive leave for Italy tomorrow. Henry is driving them to the airport.”

  She yawned and nodded. “Yup, I know. Mavis Anne said Tina could stay too. The three of us are going to play cards and I told Mavis Anne we’d be over after you leave on your date. Tina and I want to see you.”

  I laughed as I got up to bring my empty wineglass into the kitchen. “Well, you’d better get to sleep, working girl.”

  She came to give me a hug and kiss and headed upstairs.

  I placed my glass in the sink and began shutting off lights. That was when I recalled the dream. Another one. With Emmalyn.

  In this dream we were in the yarn shop. Once again, Emmalyn was wearing the red evening gown. She was piling up skeins of yarn on a table and then turned to me and said, “Choose.”

  I felt bewildered. “Choose what?”
I had asked her.

  “Choose what you have to do.”

  “I don’t understand,” I told her, feeling annoyed.

  She had nodded and begun to rearrange the skeins of yarn on the table.

  “Can you choose now?” she’d asked.

  “I don’t know what to choose,” I yelled at her.

  She nodded again. “That’s right. You don’t.”

  And that was the end of the dream.

  Chapter 14

  I awoke Saturday morning and my first thought was my dream of the previous evening. Total nonsense, I thought. I had no idea why I was having these silly dreams but I had more important things to think about today. I glanced at the clock to see it was just before seven and remembered Haley had to be at the florist shop by eight.

  I heard her in the shower, so I headed downstairs to prepare coffee and my daughter’s breakfast.

  “What would you like to eat?” I asked as she walked into the kitchen.

  “Oh, just some yogurt and fruit this morning,” she said, heading to the fridge. “Are you excited about your date tonight?”

  “Yeah, I think I am.”

  “Good.” Haley opened a yogurt container and perched on the stool at the counter. “I think it would be nice for you to have a male companion.”

  I laughed. “Why is that?”

  “Well, Dad has somebody new in his life and I think you should too.”

  It was at times like this that my daughter seemed much older than her fourteen years.

  “It’s just a dinner date, Haley. We may never see each other again.”

  “Oh, Nana texted me and asked if I could help her the day the movers arrive. She said she’ll have a lot of boxes to get unpacked. Would it be okay if I go over to her new place?”

  “Sure,” I mumbled, but it annoyed me that my mother seemed to be luring Haley into her web. What if my mom ended up not liking it here and took off again? I didn’t want to see my daughter hurt in the way I had been.

  * * *

  I arrived at Glam just before ten and was ready for Helen to work her magic. By the time she finished, I had to admit that this woman had a talent for doing hair.

  I reached up to touch the gorgeous French twist at the back of my head. Taking the mirror she passed me, I spun around in the chair to see her creation.

  “Oh, Helen, it looks beautiful. So sophisticated.”

  “I heard about the dress you’re wearing tonight and I think this style is the finishing touch.”

  I had to agree.

  I spent a quiet afternoon knitting and then decided to pamper myself with a bubble bath. By the time I emerged from the tub, it was after five, and I could hear Haley and Tina downstairs. I walked into the kitchen, where Haley was making grilled cheese sandwiches. Both girls looked up and gasped.

  “Oh, Mom,” Haley exclaimed. “Your hair looks gorgeous.”

  “It really does, Mrs. Wainwright,” Tina agreed.

  I smiled and secretly hoped that Chadwick Price would also think so. “Thanks. Are you girls all set for supper?”

  “Yeah. I’m making grilled cheese and soup for us.”

  Tina jumped up from the stool. “I’ll open the can of soup.”

  “And after I leave, you’ll lock up here and go over to Mavis Anne’s?”

  Haley nodded as she flipped a sandwich on the grill. “I told Mavis Anne we’d be there shortly after seven.”

  “Okay. I’m going upstairs to put my makeup on and get dressed.”

  I walked over to the vanity where I kept my makeup bag only to discover it wasn’t in the usual spot. I twirled around the room wondering where on earth it could be. My gaze flew to the top of the bureau, the bedside table, the desk. And no makeup bag.

  I went to the top of the stairs and hollered down to Haley. “Do you know where my makeup is?”

  She appeared at the foot of the stairs. “No. It’s always on your vanity.”

  “I know. It’s not there. You didn’t take it to borrow something?”

  Haley shook her head. “No. It has to be in your room. Do you want me to help you look?”

  “No, that’s okay. You go eat your supper.”

  I walked back into the bedroom and stood on the threshold feeling confused and upset. Maybe I’d left it in the bathroom? I walked in, and after a thorough search, still no makeup bag.

  Walking back into the bedroom, I said, “Where the hell are you?”

  The only place I hadn’t looked was the bureau drawers. I just knew it couldn’t be in there, but I pulled the top drawer open. An aroma of Chanel No. 5 drifted up to me—at the same time I spied my makeup bag nestled on top of my underwear. Reaching for the bag, I felt a chill go through me. How on earth had it gotten in my drawer? I never would have put it there. It was then I recalled Chloe’s story about also smelling this particular French perfume when she sometimes opened one of the bureau drawers. The very same signature perfume that Emmalyn Overby was noted for.

  I took the bag and went to sit at the vanity table to begin applying my makeup. By the time I finished, I had decided that I must have inadvertently tossed the bag into the bureau drawer.

  I was ready to slip the gorgeous dress on and called down to Haley again.

  “Any chance you could zip and hook the dress for me?”

  “Come on, Tina,” she called into the kitchen. “My mom needs help.”

  We slipped the dress over my head and Haley fastened the back. I put on a pair of strappy black heels and then sat at the vanity. Holding the rhinestone headband on my forehead, Haley tied the back to hold it in place.

  I stood up and walked to the cheval mirror in the corner of the room. I had to admit that a transformation had taken place. While I was always confident about how I looked in public, what I now saw in the mirror made me take in a breath. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought the image that stared back at me was a very beautiful and chic woman of the 1930s.

  “What do you think?” I asked as I turned toward Haley and Tina.

  I could see their approval in the expressions on their faces.

  “Oh, Mom,” Haley said. “You are drop-dead gorgeous.”

  “Mrs. Wainwright . . . you’re smokin’ hot.”

  I laughed as I turned back to the mirror for another look and nodded. “You know, I think I have to agree with both of you.”

  The ringing of the doorbell interrupted any further indulgence.

  “Oh, let me go let him in, Mom. I’ll introduce myself. You have to make an entrance down the staircase.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  Haley was already racing from the room. “Absolutely,” she called over her shoulder with Tina close behind. “And wait a few minutes before you come down.”

  I let out a deep breath and allowed myself another glance in the mirror. I walked to the bed and picked up the black lacy shawl that Chloe had let me borrow and a small black evening bag.

  I blew out a puff of air, looked around the room, and said, “Okay. Time to get this show on the road.”

  I heard chatter as I descended the staircase. A moment later conversation stopped and three sets of eyes were staring up at me as I took the final steps.

  “Hi, Chadwick. I see you’ve met my daughter and her friend.”

  He nodded, and for a second I thought perhaps he’d lost his voice as his gaze went from my face down the length of my body and back up to my face. He cleared his throat and nodded again. “Yes, I have. You look amazing.”

  I grinned as I realized Chadwick, the confident professional, seemed to have reverted to an awkward teenage boy on his first date.

  “So do you,” I said. And he did.

  Wearing a black suit, crisp white shirt, and gray tie, he was the kind of man that definitely turned female heads. Curly dark hair with just enough gray to be distinguished, a bronze tan and fit body, Chadwick Price caused my heart to skip a beat—and he was my date for the evening.

  “Okay,” I said, regaining my own compos
ure before giving last-minute instructions to Haley. “I think we’re ready.”

  Before we walked out the door, I turned around and glanced toward my daughter. She smiled, nodded and gave me a thumbs-up. I was pretty sure she approved of Chadwick Price.

  Chapter 15

  On the short drive to Thirty-one, Chadwick and I made small talk about weather, my daughter, and a recent sale he had completed. He handed the keys to the valet to park the car and we walked into the supper club.

  A Sinatra song filled the air and the décor made me feel I’d stepped back in time. Tables covered with white cloths and chairs upholstered in black-and-white zebra print filled the center of the room. Dark walls held large prints of Florida natives, giving one the feel of the tropics. A small stage with red velvet curtains was located to the side of the dining room with a highly polished bar opposite. We were escorted to a table for two where the waiter pulled out my chair for me to be seated and passed a wine list to Chadwick. After perusing it for a few moments, Chadwick made a choice, ordered a bottle, and then turned his full attention to me.

  “So,” he said, leaning forward with a smile. “Amazing doesn’t seem to be an adequate enough word to describe how you look tonight.”

  I couldn’t recall the last time a man had been so complimentary. “Thank you. I have to thank Mavis Anne for letting me borrow this dress and headband.”

  “I wondered where you found a vintage gown like that.”

  “Actually, it belonged to her sister, Emmalyn. She was Yarrow’s mother.”

  He nodded. “Yes, that’s right. I remember hearing about her. She was tragically killed pretty young, wasn’t she?”

  “Yes, a car accident when she was only twenty-eight.”

  The waiter returned, and I was surprised to see that Chadwick had ordered champagne and not just regular wine. The waiter popped the cork, poured a small amount into a flute, and passed it to Chadwick to sample.

  He took a sip and nodded. “Very nice.”