And with another click-click-click, the website was live. Visible. Colorful. Active. Familiar!
The first thing they saw was a lace curtain, fluttering in a virtual breeze. Then, a lavender shop, a purple show window with Venus standing proudly in her lacy finery, and in the background, a bevy of bodices wearing lacy bras.
The Lacy Ladies were speechless. They could only make funny squeaking sounds.
Siena found words for them all. "O-M-G – fantastic! Better than I ever dreamed. It's fabulous! Just amazing what you've done here with our… Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon!" She hugged both George and Zoey around the shoulders at the same time, then pounded each one excitedly.
Everyone laughed and began talking all at once with over-used words like beautiful, real, and a miracle!
"You mean that we're out there, in the world?" Claire asked. "Other people can see what we're seeing? Our little shop of lace?"
"Exactly," said George. "Click here for About Us. Explains about the Lacy Ladies, how and why you got started. Zoey brought photos to introduce you all. There are some details about how the hand-made Irish Lace is crafted from Claire. And some group shots of everyone working on some kind of lace."
"Oh, those are the photos Zoey took last week." Roberta smiled and adjusted her wig. "Good thing I got coifed."
"Click over here, and you will see the products," Zoey said. "I just put a few up to show you how that would work. And here, you can see where people can click to purchase. Either directly by credit card or Pay Pal."
"Ah, I see you have a few sales already," said George, pointing to a line of red numbers.
"What? Sales? Before we've officially opened?" Siena felt a twitter of excitement, which quickly turned to… something else. "What's that? More?"
"Yep, more sales," Zoey said with a grand, satisfied grin.
"And… all those? More sales?" Claire leaned forward, examining the screen.
George nodded. "Yep. Isn't that what you want? More sales?"
"Yes, but how would they know this so quickly?" Claire moved to another position, letting someone else take her place to look closer at the screen.
"I've been Twittering and Facebooking about the power and magic of this amazing lace," Zoey admitted. "Mostly to my college friends. And their friends, and friends of friends. That's how it works on the Internet, ladies."
Siena pressed her fingers to her lips to suppress a growing heap of emotion. "Oh, Aunt Addie, look what's happened to Amazing Lace." Tears and hugs all around were followed by hands-on instructions for each lady on how to click through the website and see the different pages and walk through their Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon virtual shop.
"Maybe we should do a little video showing the Amazing Lacy Ladies in action," Zoey suggested.
Claire scoffed. "Who would want to see that? Making lace is hardly action."
"But you're doing something almost no one else can. Making lace is like… magic."
George turned around and high-fived Siena. "A few twists and turns and voilà! You've got lace! And now you're out there, selling your products across the country. That's mighty powerful!"
"Yes George, 'tiz powerful, that lace," said Claire, slipping into her Irish-ness a wee bit. "This calls for a celebration! A pint at The Cockle Burr – my treat! And fish 'n chips for all!"
And so, everyone joined the St. Patrick's Day celebrations at The Cockle Burr and lifted a pint o'Guinness to all those who had worked so hard for Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon. Themselves.
"To all of us," Siena said. "We all did it!"
And while they laughed and celebrated and drank their pints, the little website was racking up sales, on the way to going viral.
Claire and St. Patrick
Okay, doubt and fear – Gone! This was the most exciting St. Patrick's Day since I married and left Ireland all those many years ago. Today we decided to go-live – and go-live we did! The Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon website is up and running. And we don't even have any products available except a few Hearts' Desire pillows that'll go out first thing in the morning! We're still filling that giant order from Valentine's Day.
I guess this whole thing was Zoey's idea but George is the computer guru who put it altogether. It's like a shop up in the air, like radio, where you open the door and people all over the world walk in and buy stuff. Truly a bit o'magic! We were all in there together, watching that screen, cheering on the red numbers. It was exciting and then – oh Lord! All those sales! A little scary, it was.
Siena started crying, bless her heart. She was just overwhelmed. Hugging Zoey and George and everyone. I even hugged George for all he'd done for us. He has a nice strong chest.
Don't know where we're going to get all those lacy bras that have been ordered. But we will. Everybody in town wants to be a Lacy Lady now! They've been meeting at my house to make the lace because Siena has been too busy and the shop has been too torn up for us to gather and make our lace there. She and Zoey have renovated the place. Cleaned it out of all those knick-knacks that Addie secretly hated and stocked it with only our lacy products. So we have to keep the lace going.
Zoey has teamed up with Siena, both of them putting their heads together. But George is the one who knows how to make it work. The mastermind, so to speak. Wonder if he learned that while writing those strange books. Maybe his aliens gave him this special knowledge and power.
The best news out of all this is that Siena has the amazing ability to pull the best out of everyone. Look at Zoey. I know Roberta has been crazy with worry that she would leave town again, especially when she quit her job working for Zach. But she found something exciting in Siena's challenge and wham! Together they've made it better. I certainly hope so, anyway.
And then there's grumpy George. Who knew he had such talent? He was actually sort of nice during all this. Even smiled through that fuzzy beard. Well, I'll admit, Addie knew him better than most anyone. She liked the man, back when nobody would speak to him. Including me. And that was my bad, as the kids say. Learned that from Zoey. It means my bad fault. And I'll admit it.
Just look at all I've learned since Siena blew into town. It's downright… powerful! It is! Thank you, St. Patrick, for sending us this new blood. She's a blessing, she is.
Oh, and you know what George did? He sent me a lovely bouquet of flowers with a note that said, 'Hope this is a happy anniversary day for you with good memories.' He signed it simply 'George' and skipped out without a word or giving me a chance to thank him.
Chapter Nineteen
Grand Opening! April first. April Fool's Day. Siena hoped they weren't following a fool's path with the new shop.
Crocus and buttercups bloomed in creamy delight against the old building. Purple iris lined the brick path to Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon adding accent to the lavender-colored building. Siena considered it all a good sign from Mother Nature. This was a very good day for a style show . . . she hoped.
This was IT, her grand opening style show and by damn, no one was going to rain on it. Not Zach and certainly not the male-dominated Town Council. She was in too deep to let anyone get in her way. Across the street, the morning sunlight sparkled through a mermaid glass window, shedding colored light over the patches of snow. The lake ice had thinned and spring was coming to Haven’s Point. And it was spring for her, too. A new beginning.
The phone rang and Siena grabbed it when she saw Zoey's name flash. "Hey… "
"Mama's not coming! She's embarrassed about her straggly hair, her outrageous wig, and her… surgery. And with all those women around… "
"Oh Zoey, tell her none of that matters to us. We think she's beautiful. And strong."
"I did. I told her everything I could think of, and then some. That she doesn't have to model. She doesn't have to do anything but watch."
Siena wanted to cry. "But she's a Lacy Lady and I want her to share this fun. She's our heroine, the main reason we're doing the petition. We want her here. Need her here. And others do, too." Sie
na hesitated. "You're coming, aren't you?"
Zoey paused a moment. "I'll see you soon."
Siena sighed. Yes, she could understand Roberta's reluctance. It was different with the small group of friends that she'd known all her life. But now, with a crowd of strangers… yes, she could understand.
She flipped all the lights on and walked around, checking things for the fifteenth time. The old Amazing Lace shop was now radiant and modern. In with the new; out with the old. The exterior was no longer shabby gray but three fabulous designer shades of purple. The interior walls were aubergine and champagne and emerald. Lighthouses and lobsters were gone. Dressing rooms had been installed. The racks were sleek, state of the art, and loaded with colorful lacy fashions and shapewear. The transformation was everything Siena dreamed – and more, thanks to Zoey, George, and the Lacy Ladies.
For hands-on displays, Siena brought one of Aunt Addie’s antique tables and purchased several more from locals. The brand new stock was pristine, lacey and beautiful. Siena was hopeful that this would mean great things in the lives of the women in Haven’s Point. Maybe the men would appreciate all this some day. But today, everything was about the women.
Scattered about the store were pamphlets about breast cancer detection. And there was the petition for a Mammo-van that she hoped customers would sign. She had no idea how large her crowd would be, or if they would all stay home in protest of her bodacious store. But she had twenty models of all ages and sizes, minus Roberta, who had never volunteered anyway. And she knew they would sign the petition. Everyone was highly in favor of her breast cancer support.
Siena wore a black lace bustier beneath a lime green jacket, sexy but stylish in a brazen Lady Gaga sort-of way. She dressed Venus in a Champagne-in-the-Park bra with nude lace cups and a bright Irish green scarf and placed her prominently in the show room window. Today there would be no attempt to hide her ample assets.
The first person at Amazing Lace’s door that morning was Monique. Siena’s stomach tightened when she saw the blond beauty. She didn’t want a confrontation today, of all days. "Hi, come on in. We really aren't open for business yet. The grand opening is today. But you can take a look around."
Monique walked in quietly. She noted the LOVE YOUR BODY WITH LACE and LIVE FREE AND COMFORTABLE banners. She smiled at the LIFT YOUR BREASTS AND YOUR SPIRITS sign over the black lace bras. Finally she said, "I wanted to see what you’re doing here. I’ve been hearing lots of things."
Siena walked to one of the displays. "I hope you like our products, Monique. We specially fit the bras to the individual. But, as you can see, we have other lingerie items, too. Shapewear . . . which of course, you don't need."
Monique nodded and looked slightly uncomfortable. "Ah-hum. We’ve needed something like this for a long time."
Needed? Did she say needed? Siena smiled slightly. "I thought so, too. Hope it works."
"Well, if it makes money, Zach will like it. That’s what he’s all about, you know."
Siena hesitated. "Yes, I'm finding that out."
They heard a knock-knock at the door and someone stumbled in, holding a large pot with a small prickly cactus at arm’s length. "Flowers for Siena Summerfield," he sang.
"Flowers? That’s a – what in the world?"
"It's a little cactus. Where do you want it?"
Siena pointed to the corner. "Over there."
"Oh, hi Calvin," Monique said. "Do you have a new job? What is that thing?"
"Uh, hi there. Got a part-time job delivering flowers. Not much else happening in town." Calvin produced the shipping papers for Siena to sign. He fumbled them and seemed a little flustered at the sight of Monique. Beautiful Monique. "This here is a, uh, hedgehog cactus. Here’s the card."
Siena opened the greeting card and read aloud, "Congratulations on the new and improved Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon. I'm sure this business can be as prickly as a cactus. But don’t become a prick. Be a cute little hedgehog and they'll love you for it. The flower of this plant is truly amazing. And so are you, my darling girl. Hugs and kisses… " Siena looked up at the two who were staring at her. "From Dana, uh my mother. She’s . . . a bit weird."
Monique laughed out loud, and so did Calvin. "What a hoot! She sounds like a great mom. You’ll remember this gift, always. If it were a bunch of cut flowers, they'd be gone in a few days and you would forget who sent them."
"Yeah, this one will be special all right," Calvin said. "And you don't even have to water it all that much. Instructions come with it. I'm sure you'll be getting more of these. Well, not exactly these, but some pretty flowers." And he was out the door.
"Where is she? Your mom. Is she coming today?"
Siena relaxed a bit. "Monique, you won’t believe this, but she’s out somewhere, riding cross-country with her boyfriend on a hog and . . ." Siena stopped short of telling about the urn and Aunt Addie's ashes. That would be just too much. "I think they're somewhere around New Orleans." She smiled and shook her head. "N'owlins, as they say. God only knows what inspired a hedgehog cactus as a grand opening gift."
"She sounds like a hot-mama, for sure."
"Oh, don’t remind me." And suddenly, they were laughing together. Siena wondered if this conversation were for real. Did Monique know how much Zach resisted this whole new and improved shop idea? She probably assumed as much.
Did she know that Siena still had to defend herself at the Town Council with no apparent support from Zach? Was there a chance that Monique understood the obstacles in this town, that she was inconceivably supportive of anything Siena was doing? Maybe Monique knew Zach better than anyone, after all.
Monique viewed the phallic-looking shoots of the hedgehog cactus with interest, and then turned back to Siena. "Several of my friends are modeling today and I just wondered if I’m too late to do it, too?"
Siena nearly fell over herself. "You want to model these – bras and things?"
"I know it’s late, but I’d like to support what you’re doing. All this breast awareness stuff is good. I have to take my grandmother all the way to Portland for her mammograms. And when anyone around here needs treatment . . ." She ended with a shrug. "It’s tough."
"I understand that’s a big problem." Siena paused. She couldn’t believe she was having such a civil conversation with Monique. "We have a petition asking the city to bring in a Mammo-Van, a portable mammogram machine, to make the screening easier for people like your grandmother. And for all of us. Would you be willing to sign it?" Siena whipped out a clipboard containing stacks of paper already filled with signatures. "You don’t have to do it now, Monique. Think about it a while, if you like."
"Great. I’ll sign now. Where?" She scrawled ‘Monique Fairchild’ in bold letters that stood out on the page.
"Thanks. Why don’t we get you fitted now, Monique? And I’ll tag your pieces." Siena smiled genuinely. "Then you can come back at noon to get ready for the show. It starts at one and I’d like all the models here early."
"Whatever."
They giggled together, and Monique chose the hottest, hot pink number she could find.
Women started gathering in the shop well before noon. No sign of Zoey. Siena received so many cut-flowers arrangements and planters with blooms that she had to move them outside, around the door and along the path. True, none of them were as odd or memorable as the hedgehog from Dana. But none meant as much to her, either.
The caterer had to squeeze between the crowds when she brought crab canapés and cheese platters. Sugar cookies were bite-sized hearts with icing on the top to resemble a bra and upside down hearts with icing in the shape of panties. She had created a delightful white wine cooler dotted with rose pedals for the customers. Still no Zoey.
Someone sent a bottle of champagne signed simply, "Congratulations!"
"I’d be willing to bet that champagne is from Zach," Claire said with conviction. "He’s a tough one, but can be classy."
Siena turned the card over. "It's from George. He's
the truly classy one."
Claire blinked and shrugged as if she didn't care and gave her attention to an old friend who just arrived.
In the back room, Siena poured a little champagne in Solo cups for each of the Lacy Ladies. "To Aunt Addie's memory and our own dear Lacy Ladies. Without you, there would be no Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon. And now, maybe we can achieve our heart's desires – spreading that lace around!" The proud women toasted each other and Claire added, "To the great success of Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon."
They raised their glasses to Siena and sipped and sipped again. Then laughter filled the room and they all began talking at once. Spirits were high today and Siena was ecstatic. Abruptly, the room grew absolutely silent.
Siena looked up and there was Zoey in the doorway, wearing a ski cap.
Someone made a soft moaning sound. "Ohooo Zoey."
Zoey walked in, smiling as if she were on the verge of tears. "Ah, I see I'm just in time for the good stuff!"
Siena rushed over with a plastic cup of champagne. She noticed Roberta hadn't come along and feared what was under that ski cap. "Thank God you're here, Zoey. We're celebrating. We can't thank you enough for – "
Zoey took the cup and finished it in one big gulp. Then she smiled at the crowd and flung her cap off . . . revealing her freshly shaved head. She twirled and bowed to the stark silent group. "How do you like my new style? Like mother, like daughter."
"My darlin' girl, what did you do to your beautiful red hair –" Claire moaned.
"I'm selling my hair to some very nice wig-makers who are going to style something appropriate for my mom or for someone in her shoes." She twirled again and the bold brash Zoey was back. "Hey Ladies, are we ready to rumble? We're stylin', we're stylin'…" She finished with a few hip-hop dance moves and began taking off her sweater.
"You're absolutely beautiful." Siena hugged her and whispered, "You are the amazing one."
Claire put her hand on Zoey's shoulder. "You are the bravest, most beautiful woman I know. I always thought I was brave, coming to America not knowing a soul. But I didn't shave my head to do it!"
Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series) Page 19
