Dress Me in Wildflowers (18 page)

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Well, like I said, just think about it. Doesn’t cost a penny to mull something over.”

Tammie nodded.

After eating their sandwiches, raw veggies and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, Farrin looked over at Tammie. “I had a good time today.”

“I’m glad. I miss this.”

Farrin hadn’t realized how much she had, too.

They pulled their small packs on and took one last look across the valley.

“I wish I’d brought a camera,” Farrin said. “At least my phone. I’d like a picture of this in my office.”

“We’ll come back. I’m not letting you become a stranger again if I have to come to New York and hit you over the head with one of your sketchpads.”

Farrin laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

After sitting for so long, Farrin’s legs shook as she descended the trail. A few times she thought her knees might buckle, sending her careening down the trail like a boulder. The boots she’d borrowed from Tammie rubbed against her heels, threatening to create blisters. If it wasn’t October, she’d be tempted to remove them and finish the trek in her socks.

When they reached the trailhead, Farrin stopped and massaged her thighs. “It’s official. I have become a citified wuss.”

Tammie laughed. “That’ll teach you to run off and leave me.”

Tammie headed for her minivan, but Farrin spotted several wildflowers growing along the edge of the rustic parking area. She forced her legs to move in that direction then winced as she bent to pick some of the yellow coneflowers and heart-leaved asters, enough for a bouquet at the inn and another for Dara. On the way back to the van, she also lifted a map of the Cane Ridge Trail and the entire Pisgah National Forest from the rack at the entrance to the trail. The thought of Dara’s eyes brightening at the simple gifts made her smile.

“What?” Tammie asked as Farrin slid into the passenger seat.

Farrin shrugged. “Nothing, just happy. Thanks for dragging me away from work.”

“That’s what friends are for, to tempt you into delinquency.”

The two of them laughed as Tammie drove from the parking area. It was one of those days when it simply felt good to be alive.

****

Farrin arrived at the inn early the next morning, thinking she’d do some sketching of ideas for the various rooms before anyone else arrived. But when she stepped inside, she found Janie on her hands and knees painting baseboards. It was like Cinderella living her life in reverse, from princess to servant girl.

“You’re here early.”

Janie sat back on her heels, and Farrin saw a spot of paint on her nose. “I wanted to get an early start.” She rose and placed the paintbrush back in the pan. “I need to ask you something.”

Farrin noted the nervousness and Janie’s inability to make eye contact. Red flags went up. “Okay.”

“I’d like to work longer hours on Monday through Thursday so I can have Fridays off.”

Janie hadn’t worked for her a week and already she wanted Fridays off.

“I wouldn’t ask but I have a standing appointment out of town on Friday mornings.”

“Why didn’t you mention this before?”

Janie lowered her eyes. “I wanted to show you I’m a hard worker first.”

Farrin took a deep breath. Why did it matter as long as the work got done? “Fine, as long as we don’t fall behind schedule.”

Janie released her breath, letting Farrin know she’d been holding it. What was the big secret? Another part-time job? An affair? Farrin just hoped it wasn’t something that would make her regret hiring Janie.

Farrin spent the rest of the day meeting with the contractors, talking with Drew about plans for the garden and making arrangements for her flight home the next morning. Much as she enjoyed the time away, she had to get back to work on the projects that paid the bills. And the inn was going to be a big investment.

She watered the wildflowers she’d brought to the inn arranged in one of Faye’s vases and positioned them so they could get the afternoon sun.

“Those are pretty,” Dara said from the doorway.

“I’m glad you like them,” Farrin said as she walked to the counter where another vase filled with wildflowers sat. “Because I brought these for you.”

Dara’s eyes widened. “For me?”

“Yes, I saw them while hiking yesterday and thought of you. It’s nice to have a friend who likes wildflowers as much as I do.”

Dara started forward as if she were gazing at the Hope Diamond or the inside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“I thought you could put them in your room.”

Dara ran her fingertips over the flowers’ petals. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And here, I brought you something else.” Farrin picked up the maps from the counter and held them out to Dara. “To add to your map collection.”

Dara took them and spread them out on the table at the center of the room. Farrin pointed out Inspiration Point. “Maybe when I come to visit again, I can take you up here. The view is unbelievable.”

Now why had she committed to that? That ivy was growing further up her legs, tying her to this community, these people, this little girl. She’d met and liked Dara’s brother Jason, but Dara tugged on her heart in inexplicable ways.

“You’re leaving tomorrow.” Dara sounded sad.

“Yes, but I’ll be back. I have to check on the inn.”

She could do that from New York, but something told her she’d be coming back to evaluate the progress in person. “I’ll even bring you a map of New York City, how does that sound?”

“Okay.”

This sweet child couldn’t sound so sad just because she was leaving, could she? They barely knew each other.

“Dara,” Janie called from upstairs. “Bring me that bucket in the front room.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Dara straightened her shoulders and looked up at Farrin. “Thanks for the flowers and the maps. I love them.”

“You’re welcome.” Farrin fought the urge to hug the child. Hugs spoke of close ties, and other than Faye, she didn’t want any strong ties to Oak Valley. The inn was enough of an anchor, but it was an inanimate object that would eventually be sold. And when the sad day came that Faye was no longer with them, Farrin would visit Tammie in Knoxville. But Oak Valley — she doubted she’d ever walk its sidewalks again.

****

Farrin looked up at Pamela, one of the young seamstresses working on Cara Hutton’s gown, and stopped herself before she shouted. Back in New York barely twenty-four hours and already she was a ball of anxiety on the verge of bursting. She forced a smile. “It’s okay. Just back up and start that part over.”

She’d only tweaked one aspect of the gown since returning, which was surprising enough that Justine remarked on it. Farrin was making every conscious effort not to snap or criticize, but as soon as she’d walked into her office, she’d felt like the walls were closing in on her, that she couldn’t get enough air.

“Are you okay? You look pale,” Justine said as she stepped up beside her now.

“Yeah. Tired. I’m going for a walk, get some fresh air.”

“Fresh air?”

“You know, the stuff that blows around outside the buildings.”

“Good luck finding it.”

She found it on the ferry to Ellis Island. In the years she’d been living and working in Manhattan, she’d only been out to the island once. As the ferry churned through the water, she watched the Statue of Liberty glide by.

Farrin sank back against the bench and closed her eyes, listened to the hum of the tourists’ voices around her. She picked out some southern accents talking about how cold the wind was. She remembered her first winter in New York, how she’d sworn she would die of the cold. But like poverty, cruel words and the loss of every family member, she’d survived it and learned to thrive.

She really did like New York, so why had she felt confined by it lately? Why had the trip to Oak Valley been freeing instead of the horrible experience she’d expected? Maybe Mark had been right about her needing a vacation, some time away from the frantic schedule. Balance, that’s what she needed.

She thought of her schedule for the coming days and sighed. She’d look for that balance as soon as she got a few things marked off the to-do list.

****

Once she’d made the decision to try to put some balance in her life, Farrin refused to work seven days a week. No matter how much she was tempted to pull out sketchpads and keep her ear to the phone conducting business, she took one weekend day off to enjoy other things. At first, trips to the Met or walks in Central Park weren’t enjoyable because she couldn’t turn off her need to be working, ensuring that her business stayed successful. Vigilance was as much a part of her makeup as bone or muscle.

Eventually, though, it got easier. She used those free times to call Janie and check on the progress of the inn. With each call, her need to see the transformation for herself increased.

Farrin smiled for the camera one last time, her facial muscles quavering from overuse.

The cameraman looked over at Charise Tolley, the editor from
Vogue
, and nodded.

“That should do it, Farrin. Thanks for being so patient.”

Farrin released the smile and stepped out of the harsh glow of the lights. “Can I send you the bill for the massage I’m going to need?”

Charise laughed. “Sure.”

Justine edged up to Farrin. “You need to go, now. Your flight is at 6:10.”

Farrin glanced at her watch. 3:47. She turned to Justine and opened her mouth to speak.

“Your ride is waiting. The luggage is in the car already. Here are your tickets.” Justine handed them over.

“Have I told you lately you’re awesome?”

“Watch out, my head will swell and you won’t be able to stand me.”

Farrin laughed, and she noticed how the sound caused some curious stares from the other people in the room. Had she been such an ogre before?

“Big trip planned?” Charise asked.

“Visiting some friends.”

“I hope it’s someplace warmer. I could use a trip to the Caribbean about now.”

Farrin didn’t elaborate. She hated the sense of shame that rose in her when she thought of someone like Charise seeing where and how she’d grown up. No one could help where they were born or into what circumstances, but that still didn’t make her want to shine a spotlight on it. She had no desire to have magazines showcasing her as a rags-to-riches story. She’d much rather stay with pieces like the one on spring styles for which they’d just completed the photos.

Once out of her office, she raced to the waiting car and balled her hands in her lap as the driver battled the traffic to LaGuardia. Her stomach clenched as she willed the lines to move faster through security. Only when she sank into her seat on the airplane did she relax. When she let go of the tension, exhaustion filled the void.

Since her return to New York, she’d been nearly as busy as before she’d visited Oak Valley. A blur of meetings, fittings, consultations, photo shoots, phone calls, benefits...one day simply faded into another. Most days, she thrived on the high pace. Others, she wanted to burrow further underneath her covers and watch DVDs and have someone else live her life for a day or two.

Even before they took off, her eyelids grew heavy. By the time they were airborne, she was slipping off to sleep.

Farrin slept soundly all the way to Knoxville, only waking when she boarded the smaller plane that would take her to the Tri-Cities Airport. If she hadn’t slept a wink in weeks, however, she wouldn’t have been able to sleep on the puddle jumper. The bottom fell out of her stomach each time the little plane shook or suddenly dropped a few feet. The other passengers didn’t seem worried, but all she could imagine was one of those drops not stopping until metal hit earth. She wasn’t afraid of flying, but this flight was enough to cure that. To hell with saving time, on her next visit she was driving from Knoxville.

When she pulled into Faye’s driveway, the distance between the car and the front door seemed insurmountable. Maybe she’d sleep in the car and make the trek in the morning. A gust of wind that heralded a coming storm buffeted the side of the car. No, she’d rather have a sturdier structure surrounding her if a powerful storm blew through.

The increasing wind whipped her hair around her face as she opened the trunk to retrieve her bags.

“Need some help?”

Farrin yelped and banged her head on the trunk latch. Tears sprang to her eyes. She jumped again when someone touched her, one hand pulling her arm away from where she’d lifted it to the injury and another carefully pushing her hair aside. She jerked her gaze upward. Drew.

“Doesn’t look like it broke skin. Sorry I scared you.”

“Where did you come from? And why are you here?”

He pointed his right thumb back toward Faye’s house. “I ran into Faye at the grocery. She was worried about you traveling in this storm, so when she invited me over for dinner I figured she wanted someone to talk to so she could keep her mind occupied. She tried to call you, but the call didn’t go through.”