Stitches in Time (7 page)

T
he next Tuesday I was with the charity knitting group working on my blanket when my cell phone rang. I was surprised to see Chadwick's name on the caller ID. Yes, he had said he'd call, but I wasn't certain that would happen.

“Oh, ah . . . I'll just take this outside,” I told the group as I walked out of the yarn shop.

“Chadwick, hi. How are you?”

“Very good. I'm calling to see if you're free on Saturday evening.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Great. Now I don't want to seem presumptuous because it's the night before Valentine's Day, but I'd like to take you to a fairly new supper club that opened in Ormond Beach. Are you familiar with it? It's called Thirty-one.”

“No, not at all.”

“It's pretty unique and has a 1930s décor. Based on a speakeasy from that era. I hear the food is excellent and there's music and dancing.”

“It sounds wonderful. What's the dress code?”

“Business dressy. Do you feel like getting all dolled up?”

I hadn't done glam in ages, but this was sounding very appealing.

“Sure,” I told him. “It sounds like fun.”

“I think it will be. I'll pick you up at seven. Is that okay?”

“Yes, perfect. Thanks, Chadwick. I'll see you Saturday evening.”

I disconnected the call and stood outside feeling the smile that warmed my face. When I walked back into the yarn shop, the women all looked at me and remained silent. I felt heat radiating from my neck to my face and knew they were waiting for an explanation.

Sitting down, I said, “Oh . . . that was Chadwick Price. He had said he'd call to make plans for dinner.”

“Well, honey, don't keep us in suspense,” Mavis Anne said. “Where is he taking you?”

“To Thirty-one, that new supper club in town.”

“Oh, wow, I told Henry we really need to go there,” Chloe said.

Maddie nodded. “I heard it's pure elegance. Like going to the Ritz.”

“Well, aren't you the lucky girl,” Fay said. “And being escorted there by Chadwick Price.”

“So what are you wearing?” Chloe asked.

“I have no clue,” I said. “He said it's 1930s décor.”

Mavis Anne raised a palm in the air. “I have just the perfect item. I saved a few of the fancier dresses my sister, Emmalyn, used to wear. They're in the cedar closet in my old bedroom at Koi House. After we finish knitting, we'll have a look.”

* * *

A few hours later Mavis Anne, Chloe, and I were gathered in the bedroom. Mavis Anne had removed six dresses from the closet and laid them across the bed. Each one was stunning.

“Take your pick,” she said.

They were all beautiful, but I was especially drawn to the black one. It was a floor-length Grecian silhouette. Small pearls and jet black rhinestones were embedded in the halter top band. With a natural gathered waist, the soft jersey material was striking.

“I love this one,” I said, fingering the dress. “I wonder if it'll fit.”

“Try it on,” Chloe said.

I slipped out of my cropped pants and T-shirt, pulled the dress over my head, and turned so Chloe could fasten the hidden zipper and hook in the back.

“Oh, Isabelle,” she gasped. “It's stunning. Go look in the full-length mirror.”

She was right. Even with minimal makeup and my hair due for a cut, I had been transformed. And the dress fit like a dream. Almost as if it had been created for me.

Mavis Anne clapped her hands as excitement crossed her face. “Oh, Isabelle. You are a vision.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I remember when Emmalyn wore that dress. You remind me a lot of her.”

I ran my hand down the side of the dress. “Are you sure you don't mind if I borrow it?”

“Don't be silly. I'd be thrilled to see the dress worn again. Such a shame that it's been hidden away in a closet for so long.”

I nodded. “Well, if you're sure.”

“I'm positive. Oh, and I just remembered,” she said, walking to the bureau and opening a drawer. She removed a box and took out a gorgeous black rhinestone headband. Holding it up, she said, “Emmalyn wore this with the dress. It was the perfect accessory.”

I took the headband and knew that Emmalyn Overby had had class and style. Shaped in a curlicue design, the gems glittered. Two velvet ties would secure it across the forehead.

“Here,” Chloe said. “Let me fasten it for you.”

I turned back to the mirror and this time I gasped. It was the ideal finishing touch. I looked like a starlet from a 1930s film.

“Wow,” I whispered. “This really is gorgeous.”

I turned around and pulled Mavis Anne into an embrace. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate your letting me borrow this.”

“Just wait until Chadwick Price sees you Saturday night. But I suggest you pay a visit to Helen, my hairdresser, that morning. The dress would look even better with your hair in a French twist.”

She was right. I'd hold off getting a trim until after our date. “I have to agree. With the headband, a French twist style would look really nice. I'll give Helen a call and see if she can squeeze me in Saturday morning.”

* * *

Tina hadn't been over in two days, so I wasn't surprised to see her arrive after school with Haley.

“Hey,” I said, looking up from my knitting. After I had tried on the dress, Chloe and Mavis Anne had returned to the yarn shop and I sat outside on the patio. “Good day at school?”

“Yeah, it was,” Haley said. “What's for supper?”

I smiled. It seemed ever since she had started hanging out with Tina, her appetite for food had returned. She certainly wasn't overeating, but she ate enough to convince me I didn't have to worry about an eating disorder.

“Nothing special. I have a meatloaf in the oven and we'll have au gratin potatoes and fresh green beans with it. Is that okay?”

“Sounds really good.” She paused for a second and then asked, “Would it be okay if Tina stayed for dinner?”

I didn't mind at all, but I could see this was becoming a habit. I was also coming to see that if not for Haley, Tina would have a pretty lonely life.

“Of course it's okay. As a matter of fact, I was thinking I'd love to have both you and your mother over for dinner, Tina. Could you give me her phone number so I can give her a call and see when she's free?”

Tina smiled and nodded. “Oh, yeah, that would be great. I'll write it down for you. She's working tonight, though, but you can reach her on Friday and find out when she's off again.”

“We're going up to my room to do our homework,” Haley said. “And then we're going jogging for a while before dinner.”

“Okay.” I resumed knitting and thought about Tina. She was a very pretty girl. Actually, she was striking. With coal black hair and olive skin, she might be Hispanic; I wondered if her mother was also. Tina had said they'd moved to Florida from Texas, but I wondered if any family remained in Mexico.

A few minutes later both Haley and Tina came running back out to the patio.

“Oh, Mom! What is that gorgeous dress hanging on your bedroom door?”

I had been wondering how to break the news to my daughter that I had a bona fide date. She did know about the episode I had falling and that Chadwick had come to the rescue, but I'd neglected to tell her he might call for a date.

“Oh, well . . . Remember the man who helped me out the day I slipped in the parking lot in the rain?”

Haley nodded and waited.

“Well . . . he called me earlier. He'd like to take me to dinner. This Saturday. To a supper club.” I felt like I was a teenager trying to explain to my father that I had a date. I was nervous about how my daughter would take this news, but the happy expression that crossed her face told me I needn't have been concerned.

She jumped up to hug me. “Wow! Really? That's great, Mom. I'm happy for you. And you're wearing that dress?”

“I am. Mavis Anne was kind enough to let me borrow it. It had belonged to her sister.”

“Wow, Mrs. Wainwright,” Tina said, “you're going to look the bomb.”

I burst out laughing. “Hmm, you think?”

“Oh, definitely, Mom. Can Tina stay over Saturday night? We can help you get ready and you know . . .”

I laughed again. I was pretty sure she meant she wanted to check out my date.

“Yeah, that would be fine. Don't forget, though, you promised to help Maddie at the florist shop on Saturday for Valentine's Day.”

“Right. Not a problem. I'm going there on Friday too.”

The girls headed back into the house and I smiled. All of a sudden things seemed to be going in a good direction for me. I knew Haley had been in touch with her father via phone calls and texting quite a lot, and that was a good thing. Though our marriage hadn't worked out, I wanted my daughter to have a good relationship with her father. Like I had. She had mentioned that during April vacation she'd like to fly to Atlanta for a few days to visit with him. I wasn't sure how Roger felt about that, with having a new person in his life, but I hoped it worked out for Haley's sake.

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.

A
fter 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.