The Time Between by Karen White

Author:Karen White
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781410458391
Publisher: NAL
Published: 2013-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Eve

At the sound of Eleanor’s footsteps clambering down the stairs, I quickly slid the beautiful burgundy wool gabardine fabric under the yards of tulle I’d been buried under for nearly a week. Since Mama’s unexpected meeting with Mrs. Reed at the fabric store, she’d not only rediscovered an old friendship, which—thankfully—took her undivided focus off me, but also brought an unexpected opportunity in the form of Mrs. Reed’s granddaughters and their heavy involvement in a dance academy.

Mama had been embarrassed when I’d asked her to call her old friend and ask who was making their costumes for the various shows. As I’d explained to her, opportunities sometimes arrived when you weren’t even looking for them. Like when you’re standing in front of rolls of fabric in a fabric store or lying broken on a dirt road staring up at the sky through the gnarled arms of an oak tree.

“Are you ready to go?” Eleanor asked, dangling her car keys.

I spotted a piece of the burgundy and quickly leaned over to fiddle with the sewing machine while using the other hand to hide the wool. It hadn’t taken me long to figure out that I needed to use the old pattern we’d bought all those years ago and make Eleanor a suit. I think I’d decided to do it even before I’d found the material on sale in a color I knew would look beautiful on my sister. If I could see my child as a second chance, then I could see this suit as my penance. Each stitch, each hour a letting go, a saying good-bye to anger and to old dreams that had never really been mine.

“I’m ready,” I said, placing my purse in my lap as Eleanor wheeled me to the door.

As she headed the car toward Charleston, I said, “I’d like to send a thank-you note to Mr. Beaufain. He’s been more than generous in allowing you time off for my appointments, and now for maternity clothes shopping.”

“Believe me, he knows he’s getting a bargain with all the time I spend with his aunt. She’s not the easiest person to get along with.” Her mouth hardened. “Besides, it’s only for a few hours. Glen said he could come pick you up around eleven thirty, right?”

I nodded. “Unless you wanted to grab lunch; then I can call him to come a little later.”

She looked startled at my suggestion but quickly composed herself. “I’ll probably take lunch at my desk to catch up on the work I’m missing this morning.” She waved her hand at me, as if to dismiss further conversation on the subject, and I wondered when she’d started doing that. “Finn usually brings me lunch when I come in late.”

I raised my eyebrows, trying to think of why somebody like Mr. Beaufain would bring lunch to an assistant. “Still, I’d like to send a note. Do you know his home address?”

I was amused to see her blushing. “Yes. I’m actually heading there this afternoon after work.

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