Page 50 of Sandbar Storm
“Siena is going to pivot the store from my career designs and do home décor.”
“You know I LOVE THAT! I mean, how many times did we have to reimagine her bedroom décor based on her new ideas?”
“Right?” Viv recalled moving beds and dressers and buying new paint a couple times a year.
“And with that merchandising degree, this makes so much sense.”
“Right and untethering her from my business is the way to go. She needs to fly.”
“Agree, but fly with you in town, right? You’re going to be there, right?”
“Yeah, seeing as I don’t have a house anymore. I may buy something here just to be around for Siena as long as I can. She can have it after.”
“Ugh, after a good long time. But good. Okay, none of this makes me laugh at you. You said I would laugh. What’s that about?”
“I’m designing kaftans, that’s it.”
“What? Like muumuus?”
“Yes, flowy, colorful, flattering, diva-esque, no-shapewear-required kaftans.”
“Did you do market research? Is there a need or a gap in the retail space for tent dresses?”
“Stop it. No. No research. I just discovered a vintage one, and that was it. I got focused.”
“Oh, like before?”
Bret had seen Viv when she would forget to eat, shower, and take bathroom breaks because she was so intensely focused. He’d been there when she’d forgotten to pay the electric bill in her tiny apartment because who had time for anything but design. He’d been there to help her do what she loved. It was another reason she loved him. He was a giving person, and he’d given so much to her. She wished she could give him more, but he always said she was his family. She gave him family.
Viv felt tears well in her eyes, thinking of the family, the life they’d built.
“Yes, like before.” She answered his shorthand language question. Like before, is the answer only two people with history understand.
“I’m not laughing then. You do this. I’ll get the business shuttered. There’s a matter of inventory to deal with. None of the top-line stores will want close out. But there are other outlets.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I want to give them away. All of it.”
“What, to like Goodwill?”
“Yes, you said we don’t need the revenue, right?”
“True. It’s better for our tax obligation to donate, not profit.”
“Well, my motivation is women not taxes. I want women to be able to order an interview suit from us. We’ll ship it to her for free.”
“You’re going to have people buying a ton and then reselling, making money off your good intentions.”
“I know we’ll have to figure out a way around that, but that’s what I want to do. If you need a suit, you come to Vivian Blackwood Designs online, and we’ll send it to you. If you need to nail that job interview or promotion or look good when you have to go to court to testify against your ex. Whatever it is. Maybe it is one per address unless the address is a women’s shelter.”
“You’re something else, Ms. Blackwood.”
“Thanks, you too, Mr. Blackwood. So, you can handle that end? Figure out how to set it up?”
“I can, but what about these kaftans? Do you want me to grab a few of the buyers and run that up the flagpole? I’d need a few pictures and sketches; you know the drill. I can see if there’s interest. They might find some space for your new direction on the racks for spring.”
