Page 31 of Bride in Blue
“Max.”
“Max?” Jacques laughed.
“What?” Max said at the same time.
Cassie smiled. “Did you know that Max’s haberdashery employs two of the finest tailors in all of New York City? I’m sure we can get the job done for you.”
Chapter 9
“Maybe I bit off a bit more than I could chew,” Cassie said looking at the pile of fabrics and costumes that were delivered to Max’s house. There wasn’t enough room at the haberdashery so now Max’s office, the dining room and sitting room were taken over by costumes needing to be repaired.
“Perhaps you did. I still don’t know what possessed you to offer to fix those costumes.”
“I thought it would be a good way to expand the haberdashery. Just think, Max. They will tell their other theater friends and soon we will have work from all over. Theaters that are passing through, will know that they can get costumes fixed when they are in Creede.”
“It also will give your father something to do.” Hal had been spending more time with Mrs. Brown.
“I totally agree,” Cassie said. “Besides, the money can go to expanding the shop.”
Max scratched his head. “I suppose.”
“I wish…,” Cassie said.
“Wish what?”
“I just wish I had a sewing machine. It would definitely help Father’s fingers, and we could get things done so much faster than hand sewing. We had one in New York, but we had to sell it when Momma died.”
“A sewing machine? That I can do. I think there was one at the mercantile in the back. It had been sitting there for ages.”
“Oh really, Max? That would be wonderful.” Cassie quickly jumped up and planted kisses on his cheeks.
“Let me see what I can do. Do you need anything else while I’m out?”
Cassie thought about it. “No, that’s alright.” She didn’t want to make demands on him now that they were married. Granted it had only been a week since they were married, but she recalled wives in New York demanding things from their husbands all the time. It turned those husbands into bitter men. She didn’t want to be married to someone who would grow to resent her.
Max nodded. He gave Cassie a kiss on the cheek and headed out the door.
It was nearly two hours later when Max came back inside carrying a sewing machine and a box with a string on it.
Cassie’s eyes lit up as she took the box and watched Max set the machine on the dining room table. “They had two. I purchased both of them. The other one will be delivered to the shop tomorrow. That one has a table, so it was too heavy for me to carry.”
“I certainly hope that isn’t going to stay there,” Mrs. Brown said, coming into the dining room.
“I’m not sure where else we could put it,” Cassie said.
Max thought for a moment. “I guess you can use my desk.”
“Oh, Max. We’ve already put you out so much. Your office is all you have left.”
Max shrugged his shoulders. “Who would have thought that a month ago I was living alone in this house? Now I have a wife, a father-in-law and a housekeeper. Even Mr. Gladstone appears happier.”
Cassie laughed. “As long as the cat is happy, I guess nothing else matters, does it?”
“You children and your talk of animals like they belong in the house,” Mrs. Brown said, picking up the boxes of notions.
“Wait,” Cassie said. “That looks like a pastry box.”
“It is,” Max replied taking the box from Mrs. Brown and passing it back to Cassie. “Maybelle has been trying to perfect a chocolate cake recipe, so she sent samples over to try. She said for you to be sure to stop by the bakery and visit sometime.”
