Page 11 of Sew Matcha in Love
I pulled on my coat and flipped up my hood to make the trek over the light cover of snow to the detached garage. Over a hundred years ago, it had been a carriage house. Then a gardener’s shed. When Dad retired from the military to become a wildlife photographer, it became his workshop. After he died, I left it as it was for a long time—until I ran out of room in the main house for my collection.
I pushed the key into the lock of the windowless structure and opened the door, tentatively walking forward on the carpet into the darkness until I could grab the cord that would signal the interior lights.
Sure, I could have used the flashlight feature on my phone to find it, but what fun would that be?
“Ow!”
Step three-point-five put me in direct contact with my industrial sewing machine.
I rubbed my knee. “Sorry, Nellie.” I patted its arm in apology. I’d named her after the American Girl doll who worked in a factory in New York City as a child, changing the threads on the big machines. The name was a callback to the books I loved as a child and a reminder that my favorite era of time had a dark side that the romanticism of the period often overlooked.
Reaching up and a tad forward, I caught the cord and pulled. The uncovered bulb’s soft glow illuminated the immediate area and left the perimeter in darkness. I hung my coat on the rack by the door and traversed the mosaic of garage-sale carpets and throw rugs, pulling on the rest of the lights.
Monty and Xavier had moved the racks of wedding gowns and my clothes from upstairs to the perimeter, leaving the space in the back right corner for the changing area. Behind thehanging quilt were three full-length mirrors and a set of hooks for garments. Beck had installed high shelving for my hat boxes and accessories over the racks, and they brought a touch of decor to the otherwise industrial-looking space. I might keep them here permanently.
In the center of the room, Nellie sat sentry, facing the doors. Behind her, three dress forms—two female and one male, dubbed June, July, and August, respectively—formed a semicircle in front of my cutting table. To the machine’s left was a four- by two-foot table I used as an extension for large projects, and to her right was the antique chest of drawers that held most of what I needed to work through Tuesday. I had to finish up Zaki’s costume, and I wanted to get started on designs for Penny’s gala dress, even if I wasn’t yet one hundred percent certain Tasha had been serious about that or if it had just been a ploy to get me to meet with Zaki.
We hadn’t revisited the topic—our communication over the last few days was centered around the upheaval she’d brought to my calm and quiet—and dare I say, gloriously boring—life. But I did plan to ask her about it, and I wanted to have a few concepts ready, just in case.
Penny was the sweetest human in the world. Her shape had changed since she’d become a mother. We’d spoken about altering the dresses she had for when she returned to playing the harp for events, but it would be nice to surprise her with something new and custom-made.
The light above the changing corner flickered, earning a deep frown from me. “You’d better get your act together before Mr. Marsch arrives,” I told it with authority. I checked my pocket watch.Yikes.They’d be here in less than twenty minutes.
I scooted around Nellie and went straight to August, where the tunic was draped. It was a simple piece at its base, charcoal-gray wool with lighter gray fur trim at the sleeves and hem.Ribbons in shades of blue accented a maroon fabric belt to give the appearance of stripes. I’d tack it onto the tunic, give it a nice, flat knot at the side, and set in snaps to hold it in place. On the worktable sat the loose-fitting dusty blue pants, an elbow-patched shirt, a hat, and pointy boot covers to pull over his hikers.
I may have gone a little overboard with my attention to detail.
The sound of an engine and tires crunching on the snow drew me from my inspection. I hurried to the door to open it. In front of me was a shiny black minivan,notthe kind of vehicle I’d expect from a multimillionaire defenseman. He sure meant it when he said he didn’t like to waste money on things.
Zaki grinned at me as he slid the door to the back seat open. The girls were again clad in princess dresses of the same shades as the first two times I’d seen them. I wondered if all of their clothing wasFrozen-inspired.
“Wynnie!” In less than five seconds, they’d unbuckled themselves and ran straight for me.
I opened my arms for the embrace and snuck a glance up at their dad, who was closing the van’s door. He wore the same team beanie as last week, but instead of the elegant wool overcoat, he’d donned a sage puffer jacket.
Green was definitely his color.
“Amelie! Do you see the dollhouse?”
“Oh Isla, it’s just as I imagined!”
I laughed. “Come on in to my temporary workshop.” I let go of the girls and stepped toward the door. “Inside you’ll see a lot of pretty dresses, my sewing machine, and all of my tools. It’s important that you don’t touch any of it, okay? There are some pattern books on the table you can look at and some drawing paper and pencils. Feel free to sketch or write while I work on your dad’s costume. Okay?”
“Okay!” they chorused.
I took a deep breath and heaved the door open. “Go on in and explore. You too, Mr. Marsch.”
He winked at me and followed the girls in. I shook my head and scooted around him toward August.
“Nice setup. So do you make costumes for, like, theater productions?”
I shook my head no. “Too much drama. Emotionally charged cast members who are overworked, underfed, and sleep-deprived. Directors telling actresses that they aren’t the right size or shape for a dress. Having to hack up beautiful pieces and ‘theater stitch’ them together to fit around microphones or mend them withstaplesto make it through a scene.” I shuddered. “I learned pretty quickly I’m the sew-at-home custom-order kind of seamstress.”
“It’s a very impressive space.”
“I don’t usually work here. This garage is just for storing the wedding gowns.”
“I can’t wait to hear more about that,” he said sincerely. “Tasha explained your dress library. I think it’s awesome.”
