As expected Jamie was 50 minutes late or 5 minutes early depending on your perspective. After the initial back and forth decided what day and time the fitting should be, Jamie had sent a calendar invite for an hour earlier than what they agreed upon. While Evelyn had been sure she was just trying to be difficult, she also figured that Jamie would have stuck to the scheduled time.
Rookie mistake, she thought to herself.
Nevertheless there was one bottles of chilled white wine, something sweeter like Jamie preferred chilling on the kitchen island with a small tray of fruits and cheeses. Nothing that could stain the delicate wedding dress Jamie was being fitted for, but enough to tide her over. Early in her career she had seen too many girls come in half starved and barely able to stand while they were being fitted. Thankfully she saw less of it, which she hoped meant it was less common practice and not because people had found better ways to hide their extreme dieting.
Either way, having a few snacks out never hurt. While it wasn’t always eaten, it was always appreciated, just like the box of tissues she kept scattered throughout her studio (which was really the second bedroom). Most of the time Evelyn went to her clients or met them at a local dress shop. Only a small number of clients ever came to her apartment, Jamie was now one of them.
Jamie, and her mother, her two cousins, three of the other girls in her wedding party, her grandmother, and both Trent’s mother and grandmother.
“Hi Jamie,” Evelyn started, “everyone.”
Evelyn’s eyes looked down the line as Jamie rattled off who everyone was.
“Nice to meet you all. Jamie, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Jamie turned and squared off her body. Her hand opened as if to say: speak.
“Okay then. I wasn’t aware you were bring a large party or I would have had you meet me at a more accommodating space. This is my home office and it’s not equipped for large parties. If you want to figure out who you want to stay we can keep the appointment, at best I can make room for four plus you and me, but it will be very tight. Or if you want to have everyone we’ll have to reschedule for another day.”
A ripple of gasps trickled down the line.
“Can they at least see the dress?”
“No,” Evelyn said flatly.
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean at this stage, they cannot see the dress. It’s in my office space which cannot accommodate this many people. I can give you a few minutes to discuss with your family.”
Evelyn stood at the island counter counting the squares of cheese and grapes, trying not to listen too closely as she kept an eye on Jamie and her group. Two of the girls seemed to be edging away and her cousins were starting to look around the apartment.
Snippets of voices carried over “it’s your dress, she can’t tell you who can see it,” “who serves cheese to a bride,” “how does she pay rent — a two bedroom?!”
Evelyn cleared her throat and looked at the girls on the fringe. The friends tucked back in and the cousins refocused on their aunt.
“Well, I do understand, if she wasn’t told we were all coming.”
Trent’s grandmother spoke almost sweetly. There was an understanding in her voice followed by a tone no one dared to challenge. She continued.
“She will need more than one fitting,” it was a question directed at Evelyn.
Before Evelyn could speak Jamie answered.
“I haven’t even seen the dress –”
“You what,” her mother broken in.
“Not in person,” Jamie corrected. “I might want to make changes.”
“Yes,” Evelyn said ignoring the other women.
“Obviously, she just said she hasn’t seen the dress. She could want to change it.”
“To be clear, details of the dress were discussed prior to starting the construction. At this point the Jamie will have the opportunity to make some alterations, but the structure of the dress is final. She has been made aware of this.”
It was just like dealing with a PA person, albeit a shitty one for a shitty celebrity. Something Evelyn had only encountered once and in that scenario the pop star had fired the PA for the way she was speaking to Evelyn.
“Why don’t you, your mother, and your grandmother sit for this one, then the rest of us can see you at the second one. We’ll schedule it correctly then.”
“Why don’t you just bring the dress to the living room. You can move the coffee table and we can all sit around on the sofa? It’s an L shape and there’s plenty of room.”
“Jamie, if you can’t figure out who you would like to sit with you today, I will have to reschedule,” Evelyn pressed on ignoring whosever asinine idea it was to take over her home.
“Listen to me dear,” Trent’s grandmother said again. “You, your mother, and your grandmother. The rest of us will se you next time. Move it along girls,” she said lifting her cane of the ground.
Evelyn swallowed a laugh as they all eyed the cane and filed out.
“Come on then,” Jamie said. “Where’s this office space of yours?”
When the last person left Evelyn closed the door discreetly turning the lock.
“It’s right up head, since I heard cheese wasn’t on your diet help you won’t mind me putting it back. I will bring the wine in with us. Would any of you care for a glass?”
No one answered. Evelyn tucked the entire platter into the fridge and took the bottle of wine with the glasses with them. The women shuffled along side Evelyn into the space. There was a small love seat and a matching chair along the wall. In the corner was a three way mirror that extended floor to ceiling with wide panels, before it was a dais. Behind a movable partition was the dress still on the form. Behind that was her sewing desk and a small standing desk Evelyn used when she sketched to its left. On the other side was a giant beanbag-like chair where she could tuck in and work her very detailed hand sewn details.
Evelyn placed the bottle on an end table on the side of the love seat.
“Is it red?”
“No, I only serve white wine when doing fittings.”
Jamie’s mother breathed out a snort. It wasn’t hard to picture her in all the stories Jamie had told her. Her mother accosting servers and retail workers, even ex-boyfriends. But it was hard to see that in such a short time, Jamie had turned into her mother. At least now the metamorphosis had seemed to bring them closer together.
“Are you ready to see your dress, Jamie?”
Butterflies dared to spread their wings in her stomach. This was the moment she lived for. Things might not have been going exactly as she would have liked given that she and Jamie had been incredibly close once — obviously not any more since Jamie hadn’t even told her she wasn’t being included in the bridal party.
Evelyn slid the patrician over to reveal the dress. Both Jamie and her mother gasped.
For a second a light passed through each of their faces. The grandmother looked at the dress with aw, and just as quickly as it happened Jamie’s face fell. Her mother spoke first.
“There are enough seats for six people, and the rest of the girls could have stood.”
Evelyn moved over and stood firmly in front of her work station next to the dress.
“Jamie,” she prompted.
“Well, it’s what you would expect if your friend was making your wedding dress.”
The tone pierced through Evelyn’s heart. She didn’t like it… at all? Evelyn’s eyes searched it woman’s: Jamie’s mother was still looking at the seating, Jamie was glaring at the dress, and her grandmother. There was a sadness.
“Look, maybe if you took away the top part and went for a traditional sweetheart neckline, and then took in the waist before a dramatic swoop with layers it wouldn’t be so. . .” Jamie’s voice drifted off.
None of that was what they had discussed. None. Samantha had worried she would do something like this. She hadn’t seen the dress, it wasn’t in Evelyn’s business practice to flaunt her designs, especially with wedding dresses, let alone show them to anyone before the bride had seen it. But she had been here last night. They had polished off half the cheese and grapes, and all of the prosciutto while making the mini-charcuterie board. Not to mention the bottle of sauvignon blanc. It would hurt, but Evelyn had to tell Samantha that she had been right.
Every time step of the way Jamie’s behavior surprised her, but this had to be the most surprising thing yet.
“That would completely change the shape of the dress,” Evelyn finally spoke. “As we discussed, the details of the dress were discussed prior to starting the construction. You can make some alterations, but the structure of the dress is final.”
“Well, than make her a new dress. Since it’s obviously not what she asked for, and you can’t fault someone for your mistakes. I’m not sure how adding a few details like straps and a waist is really altering the structure. What is it make out of?”
“It’s hand embroidered and with crystal embellishments. Those changes would either cover the work already done or you would risk destroying the material and requiring a new foundation.”
“She’s not going to pay for that,” Jamie’s mother spat out.
“Jamie, why don’t try the dress on and see if you like it. It was everything you had asked for.”
“Look, Evelyn, I appreciate your efforts but why don’t I just try it on after you make those changes.”
Evelyn stared.
“Like I said before, change the top put in a traditional sweetheart neckline, cinch everything in the middle, and then put lots of layers on the bottom that give it volume and a bigger, fuller feel.”
Before Evelyn could say another word Jamie turned on her heel and headed toward the door.
“Luckily no one else was here to see your faux pas. Just make those changes and let me know when you have a space big enough for the whole bridal party, I think there’s 10 girls now, plus my mom, Trent’s mom, and both our grandmothers. Shoot, maybe his sister too. Thanks, E!”
“And whatever you do,” her mother added, “don’t you dare charge her for this.”
“If she is requesting structural changes, I will have to charge her.”
“Well than don’t expect payment from us.”
Her hand fluttered dangerously close to Evelyn’s face. Small wet spots bloomed on her cheek. If she had come any closer — Evelyn shuddered before walking over to the grandmother.
“Do you need help?”
The older woman shook her head no.
“Common, Evelyn. You obviously don’t trust people in your house, are you walking us to the door or not?”
Evelyn turned her back on the grandmother to face the two women still standing in the doorway. Sure Evelyn had a bigger apartment than Jamie, but it wasn’t that big where she had to scream, especially when they were all in the same room. She turned around to see if the grandmother had managed to get up. Surprisingly she had and was already shuffling away from the dress heading toward Evelyn in almost a breakneck speed. She shuffled out of the way and walked the three women directly to the door.
By the time the elevator dinged, Evelyn’s vision was blurred by on coming tears.
~~~
It had taken Samantha less than an hour to pick up a to-go order from the sandwich shop with a stop at L’amour for two to-go coffees and be on Evelyn’s couch.
The open bottle of sauvignon blanc replaced the coffees, and the two women sat close to the corner picking at their sandwiches and the platter Evelyn had made earlier. Every heartbreaking of the fitting had been retold, reviewed, and remarked upon. It still seemed unfathomable to Evelyn that she had fitted a friend this morning. Jamie had behaved more like an entitled socialite than the practical, poised person Evelyn had known her to be.
“If you want my unfiltered opinion,” Samantha started.
She leaned forward to top off Evelyn’s wine as she spoke.
“You know I do,” Evelyn said. “Thank you.”
Samantha nodded and returned the bottle to the tray.
“She doesn’t see you as Evelyn Winters, the world renown, famous, successful fashion designer who specializes in custom wedding gowns. She doesn’t see you. Who she sees is Evelyn Winters circa how many years ago who was dating a douche bag, was being mistreated at a job she had grown to hate, who sometimes doodled sketches of dresses.”
Evelyn looked down at her wine, the meniscus sitting right about her thumb, as if she was supporting it. A pang echoed throughout her insides. One of the first things she and Jamie had bonded over were their douche bag boyfriends. Though, Jamie and Trent were secretly engaged and worked hadn’t become miserable for Evelyn yet.
Where Evelyn broke free of the chains she had been holding onto, Jamie had double downed on hers. Perhaps she was still holding on too tightly to that life, that prolonged moment in time, because that wasn’t who Evelyn was now. It was who was was destined to be, so she fixed it.
She branched out on her own. She had created a business, a successful one, where she could afford a 2 bedroom apartment overlooking Bryant Park (where she could see the actual park and sweeping skyline views from every window she had). She had taken a leap of faith in herself and she had soared.
Jamie was still where she had been years ago, and the only difference Evelyn could see was how bitter she had become.
“You’re right,” Evelyn said softly. “It’s sad, but you’re right.”
She took a large sip of her wine following it with a piece of cheese. The textures and tastes creating a symphony in her mouth.
“While I love hearing that, I’m sorry. It is sad, but it’s also not our problem. The bigger question is what are we going to do?”
“I’m not ruining that dress with her changes. It’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever made.”
“Damn,” Samantha said. “I must give a great pep talk. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you so boastful.”
Samantha’s laugh filled the living room. She lifted her class as a solute before continuing.
“I love it. I can only imagine what this dress looks like. You know I secretly fan girl over your designs.”
“You want to see it?”
Long locks of shinny brown hair spilled out of Samantha’s bun as she lurched forward.
“What! You mean a sneak peak at an Evelyn Winters original?”
Evelyn’s laugh now filled the space.
“Come on,” she said between breaths.
The two women left their wine glasses on the couch and shuffled toward the workspace.
“Wait here for a minute,” Evelyn said to Samantha as they approached the door. “I want to give you the full experience.“
Evelyn had taken no more than two steps into the room, the smart light slowly brightening the space, when her heart stopped. The soft white light highlighting the terror before her. Her skin chilled, her muscles numb and rubbery. Somewhere behind the piercing ringing Evelyn heard a loud thud and a scream.
When she pushed through the darkness, balls of lights and a very blurry form reminiscent of Samantha bobbed and weaved before her.
“What happened,” she asked dazily.
“Nothing good,” Samantha’s voice returned.
Closing and reopening her eyes, Evelyn saw Samantha clearly standing over her. Her face was drawn and she was the color of untouched silky, white fabric.
“Before you sit up,” she continued, ”are you okay? Do you need a minute?”
”I’m alright,” Evelyn said faintly.
She believed it too. She didn’t feel hurt or sick. Despite waking up on the floor with no idea of how she got there, she felt an odd sense of peace. Like something troublesome had been solved.
”Okay,” Samantha said softly. ”What’s the last thing you remember seeing? Before you opened your eyes now.”
Evelyn closed her eyes and thought. She had been getting up to show Samantha —
”The dress!”
Gnarled locks fell from her messy bun as Evelyn pushed herself into an upright position. There before her was her best friend and what had been one of her best designs. Except instead of beaded, delicate cascading ivory silk was a dark, blotchy patch of maroon across the bodice with a spotted trail leading to the accented hips.
”How? What…” Evelyn stammered.
”I know,” Samantha replied.
Her cool hands wrapped around Evelyn’s gently lifting her off the floor.
”And I have a confession to make,” she continued, her voice trailing off as she did.
Whatever tasty morsels Evelyn had picked at before summersaulted in her belly. Whatever Samantha had to confess couldn’t possibly make the situation better. Before Evelyn could decide if she even wanted to hear anything, Samantha walked over to a small stuffed penguin holding a bouquet. It had been a silly present around the same time that Evelyn had begun working on Jamie’s dress, the ruined dress before her.
”It’s absolutely an invasion of privacy, and I want you to know that it wasn’t turned on until yesterday.”
She handed Evelyn the penguin.
”You had been talking about letting select clients in your home studio, and things with Jamie seemed a little off and then down right weird. When you told me she was coming in for her fitting I turned it on. It’s a nanny-cam.”
Evelyn drew in a sharp breath and held the stuffed animal up at eye level.
”I didn’t trust her and I should have said something to you, but I didn’t. Instead, I gave it and made sure it wasn’t turned on or recording until yesterday evening after you said you went to bed. It has the footage from today, which would have been archived and destroyed if everything had gone swimmingly, but…”
Her voice trailed off.
”You set up a nanny-cam penguin just in case my ‘best friend’ tried to sabotage me?”
”Or stiff you or something. Your dresses aren’t cheap and I thought maybe you would end up in civil court, not with a damaged design.”
”How much true crime are you consuming these days? Do you have too much free time? Should we have them put you back on schedule to work the counter at L’amour?”
Samantha cocked her head to the side, a smile slowly forming.
”You’re not upset?”
”I’m devastated. But not by you. I mean, yes, total invasion of privacy, but now we can figure out what happened to this dress.”
”It wasn’t Jamie?”
”Not in front of me. When she and her mother left the dress was in pristine condition.”
”Time to play detective. Which role would you like?”
”I think it’s only fitting you star as Nancy.”
”Come on, George. We have videos to scour.”
”I’d offer to make popcorn but there’s a chance I’ll throw up.”
”Not necessary. We’ll get to the bottom of this and then –”
”What? We’ll get even?”
”Oh no,” Samantha said, a small grin spreading across her face, ”we’ll get revenge.”