“You’re good at décor. This made a huge difference.”
“Thank you, right? It just really looks perfect.”
“Now, I’m told if you do not go to Hope’s for lunch, the Sandbar Sisters will invade this space and unleash a whirlwind of nagging.”
“Oh, can you let them know that I have to skip? I just had an idea, and I don’t have time for eating out.”
“I will not. My wife scares me. I try to stay on her good side.” Dean smiled.
The idea of this big mountain of a man being afraid of the little dynamo that was Aunt J.J. was adorable.
“Okay, okay. I’ll go. I, too, am afraid of Aunt J.J.”
“I’ll lock up. You walk over right now and also give me full credit for insisting that you get lunch.”
“I shall. You’re the reason I’m going. Check.”
“Good.”
“And Dean, thank you again for the help. I just love the light fixture.”
“No problem at all, but don’t try electrical without me again. Okay? I need to be able to sleep at night without worrying that you’re zapping yourself over here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Siena grabbed her bag and took the short walk over to Hope’s Table. The place was filled with lunch diners. Aunt Hope was at her gorgeous French stove, involved in the hypnotic choreography of shifting cast iron pans and sliding in and out of the kitchen traffic. It was part of the experience, Siena realized, watching an artist in her element.
J.J. waived Siena over to a table where Libby and an older woman sat as well. Apparently, it was four for lunch. Truth be told, Siena wanted to skip lunch and work the store, but she now had four new mother hens worrying over her.
“Siena! This is my Aunt Emma, the Queen of Irish Hills if there ever was one.”
“I prefer Empress.”
The older woman put out a hand, and Siena shook it gently. Aunt Emma was stylish, over-dressed even, but looked very, very elderly to Siena.
“I’m pleased to meet you.”
“And you, you have the most gorgeous qualities of Goldie without the, how do they say it these days, vertical challenges?”
So, it appeared the cat was out of that bag. She was quiet about Aunt Goldie, but all these women had Aunt Goldie’s trust.
“Don’t worry, I’ve kept bigger secrets than that.”
Libby rolled her eyes. “She’s not lying.”
J.J. chimed in.
“I’m starving. Hope has a Michigan Cherry Salad for lunch today. It sounds too light. It is light, but trust me, it’s the best salad you’ll ever have.”
They ordered, and soon the conversation turned to how the shop was going.
“I’m excited,” Siena told them “I’ve got a good amount of product to start us out, Mom’s designs from last season, but she’s onboard with coming up with something new too. I don’t think she’s up to a full line, just a few new pieces we can feature at the store. We can even call them exclusive since they’re not in the department stores yet. We’re going to be in good shape.”
“Career wear?” Aunt Emma said. There was a strange edge to her voice.
“Yes, that’s the Hallmark of Vivian Blackwood Designs. A new piece or two on display here, and we probably can get some fashion magazine coverage too.”
“That’s great,” Libby said.
