Pierre unwrapped it. And there, in a wide, luxurious silk was Laura’s design of the blue grass hill against the sky and sea.
“For me?” Pierre wrapped it around herself and went back into the studio to look in the mirror.
Laura turned to Samira. “Is this what you’ve been weaving since you finished with Millie’s fabric?” She had wondered about the clacking of the loom earlier.
“I know Rovena promised you for after the wedding, but if they have press and people tomorrow, why not show them what we can do?”
“How many have you done?”
“This is the first. The loom is still going. Agnessa and Marta are on the machine to do the edging and finishing. We can have five ready by tomorrow.”
Back in the studio, Pierre was still admiring herself in the mirror. “I love this. I’m going to tie it over the grey dress tomorrow.” She practiced now, wrapping it around her waist and hips and tying a big knot at the side so the ends hung down to her knees. “You really are inspired. And that leaflet is right; this is a unique fabric.”
“Well that’s the idea. What we make can’t be found anywhere else.”
“I’m glad you’ll be staying.”
No.
Laura studied the floor and then the wall, the window and the view outside.
Of course, she would need to be here occasionally, but Rovena could run the day-to-day operations without her. Laura herself planned to live in Brighton most of the time.
She didn’t need to be here. It would be too difficult. Too painful.
As if reading her mind, Pierre asked, “You’re not thinking of working off-site?”
“It might make more sense.”
Pierre clearly didn’t believe her. She pressed her lips together as she untied the silk scarf from around her slim waist. Finally, she came closer and reached up to place a hand on the taller woman’s shoulder.
“Is it because Adam is staying to run the new clinic?”
Not that name again, please.
“Laura?” Pierre asked softly. “Can’t you forgive him?” And her voice quavered.
“What’s wrong?” Laura asked, surprise to see tears in the other girl’s eyes. In fact, now she thought of it, Pierre had seemed more than a little down. Not like here usual merry self.
“Nothing. But consider this. He loves you and wants you. He’s ready to make a life with you. Not many people have that.”
Laura had never stopped to think about Pierre’s love life. But now looking at the sadness in her normally happy friend, it was clear something was amiss.
She gathered the other girl into her arms. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing. That’s just it. Nothing. I don’t have a man who loves me so much he’s been walking around the house like he’s missing a limb. Can’t you forgive him?”
If only it were that simple.
The radio on her shelf was playing a song; she had it on for background. But just then the lyrics of a song snagged her attention.
“Hold me like a baby that will not fall asleep.”
She would never again hold or be held by Adam.
“At least talk to him. You both deserve a proper calm conversation not the one you had last night at the foot of the stairs.”
“What? You don’t think a drunken rant should be my last words to him?”
