I pulled out the second set, which was sized to fit Emily. The third set was special, since it was actually a set of boys’ pajamas with the same unicorn motif. Then I started calling out sizes. Anyone who thought they could fit got a copy of it. This was Faith's first design, and everyone seemed to want it.
When that box was empty, I picked up the special ones and made my way over to Emily while everyone else was busy unwrapping and looking at what they'd just been given. Emily gave me a confused look, but I just pressed the clothes into her hands.
"The one on top is a one-of-a-kind," I told her. "We had them do it up for her best friend. If he hates it, tell him he better learn how to fake it."
Emily simply pressed her hand over the bundle of clothing. "He actually likes unicorns. He just doesn't like to admit that he likes them."
From there, we moved on to another set, and then another one after that. One by one, the boxes slowly began to empty. As I went through each new article of clothing, I explained what body types it was best for and who it might not flatter as much. These ladies had questions - and I had answers.
Somewhere in there, drinks started to be passed around. Eventually, the first bottle of wine was empty. When a woman asked me about the lace I used, it was entirely possible that I launched into a small lecture about which fabric stretched, which didn't, and the importance of breathability. Once these women realized that I was truly passionate about designing clothes, all bets were off.
That was when we started getting to the discussion I really wanted. A couple of the girls who worked with horses started asking about compression and support to deal with bouncing around on the backs of horses. Another woman wanted to know if I had a bra that would work with a backless dress. She wasn't one of those small-chested women, either. Bit by bit, the conversation turned to the places where lingerie often failed the women who wore it, and I took notes.
Because not only was this party about convincing the women of Cats Peak, that we were worth having around, it was also something I honestly enjoyed, and for once, the people willing to talk to me about it weren't models with perfect bodies. They were real women, and the kind that I wanted to help look beautiful.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Meredith seemed to have a lot of fun with Faith at the lingerie party. I kept checking on them because I didn't want Faith to feel like I had abandoned her, but it seemed that my ex had finally figured out that the only person destroying her relationship with her child was herself.
However, explaining my concern about that to my brother was a lot of "fun." John knew exactly nothing about what had happened since the day my parents had kicked me out. Sure, people had said that I got my girlfriend pregnant and then bailed on her, but not much else. After I dropped out of school, I ended up moving in with Vera. I didn't have the same phone, address, or lifestyle that I'd enjoyed before I became a teen dad. And, from my brother's point of view, I'd completely disappeared.
Ash ended the party that night by reminding everyone that there was going to be a vote about our business license next week. He begged them to contact the city council and ask for the license to be approved. Violet also made it clear that the more people who showed up to stand with Southwind, the better chance we had of getting the place running.
The problem was that while we seemed to have won over most of the women in town, they weren't the only people who lived in Cats Peak. So, since Faith was spending the weekend with her mother, we decided to take advantage of the local hotspot to encourage even more people to show up for the vote. Berto made up some flyers and had them printed in Bonham. Then, right at dinnertime, the Shades of Trouble headed out to do a little politicking.
The Grill was jumping, but quite a few people waved when we walked in. Even better, while we waited in line to place our order, one of the busboys began putting tables together so we could all sit side-by-side. Berto walked around the room, handing out his flyers and encouraging anyone who could to show up at the meeting. Billy went over and sat quietly at the table, watching people the way he always did. It was Violet who had the best effect. She turned her charm up full force.
Anyone who said hi to her, she greeted them by name and turned the conversation to something personal. I was pretty sure that was Berto's advice. When she talked to a group of moms, she asked about teachers and what they felt was most important at school. To me, that sounded like something Billy had told her to do, reminding people that Southwind was serious about the kids who needed help. While the line shuffled slowly forward, getting us closer to actually making an order, the Shades of Trouble worked the room.
Before I met Violet, I never would've noticed what they were doing. Hell, back in the days before her, I'd been too worried about my own problems to even think about anything else. Now, however, I could see it. Just six months ago, everyone in Cats Peak had hated Violet on sight for all the "new" that she represented, and now people welcomed her over with smiles like she was a long-lost friend. It was crazy to think about how much had changed in such a short time.
Including me. Maybeespeciallyme. The strangest part was that being around these people didn't make me feel like I had actually changed. It felt more like I'd been set free, finally allowed to become the man I was supposed to be. I was pretty sure that everyone in the rainbow felt the same way, though. Southwind had "fixed" us by letting us just be us. That was why reopening was so important, because it wasn't a feeling that should be kept to ourselves.
Once we got our order placed, Cy and I got out of the way, taking a seat at our table while the rest did their thing. I kept hearing comments inviting people to the city council meeting, and my eyes jumped from person to person, trying to keep up. Beside me, Cy leaned closer until our arms were just touching.
"This is what they do," he explained. "Violet's nervous, so she funnels that into action."
"And Ash wants to give her the world," I said, showing I understood.
"Mhm," he agreed. "He also wants to make sure that she doesn't push too far. That's always how her problems start. That woman decides that she wants something, and if she can't make it happen, she will break herself a little more."
"So what do we do?" I asked, looking over to find his dark eyes waiting.
He smiled softly. "I pick her up. You put her back together. Ash will remind her that she isn't weak and fragile. That's all we can do, Luke. She wants to make her grandmother proud, but Vi will never realize that she never needed to. Gran was proud of her just for being her. So, we get to be the 'bumpers' between her and the rest of the world, making the hits hurt just a bit less."
"And what do we do for you?" I asked him.
Cy glanced away and chuckled once. "You remind me that I'm not alone, worthless, or easy to forget."
"You are none of those things, Cy," I assured him.
But people kept coming in and the Grill was quickly filling up. I saw families, friends and more. Over there was a group of guys I'd gone to high school with. In the corner was an elderly couple having their version of a date. Some groups were big, while others were just a pair wanting to get out of the house. Each and every one of them got a flyer.
When the food finally arrived, they all came back. Berto had barely sat down before Billy was picking on him. "So, you flirting with every woman in Cats Peak now?"
"It's the job," Berto pointed out.
Billy's face turned devious. "Think Emily would agree?"
