Page 11 of Bound By Fate
Pink felt legs, arms, and head. Blue felt for the dress and bow. A tangle of pink hair sticking out of the top. All of it, I got on sale; thank you very much. It was really only my time, and I loved every second of making it for my girl.
Remy was literally Poppy, a cartoon Troll, from head to toe. Her eyes were set in amazement like she didn’t know what to do.
“You do realize she’s never going to take that off, right?” Ensley said, coming up next to us.
I shrugged. “It’s the great thing about being an aunt. I give. I see smiles. I get hugs. I leave. No issues on my end.”
Ensley chuckled as Remy started to move away. “Wait!” I called to her, and she stopped mid run. “I need a picture before you go.”
“But I wannna shows everybodys,” Remy whined, face turning down at the delay.
“Well, I guess I can take Poppy back home…” I led, knowing for sure I’d never take this away from her, but she didn’t need to know that, right?
“Dine,” she grouched.
As soon as I pulled out my camera she was all smiles and striking poses here and there, making everyone around us laugh, including me. “Thank you, bug. Now you can go.”
Remy didn’t waste any time going to every person in that backyard individually and showing them her costume. She even struck poses for them as well. She was such a ham, and I expected nothing less.
“You’ve still got the touch,” Ensley said, watching her little girl.
“Huh?” I questioned, feeling immense joy that I was able to give this happiness to Remy.
“You were always so good at sewing.”
I gave a little chuckle. “Yeah, that’s why I had to spend hours and hours making clothes for everyone at home. I actually hated it, but making this for Remy helped me not hate it as much.”
“You could totally make these things for kids for Halloween or whatever. You could make a killing,” Ensley said as Austyn came up.
“Woman? You made that? Like needle and thread shit?”
A smile came to my lips. “Yeah. One thing I can do is sew.”
“And design,” Ensley threw in, making me chuckle.
“Yeah, button-up shirts, skirts, and pants in the most boring patterns and scratchy fabrics; not really designing.”
Ensley chucked me in the shoulder. “Shut it. I bet you didn’t use a single pattern for this and had it done in less than a week.”
“Five days, but who’s counting.” Plus, I worked during that time too, but no need to throw that tidbit in.
“It looks like you made it for a prop at Disney or some shit,” Austyn tossed in. “Woman, you have a talent there.”
My head shook. “Nah, just do it to make that little one happy.”
“No, seriously.” Austyn turned to me. “Can you design dresses?”
My eyes squinted. “Ummm. I guess I could, but what do you need a dress for?” Designing a dress, now that was new.
“Ryker is taking me away in a few months to Cancun, and I want something pretty. Different. Me.”
“Hmm… I don’t know. I’m not really a designer, but I guess I could draw up some sketches, and you can tell me what you think.”
Austyn’s smile widened. “Perfect. You do that, and we’ll get together.”
A bit embarrassed with having my talent of sewing out on display, I could feel my cheeks heat. It sounded stupid even to my own ears, but this little thing, Austyn asking this of me, made me feel included. Like I had a purpose in this group. Small, but it was there. A spark of hope.
Yeah, stupid. Chances were the type of dress Austyn would want would be something there was no way in heck I could do.
