Page 44 of The Forgotten
“Oh, all right,” Jill mumbled and began to type. “I asked him if he’d like to meet for a drink tonight. Nice and neutral.”
“Good girl. Now, there’s something I just thought of.” The elusive idea that Quinn had been chasing a few minutes ago finally crystallized in her mind since she was no longer trying so hard to grasp at it.
“Jill, I read something a few weeks ago. A small blurb online, really. It talked of how a dress worn by Kate Middleton sold out in days after she was photographed wearing it to a charity event.”
“So?” Jill asked, gazing at Quinn in confusion.
“So, that’s what women want. They want to look like a princess. Kate has a very particular style, and every time she wears something, it flies off the racks, no matter the cost. If you want to remain in business, you have to cater to a different type of customer. I know you love the vintage pieces, but that’s not what the general public desires. You must reinvent yourself in order to survive.”
Jill took a gulp of wine and looked at Quinn, her eyes brightening. “You know, you might be onto something there. I tend to think that women want unique, timeless pieces, but marketing trends say otherwise. They obviously prefer to fit in rather than stand out. They might admire an Edwardian frock or a beaded flapper dress in a magazine but would never actually splurge on one, thinking they’d have no occasion to wear it. They want practical, classic garments that make them feel like royalty. Who would have thought?”
Quinn smiled. “Things never work out quite as you expect them to, do they? But you can still offer vintage dresses and accessories as long as you also invest in more practical stock. You have a good location and high potential for foot traffic. All you need are some high-profile items that will draw the more conservative shoppers in.”
“I reckon it’s worth a try. I will contact some of the manufacturers of Kate’s dresses on Monday. They’re probably swamped with orders, but I can hang on for a few more weeks, maybe even as long as two months.”
“You said there was some interest on Facebook. Why not create a website and offer an online catalogue? Or post some of your merchandise on Pinterest, especially the vintage jewelry. Some of those pieces are stunning and quite eye-catching. Youmight have to hire someone to set up the website for you, but if you get some online orders, the website design will pay for itself.”
“You know, for an archeologist, you have a pretty keen business mind,” Jill replied, finally smiling.
“You’d be amazed at how enterprising our ancestors were when it came to selling their wares. Modern-day people didn’t invent commerce, we simply took it to cyberspace, which is the biggest marketplace of all these days. Use it to your advantage.”
“It honestly never occurred to me. I guess I’m not as business savvy as I imagined myself to be. Oh,” Jill said as her mobile buzzed. “It’s from Brian.”
Jill’s face split into a happy smile. “He says that he blocked Denise from all his accounts. He sent her a message telling her that it’s over, and he wants nothing more to do with her. He is asking if he can pick up a takeaway and come round tonight. You know what that means. Make-up sex,” Jill said, her hand instantly going to her greasy hair. “I need a bath.”
“I’ll leave you to it then. I have to get back.”
“Wait, have you set a date?” Jill asked, her mind already on the question Quinn had yet to ask. “Have you chosen your bridal party?”
“Jill, there is only one person I want by my side when I marry Gabe, but the wedding is currently on hold.”
“What? Why? Did you two fall out?”
“No, but you’re not the only one who must reinvent herself to survive. Gabe and I went to Scotland just after the New Year.”
“Why? What’s in Scotland?”
“Gabe’s daughter.”
Jill forgot all about her hair and stared at Quinn, her eyes round with surprise. “Gabe has a daughter? And he never told you?”
“He didn’t know. Emma’s mother was killed in a car crash on New Year’s Eve. She left instructions in her will to contact Gabe in case anything ever happened to her.”
“Oh dear,” Jill breathed. “So, Gabe now has full custody?”
“Yes. We went from being friends to getting engaged to becoming parents within a space of two months. To be honest, I’m reeling. Emma is lovely, but I’m still coming to terms with the idea of being her mother. It all happened so suddenly.”
“Blimey,” Jill said. “Your problems are much bigger than mine.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Quinn replied. “I think I know who my father is.”
“How?”
Quinn shook her head in disgust. “Let’s just say that I was able to obtain DNA from the second candidate. He’s not a match, thankfully. So, that leaves only the American—Seth Besson.”
“And you are going to hunt him down,” Jill said, a mischievous smile lighting up her pale face. “I almost feel sorry for the man.”
“There’s a part of me that wants to meet him, to see the kind of person he turned out to be. I need to know that the man who fathered me is not a monster, but rather someone who made a terrible mistake that he regrets. But after meeting Robert Chatham,I realize that might not be the case. He might be an arrogant, self-satisfied ass who hasn’t given the girl whose life he ruined a second thought. I’m not sure I can live with that, Jill.”
