Page 13 of Nobody Wants Me
“You look happy.It’s a good look.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.Just, you know, you’re right, I shouldn’t allow what other people say or do to hinder my love of what I do.”It felt good.
The Butcher laughed.“I’m glad I could inspire you.So, this is where all your sewing happens?”
“Right now, yes.Back home, I mean, I had a similar sewing space.Victor actually made it look and seem so much better.”
There was no point in denying it.The furniture he made was beautiful.Even the cabinets for the fabric.He had paid so much care and attention to detail, which is why I wanted to make him something special, to say thank you.I thought he would understand.
“What got you into sewing?”The Butcher asked.“I’ve heard about your father, and he doesn’t exactly strike me as the kind of guy who would like this kind of hobby.”
Between my father and husband, when it came to my hobby, they were real pieces of work—destroying what I loved in different ways.Victor destroyed my gift to him.My dad attempted to destroy my hobby.
“It was a long time ago, actually.I...”I frowned as I thought back.“One of the women who worked for my dad loved to sew.Whenever I saw her, she would be stitching something in her lap.It was her way to create.I had nothing to do.I got through all my work, and my nannies never wanted me around.She didn’t seem to mind.”I frowned.She didn’t stay with my father very long.“I didn’t even know her name, but she would call me Pumpkin.”
“And from there, you got the bug?”
“Yeah, I was ten years old, so I’ve been sewing for nearly fifteen years.Wow,” I said, my eyes going wide as I thought about how long it had been.
I would absorb all the books I could get my hands on.Not that we had many sewing-related books in the library.The one bonus about having a father that didn’t care about you was, he gave you a credit card and told you to leave him the fuck alone.I was able to order whatever the hell I wanted to.So, I did.
I don’t have his credit card anymore.He took that from me the moment I was engaged to be married to Victor.Not that I minded.I also had the small amount of savings from the allowance he gave me.
“What about you?”I asked.I’m not used to talking about myself.“What do you do?”
The Butcher smiled.“You’re not quite ready to know.”She moved toward the far wall where all my fabric was neatly folded.I watched as she touched it, putting her hand on each piece.
“It’s an interesting hobby,” The Butcher said.
“Do you ...like ...work with meat?”
The Butcher burst out laughing.“I kill people.”
“Oh,” I said.
“Yeah, and that is all I am going to tell you today.”
I sat down on the chair and ran my hands down my thighs.Silence fell between us.I had no idea what to say or do.This felt awkward.
“Tell me about your dad,” The Butcher said.
“There’s not a lot to tell.I mean, most of the information is easily accessible online.He tends to keep his stuff for the public to see.”
The Butcher chuckled.“I doubt he keeps everything.Everyone has dark secrets.Trust me.”
I had a feeling she was talking about something I didn’t want to know.“Do you want to talk about Victor?”I asked.“I mean, you clearly know him.”
“No, I barely know him.”
Okay, we were at a loss.
“You’re an interesting woman, Freya,” The Butcher said.
“I think you are as well.”
This made her laugh.
“How about you show me your wardrobe?I assume you’ve made many more items of clothing.”
