Page 15 of The Estate
“I’ll text Lottie and let her know you’re coming. See you then.”
Lisa walked off, leaving Rachel staring at her desk. At least she had dinner tonight to look forward to. Maybe the best thing to do was put the entire Cal issue on the back burner for now and just throw herself into the work. Avoidance was not an excellent answer, but at the very least it would help her get through the day.
???
In the end, it got her through the day. Well, that and copious amounts of coffee. She was dying to dive into some chocolate and stress eat, but the reward of dinner and dessert tonight kept her from indulging. Mercifully, Pie in the Sky was closed when she drove past. If it had been open, there would have been some stress buying.
Arriving at Lisa’s, she headed behind the house to the deck, knowing her friend would already be outside enjoying the evening. Lisa and Lottie had lived together for years. When she’d first met Lisa at work, she’d been a little surprised that the two college roommates were renting a house. She thought it would be an apartment or a condo like herself. But after getting to know the pair, she realized the house suited them perfectly. Lisa got her gardens and deck; Lottie, on the other hand, had a workshop space for her wedding dress business. Rescue, she reminded herself. Lottie rescued wedding gowns. It was what had brought them all together.
Walking up the steps, Lisa was sitting at the table, two glasses of sangria already poured and waiting.
Seeing Rachel’s smile, Lisa shrugged. “I heard you drive up, so I thought I’d save us some time.”
“You are a mind reader, Lisa.”
“Well, it seemed like you had a rough morning that probably didn’t improve that much as the day wore on.”
“You’re right. It was a hell of a beginning to the day. Well, except for the blondie. That was perfect. It went downhill after that. But I survived it. Now just to survive this new project.”
“Wait. Let me yell up at Lottie. I already gave her the warning you were arriving. I know she’ll pull herself away from her project to hear this.”
Lisa went inside, and Rachel took an appreciative sip of the sangria. Luckily, her condo was on the way here, so she’d been able to stop and change into shorts and a T-shirt. It was a warm night, but the trees near the edge of the yard shielded the deck from the sun. Although a few hours before sunset, the sun still packed a punch. Fortunately, there was also a pleasant light breeze that kept the air moving.
Lisa returned carrying a platter in hand with her roommate in tow. Lottie placed a bunch of fabric and a small sewing kit on the table as Rachel stood to give her a big hug. Stepping back, she surveyed the project and looked into Lottie’s bright blue eyes. “Dare I ask?”
“Sorry,” she replied, looking sheepish. “My client is coming for a fitting this weekend and I’ve got to get this lace attached.”
Rachel cast a glance at Lisa. “So not one hundred percent successful in diverting her from her current project.”
Lisa laughed. “We take the wins where we can. Even partials.”
Lottie scowled at her roommate. “Stop it! I thought we were here to find out what was going on with Rachel. The day I can’t listen and sew is the day I hang up my needle and thread.”
Rachel placed her hand on Lottie’s arm. “All kidding aside, it’s fantastic to see Second Chance Bridal is going well.”
“Thanks Rachel,” she replied, her face lighting up in a huge grin.
Her own life may be going down the toilet, but Rachel took comfort in the fact her friend was blossoming as a businesswoman and an artist. Lottie’s wedding gown creations were so beautiful, it was gratifying to see them being shared with the world now.
As they settled into their seats, Lottie continued. “Business is good. Slow, but that’s as it should be.”
“Well, you certainly haven’t slowed down your shopping,” Lisa joked.
“No,” Lottie laughed in return. “That I haven’t. Although,” she shot Lisa a glare. “Several new dresses were donations. So not all of them are because of my shopping.
“I’ve acquired a few formal gowns here and there,” she explained to Rachel. “Not wedding gowns, although these days, people wear what they want for a wedding. I just came across a few genuinely stunning pieces, I couldn’t say no to. I mean, who says no to a really magnificent dress? They’d be great for any formal occasion.”
“As long as they can fit into your workroom,” Lisa said. “Besides, you’ve already sold some bridal gowns, and it looks like a few more will find promising homes soon.”
“That’s fantastic, Lottie. What is it you’re working on now?” Rachel asked.
“This client is looking for a way to incorporate something Swedish into her wedding gown. She’s the woman I met at Alex’s wedding. Do you remember?”
“Ugh,” Rachel replied. “Don’t remind me of that night. I’m already reliving it.” It seemed like her edit filter was broken this evening. And she hadn’t even had more than two or three sips of the sangria.
“Okay, then,” Lisa said. “We’re diving on in. I like it. The direct route.” Uncovering the platter she’d brought from the kitchen, she pushed it toward the center of the table. “I made some white bean dip with pita and veggies. So, food. Check. Drinks. Check. Friends. Check.
“Okay, Rachel. Lay it on us.” Lisa grabbed a cherry tomato and some dip before popping it in her mouth.
