Page 17 of Merrily Ever After
‘Take as long as you like,’ Emily said happily, watching the shopkeeper disappear into the stockroom. ‘You know me, you’ll have to kick me out at closing time. Although I’ve already stayed longer than planned.’
‘Only because you’ve helped me,’ Violet shouted from the stockroom. ‘I’d still be fumbling with those buttons with my fat fingers.’
Emily’s eyes slid to the mannequin in the window which she’d helped style. The 1950s wedding dress had a long row of tiny buttons down the back which her small fingers had made quick work of. The two women had marvelled over the dress’s heritage and the neat stitching. Emily could sew very basic stuff, she’d learned from her mum, but the level of detail on this bridal gown was exquisite.
Popping into Vintage by Violet after school had been a brilliant idea. She loved nothing more than mooching amongst the rails, spotting potential in other people’s cast-offs. And because she was a regular, Violet sometimes put items to one side for Emily, knowing she might like them. Today’s find was a classic Victoriana cotton and lace blouse. There were a couple of tears in it, and a missing button, but she could fix those easily. She hadn’t decided whether to sell it on or keep it. She smiled to herself, who was she kidding. This one would be a keeper.
She deserved a treat; the last week had been the most stressful she could ever remember. Going back into school after Gavin had dumped her, knowing that she’d let Alison down, had been miserable. She hadn’t had much sleep and anxiety had given her a headache. Alison had been sympathetic, but Emily had spent the day struggling to concentrate. They were back to normal now, but Emily felt pressure to keep a lid on her personal life and try not to let it impact her working day. Easier said than done.
‘OK, here you go.’ Violet made a space on the glass-topped counter by sweeping vintage hair accessories to one side with her arm. She then dropped a large cardboard box down in front of Emily. ‘These any good to you?’
Emily peered inside the flap and saw a large quantity of red hats with white trims. She hadn’t known what to expect, but it certainly hadn’t been this. ‘Santa hats?’
Violet nodded. ‘Someone donated them this morning and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I thought they might be useful for school, Christmas jumper day maybe. You can have them, free of charge, if you like.’
‘Are you sure?’ The music teacher was after something festive for the school choir to wear at the Christmas concert; these would be perfect.
‘Absolutely. You’d be doing me a favour,’ Violet chuckled. ‘Three dozen acrylic Santa hats don’t really go with my aesthetic.’
Emily grinned. ‘Point taken. In that case, I’m happy to take them off your hands.’
‘Ooh, look!’ Violet nodded to the window. ‘That dress has caught someone’s eye already!’
Outside the shop, two women were staring at the vintage wedding dress.
‘I was just about to close, but I’ll hang on, just in case,’ Violet decided.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ said Emily. She tightened her scarf and picked up the box, which thankfully didn’t weigh much. ‘Thanks for the hats and the blouse.’
Violet opened the door for her, and Emily stepped out into the dark. The two women were still looking at the dress and Emily winked at Violet, sending her silent good luck vibes.
‘It’s a beauty, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘You can’t beat vintage for elegance.’
One of the women turned round and smiled at her, clearly besotted. ‘It’s perfect.’
They exchanged a few words until Emily’s phone began to ring. She walked away to answer it.
‘Is that Miss Meadows?’ The female voice on the end of the line sounded harassed. ‘I’m the community nurse due to be visiting your father.’
Emily’s heart thumped. ‘Please tell me he hasn’t gone missing?’
‘He’s here,’ she said, ‘but he thinks I’m from the police and I’ve come to take him away.’
She started to run towards the street where she’d parked her car; she could be there in ten minutes. ‘I’m sorry, he gets confused, and the policehavebeen recently. Notbecause he was in any trouble,’ she added swiftly, in case the nurse was worried he might be dangerous.
‘I’m going to have to reschedule,’ said the nurse. ‘I’ve got other patients; I can’t hang around.’
‘I understand, but if you could just wait a few minutes.’ Emily unlocked her car, threw her bag and the box on the back seat and jumped in. ‘I’ll be there as quick as I can.’
By the time Emily made it to her dad’s flat, the nurse had persuaded Ray to let her in. Emily apologised to her, thanked her for waiting and tried to make amends with cups of tea and the mince pies which she had bought to take into school tomorrow.
The nurse had pulled up a chair beside Ray and put on some disposable gloves. She was peeling off the old dressing when Emily brought in the tea tray and set it down on the table.
‘How’s the arm doing?’ she asked, not wanting to look at the wound herself.
‘Not too bad now,’ said the nurse, rummaging in her bag. ‘But any bigger and it would have needed stitches.’
‘You were lucky, Dad.’
