Threads of Steel (Bayou Cove) (12 page)

How things could change in a matter of a few minutes!

She let out a sigh of relief as the traffic started flowing. When she turned into the shade of the concrete garage, she recognized Stephen’s convertible parked in its usual spot. He’d gotten to the office even earlier than normal.

Hoping nothing was wrong, she gathered her computer, sketch pads, and a box of papers and a bag of trim,
then
headed to face the inevitable grumbling she was sure to receive. Of course, after she’d told him about her dad, he seemed to be more understanding than she’d expected.

Maybe the man did have a heart after all.

Having the brunt of their sewing problems dumped on him during one of their most hectic months was cause enough for Stephen to grumble a little. She’d make it up to him, and if she were honest with herself, she had missed him. Over the years he’d become a good friend, and she wondered what he would say about Doug, not that she was going to tell him about him yet.

Thoughts of Doug that kept popping into her consciousness sent a tiny quiver through her system. She wiped the smile from her face. He’d been an unexpected pleasure from her trip, but knowing she’d probably placed more emphasis on their time together than he had, she tried not
to put too much hope on ever seeing him again.

For the years since her divorce, there had been very few men she’d met who got her attention. She’d let her guard down once and had fallen for  one of the reps who frequented her business, but after a few months together, she realized she’d done it again—given her heart to someone who wasn’t ready to quit playing the field. She’d been a fun time, he’d said, but he wasn’t looking for anything more. That did it for her. Since then, she’d been careful not to let her guard down, but with Doug she had a feeling she’d probably like to get to know him more than she’d like to admit.

“Yeah, well, you might as well forget ever seeing him again,” she said out loud as she hit the button to the garage elevator. He was single, handsome, and probably well-off. She sighed. Why wouldn’t he be having fun playing the field
?
He probably had several women in every golf town where he toured and a lot of women in Bayou Cove.

She thought about the woman talking with him that first day by the golf carts. Her actions told her she was flirting with Doug. She couldn’t blame the lady.

Still, Anna Marie had broken one of her personal rules: She’d given him her phone number.

She glanced down at her watch once more. Doug would be getting to the clubhouse soon. How nice it would’ve been to play a round with him this morning instead of juggling all these boxes and bags trying to get to her office
.

She took only a minute to unload her boxes in her office,
then
headed straight to Stephen’s door.

With a quick knock, she opened the door. “Good morning, Stephen. I’m back!”

Stephen had his phone in his hand, but put it down as soon as she walked in. He jumped up, and uncharacteristically pulled her into a big bear hug. “I’m glad you’re back. Was it awful? Here sit down.”

Anna Marie’s heart warmed at his welcome. She’d never seen him like this. “Thanks for your concern. Yes, it was awful. I need to dive into our sewing and accounts and forget any of it ever happened.”

“Well, I’m glad you feel that way. I’ve missed you.
Needed you beyond words.”

She stepped away from him. “Is something wrong? You don’t sound so good.”

“No, I’m not. Robin got a call from Mrs.
McEntire
yesterday. They want to meet with one of us this afternoon. Robin said by the sound of her voice, it wasn’t good news.”

Anna Marie frowned. “Don’t get too upset yet. I talked with her two days ago. She seemed fine with waiting until next week to make a decision and said she understood completely about going to funerals.”

“Well, what she said and what she’s doing now might not be the same thing. You know that daughter of hers is a spoiled brat. She probably found someone from the yellow pages in the telephone book to do her wedding just because we had to cancel the earlier meeting.”

“Gosh, I hope not.” To lift his spirits, Anna Marie’s gave Stephen her best smile. “That girl is pretty savvy. She knows she wants her wedding to outdo all the other ones this year, and there aren’t many designers who can do it as quickly as she wants it done. Seven months to plan something this big is unheard of, especially when she’s starting in the peak season for every good designer in the city.”

Stephen wiped his hand across his chin. “Who knows who approached them while you were gallivanting all over the coast?” He looked up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean that.”

“It’s okay. I’ll give Mrs.
McEntire
a call and see what’s up. If she wants to see us, I think
that’s a positive thing.”

She grabbed the door handle.

“Hey, Anna Marie.”

She turned to see a smile on Stephen’s face. “Welcome back. I really did miss you.”

“Thanks. I’m glad to be back.”

Robin had been right. Anna Marie called the
McEntire
home, but couldn’t get beyond her personal secretary. She snapped her phone shut. For the first time since being approached for this wedding, her stomach muscles contracted
.
She’d told Stephen not to worry, but now she wasn’t so sure
.

She prayed nothing was wrong. Because she’d been so confident that she and Stephen would get the contract, they’d taken a new look at the year’s budget and made some adjustments. Losing it would be disastrous.

She couldn’t let that happen.

* * *

David and Barbara
McEntire’s
home sat amongst some of New Orleans’s most prestigious and most photographed antebellum homes on St. Charles Avenue. Anna Marie knew the street well since many of her clients resided in the Garden District. Even though she didn’t live too far away, her tiny strip of a yard in the Arts District felt as if it were a world apart
.

She always looked forward to entering homes in this area of the District and today would be no different, that is, if she could get through the bumper-to-bumper traffic. She glanced at her watch. She wasn’t far from the
McEntire
home, but if the traffic didn’t move, she’d be late—not a good way to start such an important meeting.

She took a fortifying breath. There were only two ways this meeting could go—Fleur de
Lis
could either get the wedding or not, and if they didn’t she was not going to beg Mrs.
McEntire
. She was confident in what she’d designed and hoped that since they’d been asked into her home, they had the job.

Finally the traffic began to move and she pulled into the
McEntire’s
massive drive. An umbrella of spreading limbs from huge oak trees shaded most of the front yard. Well-maintained gardens lined the fence and a small walking path that surrounded the home. From strolls with her mother through the streets of her own hometown, Anna Marie recognized the plants and appreciated the work that went into their upkeep, even though these had to be maintained by a hired crew
.

Camellia and azalea bushes grew under the oaks throughout the yard. Peeking out from under the shrubs were stone animals and angels, and several birds enjoyed the cooling water of a birdbath sitting beneath one huge tree.

It was a fairy tale front lawn, just as the wedding would be when the family lavished on their daughter every conceivable, bar-no-expense item for the event.

She hoped she and Stephen would be part of it
.

Mrs.
McEntire
met her at the door even before she rang the bell.

“Come in. Come in. I was so afraid you wouldn’t make it today. My Elizabeth can’t be here but a few minutes, and I was afraid you were going to miss her.” Barbara
McEntire’s
deep voice contradicted with her dramatic hand motion, more appropriately fit for a squealing hysteric.

“I tried to get here early, but the traffic was worse than normal this afternoon.”

Anna Marie followed the lady down a marbled hall and through a double archway leading
into an elaborate parlor where her daughter Elizabeth sat behind a large desk. Anna Marie immediately recognized her drawings in front of the future bride. Excitement raced through her veins assuming she was about to be told Fleur de
Lis
would get the contract.

“Mama, I just don’t know,” Elizabeth said, then sighed. Her shoulders slumped. Her raven black hair hung just below her shoulders and framed a face of olive skin. Her delicate features, large dark eyes, and full lips gave her a regal appearance. She would make a beautiful bride, and Anna Marie wanted to be the one to dress her for the occasion.

Mrs.
McEntire
pulled a chair next to the desk and shoved it toward her daughter. “Yes, you do know, Elizabeth. We’ve been over this time and again and this is the way it’s going to be. You can have the few changes you showed me, but other than that, we’re leaving it the way Ms.
LaFaire
has it drawn.”

Anna Marie wanted to jump up and shout, but instead, she willed her professionalism to kick in.

She walked closer to Elizabeth’s desk and looked down at the sketch. “You have some changes you’d like, Elizabeth? I’m sure if they don’t alter the design too much, we can accommodate you. If we had more time, I’d be glad to redo the entire drawing for you, but, well, we just don’t have the time.”

“That’s all I’ve heard--”

Anna Marie could tell the girl wanted to say more, but Mrs.
McEntire
cleared her throat and turned to Anna Marie. “My husband and I have decided to let your company do the gowns for the wedding, including the bridal gown and my dress. The groom’s mother hasn’t made a decision yet. I told her she had to let you know within the month if she expected you to do hers as well.”

“Thank you.” She hoped her calm voice hid her thumping heart and need to shriek with joy. “I’m thrilled to be part of your wedding, and I know Stephen will be as well.”

“Before you leave today,” Mrs.
McEntire
said in a business tone, “I’ll give you a check for the down payment. I know the fabrics have to be bought.”

“Thank you. Most of what I selected is in stock either here or elsewhere on the coast. I tried to avoid selecting anything that would have to be shipped from the factories. I‘m confident if all the fittings are done immediately, we won’t have any trouble completing these gowns on deadline. I’m excited about the fabrics. Are there any changes you’d like to make with them?”

Elizabeth was about to open her mouth, but Mrs.
McEntire
answered for her. “The fabrics are wonderful. When we start the trim work, I’d like Elizabeth to have a little say in that, but for now I’d like for you to get started.”

Anna Marie walked around and sat in the chair by Elizabeth, then crossed her fingers and forced the words out of her mouth. “Show me your concerns, Elizabeth.”

Earlier Mrs.
McEntire
had said her daughter would be home only for a few minutes, but it didn’t work out that way.
For the next forty-five minutes, Elizabeth nit-picked the drawings.
Anna Marie made notes and corrections over her original drawings. The bridal gown would be a strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline and a semi-cathedral train.

“Elizabeth, this gown will be very elegant. It’s simple, but the fabric is exquisite. It’s called Silk
Dutchess
Satin and it pretty much sets the standard for wedding gowns.”

Elizabeth smiled up at her mother.

“And the overlay of delicate embroidery work,” Anna Marie continued, “will make it absolutely gorgeous. You can choose the beading yourself. I’ll have samples for you to look at the next time I see you.”

“Mama,
Aletha
had a lot of metallic and crystal beading on her gown. I’d like that.”

As soon as Elizabeth mentioned metallic and crystal, Anna Marie’s excitement level skyrocketed. She, too, had envisioned using some of the specialty trims that one of her wholesalers stocked.

Mrs.
McEntire
nodded. “I know Ms.
LaFaire
will try to do whatever you want. Now if you don’t leave soon, you’re going to be late to meet your father. I think you’ve given Ms.
LaFaire
enough to work with. I’m sure she’ll let you see the gown as the work gets started.”

Anna Marie pulled up her professional tone once more.
“Most definitely.
You’ll be tired of looking at the gown by the time we finish with it. I insist on multiple fittings and approval for every step of the gown construction.” She stood up. “If you’ll tell me when you can come in this week, we’ll take our measurements and get started immediately.

For the first time, Elizabeth looked excited. She jumped up and hugged herself.
“Tomorrow.
Let’s get started tomorrow.”