Chapter 3-3
362 Words
Perrin’s joyous laugh rocked Bill back on his heels. The smile that lit her face made him feel ten feet tall, as did the approving hand resting lightly on his arm. It was ridiculous to feel so gratified about being right, but Perrin made it easy.
“Yes! Exactly! High fashion design is about who we are, but even more about how we wish to be perceived. So few people see that. Jo in her powersuits, Cassidy in her ever so tasteful black, Jerimy sharp and snappy, and you… ” her giggle was absolutely ridiculous.
“What? Finish it.”
She pushed him around like one of Jerimy’s dress forms on wheels until she stood behind him. Then she pulled at his shirt collar. “JC Penny. Well, I was close.”
He turned back to try and explain about finding a minute to grab a shirt while riding herd on a ten-year-old who kept trying to sell his need for hundred-dollar sneakers, and a sullen thirteen-year-old who kept trying on clothes, and hating all of them right along with her body that was maturing far too fast for his fatherly vision of her.
Before he could speak, he heard the kids pounding down the stairs. He always let Nia know where he’d be about the time the school bus dropped the kids off. For the four years since Wilson had convinced him to move to Seattle, they’d practically grown up at the Opera’s offices; everyone knew to keep an eye out for them. Most days, he could just work another hour or two while they did their homework, then they’d all go home together. He often did paperwork in the evening or after they went to bed, but it all worked.
They plummeted into the Costume Shop. Jaspar came right up for a hug, but Tamara pulled up short when she spotted Perrin. Her assessing gaze snapped his attention to just how close the designer was standing to him. He took a step away from Perrin and toward Tammy, but she detoured wide and moved to the design table.
“Are these yours?” Tammy looked down at Carlotta’s drawings.
Perrin turned her attention as fully on his daughter as it had been on him the moment before.
“First tell me if you like them, truthfully, then I’ll tell you.”
- Writer
