Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series) (22 page)

Claire poured their tea. "Ah, you’re so much like Addie. She was always popping up with a non-traditional idea. And it was fun." She sighed heavily. "I miss her so much."

"
Yes. I wish I could discuss the shop with her."

"She’d tell you to go for it. Time for
Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon.
"

"I spoke to a garment company in South Carolina last week," Siena said. "They will make lingerie to our specifications. And they agreed to utilize all our hand-made lace in the products. They suggested making sachet pillows and tiny tooth fairy pillows for kids. Isn’t that a cute idea? And to make elegant wedding gift pillowcases decorated with lace. And lacy night gowns."

"I think it’s so clever that you’re exploring ways to use our lace. But my dear, we made lace-edged pillowcases and nightgowns back in my youth. It was part of our so-called dowry."

"Dowry? I haven't heard that word in ages. Did you have a dowry,
Claire?"

"
In a strange way, yes. My father made sure of it before he died. Plus, I inherited this Belleek tea set and my blessed Da's fiddle. Oh, all that happened so many years ago. For now, we have to figure out how to make a profit from our lace instead of having it wasting away in a box. Sounds like you've got us on the right track."

"Sure hope so. If only… "

Claire squeezed her hand. "The Lacy Ladies will be thrilled with your news. Right now, they're trying to fill those Heart's Desire pillow orders from Valentine's Day." Claire laughed and waved both hands. "Things are changing around here, Siena. I’ve had calls from at least ten women who want to join our lace-makers. So we've put them to work."

"
Providing local jobs. That's a good thing." Siena wondered what would happen to them if she couldn't afford to open her shop.

"
I'm so excited that women from all around, even neighboring towns have heard about what we’re doing. And they want to be a part of it. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Isn’t that what businessmen say?"

Siena looked down. "But what if… "

Claire smiled happily. "Do not worry about objections from the Fairchild's, Siena. I'll handle them, myself. I want them to know how you've inspired everyone, and to thank you for bringing hope back to Haven’s Point. You are the spark of new blood that Addie often talked about. We’re on the verge of something big, I can just feel it."

Siena
pushed away and walked to the window. She felt like a fraud, especially with all of Claire's accolades. "Claire, I’m afraid I may not be able to do any of the things that I’ve promised. Y'see, the local bank refused my business loan application. So I'm going to try Portland. I wondered if you knew anyone there, a bank that --"

Claire
tossed her head. "Well, you just go right back down there and talk to my nephew, Rich Fairchild. Tell him – "

Siena turned around and raised one hand. "I did. He took great pleasure in telling me ‘no’. He thought I was on the wrong track with the new, improved
Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon
. The old one was just fine, thank you. I'm sure he was highly embarrassed by the lingerie photos I showed him. I can't go back to him."

Claire
looked stunned. "What an ass! Does he understand that this is part of a new business drive to enliven the town and give us all a stronger financial base?"

Siena shrugged. "Everything’s in the business plan I gave him. He doesn’t care. He could only think about bras and panties dangling in the store window. And he nixed it."

"We’ll see about that. I’ll give him a call."

"No. Please don’t. I
. . . I’m sure there are other resources. I thought maybe you knew someone in banking in Portland or maybe up in Bangor who might be willing to take a chance. I’ll go to Boston if I have to."

"Boston?"
Claire squared her shoulders. "That just will not do."

"It may be my only option." Siena sat down and took a bite of the cranberry banana bread. "If I absolutely can’t get a loan to make some necessary changes in the shop, then I’ll have to sell out and leave."

"Siena, no . . ." Claire dropped a cube of sugar into her tea stirred. "Let’s talk turkey, or clams if you will. A loan, or finding one, will take time, valuable time you need to get this business rolling by summer. Let’s leave the banks out of this. I’ll be proud to loan you the money you need to get started."

Siena swallowed hard, feeling flush and a little shaky inside. "Oh
Claire, you don’t need to worry about this. I wouldn’t dare risk your money."

Claire
shook her finger. "Now listen to me, you can’t have the name of Fairchild in this town without a little something under the mattress. I just don’t flaunt it. I certainly have enough for you and me to grow these businesses. I’d rather my money go for this than be saved to keep me in a nursing home forever."

Siena felt momentarily lightheaded, as if she’d been spun around and pushed forward. She blinked back tears. "Are you sure? It’s a big risk, you know. That's why Rich wouldn't budge. I'm a financial risk.
A great risk."

"Dearie, I’m willing to take that risk. For you
, me, and the town. And especially for Addie's memory. This is something I believe strongly in. I don't consider you a risk. I know you can do it."

Siena sat up straight and looked Claire directly in the eyes.
"I’ll pay you back with interest. We’ll treat this as business loan. Honestly Claire . . ."

"Oh, yes, of course. We’ll work all those details out later."
Claire waved a blue-veined hand in dismissal.

"I don’t know what to say."

"Just say yes, then get busy, my dear. Order your supplies and products. Get your new display racks. Hire a decorator. Enlist a painter. I’d recommend Zoey. She has a very good eye for color and style."

"
Claire, you are one special friend."

"More than a friend, we’re business partners now."

They worked out the financial details over tea and cranberry banana bread. Siena made notes on the back of a paper napkin and by the time she left, they had a deal, sealed with a hug. Now she had even more pressure to make this thing work. For Claire, the Lacy Ladies and the whole town of Haven’s Point, as well as for herself.

Within a week, Siena had her loan and encountered more Lacy Ladies than she could imagine who lived around this snowed-in town. They came out in gabby bunches, all eager – ecstatic almost – to do something. The rush to convert the shop and put people to work was on.

Zoey
lost no time in creating a new floor design for the shop. Within a few days, she brought a design board, complete with color swatches. Siena was impressed. She figured it had a lot to do with Claire’s influence. But who was she to argue with progress?

"Here’s what I’m thinking. You need a dark background that’ll showcase the pale lingerie. And a lighter wall for the black lace and red hot items."

Siena gazed at the design board Zoey held. "I love your ideas. I can see it now. Perfect."

"Not just light and dark, think emerald and amethyst and champagne, hues that will showcase your beautiful products to the max. Sensational, evocative, and inviting. And how about this – I can paint lacey designs on the walls for texture and design."

Siena’s eyes lit up. "Can you do that? Great idea. How soon can we get started? When will you be finished at Claire’s?"

"That’s why I’m here now.
Claire sent me to see if we can get your business up and running quickly. I’ll still have time to get her house ready by late Spring, when the tourists arrive." 

"You sure? Well, what do you recommend about the exterior? The place has gotten pretty weather-beaten over the years."

"Actually, I know an artist who sells watercolor seascapes in summer, but does odd jobs, like house painting and repairs, in winter. If the weather holds, he could do the exterior this weekend. Let’s look at possible colors." 

"I’d like it to be bright and cheerful."

"What about . . . shades of purple?"

"Hot damn! That would create some buzz," Siena said with a laugh.

A male voice boomed into the room. "Oh yeah! A purple shop that sells bras! That’ll go over like a beached whale."

Both women looked up, startled to see Zach dressed like a suitable mayor in
a brown tweed jacket and slacks. Siena thought he looked fantastic.

"Hey, whose funeral?"
Zoey snapped.

He adjusted the lapels. "Been out and about on city business."

Siena realized how much she’d missed him lately. She couldn’t wait to tell him about all her plans. "That’s what we’re working on, too."

"Our new business,"
Zoey amended.

He folded his arms in a defensive posture. "As if the mermaids weren’t bad enough, you want to wrap your bra business in a purple building?"

"Actually Z-man," Zoey said. "I was thinking about Passionate Plum and Lilac Lure. Aren’t those sexy-sounding colors?"

Siena could see that
Zoey was enjoying every minute of this.

Zach rebuffed her enthusiasm with a sharp retort. "Is that what you’re selling? Sex appeal?"

"Oh, come on, Zach," Zoey said. "Get with it. Sexy sells. Why, in Camden, every house or shop is a different color. Call it what you want. It attracts attention and is appealing to the customer. We're tired of gray and white. We want color!"

He looked away for a breath, and then turned an angry face to his sister. "
Zoey, what are you doing here? Is my speech ready? I thought you were working for me another few weeks."

She shrugged. "Changed my mind. I'm too busy. Now I’m working with Siena. And with
Claire."

"Working? This is working? This is heading for – "

"Can it, Zach. What do you know about what we’re doing?"

"Look
Zoey, I’m trying to get this town back on its feet – but not through some sexy fly-by-night whim. I’m talking to businessmen who are considering start-ups or satellites here. That’s solid, not . . . fluffy." The muscles flexed along his jaw line.

"Hold it, you-two." Siena stepped between them. "Zach, last time I checked, this is my business. And it's still my building. According to some,
it isn’t worth much. But to me, it is. And I can damn well paint it any freakin' color I want! Now, if you don't mind, Zoey and I have real work to do."

"I got the message," he said, turning to go. Then he paused and turned around with a broad gesture. "I can't believe you hired my own sister behind my back. If you're so damn broke, how are you doing all this?"

Siena squared her shoulders. "Well, well, you must know that Rich Fairchild turned down my loan application."

He shrugged. "I heard."

"Don’t play innocent with me." Siena felt her cheek flame, along with her temper. "I recognize a conspiracy here. Is this how you planned to beat me? Keep me from getting a loan? I know you have clout in this town, and I don’t, but is this really fair? And necessary?"

"Beat you? Siena, you know I wouldn’t – "

"Oh right. You might not, but Rich Fairchild would. He even used your same terminology saying the building isn’t worth much, but the land is." She walked toward him, hands on her hips. "Zach, I will make this shop work. A purple shop that sells bras called
Amazing Lace Lingerie Salon
. And furthermore, I’m cleaning up the mermaids. Wiping off the paint, taking down the shutters, letting their mighty breasts shine in the sun." Her voice ended up shrill and high. And very determined.

He looked stunned and countered in a low, slow tone. "You’re making a big mistake, Siena."

"Don’t you want to know who gave me a loan?"

He glared at her, waiting.

"I’ll save you the time and trouble trying to find out. It was Claire. Claire Fairchild. She sees the value in my business. And the art in the mermaids."

"You are heading for a big fall, Siena, and I’m sorry." He walked out and slammed the door.

"I can pick myself up from a fall!" she shouted. "I've done it before and – "

"Siena… "
Zoey put her hand on Siena's arm. "Let him go. He just doesn't get it."

"You don’t understand
Zoey, this is my dream . . . " Siena said softly, feeling as if she’d made the biggest mistake of her life and Zach had just walked out of it. "And I… oh God, I'm afraid I love him."

"Well, you might as well get over it,"
Zoey said. "You know, Siena, it’s because Z wants this to be his idea. When he thinks about it and realizes you’re right, he’ll come around."

"Or not
. . ."

"He's a jerk. And a man."
Zoey hugged Siena. "I’m so glad to see someone like you with vision around here. This is going to work. You’ll see. And I want to help make it happen. And if things don't work out between you and my big brother, he'll be the big loser."

"Thanks
Zoey." Siena pushed her hair behind one ear and tried to calm her pounding heart. "Go ahead with the interior colors you selected. And have your painter friend get in touch with me. Let’s move ahead with this." Even as she spoke, she knew she was digging a deeper trench between herself and Zach.