Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series) (12 page)

Siena was stunned. "A blog? You? About what?"

"About my journey."

Siena groaned. She envisioned something akin to a Dr. Phil encounter where Dana confesses all her sins and claims what she wants in life. Discussing at length the weird relationship she has with her daughter. Wandering through
her cougar life until she finds her soul mate in handsome, young Chaz. "I hope it's not about us."

"No, baby, it's about me."

"Oh. Of course it is." Siena felt a bubble of laughter in her throat. "Well, just don't air our family's dirty laundry for all to see."

"Silly girl. I wouldn't do that."

"Then why do it at all?"

"I'm getting paid for it. Check out my journey on HarleyandDanaRollOn.com ."

"How are you getting paid? Is this a scam?"

"No, baby. Remember the man we met at the theater in NYC, the one who knew Chaz? He was in town for business and what luck! Turns out, he's a Harley exec of some kind. We started talking and… it just came together."

"What came together?" Siena held her breath.

"I'll be doing a BLOG while we travel around. He thought I captured the spirit of Harley. He loved what I said about New York and wants me to do that everywhere we go on the Harley, of course. You know – sights, food, in general how the place
feels
. People we meet. Sort of a travelogue on 2 wheels." Dana paused to grasp all that.

"Ah. Where are you now?"

"We're in Charleston, city of gates and gardens. And wonderful shrimp and grits. We've been all along the coast, from Rehoboth Beach to the Outer Banks and now, Charleston."

"Well, I'm really surprised. But
… good for you, Dana. A real job. Sort of."

"Read my blog, baby. And let me know what you think. Leave a comment. And tell your friends. The more traffic I get, the more I get paid. I can't believe my good luck!"

"Right. Me, too."

"Love you, baby. We'll talk soon."

Siena nodded. "Sure Dana. I'll read it. And leave a comment." Not one question about how she was doing. What was happening to the shop? Nothing about a new business. Or how's the crappy weather. Dana was all about herself.

Plus, no chance
for Siena to complain about Walt Fairchild. Damn it!

The door creaked again, no bell this time. Siena stomped back downstairs, expecting to see Walter Fairchild returning with the sheriff to make sure Venus was removed from her highly visible position in the window. Siena steeled herself and prepared to defend her right to run this business any damn way she wanted.

But Walt wasn’t there. It was his relative-in-law.

Claire entered with a smile in her voice. "Is that you, Siena, talking to yourself? Addie used to do that."

"Oh
Claire, I’m so glad it’s you."

"Who did you think it was?"

"Walter Fairchild just left.  He told me I had to move Venus from the window. Or else."

Claire
switched on the light. "Or else, what? Oh, don’t bother with him. That’s just an idle threat, coming from a grouchy old man. Don’t worry about my brother-in-law, Siena. I’ll have a word with him, and he’ll leave you alone. Or else." She waggled her finger and laughed devilishly.

"He must wield a lot of power around here." Siena paused for a moment. "Does he?"

"Not as much as he thinks anymore, especially with Zach as mayor." She walked around a little, observing the scattered items in the shop. "I’m glad that you came back, Siena. I’ll admit, I was afraid you couldn’t handle Addie’s futile little business and had just driven off into the sunset."

"I had some business of my own. Back in Boston."

Claire paused, apparently waiting for more information. But Siena turned away and started cleaning up the broken sunglasses.

"What happened in here? A wind storm?"
Claire helped by picking up things that had been strewn around.

Siena shrugged and continued to clean up the hot-blooded mess. "Maybe the cats
. . . " She restacked the exquisite hand-made quilts, hoping guilty pleasure didn’t show on her face.

"You’re right. Maybe the cats are angry that Addie’s gone. I'm sure they miss her terribly. Sometimes they do naughty things to show their anger."

"That reminds me, do you know anyone who might want to give them a good home? In case I, uh, don’t stay. Maybe Carrie?"

"Addie was a wonderful friend to everyone in Haven’s Point. I’m sure someone will come forward if you really want to get rid of them. We all loved her dearly, but don’t think she was a pushover. She was in trouble with someone in town most of the time. Just couldn’t keep her opinions to herself. A bit sassy, I’d say. Which we all admired."
Claire turned her attention to Venus. "What have we here? Is our lovely lady of the sea the center of another controversy?"

"To be honest," Siena said, "I completely forgot about her and left her in the window the whole time I was gone. I think that’s what upset Walt so much. I guess he didn’t know that George had the key so he could come in and feed the cats."

"Well, I think Venus is stunning in our made-up lace gown." Claire beamed with pride.

"I believe Venus will improve business if we give her a chance," Siena said. "She’s already stirred a little controversy, and that’s often good for business. She’s definitely promotion-worthy, don’t you agree?"

Claire walked around. "I’d like to see you make a success of this shop, for Addie’s sake. So, whatever it takes – Venus bares all!"

"You don’t think I should put her away, like Walt demanded?" Siena continued straightening things.

"Absolutely not! Venus is out of her closet to stay. Just look at her nice lines. She has our future right here on her bosom. Addie wanted to make this a lingerie shop a long time ago, but the town fathers intimidated her," Claire said. "And she gave in to their pressures. More or less."

"You mean they threatened her?" Siena propped her hands on her hips, feeling suddenly defensive.

"You know your great-aunt was quite controversial in many ways. And they tried their best to keep her down. Some even privately called her a witch. Which she absolutely was not!"

Siena was troubled with the news. "Aunt Addie, a witch? I really have stepped back in time. Well, I won’t be intimidated." She pointed her thumb at her heart. "It’s a free country and I’ll do what I want with this shop."

"Now you’re talking! You have great spunk, just like Addie." Claire made a fist-pump, which gave them both a good laugh.

Siena
joined her in a fist-pumped. "No wonder you two were such good friends. You have spunk, too, Claire."

A couple of women pushed the door open. "Are you open, at last?"

"Yes, yes, come on in," Siena said generously, then turned to Claire. "Please, would you watch the shop for me while I run upstairs and throw on some decent clothes?"

Claire
shook her head. "But my dear, I don’t -- "

Another customer came in and started talking to the two already there. "Did you get a good look at
. . ."

"Please,
Claire. It’s easy," Siena whispered. "Just take care of the customers, whatever they want."

"But I don’t know prices or anything."

"Half of what’s marked. Everything is discounted, excluding the lace and quilts. They're about oh, twenty percent off. Thanks, I’ll be quick."

Siena dashed up a few stairs, but stopped short when she saw a strip of colored light on the wooden stairs. She looked up to see where it came from. Near the ceiling and hidden behind a closed wooden shutter, was another stained glass window. She’d never noticed it because the staircase had always been dark or shadowed when she went upstairs. And you would only see the window when you went upstairs. Otherwise, she’d have to turn around backwards on the stairs to see it.

This morning, the sun reflected through a piece of the colored glass and sent a dash of green down to the steps. It was eerily beautiful. Siena couldn’t quite determine the design of the glass behind the wooden shutters. But she would check on it later when she had more time.

After her fastest-ever shower, Siena returned wearing a sharp black and white sweater and black leggings with boots. "I brought some zucchini bread – the very best – homemade by
my friend, Goldie, in Boston. We can have it with a cup of tea while we talk." She looked around. "Customers all gone?"

Claire
stood behind the counter, looking somewhat stunned. "There was a bit of a rush. When they realized the shop was open, several ladies in town came in and bought something. I even sold several large pieces of lace for Lori’s granddaughter’s christening dress. Oh, and they loved Venus. Word will spread about her and others will come from miles around just to see her. You just watch and see if I’m right."

"Before she’s banished from the window?" Siena couldn’t get excited about selling a few pieces of lace. She had more important things on her mind. "Come over here to the stairs,
Claire. What is this?" She pointed to the green streak on the step. Now there was also a curved purple arc near the green.

Claire
looked up and smiled. "That’s one of Luciano’s mermaids."

"Luciano? Aunt Addie’s lover?"

Claire nodded. "For appearances sake, she claimed they were married and took his last name. Santioli."

"More mermaids? More than the one over the shop door?"

"Oh yes. That one over the door, with the ribbon of seaweed across her bosom, was one of the first. Very modest, so he thought. But as these beautiful windows gained popularity, he made them more artsy and bold. This one on the stairs is completely bare breasted. That’s why it had to be hidden."

Siena took a few steps, looking upward. "It’s beautiful, but why is that shutter hiding it?"

"Oh my dear, the city fathers didn’t care how popular his stained glass was, or if art galleries around the country wanted it. I’ll bet you didn’t know there’s one in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. And in some art gallery in Italy. Florence, I think."

"No, I didn’t know anything about this." Siena strained to see the glass beneath the shutter.

"Addie defied the town law banning mermaids. She had several of his windows installed in this building. Haven’t you seen the one in her bedroom? It’s gorgeous."

Siena shook her head. She’d been sleeping in the spare room, the one that had always been hers whenever she came to visit as a little girl. She’d just left Aunt Addie’s room to the cats. 

"The town council thought Luciano’s work was obscene and demanded that Addie remove them. She defied them by simply hiding them. But they’re still there." Claire smiled. "Still beautiful."

"And I thought she was just a sweet little old lady who happened to be my mother's aunt."

"Oh my dear, she was that and more. She kept us going with some idea or other all the time. Now that she’s gone, I don’t know what’ll happen to the Lacy Ladies. She gave us hope that something wonderful was about to happen. We joked about the red lace pillow granting our heart’s desire and she encouraged us to make more and sell them. We made a few, but selling was slow, and we lost enthusiasm for them. Power, she used to say. There’s power in that lace."

Siena put her arm around
Claire’s shoulders. "We’ll just have to work to keep that hope alive. And somehow, provide merchandise customers want. But for now, let's have some tea with Goldie’s zucchini bread."

Claire
opened the center drawer to reveal a scattering of bills. "Here’s what I sold while you were gone. I think there’s $108.42, but check and make sure I added right."

Siena quickly counted. "You sold over $108 in a half-hour? That’s more than all last week! And the week before that, altogether! Yes, it’s good! It’s great!" She grabbed
Claire in a big hug. "You are quite the shop gal!"

"We have to give credit where it’s due,"
Claire said, pointing at the window. "Venus did us proud. They'd heard about her and were curious. Believe me, they loved her."

Siena walked over to Venus who had been stripped down to her beautiful bareness. "What happened to her lacy gown?"

"They bought every stitch."

Siena laughed out loud and danced around. "Well, well, let’s dress the lady properly in feathers and lace and see what happens." She dug into the lace, pulled out some colorful samples and placed them strategically over Venus’ magnificent figure. And for good measure, she added a feathered mask. She stood back and cocked her head. "Venus, my love, you look quite sexy."

And so, Venus remained in the display window in defiance of Walter Fairchild’s edict.

Siena stayed busy all day meeting a small stream of customers who filtered in. She figured they came by to see Addie's niece, rather than to be shoppers. So she surprised them by announcing "Everything's half-price today, except the hand-made quilts and lace. They're twenty percent off." She actually sold some of her aunt’s outdated and crappy merchandise. The women seemed pleased with the lighthouses and lobsters and especially the extras.