Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing (21 page)

“Rosa, do you own this condo? I thought the owners went bankrupt,” Scarlet asked as she blew on the hot liquid in her spoon and let her eyes roam around.

“It was recently purchased by an acquaintance of Joseph’s,” Rosa said, dropping two sugar cubes in her tea. “We’re only here for a while. I hate contemporary décor, but it works for us.”

Mary Theresa exchanged glances with Rosa and they both looked at Scarlet. “So, Scarlet,” asked Mary Theresa, “how do you feel about all that Rosa told us? Does it change your perception of Daisy?”

Scarlet put down her spoon and thought for a moment. “Actually, it makes me feel closer to her than ever. If the stories
are true, she wasn’t a saint, but she made those mistakes to further her business. She didn’t set out to steal money or Saide’s man; she was on her own and did what she had to do. I’m not saying it’s right, but if she hadn’t taken those risks, there would be no Casa de la Flora or House of Tijeras—or DaisyForever.com, for that matter. Right, Rosa?”

“I suppose,” she replied.

After all the revelations about Daisy, Rosa still remained a mystery to Scarlet. She felt like the woman had refrained from sharing a bigger part of the story.

“What was your life like after Coconut Grove, Rosa? You never really told us,” Scarlet asked.

Rosa fidgeted. “My life? Ha! We don’t have enough time for that story.”

“You know all about us, Rosa,” Mary Theresa said. “Please? A condensed version?”

“Back in the day, I had my own career. After high school, I earned a scholarship to a Paris university and received my bachelor’s degree in textile science. I traveled a lot. Got married once. Sewing and making clothes has been my life’s calling. It’s the one passion I share with Daisy. But I decided long ago I didn’t want the glamour. I volunteered for the American Heart Association and made hundreds of heart-shaped pillows for bypass-surgery patients. And, of course, all throughout my life I’ve made hundreds of quilts and things for our servicemen overseas. I also taught sewing classes for a women’s shelter.”

Both Mary Theresa’s and Scarlet’s eyes lit up in admiration. “Which are you most proud of?” Mary Theresa asked.

“Easy. The time I went undercover for NBC to expose the crimes taking place in the Mexican maquiladoras.”

“You did all that?” Mary Theresa said. “No wonder you know
so much about everything, Rosa. I can’t believe you never told us this. Wow, I’m honored to know you.”

Rosa rested her chin in her hands. “I don’t speak of it because I didn’t do any of it for recognition, I just wanted to help. Those factories and the way they treat their employees are atrocious.”

“I’ve heard horror stories,” Scarlet said, thinking back to a special she watched on PBS about the subject. “It happens here in the United States, with those fast fashion chains like Eternal 14. That’s why I love House of Tijeras. Daisy makes sure everything is produced right here in the U.S. to ensure proper and ethical business practices. She is why I tell my blog readers if they don’t have time to make their own clothes, then they can research their favorite stores online to find out how that company handles production.”

“Good girl, Scarlet,” Rosa said. “That set of ethics will take you very far, not only in your career, but in life. I’m confident of that.”

“I agree,” Mary Theresa said to Scarlet. “All this time you’ve made it seem like you’re lucky to be accepted into that Johnny Scissors program, but have you ever thought maybe they are the ones who will benefit from having
you
?”

“I never thought of it that way. Thank you,” Scarlet said. “I want to show them I’m more than just a designer and a blogger. I’m also a product developer! I even invented a killer duel-action fabric adhesive called EmergiSew. I’m saving it for when I get out there.”

Scarlet noticed a defensive look come over Rosa.

“Don’t give up all your pearls just yet. Read up on Johnny Scissors,” Rosa advised. “House of Tijeras isn’t the same as it used to be. I heard that Johnny isn’t quite holding true to his aunt’s standards. Their stock is down, he hasn’t designed any
thing worthy in ages, he has that whole copyright infringement trial going on—people are noticing. Be careful, always guard your goods, especially around successful business people!”

Scarlet tapped her knuckles on the table and eyed Rosa suspiciously. “You sure know a lot about the trade.”

“I’m just an old woman who loves the garment industry,” she muttered, taking another sip of tea.

Scarlet still had many questions for Rosa, but what she didn’t have was time.

“Well, ladies, I better be off. I have a long shift today and then orders to fill tonight, and then a six-to-eight-a.m. shift at my aunt’s shop in the morning. Oh gosh, and I have to prep for tomorrow’s class.”

“Tomorrow’s class?” Mary Theresa asked. “Scarlet, it’s Christmas Eve! No one expects you to work. Besides, we all want to be with our families, don’t you?”

“They won’t even notice if I’m there or not,” Scarlet said. “Maybe I’ll use the day to make some new dresses to earn more tuition money.”

“Escúchame, mija,” Rosa said. “Listen. You’re working these crazy hours, hurting your body, all to pay for the Johnny Scissors school, right? What is your goal, Scarlet?” Rosa asked, staring deep into her eyes. “Is it to be near Johnny Scissors because he is related to Daisy, or for the accreditation, or to launch your career as a designer?”

“All of it,” Scarlet answered.

“Do you have your collection together yet? Which designs will you show Johnny Scissors?”

“My movie gowns, of course! There’s
nothing
like them on the market. I even have a name: Cinema Couture by Scarlet Santana. I have about sixty of them.”

Rosa nodded calmly, evaluating the concept. “Have you marketed the line anywhere?”

“No way. I don’t want anyone to steal my idea,” Scarlet said.

Rosa reached across the table and clasped Scarlet’s hands. “I hate to break it to you, but my dear,
you
are stealing designs… from all those films you say inspire you.”

“What? No, it’s not that way at all,” Scarlet argued. “I change them just enough by adding Daisy-like accents to them. That is my signature.”

Rosa groaned. Scarlet swallowed and crossed her brows. She was beginning to feel offended. “What’s wrong?”

“Mary Theresa, you’re a critical thinker. Tell her.” Rosa said.

Mary Theresa responded by gritting her teeth and reluctantly nodding. “Your Cinema Couture line is divine, but to market it… well, it goes against everything you preach. You are an originator, Scarlet, not an imitator.”

Scarlet didn’t want to admit that her friends were right. How could she not have realized such a huge oversight? She didn’t know if it was her caffeine intake or the bluntness of reality making her heart race and her head feel dizzy. She fell back in her chair and stared at the crystal light fixture above.

“It’s too late for me to change anything; it took so long to come to this point. How am I supposed to scrap Cinema Couture and start all over? Plus raise the tuition money?”

“Mexibilly Frocks,” Mary Theresa said.

“These?” Scarlet asked, taken aback as she stood up and moved her hands down her dress. “But Carly said they’d never cut it—”

“Carly is wrong,” Mary Theresa said. “And likely jealous.”

Rosa got up from her chair, shuffled to the counter, and put on her big, round black eyeglasses. She wiggled her finger for Scarlet to come near. Rosa lifted the girl’s chin with two fin
gers. “Close your eyes. I want you to forget all that crap about proving yourself, or Carly Fontaine, or earning a quickie degree from Johnny Scissors.”

Rosa pretended to claw at the air with her age-spotted hands. “Strip it all away…. It’s gone.”

Scarlet squeezed her eyes shut and hoped her false-eyelash adhesive stayed put. “It’s all gone.”

Rosa folded her arms and strutted around Scarlet like a drill sergeant. “Why do you want this, Miss Scarlet?”

“Because I love to sew?” she replied, peeking out of one eye.

“So does your aunt who owns the quince shop. What separates you from her?”

Both lids flipped up. Scarlet was beginning to feel empowered. “I have a talent all my own and I deserve to put it out there!”

Rosa waved her hands in the air, as if to erase what Scarlet just said. “Who do you want this for?”

Scarlet stared deep into Rosa’s enchanting and wrinkled face and together they shared a moment of glory. “I want it for me,” Scarlet said.

“Well, then—it’s right under your nose, young lady!” Rosa cheered while tugging at Scarlet’s Mexibilly Frock.

Maybe Rosa wasn’t exactly Daisy de la Flora, but she had spent her life in the world of women’s wear. Rosa proved to be a better mentor than Carly ever could be. “You really think so?” Scarlet wondered aloud, grasping the fabric from her top.

Mary Theresa leaped from her chair and put her arm around Scarlet. “We don’t
think
so Scarlet, we
know
so. Mexibilly Frocks are all
you.
I think you should proceed with them as your signature collection.”

Rosa held her hand out like a serving platter. “I couldn’t have said it better.”

All of a sudden, their words sank in. Scarlet raised her hands to her forehead. “I do already have buzz around my Mexibilly Frocks from my First Friday shows. I make the dresses so fast, I didn’t think they were all that big of a deal. They’re not exactly high fashion. I need to simmer on this for a while to see if I can pull it off. Do you really think?…”

Rosa closed one eye, bit her lip, and held out her thumb in the center of Scarlet’s body. “With a little editing and fine-tuning… absolutely. Scarlet, you are on your way!”

R
osa opened the curtains of the workroom so the downtown Glendale passersby could catch of peek of the class hard at work. Because all the students were off from work and school between Christmas and New Year’s, Scarlet and Marco kept the sewing room open all day. Everyone took advantage of the extra hours to work on spring shirtdresses.