‘If you don’t want to make it for me, that’s cool,’ Christina adds quickly. ‘I just …’ She laughs. ‘It’s hard for me to go shopping for clothes. If the shop owner recognises me they want me to tell other people where I bought the outfit. And the clothes here are great, but most of them don’t suit me. I’ve been back in Australia for ages and I don’t have enough clothes, so you’d be doing me a favour.’
Not for a second does Lucy think this is true, but she’s hardly going to pass up this opportunity. Even if she should.
‘I’m not very good,’ she says. ‘I don’t think I’d feel right charging you.’
Christina looks thoughtful and folds her arms in front of her chest. ‘How about this: you make it for me, and if it doesn’t work out – if you don’t want to sell it to me – you wear it instead? We’re about the same size, yeah?’
In fact, Lucy is sure they’re exactly the same size, and they’re a similar height. So she nods.
‘And if you were going to make it for yourself anyway, then …’ Christina shrugs.
Lucy feels nervous about accepting the commission, but she doesn’t want to refuse it. She may never get this chance again.
‘Would you like to pick the fabric?’ she says.
‘Nup – I trust you!’ Christina smiles. ‘Measure me later? There are customers here. Oh! One of them’s looking at thatsuede jacket I had my eye on.’ She sighs. ‘I knew I should have put it aside.’
Then she leaves and it feels like awhooshhas gone out of the room.
Lucy starts to shake a little, nervous at what she’s taking on. Or excited. Yes, that’s it – she’s excited. This is amazing.Amazing.
And if Russell hadn’t been so mean to her she wouldn’t be here and it might never have happened. Not that she’s going to thank him for it. He doesn’t deserve it.
She’ll measure Christina later, then get started on the pattern for the dress, and … ah! Is this the feeling of her life really beginning? She can barely get her head around it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
It becomes apparent within minutes of Lavinia arriving home from hospital that the house is no longer suitable for her.
Using a walking stick, and even then quite unsteady, she comes in with Margot on one arm and Stephen on the other, and immediately sinks into the nearest chair.
Margot looks at Stephen over the top of her aunt’s head and his eyes are kind. She is so glad he’s here. He’s been a great support to her over the past few days, driving her to the hospital, waiting for her while she visits Lavinia, never trying to intrude on their relationship – although after three days of it, Lavinia insisted he come into her room for a chat.
‘Poor man,’ she scolded Margot, ‘having to sit out there with everyone else.’
Margot tried to protest that it was his choice, but Lavinia made it clear that Margot should have known her better and thus known that she would welcome the presence of this gentleman who is taking care of her niece.
They’d got along famously. So much so that Margot rarely spoke during these visits, content to watch them chat, happy to see Lavinia so alert, and grateful that Stephen is there.
It’s nice to have someone to help. Even if she does sometimes wonder why he’s spending so much time with her.
‘What about your business?’ she’s asked him more than once.
‘I have wonderful staff,’ he says.
He’s taken her to the shop so she can meet some of the staff. It’s clear the business is successful – flourishing, even. In contrast her own funds are dwindling, although she doesn’t want to discuss that with him. He’s been so helpful that he may think she’s asking him for money, which she would never do.
Lavinia’s turn in hospital has meant Margot can’t even think about trying to get a job. Which means she isn’t any closer to having an income. She’s grateful for the fact that her aged aunt can have a fall, be taken to a public hospital and looked after, and Margot won’t have to worry about the bill.
The fact that Lavinia may need follow-up care has crossed her mind, but she can’t think about it. Especially right now, because she’s being confronted with the fact that Lavinia’s bedroom is upstairs, and Lavinia can’t currently climb stairs very well. It took Stephen practically carrying her to get her up the stairs from the street.
Margot can tell that Lavinia is having this realisation at the same time – because her aunt is gazing at the stairs that lead to their bedrooms on the first floor.
‘Oh,’ Lavinia says.
‘Yes,’ Margot responds.
Stephen frowns.