come on down,” I tells him. “We’ll sit a spell and work it all out.”
Chapter 5
5
Oh, Katie, you are the most angelic little thing I’ve ever seen,” Jessie cooed, cradling Courtney’s baby in her arms.
Adjusting the little bonnet—ivory cotton with bunches of pale violets scattered over it—around Katie’s perfect pink face, Jessie’s heart pounded out the backbeat to a song she hadn’t heard in a very long time. Like the first chords of music that meant something profound once-upon-a-time, Jessie’s maternal longings materialized in a nostalgic mist of emotion and yearning. She tickled the palm of the baby’s hand with her index finger until Katie instinctively grabbed hold of it and softly clucked her delight.
“Look at you,” Courtney said with a wide grin from the other side of the jewelry display case. “You’re a natural.”
She knew her friend meant well, but the words brought with them an undeniable sting.
“She’s so beautiful, Court.”
Amber stood, moving behind the stool where Jessie had perched to get a closer look at little Katie. “She sure is. She looks like one of those kids on the front of diaper packages and jars of mashed carrots.”
“She does, doesn’t she?” Courtney beamed, her gaze riveted on her daughter. After a moment, she peeled her attention away—it looked almost painful—and she lifted the hooded pink gingham basket from the floor and set it on the counter. Reaching out for Jessie to hand over the baby, she added, “Sorry. We were talking about the producers’ visit tomorrow.”
“Do I have to?” Jessie whimpered, but she gingerly passed the child from her arms to Courtney’s.
Courtney settled Katie into the basket and tucked the flannel blanket around her tightly. “I get distracted every time she hiccups or blows a bubble or does something else equally as brilliant. Where were we?”
“You were going to tell us what we should do to prepare,” Amber reminded her.
“Jason said they’d arrive around eleven,” she said. “Which—in Hollywood-speak—likely means noon or later. Do you have anything going in the afternoon?”
“Nothing on the schedule,” Amber said, looking at Jessie. “Just those three dozen customers we’re hoping will happen by.”
Chuckling, Jessie said, “We’ll spend the morning tidying up, and we’ll be ready for them whenever they show.”
“It will just be Jason and his cameraman,” Courtney explained, her face angled down into the bassinet. “They’ll want a tour of the store—”
“Short tour,” Jessie cracked.
“—and a conversation with the two of you to get acquainted with your sparkling personalities—”
“I hope they wear their shades,” Amber teased, tossing her honey-blonde waves. “Because our white light is blinding.”
Courtney grinned. “Jason will ask you about the nuts and bolts of how things work, who your target customer is, that kind of thing. I’ve got another three-day workshop scheduled at the end of the month. It’s at capacity, and we have a styling field trip to Melrose so I need to also schedule an evening session here for them, too. I imagine Jason will want to shoot the interview segments with you two in the week ahead of it, but he’ll tell you more about that when he gets here.” She paused to adjust the baby as she stirred. “The network wants us to do a photo shoot next week. I’ve just hired a new assistant—Kimberly—and she’ll call you to schedule it.”
“A photo shoot,” Amber squealed.
“And it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to consider getting an assistant yourself,” she told Jessie.
“What does she need an assistant for?” Amber cut in. “She’s got me.”
“You’re both going to need one if this thing takes off the way they seem to expect. Oh, and I’ve arranged a phone call for you with my manager, Ruth Claudio. She’ll answer any questions you have about the contracts and compensation. I’ve been with her for several years, so she’ll handle all that for you as a courtesy to me . . . or you can get someone of your own if you’d rather. Ruth can give you some referrals.”
Jessie turned to Amber. “What do you think?”
“Courtney trusts her. I think we can, too.”
Jessie nodded, and a smile stretched across Courtney’s face. “Good. I feel good knowing Ruth will be looking out for us all. She’ll call you late this afternoon here at the store.”
Amber squeezed Jessie’s hand. “This is going to take Adornments to another level.”
“Assuming we’re interesting enough to make the show a success,” Courtney joked.
Amber chuckled. “Some of the episodes I saw of Carmina’s show felt like watching paint dry.”
“And yet the ratings were high. It was very popular with the under-thirty crowd.” Courtney lifted the quilted diaper bag from the floor at her feet and slung it over her petite shoulder. “I’m going to get this dumpling home before she wakes up in the hope I can get some work done. I’m revamping the blog to prepare for a tie-in with the show. Give me a call if you have any questions or concerns, okay?”
Jessie nodded. “Thank you, Courtney.”
“Don’t thank me. We’re in this together now. Get ready for everyone to know your names, ladies.”
As she walked Courtney to the front of the store, a swarm of butterflies took flight inside Jessie. The warmth of excitement flapped strangely against an icy sense of dread that seemed to spring out of nowhere. She pushed the glass door open with a jingle from the ribbon of bells hanging on it, and she held it open for mother and baby to pass.
“How are you feeling about all this?” Courtney asked. “I get a sense you’re a little leery.”
“I guess I just don’t know what to expect,” she replied, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “You know me. I’m a planner. I like to know where I’m headed all the time.”
“Look, if you decide this isn’t for you, it’s not going to change anything between us. You do what’s right for you.”
Relief rose like cold perspiration. “Thank you.”
“Let’s reconnect in the morning,” she suggested. “Just so I know where your head is at.”
“Will do.”
Jessie stood in the doorway until Courtney drove away. When she returned to the counter, Amber had already gotten to work polishing the glass.
“Pretty exciting turn of events,” she said, wrinkling her nose as she glanced at Jessie, her eyes glinting with enthusiasm.
“Unexpected,” Jessie added. With a sigh, she asked, “Do you think you can handle things here for a bit? I need to run an errand.”
