Cari Lynn - In Love By Christmas

She’d been criticized for her shyness as a child. Skipped over at adoption fairs and overlooked by her peers. Now she must put herself out there again.

Face more judgment.

And the stakes—they were nerve-wrenchingly high this time.

Her past was supposed to have prepared her, not defined her. Those were the parting words of her last caseworker. As if all her experiences had somehow strengthened her. Why, then, did she feel so weak? Her fingers shook. Panic pressed against her chest, dislodging her breath.

The bells chimed at the shop’s entrance. Mia’s greeting contained the opening lines of “A Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Failure wouldn’t be only hers this time. This time if Josie fell short, the descent would take down her friend, too.

Josie fixed her focus on the dress form, flexed her back and willed away her panic. She hadn’t broken down at the adoption fairs. She wouldn’t melt down now, especially not in front of Mia. Her past had taught her the importance of keeping things to herself. If your mother had wanted to dry your tears, she would’ve kept you. Trust me, no one here wants any more tears . Josie’s foster brother had imparted that wisdom the first night in her third foster home. Josie had dried her tears then and imprinted that lesson deep inside herself.

As for her silent muse, Josie always preferred to rely on herself, anyway.

She stopped to watch her friend in the floor-length mirror. Mia finished her Christmas song, added a spin and curtsy, then dropped her camera equipment near the couch. She stepped beside Josie, her hands on her hips. “You really couldn’t talk your customer into something different.”

Josie shook her head. But she’d have to convince Theo and Adriana that they wanted her designs. She’d have to speak up. She’d have to speak out. The wallflower would have to step into the spotlight and defend her right to be there. Josie widened her stance, bolstering her balance.

“That many jewels looks like country gone rogue.” Mia’s festive mood had evaporated. She picked up Josie’s design book and sat on the couch. “It was a striking dress. Now it’s edged into gaudy.”

“My customer wanted more.” Despite Josie’s suggestions for a jeweled headband and coordinating bracelet. Despite Josie’s assurance the dress already sparkled enough. Josie had finally conceded to her headstrong client. She threaded her needle and stepped toward the dress form. Sunday she’d channel all her resolve into Adriana’s dress. No concessions. “I agreed to give her more.”

“More isn’t always better.” Mia’s fingers drummed on the blank page of the design book.

“It’s what my client wants.” Josie silently apologized to the gown and threaded her needle into the fabric.

“But you’re the dressmaker,” Mia argued.

In this instance, Josie was the seamstress. And she needed happy customers. Happy customers returned. Happy customers paid and helped boost Josie’s checking account. “I’m here to give my clients exactly what they want.”

“Speaking of which, where are the designs for Adriana Taylor?” Mia flipped through the design book.

The needle stilled as if Josie had stabbed into metal. Josie pointed at her forehead and stretched the truth. “In here.”

“We need to get them on paper first, then fabric.” Mia smiled and ran her palm over the blank page as if she already pictured the finished wedding gown. “I’m sure they’re fabulous. And I’m certain that Theo and Adriana will love them.”

She hoped so. Josie secured the last section of the jeweled belt, knotted the thread and her doubt. Every project starts with one stitch.

Mia studied the dress and glanced at Josie. “You don’t like it, do you?”

Her opinion didn’t matter. Only the customer’s happiness. Still, Josie’s fingers twitched, wanting to grab her seam ripper and remove the jewels. “That’s not the point.”

“What would you have done?” Mia persisted.

Josie leaned down, stretched out the full skirt and checked for pins she might’ve missed in the hem. “She was stuck on adding a belt. A simple sequined sash would add a subtle, but interesting waterfall of shimmer if it draped down the side of the gown and blended with the side slit.”

“You should do that,” Mia encouraged her. “Once your client sees the finished gown, she’ll fall in love.”

“It’s not what we discussed.” Josie shook her head. “Or what she requested.”

“But it’s so much better.”

“I’m not the one paying for the dress.” And if her creative choices were wrong? And the customers refused to pay? That was a risk she couldn’t afford.

“It’s past time you gave your clients more than what they asked for. Give them what they need to shine. What are you afraid of?” Mia picked up Josie’s design book. “Your talent exceeds a lot of folks who’ve been highly trained. Your sketches dance off the pages. And your bridal clients…name one bride who wasn’t breathless and amazed at her final fitting.”

Josie touched the too-thick jeweled band and avoided looking at the crumpled paper filling the trash can. She’d started over a dozen designs for Adriana, then quit. So many starts and stops in her life—it was something of a theme. She had to finish tonight for Adriana to have something to try on by Sunday. Mia was depending on Josie. “Nothing feels right for someone like Adriana Taylor.”

“Then don’t think of her as Adriana Taylor,” Mia said. “Think of her as your ideal winter bride. The one radiating a love that lights her from within. And wrapped around her in the tulle and lace are the magic and joy of the season.”

Winter was a tricky time for Josie. December had been the month Mimi had learned about her diagnosis. It had also been the same month Mimi had taken Josie to get her first public library card—a card she still carried in her wallet. It was a reminder that even seemingly small moments were precious. One year, she’d moved from her second foster home to her third the week before Christmas. Yet Josie could still tap into the delight that had seized her Christmas morning when she’d opened colored pens and reams of paper from her foster parents. They’d urged her to continue drawing, no matter what happened. That was a gift. Even more special was they’d noticed more about Josie than her reserved, withdrawn nature.

“It’s dinnertime. One thing I know—nothing ever gets accomplished on an empty stomach.” Mia jumped up and zipped up her coat. “I know the perfect place and you should come with me.”

“Where?” Josie touched her stomach. She hadn’t eaten much at lunch.

“My mother-in-law’s house.” Mia held up her hands and rushed on, blocking out Josie’s argument. “It’s only the moms. A small group. Well, not even a group, more like a collection.”

Josie squinted at Mia. “A collection?”

Mia grinned. “It’s been said that if you own three pieces of art by the same artist, then you have a collection. My mom, my mother-in-law and I are all family now. So, we’re like a collection.”

Family . How easy the word rolled off Mia’s tongue. How safe the word sounded coming from her friend. Josie knew so little about being part of a family. Knew only that she’d always wished for her own. But she realized wishes weren’t always meant to come true. Now Mia wanted Josie to spend time with her family. But Josie couldn’t even accept Adriana’s trivia-night invitation without overthinking the evening. “I should—”

“Come with me,” Mia said, cutting her off. “Eat because Helen and my mother don’t know how to cook for less than a dozen people and food that good should never be wasted.”

Josie twisted a piece of thread around her fingers. She had designs to create. A deadline to meet in four days. And not a minute to lose not sewing. Her stomach growled.