Violetta Craft's Arc

Chapter 40 of 65

Friday came fast. Violetta finished her back seam by five, washed her hands, and went upstairs to dress. She picked a plain red dress from the closet, the one with no darts and a straight hem. She put on small earrings and brushed her hair back. She did not layer on makeup. She wanted to look like herself. Downstairs, her mother sat on the couch with Elowen on her knee, bouncing her lightly and watching the window for headlights. Headlights swept the front glass at seven. Violetta crossed to the couch and bent over Elowen. She kissed the top of her daughter's warm head, then her cheek, then her small closed fist. Elowen grabbed at her earring and let go. Lymber told her to go, that she had bottles ready and a full night if it came to it. Violetta stood at the door and watched Greg step out of his car in a clean button-down. She grabbed her bag and met him on the walk before he could ring the bell. Greg drove her to a restaurant downtown with cloth napkins and a candle on the table. He ordered pasta. She ordered chicken. He asked about the dress on the form and she told him about the back seam and the muslin fitting she still had to redo. He listened without checking his phone. He did not ask about Jordie. He did not ask her to promise anything. When the check came he paid without a show of it, and she let him. They talked about his brother's truck and a movie she had not seen. She ate slowly and finished her plate. She had not sat through a full meal in weeks without standing up for a bottle or a cry. Greg drove her home before ten. He walked her up to the door and stopped one step below her so she was taller. He said he had a good time and meant it. She said she did too. He leaned in and kissed her once, closed-mouthed, steady, and stepped back. He did not linger on the porch. He said goodnight and went to his car. Violetta stood at the door until his taillights turned at the corner. Inside, Lymber had Elowen asleep against her shoulder. Violetta took her daughter, thanked her mother, and carried Elowen to the bassinet. Then she went to the office and looked at the form. The dress waited where she had left it. She had proved she could hold one evening without losing a stitch. She picked up her shears and cut the next panel before bed.