Chapter 16 A dress from a seamstress
CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
IAN BRYANT MANSION
Ruth rushed to the door when she heard the bell jangling. She met bright Cassidy at the entrance. “Hi.” Cassidy raised her eyebrows because she was meeting the maid for the first time.
“Good morning.” Ruth smiled.
“Cassidy! Ruth, let her in.” She heard Mr Griffin’s voice boomed.
“Good morning, Mr Griffin.” Cassidy greeted as she stepped into the house.
“How are you, Cassidy?” Mr Griffin asked.
“I am good.” Cassidy answered.
“How is school?” Mr Griffin smiled.
“I am fine, mr Griffin. So where is Mr Ian?” Her eyes scanned the large beautiful area.
“He is in his room.” Mr Griffin answered.
“Okay. So she is a new worker here right?” Cassidy pointed at Ruth who was already walking off to the kitchen.
Cassidy rolled her eyes knowing that it was Mrs Perla’s work to bring in new maid. “Mr Ian called me up last night that he needs my help with something.”
Mr Griffin arched his eyebrow. “He should be here soon.” He cleared his throat.
Soon Ian bounced down the steps leading to the sitting room. “Hi Cassidy.”
Cassidy moved over to the couch to sit on it. “Hello Mr Ian.” She waved.
“Thanks for coming.” Ian sighed.
Cassidy shook her head. “What do you care for, Cassidy?” Mr Griffin asked.
“Don’t worry, I am fine.” She answered.
Ian looked at Mr Griffin. “Please get her favorite juice. Lemon Juice.” He smirked before turning to look at Cassidy.
“No -”
“You have to take something. So lemon juice is it?” Ian cuts off her intended statement.
“Alright.” Cassidy nodded.
“I’ll be right back.” Mr Griffin walked away while Ian settled down on the couch facing Cassidy directly.
“How is Caleb doing?” Ian questioned.
“He is fine. Actually he and mom sent their greetings.” Cassidy responded.
Mr Griffin came back with a tray filled with a full glass of lemon juice and crackers and he gave it to Cassidy.
“Mr Griffin, you have to join us.” Ian said when the old man was about leaving again.
“Me?” Mr Griffin raised an eyebrow and pointed a finger at himself.
Ian shook his head positively. “Yes, this is about Ria.”
Mr Griffin gasped out in realization. “Oh! Okay. Miss Ria.” He figured why Ian had called Cassidy over. He settled down beside Cassidy and waited for Ian to start the conversation.
“You and Caleb’s birthday is next week right?” Ian asked after clearing his throat.
Cassidy nodded slowly. “Yes, it is next week Saturday.”
Ian and Mr Griffin exchanged glances. “Yeah I was right. So I have been.. thinking of getting a dress for you so you can wear it on that day.” He stammered.
Cassidy looked at the men with a confused look on her face. “Actually Mr Ian… you don’t have to get me a new dress. You have been good to us and you have also done a lot for us. So I don’t think it is necessary to get me a dress.” She declined.
Ian leaned forward and clasped his hands together. This has to work out. “Cassidy, I want to get that dress for you as a present. And I will also do the same for Caleb too.”
Ian thought of who would be Mr Brown’s daughter overnight. And then the twins birthday had popped up in his mind. Ian concluded that instead of getting a dress for Cassidy at the boutique or a fashion house Ria would make the dress. He was so happy when that idea occurred to him. It was the perfect option to get close to Ria.
“I still don’t think it is necessary because I have no plans of throwing a big party.” Cassidy replied.
Ian signaled to the old man to say something that would convince the young girl to accept his offer. Mr Griffin cleared his throat. “Cassidy, you don’t have to reject his offer of getting you a present. I mean.. it.. it.. it is your 18th birthday so you have to look beautiful on that day.” He stuttered not knowing what to say.
“There is no need for a dress since we won’t be throwing any party at home.” Cassidy repeated.
“Listen, I want to throw a party for you guys. You can invite your friends to celebrate with you. I already arranged some money to buy lots of things to have the party.” Ian rushed out his words.
Cassidy studied his expression. “Really? But isn’t that too much?” She grumbled.
“It is just a token, Cassidy.” Ian answered.
“Look Cassidy, we have seen a talented seamstress to make a perfect dress for you.” Mr Griffin chuckled in an unusual tone.
A smile broke out on her face. “Alright. But I am only accepting it because it is my birthday soon.”
“Thank you, Cassidy. I am always glad to help you.” Ian leaned back again with a small smile on his face. The first stage was getting Cassidy to accept his offer to buy her a dress and it has worked out.
Cassidy smiled faded. “Mr Ian, you said that you needed my help with something.” She reminded him.
“Yes, I really need you. And the help is to go to the seamstress workshop and take your measurement.” Ian responded.
Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. “That’s not me helping you with anything. It is like you are helping me instead.”
Ian looked at Mr Griffin who signaled to him to go on with the plans. “It is a great help to me.” Ian said.
“Okay.” Cassidy answered in a low tone. Something is quite not right. Ian looked so disturbed and unsettled. What are these men hiding from her? She wondered.
“So now Mr Griffin will drive you down to the seamstress house to get your measurement for the dress.” Ian instructed.
“Mr Ian, I think we should tell her who the seamstress is and what she looks like.” Mr Griffin suggested.
“Yeah. Cassidy, the seamstress name is Ria and she is blind. So you have to be careful of whatever you say when you get there and make sure you get along with her.”
Cassidy was confused. “Is that even possible? How can she sew if she is blind?” She questioned frantically.
“Cassidy, yu will see for yourself when you get there.” Ian heaved a sigh.
“Okay.” Cassidy mumbled.
“Mr Griffin, please come with me so I can give you some money to give to the seamstress.” Ian stood up from the couch and Mr Griffin did the same to follow him to his bedroom. This has to work out. Ian said to himself several times even as he waved goodbye to Mr Griffin and Cassidy.
IN RIA ROBERT’S APARTMENT
“Mom, when will ma’am Elise be back from the store? She has been gone for too long.” Phoenix glanced up at the wall clock.
Ria stopped the machine wheels to answer the little boy. “Relax Phoenix, she will be back soon.” She replied.
“But they have been gone since the past two hours.” Phoenix grumbled.
“Phoenix, it is not easy to select a material at the store. The issue is that if you don’t see it at one store then you go to the next and sometimes you have to go into five to six stores before getting the type of material you desire.” Ria explained.
“Is it that hard?” Phoenix asked. He wondered at the same time how Ria has been able to buy materials all by herself.
“How did you-”
“I have people at each stores that I always call to help me. It is a long story so I’ll tell you later. Don’t worry you will go with ma’am Elise next time so you can find out a lot of things about the stores.” Ria managed a smile on her face.
The doorbell rang. “Maybe they are back. I’ll get the door.” He stormed his feet.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
“Careful Phoenix.” Ria cautioned as he raced to the door and unlocked it.
“Mom! It is Mr Brown!” Phoenix coaxed.
“Mr Brown?” Ria repeated as she tried to process the face of the owner of that name. “Oh Yes! The man that came in yesterday to get a dress for him daughter.” She mumbled.
“Mom, should I let him in?” Phoenix voice was loud.
“Let him in Phoenix.” Ria instructed.
“Okay mom.”
Seconds later, Ria heard footsteps in the room. It has two different sounds and she was able to process two presence excluding Phoenix.
“Good afternoon, miss Ria.” Mr Griffin greeted.
“Good afternoon, Mr Brown.” Ria stood up from the machine and subconsciously she rubbed her palms together to stay calm.
Cassidy was surprised by the name used to address the old man. Her eyes watched the blind lady behind the sewing wheels and she couldn’t help but gasp out in shock. What on earth is going on here?! She mused.
“I am here with my daughter.” Mr Griffin added.
Cassidy didn’t argue about his words in her mind because Mr Griffin is like a father figure to her.
“Okay. Please take a seat.” Ria replied.
Mr Griffin looked around the area and he figured that the woman who had attended to him wasn’t around. “I can stay outside if you aren’t comfortable with my presence here.” He looked straight at her.
“No.. no you can stay.” Ria answered.
“Hi, I am Cassidy.” She said after Mr Griffin instructed her to do so with an eye contact.
“Call me Ria.” She responded.
“What a nice name. It is so nice to see you.. my dad already told me about you.” Cassidy stammered.
Ria forced a smile on her face. “Phoenix, please get the style books.” She instructed.
“Which one?” Phoenix asked.
“Volume three. The dress Mr Brown picked is in that volume.” Ria answered.
“Okay mom.” The little boy went in search of the book.