I don’t have much interest prying into other people’s conversations. But I am so starved to know more about the current Nat steps away from me that if that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.
“She gains the ability to say that I have no wardrobe. That’s what she gains,” Nat replies.
Her tone is serious, holding only a hint of the dry wit the Lacroixs are known for. But Nathalie was mostly noted for her smile and her exuberance. To hear the tone of her voice so … flat is surprising. I look at her from the corner of my eye.
She’s still as beautiful and put together as ever. Even though the naivety is gone from her eyes, the glint of determination remains. No matter what has happened to her, her morale will never be taken.
Her body tenses up, almost as though she can sense me staring. I nearly dive into a sea of dresses to maintain my anonymity. From here, Nat continues to try on hats in front of the mirror. Nat inspects her reflection before she moves on to the next hat. When she does, my eyes latch onto her glossy black hair. For quite some time, she had it cut short. It suited her small features, but it’s grown out now to her shoulders. I like it far more than I should. My hands itch to bury themselves into the dark strands. She plucks another hat from the rack. This one a deep plum, with a massive feather on the side. It’s too ostentatious. Something my momma and her friends would wear, but for Nat, it would consume her.
Nat turns her head left, then right, before she plucks the hat off her head and places it back on the rack.
“Whatever you need, whether it be dresses, nightgowns, corsets, stockings, underwear, get it. Étienne said it is on him.”
Serene could have stopped at dresses and my imagination would have ran wild, but she gave it more than enough to build upon. I imagine Nat dressing for the day, slowly putting on each stocking, and then sitting straight as the laces of her corset are tightened. At the end of the day, she would remove the pins from her hair. It would tumble to her shoulders. She would drag her hands through her hair and sigh with relief because she hates it up and how the pins dig into her scalp. She would take off her clothes and all that smooth skin would be revealed as she changed into her nightgown.
“That’s kind of him,” Nat replies. “My funds are quite limited right now.”
My fantasies of Nathalie are placed on hold by those words. Why are Nathalie’s funds limited? What happened? Being a Lacroix, she had a substantial sum even before she married Oliver Claiborne, and I imagined when he passed, he bequeathed everything to her. That’s what I thought. I could be mistaken.
Is that why she came back home? For financial help from her family?
“I don’t understand why we can’t go to a department store and pick up everything you need,” Serene grumbles.
“Because there’s somethin’ to havin’ clothin’ custom made for you.” Rainey shakes her head. “You and instant gratification…” Her words veer off because she looks at me from the corner of her eye. Almost in passing. At once, her gaze moves right back to me. Rainey nudges Serene, and gestures toward me. Nat, who is in the process of trying on a new hat, turns toward her friends, curious at their sudden bout of silence. She turns my way. When she spots me, her lips part, and she freezes in place, holding the brim of the black felt hat with her fingertips.
I was caught so quickly, I cannot turn my back on the trio as though I didn’t see them.
“Hello, Mr. Calhoun,” Serene says none too quietly.
Like a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar, I walk over to the three of them. “Good afternoon ladies,” I greet, and dip my head in their direction.
I keep my eyes trained on a spot between Serene and Rainey. I can see Nat from the corner of my eye, but she’s out of focus. It’s best she stays that way.
“What brings the three of you to…” My mind freezes because I can’t think of the name of this business for the life of me. I don’t exactly make it a habit of frequenting this store in my spare time. “To this establishment?”
“The better question is, what brings you to this establishment?” Serene asks with a challengingly tone.
“Ah… Juliet wanted to stop in and have a look around.”
The silence that follows my answer is deafening. Rainey and Serene appear visibly uncomfortable, ready to end the conversation and shepherd Nat away from me.
I take that moment to look at her, only to find her hazel eyes regarding me with a hidden strength that makes me flinch.
She used to show her emotions so clearly in her eyes. You didn’t have to try hard or think long to understand what she was feeling. But with this Nathalie, everything is locked away. I can’t see an ounce of emotion in her beautiful eyes. Just my cowardly reflection and all the mistakes I’ve made between the two of us.
With my eyes, I silently apologize for everything. This is not where either one of us ever thought we would be, wordlessly facing each other.
“Oh, Asa, there you are. I’ve been lookin-” Juliet’s soft voice fades as her blue eyes take in Nathalie. Her steps become cautious as she approaches me.
Nat, Serene, and Rainey watch her closely. If I had enough time, I would warn Juliet to turn the other way. With Serene and Rainey, Juliet doesn’t stand a chance. Hell, with the way Nat’s looking at her, I think she could easily join Serene and Rainey. It is further proof that I know nothing about the Nat only steps away from me.
Juliet reaches me and tucks her hand into my arm.
Nat flinches at the action. I have no damn right to feel a sense of satisfaction by her reaction, but I do. There’s still a part of her that cares.
I look toward my new wife. “Juliet, I believe you know everyone.”
Juliet dips her head and smiles shyly.
As our circle of four now becomes one of five, we stand there, looking at one another and try our best to ignore what occurred just two weeks earlier.
“Congratulations again on your nuptials,” Rainey says, rather desperately.
“Thank you,” Juliet softly replies.
“And you went to Venice, was it?” Serene asks.
Juliet nods.
“How is it this time of year?” Serene persists.
“Quite lovely,” Juliet replies.
Nat, who has always been kind and open to everyone, is quiet. She stands back, observing Juliet with a shrewdness that would make Étienne proud. She’s not overly pronounced with her scrutiny or given to disdain. Her approach of understanding Juliet is the quintessential Lacroix method: say nothing. Watch everything.
I’d seen Étienne wear the same expression before he rejected or accepted a business offer.
“I saw a dress that would go beautifully with your coloring and your blonde hair,” Serene says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“That’s quite kind of you, but it’s not necessary. I just looked at dresses upstairs.”
“Oh, but I promise you didn’t see this dress because if you did, you wouldn’t want to ever take it off. Come. Come, come!” Serene coaxes.
Without giving Juliet a choice, Serene guides her toward the opposite direction of the store. The entire time Serene talks about Europe and all the places Juliet and I must visit if we ever get the chance again.
Facing Nat, I see Rainey is still standing beside her. She looks between the two of us with wide eyes. She doesn’t want to be standing here anymore than Serene did.