“I don’t know what I’m going to do about the baby,” he admitted, taking a long breath in. He didn’t want to think about this any more. He wanted to work out how to lock it away with all the other dark thoughts. With a sigh he checked his watch. “I guess I should go home and get some sleep.”
Rich patted his arm. “That sounds like a good idea. Maybe it will all look better in the morning.”
8
One of the weirdest things about being pregnant were the vivid dreams Harper had every night. They were like a movie being screened for one person, lit in glorious Technicolor, except she was in the movie, not watching it. Last night’s had been one to remember. It started with James Tanner screaming at her for getting pregnant, swiftly followed by Harper giving birth to a fully-formed two-year-old girl, complete with blonde hair with pink tips, and a Grace Kelly-style golden dress.
She’d woken up in a cold sweat and had run to the bathroom to splash water on her face. When she climbed back into bed a thought struck her. She grabbed her laptop and woke it up.
Matching mother and daughter dresses. Wouldn’t that be a great marketing idea?
Typing in the search box was like opening up Pandora’s box. Not only were there a demand for those kind of dresses, but women were willing to pay an extortionate price for them. Two matching mother-and-daughter dresses went for more than double what she’d been able to sell her handmade creations for. A quick mental calculation made her realize that making a second dress for a child would only cost a quarter of a full size dress.
Add that to the ease of stitching, and the fact that a child’s dress didn’t need darts or bodice rods or anything too intricate, and she would be able to make at least three times the profit off a single dress.
Later that morning, over breakfast, she explained the concept to Caitie. Breck was already at work – he was having to travel now that his construction company was working on a site up the coast – and Caitie was drinking her coffee before she had to drive up to L.A. for a meeting.
“People seriously want to dress their kids in the same clothes they’re wearing?” Caitie asked, putting her mug down in front of her. “And they’ll pay that much for it?”
“Yep. I know it’s crazy, but it’s a big market.” Harper shoved a spoonful of frosted wheats into her mouth. Her appetite was finally back. Her second trimester was only a couple of days away and her body didn’t seem to hate her quite as much as it had up to this point. In fact, she felt almost glowing. And growing, too, as the open button at the top of her jeans reminded her.
“Are you going to do it?” Caitie asked, her eyes lit up with interest. As a successful businesswoman herself, she loved to hear about ideas.
“Yep. I haven’t really got anything to lose. I’m going to spend today making some designs and then I’ll need to find some crazy person and their child to model them.” Harper grabbed the carton of orange juice and poured herself a glass and swallowed it down in two mouthfuls. This baby sure was hungry. “If it works out the way I hope, I should be able to move out within a couple of months.”
“You don’t have to,” Caitie said quickly. “I like having you here. With Breck having to travel so much it’s almost like old times. And you’ll need help when the baby comes.”
“You’re so sweet,” Harper told her. “But you and Breck need your privacy, and I’ve been here for long enough. I’m also going to call around to some loc
al boutiques and see if they’ll stock my designs. That way I can get some local customers, too.”
“I can ask around and see if we can find someone to model for you,” Caitie suggested. “Ember knows almost everybody, and if she can’t help I’m sure Brooke or Ally can. It’s such a great idea. You’re so clever.”
Harper basked in the glow of Caitie’s compliment. She wasn’t as certain as her friend, but right now she was willing to try anything. With six months until she was due to give birth, she needed a viable business plan.
“Right,” Caitie said, draining the last of her coffee from the bottom of her mug. “I need to go. I’ll be really late tonight, and Breck is staying up near the site. Will you be okay on your own?”
“Sure.” Harper nodded. “I’ll be busy with my plans of world domination, one mom and baby dress at a time. Drive safely, okay?”
“I always do.” Caitie went to pick up her empty mug, but Harper put her hand on it. “I’ll load the dishwasher,” she told her friend. “You go ahead and leave.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Caitie blew her a kiss. “See you later, mashed potaytah.”
Harper grinned. “Not if I see you first.
* * *
The doorbell buzzed right before lunchtime, making Harper jump as she put the finishing touches to her design. She’d spent the morning working, not even stopping for her usual mid-morning snack. As she went to go answer the door, she smiled at the sheets of paper laid out on the table, alongside fabrics she thought could work. With Caitie out all day and Breck away, she planned to have at least one design finished before the end of the day.
Her muscles groaned with relief as she walked into the hallway, reminding her she shouldn’t be sitting in one position for too long. Maybe she’d look into a pre-natal yoga class. Being bent over a sewing machine for hours at a time wasn’t great for her posture.
She opened the door to see Ember standing on the other side, a big bag in her hand. “Hi!” Harper said with a big grin, happy to see her looking so well. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good.” Ember leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “I’ve just come from the doctor and he’s given me the all clear. Since I had some time on my hands I thought I’d stop by and thank you for taking me to the hospital on Saturday.”
“It was no problem. Anybody would have done it, I just happened to be the only sober one.” Harper stood to the side so Ember could pass her. “Come on in.”
“Thank god you were sober. If my mom had her way there would have been three ambulances and George Clooney rushing into the Beach Club to operate on me.” She shook her head. “I love her to bits, but she’s not great in an emergency. I also brought you a few things I’ve grown out of.” She lifted the laundry bag full of clothes up. “They might see you through the next few months until you have to wear full blown maternity clothes.”