divorced divas 02 - crimped to death (17 page)

“I love your lashes.” Patsy got a little closer look at Marlene’s face.

“They are implants.” Marlene batted them.

That was all it took for the two of them to bond. I continued to do Marlene’s job and empty out the boxes while she and Patsy discussed the latest trends. Marlene was drooling. The difference between her and Patsy—Patsy could afford it and Marlene could admire them from the magazines.

“That is what is so amazing about working here.” Marlene walked over to the counter and picked up the Celestial beads. “These are amazing, Holly. I can’t wait to design something fabulous with these.”

Marlene was good because she knew if we could get Patsy Russell as a client, we would be able to make more money. Plus Marlene would have an instant friend, which Patsy was totally in the market for new friends.

Patsy’s eyes grew larger under that baseball cap when Marlene dangled the strand from her fingers.

“Those are gorgeous,” Patsy gasped.

She walked over and held her hand out, lightly touching the amazing orange beads.

“These would compliment the outfit I’m wearing to the Barn Dance.”

Marlene placed them in Patsy’s palm. Patsy was busy inspecting each one with a twinkle in her eye when Marlene turned to me and winked.

Hook, line, and sinker.

“Those are amazing. I’ve been waiting a few months for them.” I reached over and plucked them from Patsy’s hand. “I know they will sell so fast after I make a few pieces from them. Plus no one around here has any since they are so in demand in New York.”

“Can I see those again?” Patsy gestured toward the Celestials.

If I sweetened the pot by adding the Swarovski crystals, I knew she wasn’t going to let the Celestials go and didn’t care what it was going to cost her.

“Sure.” I took one of the black cloths from behind the counter to lay the beads on. The black made them pop even more. I took a handful of the clear crystals and quickly laid them up against the orange ones. “I was thinking these clear crystals would be a wonderful accent piece to the necklace and matching bracelet.”

“Oh, what about the smoky grey Swarovski?” Marlene made a great suggestion that made me a little envious that I didn’t think of it.

She walked over to the Swarovski bins and pulled some of the grey ones out, bringing them over to use and laying them on the black cloth.

Patsy’s mouth was watering.

“No one has these around here?” She couldn’t keep her fingers off of them.

“Not yet. But,” I took a calculated pause for effect, “I have a new bridal appointment today and I’m sure she’ll grab them up. These won’t last long, even at the more expensive price.”

“How much?” Patsy probed.

“The set will sell for around three hundred dollars.” I sighed before I scooped them up.

She’d had ample time to look at them.

“Even for a friend?” Worry set in her eyes.

“Hi!” The bell dinged when my new bridal appointment stepped through the door. “I’m here for my first bridal appointment.” She beamed. Her eyes darted around the room.

“Hi, I’m Holly Harper.” I walked around the corner of the counter with one hand out to greet the bride and the Celestials gripped in the other. “I can’t wait to show. . .”

Patsy snatched the strand from my grip. “I’ll take them.”

“I can’t wait to work with you.” I smiled at the bride who was bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation. “Marlene, can you please go retrieve Reba’s bridal box?”

“Bridal box? Is that the same thing you did for Margaret?” Reba had kept the bridal book at Margaret’s wedding.

She had told me at the wedding how much she loved Margaret’s jewelry and how she was going to be getting married soon. I had given her the low-down on how I worked with my brides and gave her a card. Reba called The Beaded Dragonfly the next day to set up the appointment for today. . .months later.

Patsy was busy admiring the Celestials as I got Reba situated at the bride’s table.

“Thank you, Marlene.” I took the box and set it in front of Reba.

She beamed when she saw her name printed on the tag. I flipped it over so she could see the appointment tag.

“Here are the appointment times I have set up for you.” I went through them one-by-one. “You need to check your calendar today and see if you need to change any of these consultations. It’s important that we set all of these dates in stone in order for your custom designs to be complete by the day you walk down that aisle.”

“I will make them work.” Reba ran her hands along her box. “I’ve been waiting months for this day. I can’t wait to see what you can design for my vintage lace gown I’m using. It was my grandmother’s.” There was pride in her voice.

“Wonderful.” I clasped my hands together and pinched my lips tight.

Poor girl. There was a time I was her. Now I was far from how she felt and wanted to tell her to run. Run far, far away.

“I want you to take a look at these design magazines. List at least six things you like. Not the actual full design, but if you like the way one clasp is or how the necklace lays on the neck.” I pushed a couple of the jewelry magazines closer to her. “I’m going to get my other client started and be back in a few minutes.”

Eagerly, Reba didn’t waste time. She opened the first magazine with a smile curling up one corner of her mouth.

Marlene had brought out the bridal champagne and gave Patsy a glass too. The two of them were getting along swimmingly. Marlene had already sat Patsy at a table and gotten a bead board from the back of the shop and was showing Patsy all the tools she was going to need to create her masterpiece.

Patsy looked lost and for a second I thought she was going to talk Marlene into making the piece, but I had to keep her here. I needed information about Dr. Russell and his relationship between Charlie and Henry Frisk.

“I can help if you need me.” I walked up behind them and looked at the bead board. I arranged a few beads sitting there to give Patsy a pattern to work with. “I think you need some Bali beads to give it the dark look you are aiming for.”

The Bali beads were the more ornamental silver beads. They were also very expensive, but it would compliment her piece to exactly the standards she was used to.

“These are beautiful too.” The glint in her eye showed me she didn’t care what I put on there and she’d fall in love with it.

Reba had a question and Marlene rushed over to help her while I started to work on Patsy.

“Your husband did a great job on my teeth last week.” I looked over her expression with a critical eye to see if she had any reaction.

“He is a great dentist.” She wrinkled her nose and her shoulders lifted as if an invisible wire connected them. “He will take wonderful care of you.”

“You know,” I leaned in and whispered so she would think it was just between girl friends, “I had gone to Henry Frisk and he was terrible.”

“We don’t have to worry about him anymore.” She continued to move the beads around in the ugliest design I had ever seen. “I am wearing a little orange plaid shirt and the most fabulous hat to top it off.”

“Plus Henry was more concerned about the interior decorating of the office than his clients.” I shook my head and rearranged the beads again. “It is decorated nicely. I wonder who did it?”

“Buskin’s Designs is doing Kevin’s new office.” She rolled a crystal between her pink tinted fingernails, and with her self-assured confidence she said, “They are okay. But I’d get a different designer if I were you.”

“I don’t know who is working with you on your husband’s office, but I know that Charlie,” I snapped my fingers together as though I had forgotten her last night.

“Charlie St. Clair from Buskins?”

“Yes!” I clapped my hands together. “Bernadine said that she not only did Henry’s office, but she was trying to get her claws into him.”

Patsy’s eyes flew open. Her mouth dropped. Something flickered in her eyes.

“And he and Bernadine were going to get back together too.” I nodded my head. “Mmm, hmm.” I shook my head.

“That’s terrible what happened to him.” Patsy put her hand to her chest. The big diamond on her left hand was bigger than any gem I had in The Beaded Dragonfly. “Kevin and I couldn’t believe it when we heard. You know,” she tugged me closer to her, “since we are girl-friends,” she paused as if she was waiting to confirm.

My head nodded like it was on a spring.

“Kevin and Henry had a fight at one of the barn dance meetings over Henry stealing Kevin’s clients.”

My eyes widened encouraging her to continue.

“The police even came to our house to ask us about it.” She sucked in a deep breath. “They wanted to know if my Kevin had anything to do with Henry’s murder.”

“The nerve.” I quipped. “Kevin wouldn’t hurt a fly. Would he?”

“Never. Gentle, gentle man.” Her eyes darted around the shop and slid back to me. “In fact, that little Charlie tramp even hit on my Kevin.”

“No.” I took a quick breath as if I was taken by surprise. Which I wasn’t in the least bit.

She shrugged, a delicate movement that spoke volumes.

“I’m so sorry. We Divas wouldn’t put up with that.” My brows lifted. “Did you catch them?”

“No. Carol told me.” Patsy looked away. There were tears in her eyes. “When I asked Kevin about it, he said that I was all he needed and he gave me this.” She shifted the side of her head. The diamond-studded earrings were just as big as the diamond on her finger.

“Gorgeous.” I smiled. “He loves you so much.”

Snake.
Patsy smiled back and continued to arrange the beads. Did she really believe he wasn’t sleeping with Charlie?

“If it weren’t for all the evidence against Bernadine Frisk, Kevin and I believed that Charlie might have killed him.”

“Really?” I didn’t give her eye contact. I kept my fingers busy as though I was really trying to get her a design she was going to love. “Why would you say that?”

“Kevin told me that he went to Henry’s office before Henry opened to wish him luck.” I leaned in closer to hear her. “He said that he saw her sitting on Henry’s lap in his office chair with her dress unzipped to her waist while Henry was kissing her neck.”

“What did Henry say to Kev. . .Dr. Russell?” I asked, a little more curious.

“He didn’t see Kevin. Kevin said he slipped out unseen.” She licked her pink lips. “Do you think Bernadine found out and killed him?”

“I don’t know. I’m just trying to support her through it.”

I unrolled a long piece of wire for Patsy. It was probably a good time to take a break from all the Henry talk.

“This is the wire you are going to string your beads on.” I showed her. “I’m going to have you string a few beads, lay it across your wrist so you can see if you like the design I have here.”

She leaned over the board. There was satisfaction on her face.

“This is a crimp bead.” I held the tiny silver cylinder in the palm of my hand. I pointed to the crimp tool. Every time I saw one, I thought of Bernadine. “This is a crimp tool. First you use the second indent to smash the crimp bead like this.” I showed her how I flattened the bead. “Then you have to make a little fold so the clasp will stay in place.” I took the tool and put the flattened crimp bead in the opposite direction, making it fold in half.

“Oh!” Patsy was excited. “I think I can do that.”

She picked up a loose piece of wire and strung a crimp bead on it. She used the crimp tool and with a little assistance, she made it perfectly like I taught her.

“I want you to practice crimping so you can learn how to put on a clasp.” I left a few of the crimp beads and stray wire on her board before I went to check on Reba, who was on her third round of champagne.

“How is it going?” I asked and picked up the bottle holding it out for Marlene to take.

“I’m just so confused.” Reba slurred. “I thought I was going to come in here and nail exactly what I wanted.” She held up the magazine. “There are so many choices.” She giggled.

“Okay.” I looked at the clock and took a deep breath. The Divas were coming soon and I wanted Reba and Patsy gone. “What color are you going to use for your bridesmaids? We can start there.”

“I’m thinking. . .” She patted her temple with fingertip and slowly pointed it at Patsy and Marlene. “That she’s a bitch.” Reba’s head lowered and hit the table.

“Shit.” I murmured looking at the passed out Reba. “Marlene?” I called her over.

“What the hell?” Marlene let out a raspy chuckle.

“You kept filling up her drink.” My blood pressure rose. I had never had a drunk bride before. “Can you sit here with Reba and act like you are consoling her so I can get Patsy out of here before the Diva meeting?”

“How is it going?” I looked over Patsy’s shoulder.

“I’m getting a little better.” She held a couple of the crimped wire strands in the air. Some were good, but most were bad.

“You are.” I assured her. “I think this is enough for today. What about you come back tomorrow for your second lesson?”

“Oh.” There was a grunt of disappointment from her. “I thought we could grab lunch.”

“I wish.” I rolled my eyes. “I have a full list of clients today. But another time for sure.”

“Okay. Sounds great.” She stood up and grabbed her clutch. “Don’t let anyone have my beads.”

“Don’t you worry about that.” I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get any real information from her about Henry and Dr. Russell’s fight. “I did want to tell you that you need to make sure that Carol gives out the toothbrush and mini-toothpaste at the end of each visit to Dr. Russell.”

“You didn’t get one?” she asked.

“No. And I needed a new toothbrush too.” That was the only time I got new toothbrushes. Now I had to go buy one.

“Ugh.” Patsy gave a polite laugh. “If you only knew how many times we have told her to give out the packets.”

I walked her to the door.

“In fact, I think I have some of the new packs in the back of my car.” She gestured me to follow her.

“I’ll be right back.” I told Marlene and walked out of the shop.

Patsy’s fancy two-door Mercedes coupe was parked right in front of the shop. Her license plate read DR WIFE.