A Tangled Thread Page 5

  Zoey let her voice trail off, still unable to tell her friend she might not be able to finish making the dress that she’d promised her.

  But Priti, ever the good friend, knew exactly what Zoey wasn’t saying. “It’s okay, Zoey. I totally understand. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

  Zoey let out a huge sigh of relief. Priti could always be counted on to be sunny and optimistic, even when she was probably really, really disappointed.

  “Let me just tell my mom, okay?” Priti said. “Hang on . . .”

  Zoey heard Priti shout to her mother that the sari Zoey was supposed to be making her might not be ready in time for the wedding.

  Then she heard Mrs. Holbrooke yell back, “What sari that Zoey’s making? Your grandmother is bringing a sari for you. The one she wore when she was your age. Didn’t I tell you? She would be so touched if you wear it.”

  Zoey heard Priti gasp. “Mom, what are you talking about? I told you all about Zoey’s design, remember? And you said she could make it! She’s been working soooooo hard on it!”

  Zoey felt embarrassed, and she wished she weren’t overhearing the conversation.

  Then Zoey heard Mrs. Holbrooke yell back, “Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry, Priti. I do remember something about that. I’ve just been a little preoccupied lately and completely forgot, and when your grandmother mentioned her old sari, I thought it would be perfect for you. I thought I’d told you about it last week . . . but maybe I didn’t. Poor Zoey.”

  There was a long pause, and Zoey realized maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Priti would have a dress to wear, and Zoey wouldn’t have to kill herself trying to handsew a sari by Wednesday.

  “PRITI!” Zoey yelled into her phone.

  She heard some scrabbling noises, and Priti picked up her cell again. “Yeah? I guess you heard that, right?” she asked glumly.

  “I did,” admitted Zoey, “but it’s okay. It’s totally fine if you wear your grandmother’s dress, because I don’t know how I’d finish . . .”

  Priti cut her off. “Hold on. Let me go to my room so we can talk.” Zoey heard Priti’s footsteps and a door closing. “Okay, thanks. I just don’t know what’s going on with my mother lately,” she whispered into the phone. “I mean, she and my dad were seeing a counselor for a while, and things had started to get better, at least that’s what my sisters and I thought, but the past few weeks my mom has been all distant and distracted. Like, a total space cadet. Do you think they’re having trouble again?”

  Zoey’s heart ached for her friend. She could hear in Priti’s voice how upset she was. She knew how much Priti had worried about her parents recently, and that she had hoped the upcoming family trip abroad would be a fun way for them all to enjoy being together, like they used to.

  “I don’t know, Priti,” Zoey said. “But I hope not.”

  “They’ve been fighting a lot,” Priti said, her voice still low. “Loudly.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Zoey said. She knew she couldn’t relate to living with parents arguing, since she’d only had one parent for most of her life, and her father was always so easygoing, anyway. Even she and Marcus hardly fought the way brothers and sisters sometimes did. There just wasn’t much fighting in the Webber house. But she knew Priti needed support, and Zoey would try to help in whatever way she could.

  “I’m always here if you want to talk,” Zoey offered. “Or come over. Or spend the night. Or make chocolate chocolate-chip cookies,” she joked.

  Priti half laughed. “Thanks, Zoey.”

  “They were really good cookies.”

  Priti laughed again, then, sounding falsely cheerful, added, “It’ll all be okay. I just loved the design for the sari you did, Zoey. It’s so beautiful. I hate for it to go to waste.”

  Zoey felt terrible for her friend, who seemed to be dealing with so much and doing it so bravely. It made it easy to say, “You know, Priti, I’m going to try really hard to have it ready by the time you leave. But if I can’t finish it in time for this wedding, I’ll finish it soon, just so you’ll have it. Maybe you can wear it to another wedding.”

  “What?” exclaimed Priti. “But you don’t have to, Zoey . . . and you don’t even have a machine!”

  “It’s okay,” Zoey said. “I’ll handsew it. You deserve it, Priti.”

  “Thanks, Zo.”

  Priti sighed deeply, but it was a sigh of delight and relief. Zoey felt a warm spot in her chest, knowing she was at least doing something to make her friend a tiny bit happier.

  CHAPTER 7

  Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock!

  It’s funny how normally the only reason I even know what day it is is because of my class schedule at school. But for the past week or so, I’ve known exactly what MINUTE of the hour it is, all day long! That’s what happens when you’re trying to get a lot done—fast!

  So, no good news on my sewing machine yet. I’ve decided that even if it can’t be fixed , I’m going to keep it in my room forever, because it was my mother’s and I learned how to sew on it. It’ll be like a vintage fashion sculpture. In the meantime, I’m going to have to figure out how to make some money (selling more accessories, maybe?) to buy myself a new machine! I’m guessing it’ll take a while. . . .

  Until then, I’m working hard to finish Priti’s sari (by hand!) before she leaves for India on Wednesday, and I have to say, it is really turning out beautifully. I’m not posting a picture, because I don’t want to ruin the surprise for Priti. (HA! I know you’re reading this, P!)

  In other design-y news, I’ve become such a sewing EXPERT on stretchy fabrics recently that I got an idea for a bathing suit for myself for summer! This sketch is still not finished, but I’m posting it, anyway. And I also attached a sketch for a little stretchy sundress. Hoping for sunnier days ahead!

  In the hallway at school Tuesday morning, Priti pulled Zoey aside by the lockers. She looked nervous, which wasn’t how Zoey was used to seeing Priti look. It made Zoey wonder if something had happened with her parents.

  “Priti, what it is?” Zoey asked. “Are you okay?”

  Priti sensed the panic in Zoey’s voice. “Yeah, yeah—I’m okay. It’s just that, well, the more I think about it, the more I want to wear my grandmother’s special dress.” She paused, eyeing Zoey guiltily. “I know it’ll mean a lot to my mom, and she’s having a hard time right now with . . . you know . . . everything.”

  Zoey nodded. She knew what Priti meant.

  Priti looked down at the floor. “Do you hate me? I know you’ve gone to so much trouble to handsew the sari, and you’re probably almost done, and here I am telling you I might not want to wear it. . . . ”

  Much to Zoey’s surprise, she felt relieved. She wasn’t finished sewing the sari, not even close, and she was still really overwhelmed with schoolwork and the new Etsy orders trickling in. She could always finish the sari for Priti to wear to something else in the future.

  “It’s fine, Priti,” Zoey said, putting her hand on Priti’s shoulder. “Honestly. It’s no big deal, okay? I’m actually relieved. I don’t know if I could have gotten it done in time.”

  Priti sighed with relief. “Thanks, Zo. I can always count on you to understand.”

  Zoey shrugged modestly, and then laughed. “Well, I am very understanding.”

  Priti laughed too, and Zoey delighted for a moment in the relief of having one less thing to do. It reminded her there was something she’d been meaning to ask Priti about.

  “Hey, Priti,” she said in a low voice. “You know what’s weird? My brother has been superunderstanding lately too, and, like, really involved with all my sewing stuff. He keeps telling me to invite Allie over and asking me about her and our site. It’s like he’s interested in fashion all of a sudden!”

  Priti’s eyes went wide, and she clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. “Zoey!” she said, her eyes twinkling. “He’s not interested in fashion, he’s interested in Allie! Didn’t you say she’s in high school too, and very pretty?�
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  “Yeah, but . . .” Zoey paused, turning the idea over in her mind. Marcus had been unusually shy around Allie. And offered to take them both out for ice cream. And asked when she was coming over again. . . .

  “Holy cow, you’re right!” Zoey exclaimed. “How’d I miss that? I just never thought Marcus would have a crush on one of my friends, you know? Ewwww. I mean, I know he liked this girl Grace for a while, but I wasn’t friends with her. Again, ewww!”

  Priti shook her head. “It’s not ewww. It’s perfectly normal. People meet, they like each other, they fall in looooooove, they get married and have a big wedding.”

  At the thought of weddings, Priti’s face suddenly tensed up again, and she started to bite her lip nervously.

  “What’s wrong?” Zoey asked, wondering if Priti was thinking of her own parents’ marriage. “I’ve never seen you frown this much, ever.”

  Priti sighed and ran one finger down the locker beside her. “Well, the truth is, I’d really like to wear both saris to my cousin’s wedding, but I don’t see how that’s possible. Right? That doesn’t make sense, even. My mom wants me to wear my grandmother’s sari, and I kind of do too. But do you think . . . do you think maybe you could keep working on getting the other sari made in time for the wedding? Just in case I find a time to wear it?”

  Zoey felt her stomach flop over. She had been so close to having one less HUGE thing on her plate! But she couldn’t say no to Priti, not when she was so obviously upset about her parents. Even with the social studies test coming up faster and faster. And, despite how much work it was to sew, Zoey loved the sari. It was one of her all-time favorite designs! She wanted to finish it.

  Then, just as Zoey was about to tell Priti yes, she felt her phone buzz in her backpack.

  Probably more Etsy orders, Zoey thought. Greeeeeat.

  Sweating slightly, Zoey assured Priti she would do her best to finish the dress by the next afternoon, just in time for Priti to head to the airport for the flight to India. Priti gave her the world’s biggest hug and thanked her a zillion times. Zoey kept a smile on her face, even though inside she was feeling more than a little frantic.

  Zoey rushed to her next class, worrying yet again about how she’d be able to finish the sari that night and completely forgetting about the message on her phone. When she finally had a chance to check her phone on the way to lunch, she saw that, in fact, she had gotten another order from Etsy, and it was from Libby’s aunt! Score!

  Even better, it came with a message.

  Zoey hurriedly clicked through the e-mail alert and read:

  Dear Zoey,

  I’m so impressed with the pop-up store you and Allie have created! You truly have some one-of-a-kind accessories here. If you’re interested, I’d love to take you both to the crafts and accessories trade show the weekend after next. You can help me “scope out” the aisles for new things to feature at H. Cashin’s! Get permission from your parents and let me know if you can make it!

  Best,

  Alexandra Van Langen

  (Libby’s aunt)

  Zoey read through the message twice and could hardly keep from jumping up and down and shouting. Libby’s aunt liked her designs! And she wanted to take her and Allie to a real trade show! It was more good news than Zoey could even wish for.

  Zoey began to race toward the lunchroom, anxious to tell her friends. On the way, she found Libby and couldn’t help shrieking and hugging her.

  “What’s this for?” Libby asked, laughing. “Did you find out the social studies test is canceled or something?”

  “I wish,” said Zoey. “No, better. I just got an e-mail from your aunt about the trade show! Did you know?”

  Libby nodded. “She just e-mailed me and invited me too. We’re all going to go together!”

  “Really? Wow!” Zoey’s face broke into a smile that was a mile wide. It would be an unforgettable day, and she’d get to share it with Allie and Libby.

  All she had to do was get through the next few days.

  Zoey was still beaming in social studies class that afternoon. She hadn’t been so excited for something in a long time. Just thinking about how much she’d learn, walking around a huge trade show like that with Libby’s aunt, a real buyer from one of the biggest department stores in the country, made her heart leap. It would be like a master class in fashion buying!

  “Hey, why are you looking so happy?” Gabe asked. He’d gone up to hand in some homework and caught sight of Zoey’s face on his way back to his seat.

  Zoey told him briefly about the trade show. Then she added, “Of course, my dad probably won’t let me go if I flunk this test on Friday, which I still haven’t really studied for, because I’m still sewing that sari for Priti.”

  Zoey shook her head woefully. Normally, she didn’t mind Mr. Dunn’s class, but right now it was giving her a great, big headache!

  Gabe toed the floor with one of his sneakers. “You know, Zoey, I could still come over to help you study on Thursday, if you want. I’ve already been studying some.”

  Zoey looked at Gabe gratefully. “Oh, Gabe, that’s so nice of you! I really appreciate it. But I just can’t add one more thing to my schedule right now! Even if it’s a really smart study partner. I’m going to have to figure this out on my own.”

  Looking down at the ground, Gabe shrugged and said, “Sure, yeah, of course. It was just a thought. Good luck studying, okay?”

  “Thanks.” Zoey smiled at him again, and Gabe returned to his seat.

  Ivy had been listening to the whole conversation and leaned toward Zoey.

  “Hey, Zoey. You might want to make him one of your little Doggie Duds outfits too,” she whispered loudly, “because he follows you around like a puppy!”

  Ivy burst into laughter at her own joke, and Zoey felt her cheeks go scarlet. She wished she could think of something terrific and biting to say to Ivy in return, but she couldn’t. She was never good at snappy comebacks. And she was mortified that Gabe might have heard. He was being so nice to her, and she really did like him as a friend, at least.

  To Zoey’s relief, Mr. Dunn cleared his throat to begin class, and Zoey tried to block out Ivy and her mean comment and listen to his lecture. But Ivy’s words kept playing in her ears, over and over. Was she treating Gabe badly? Was she not being as good a friend to him as he’d always been to her? She wasn’t sure. And the truth was, at the moment, she really didn’t have time to think about it. She resolved to do something nice for him as soon as the test was over. What that would be, exactly, she’d worry about later. One thing at a time.

  That night, as Zoey was sewing away on the sari, Priti called.

  Zoey answered. “Hello, hello, famous sari maker here!”

  Priti giggled. “Guess what, Zo?!”

  Zoey’s heart stuck in her throat. She wasn’t sure she could take another change of plans! “What?” she asked.

  “My mom and I came up with an idea! I’m going to wear my grandmother’s vintage sari to the traditional wedding ceremony, and then I’m going to wear the sari you’re making to the big reception afterward! So your beautiful sari will get to go to India and party, party, party!”

  Zoey, whose hands were already cramping from the sewing, sighed with relief for her friend, whom she knew had been stressed about not getting to wear the new sari. If it were anyone but Priti, Zoey might lose it, but for her wonderful, devoted friend, she would sew all night long, finish the sari, and deliver it on time.

  “That’s awesome news, Priti,” Zoey said, and meant it. “I’ll finish it tonight, press it, and bring it to you first thing tomorrow at school!”

  “YAY!” yelled Priti. “I can’t wait! We’re leaving straight for the airport after school, so that’ll be perfect. I’m sure it’ll be amazing!!”

  “It better be,” joked Zoey, who looked at the clock, trying to figure out how she’d get it finished and do her homework. “Now I’ve gotta go so I can get it done. And you need to pack! Make sure you send
me a postcard.”

  “I will!” promised Priti. “Happy sewing!”

  Priti hung up, and Zoey looked at the pile of the mostly finished dress around her. She could do it; she knew she could. It would just be a very, very, very long night.

  CHAPTER 8

  I Survived!

  I haven’t posted in a few days, which I think is a record for me! But as my loyal readers know, I had a pretty good reason! I finished Priti’s sari in the wee, wee hours of Wednesday morning, and she and her family left for India later that day. I haven’t heard from her yet, but she tried it on in the bathroom at school, and she looked amaaaazing! Way too pretty to be hanging out in the math hall bathroom, that’s for sure. Then my wonderful, thoughtful friend Libby surprised me last night by coming over to help me study for today’s social studies test! She even made me some flashcards. I think you know you have a good friend when they go to all the trouble of making you special flashcards. . . . (xo, Libby!) The big test is over, thank goodness, which is a huge relief no matter what grade I get on it.

  Really, I could never manage my “double life” (as Dad calls it) of school and being a kid and designing and sewing and all that goes with it, without the help of my awesome family and friends. And that’s never been more true than in the past two weeks! I am SEW lucky! One friend in particular, who shall remain nameless, was especially nice and offered to help me several times recently. I need to find a way to thank him (yep, him), and soon!

  During my study period today at school, I started thinking about this weekend and how, for once, I have NO SEWING to do. So I was thinking about what I would do with all my free time, and I made a sketch of what I’d like to spend the weekend wearing—as you can see, it’s a ROBE! I’ve never made one before, and I don’t even think I’ve owned one since I was about seven. But doesn’t this one look chic? I bought a splashy, silky print fabric a few weeks ago with my Duds money, and it made me think of a kimono. As soon as I have a new machine—um? Someday?—I’m going to whip this up!