Sewing in Circles Page 6

  “I’m sorry that what happened with Allie and me seems to have messed up your friendship,” Marcus said.

  “I don’t know if our friendship will ever be the same, but I’m willing to try—and so is Allie.”

  “Well, I hope it works,” Marcus said. “I really do.”

  “You know what? Talking to you has helped me make up my mind,” Zoey told her brother. “I’m going to go ahead and make more bracelets to sell. And I’m going to tell Ezra no.”

  She wasn’t looking forward to that last thing at all. Not at all.

  CHAPTER 8

  From Copied to Copycat

  I’m busy making bracelets for the gift fair, where I’m going to have a stall for the first time. If you’re one of my friends, teachers, or parents reading this, please come by and check out the clothes and gifts—perfect for all your present-giving needs! These bracelets aren’t exactly like the ones you can buy for a lot more in the boutiques. But people at school—well, at least most of the people at school—seem to like them, anyway.

  I know there’s debate in the fashion world about producing knockoffs of other designs, but like my mentor told me, “Imitation is a form of flattery.” I’ve been “flattered,” and now I’m hoping I’ll be flattering other designers. As long as I’m putting my own special twist on the design, I think it’s okay. . . . Do you? I sometimes wish there was a rule book with all the fashion laws written out, like the rules of the road.

  “I can’t wait to see the maternity dress you’ve made for me,” Aunt Lulu said when Zoey, Marcus, and Dad arrived for dinner on Friday evening.

  Her aunt’s baby bump had really expanded since Zoey had last seen her, and Aunt Lulu had also developed a bit of a waddle.

  “I hope it fits,” Zoey said. “I mean, I made it with plenty of extra room for the baby . . . at least I think I did . . . but I’m not exactly an expert when it comes to making maternity clothes!”

  “Thanks, honey,” Aunt Lulu said. “I take it you noticed my new duck walk.”

  “My adorable duckling,” Uncle John said.

  Aunt Lulu swatted him, but she was smiling.

  “Stop! You’re driving me quackers!” she said.

  “You guys are quacking me up,” Marcus said.

  “I love this family,” Uncle John said. “I hope the baby inherits its quacky sense of humor.”

  Aunt Lulu groaned.

  “Let’s see this dress, Zo,” she begged. “I want to try it on before I eat and feel any bigger than I do now!”

  They all trooped into the living room—with Aunt Lulu waddling a few steps behind—and Zoey pulled the dress out of the fancy shopping bag she’d carried it in, neatly folded and wrapped in tissue, so it didn’t wrinkle.

  “I love it!” Aunt Lulu exclaimed. “It’s totally adorable! Come upstairs so I can try it on. I’ll give you a sneak peek of your cousin-to-be’s room while we’re up there.”

  Zoey helped zip Aunt Lulu into the dress. It fit . . . but snugly.

  “I thought I’d left so much extra room,” Zoey said in despair. “But there’s none at all!”

  “You didn’t count on your cousin here being a super-duper fast grower!” Aunt Lulu said, rubbing her belly lovingly.

  She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at Zoey.

  “Still, it fits me now, and that’s what counts. I can’t grow that much between tonight and Sunday, so it’ll be fine!”

  Zoey helped unzip the dress, and after her aunt had changed back into her previous outfit, Aunt Lulu took her to see the nursery. It was painted a peaceful, pale shade of butter yellow. There was a gray glider and matching ottoman, and a white crib with yellow and gray bedding. Over the crib hung letters of the alphabet painted the same yellow as the walls, and over the changing table, Zoey spotted adorable photos of her aunt and uncle when they were babies. Then she saw a white tree-shaped bookshelf stocked with Goodnight Moon; Pat the Bunny; Good Night, Gorilla; Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?; and other books.

  “I love these books!” Zoey said.

  “I know! I remember reading them to you when you were little. Call me crazy, but I’ve been reading to my little niblet already,” Aunt Lulu said, patting her belly. “It seems to stop the nighttime gymnastics that keep me awake at two in the morning.”

  “Do you think Niblet understands?” Zoey asked, curious.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Aunt Lulu said. “But I like to think the baby can hear my voice and is calmed by it.”

  She winced and rubbed her side. “Speaking of the baby, I just got a foot in the rib cage. Do you want to feel your cousin moving?”

  “Sure,” Zoey said, although to tell the truth, she was a little freaked out by the idea.

  Aunt Lulu took Zoey’s hand and placed it on her round belly.

  “Hold on a sec. It won’t be long. . . . There!”

  Sure enough, Zoey felt a movement under her hand, where Aunt Lulu’s belly suddenly got very hard and firm and then softened again.

  “What was that?” Zoey asked.

  “Not sure if it was an elbow or a foot,” Aunt Lulu said. “All I know is that there are certain times during the day that I get a constant rat-a-tat-tat going in there. Marcus might have a little drummer on his hands. I’m not sure I can handle that! Maybe the calm of the baby’s room will help keep things mellow.”

  “I love it,” Zoey said. “It’s perfect. Niblet’s lucky to have an interior designer for a mom.”

  “And to have a cousin like you,” Aunt Lulu said, putting her arm around Zoey and hugging her. “You know, Zo, even though I’m having this baby, I’ll always think of you as my first daughter—since your mom died—and I will always be there for you. The baby won’t change that.”

  Before she even knew what hit her, Zoey’s eyes welled with tears, and a lump formed in her throat. She turned and threw her arms around Aunt Lulu and hugged her. Well, as much as she could around the bump of her cousin-to-be, which was an ever-present reminder between them.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Aunt Lulu said, stroking her hair.

  “You d-didn’t.” Zoey sniffed. “You made me h-happy.”

  Aunt Lulu smiled. “John’s right. We are a strange family. We cry when we’re happy!”

  Zoey laughed through her tears. “I guess I didn’t know I was worried about it until you said that,” she explained. “But now I feel so much better.”

  “Good,” Aunt Lulu said. “Now let’s go have some dinner. I’m eating for two, and I’m ravenous!”

  Zoey and Ezra met at the library on Saturday morning to see one of the free movies they were showing in the auditorium.

  “Hey, did you get a chance to ask the gift fair organizers about including my paintings?” Ezra asked before the movie started.

  “Yeah . . . about that,” Zoey said. “I thought about it, and I just felt like it would be unprofessional of me to ask them when I didn’t include your paintings in my original submission. The other thing is . . . Well, even though I really love your art, it doesn’t really match my Sew Zoey clothes and accessories, if you know what I mean.”

  She glanced at Ezra anxiously to see his reaction.

  “Are you upset?”

  “No, I understand,” he said. “Maybe a little disappointed. I was looking forward to hanging out.”

  “Well, we can still hang out. And how about I call the organizers and see if there are any small booths left so that you could have one of your own?” Zoey offered. “That way you could display your stuff, and we’d still get to hang out a little bit.”

  “You’d be okay with doing that?”

  “Sure. I’ll do it when I get home.”

  Ezra smiled. “Thanks, Zoey. You’re the best!”

  Zoey smiled back as the lights dimmed. Now that she knew Ezra wasn’t upset with her, she could actually relax and enjoy the movie!

  When she got home later that afternoon, she called Mrs. Perry, the gift fair organizer, to ask about the availability of a s
mall booth for Ezra.

  “I’m afraid there aren’t any booths left,” Mrs. Perry said. “You got the very last one.”

  “Oh,” Zoey said, crestfallen. “That’s too bad. My friend was really looking forward to it.”

  “Definitely have him apply next year,” Mrs. Perry suggested. “And tell him to think about having some of his work printed on greeting cards. Those always sell well at the fair.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Zoey said. “Thanks, I’ll tell him.”

  As soon as she hung up, she called Ezra to tell him the news.

  “It’s too bad about the booth,” she said. “But you should definitely try next year. And what do you think about doing the greeting cards?”

  “I’ll think about it,” Ezra said. “It sounds great.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Zoey said. “I bet you’d sell lots of them!”

  “Hey, are you going to be home in an hour?” Ezra asked.

  “Yeah,” Zoey said. “I have to make more bracelets for the gift fair.”

  “Is it okay if I stop by to drop something off?”

  “What is it?” Zoey asked.

  “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise,” Ezra said.

  “Sure, it’s okay,” Zoey said. “But now I’m dying of curiosity!”

  “I’ll be there soon!”

  The hour passed really slowly as Zoey tried to concentrate on making bracelets and not wonder what Ezra was bringing over. Finally, the doorbell rang, and she ran to answer it.

  Ezra stood there holding a small painting.

  “I brought this for you,” he said. “Thanks for trying to get me a booth.”

  “That’s so sweet!” Zoey said. “I’m really sorry it didn’t work out.”

  “Well, I appreciate you making the call,” Ezra said. “I’ll apply next year. Anyway, I better run. I just wanted to give this to you.”

  “Thanks, I love it!” Zoey called to him as he ran back to the car where his dad waited.

  The painting was a small autumn landscape, and the colors were bright yellows and reds and golds against the earthy browns of tree trunks. Looking at it, Zoey suddenly had a wonderful idea: She could take the digital photographs of Ezra’s paintings and screen print them onto scarves and headbands to sell at her booth as a surprise for Ezra. That way, she’d have more accessories and he’d get more exposure for his art. She could even give him the profits from the sales, because they’d be printed with his artwork.

  It seemed like the perfect solution to both problems. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction. She loved his surprise. She hoped he would love hers.

  “This is the first baby shower I’ve ever been to,” Marcus said as they walked up to the door to Aunt Lulu and Uncle John’s house, which was decorated with yellow, white, and silver balloons. “Well, except for mine, and I don’t remember much about that.”

  “I haven’t been to many myself,” Dad said. “They used to be ladies-only affairs, but I guess the times they are a-changing.”

  “Why shouldn’t it be coed?” Zoey asked. “If both parents are supposed to look after the baby, then they both should have a party.”

  “True,” Dad said.

  When Aunt Lulu answered the door, Zoey noticed right away that she wasn’t wearing the outfit she’d made.

  “Come on in!” Lulu said.

  Zoey handed her the gift bag containing the sweet baby outfit she’d made for her new cousin, and Dad handed Lulu the very professionally wrapped present he’d told them the Mystery Lady had chosen—even though she’d decided not to come to the shower.

  Aunt Lulu kissed them all.

  “Where’s Buttons?” Zoey asked as she looked around for her aunt’s adorable dog, who usually greeted Zoey at the door.

  “He’s at doggie day care today, since there are so many people here for the party. Let’s go join them,” she said. “Your new cousin-to-be is the star attraction. I’ve never had so many people touching my stomach in my life!”

  Zoey watched her aunt entertaining her friends, laughing as they felt the baby move under their hands. She desperately wanted to ask Aunt Lulu why she wasn’t wearing the dress, but with her aunt and the bump being the center of attention—not to mention the hostess with the mostest—it was impossible to get a quiet moment to pose the question.

  Already a little worried about being relegated to second place when the baby arrived, Zoey wondered if Aunt Lulu would be able to keep her promise that she’d still consider Zoey as her first daughter. She tried to push the thought out of her mind and enjoy the party—after all, this was Aunt Lulu, who had always been wonderful and loving toward her. But why wasn’t Aunt Lulu wearing the dress? Was she lying when she said she liked it? It wasn’t like her aunt to lie to her, but everything seemed to be changing at the moment.

  “You look way too serious for a baby shower,” Uncle John said. “Have a cupcake!”

  “They look great,” Zoey said, taking a yellow frosted cupcake.

  “They taste pretty good, too,” Uncle John said, winking. “I had to eat one for quality control.”

  Zoey giggled and took a bite. It was good.

  “Don’t go anywhere with those cupcakes before I get one,” Marcus warned, walking over from the other side of the room, followed closely by Dad.

  “Me too,” Dad said. “I’ve been eyeing those since we got here.”

  Uncle John offered them each a cupcake, then said, “I better go circulate before the Webber family decimates dessert.”

  As he walked off, Marcus said, “I can’t believe your girlfriend wouldn’t come to this, Dad. Wouldn’t she want to join you since it’s such a special family occasion?”

  Zoey watched her dad’s face take on the familiar pained expression he got whenever they talked about meeting the Mystery Lady.

  “She wanted to come,” Dad said. “She was really conflicted about it, because this could be her future niece. I mean—”

  He stopped, seeing Marcus and Zoey exchange shocked glances.

  “You can’t be seriously considering marrying someone you haven’t even introduced us to yet, can you?” Marcus asked.

  “Yeah, if you get married to someone we’ve never met, Marcus and I might just have to think about boycotting the wedding!” Zoey protested, only half joking.

  “Listen, I would never think about marrying someone without you guys meeting her and liking her,” Dad said.

  “But . . . you said ‘future niece,’ ” Marcus pointed out.

  “We do like each other . . . a lot,” Dad admitted. “I won’t lie to you. It is potentially serious, but there are no solid plans, okay? And these kinds of conversations happen in relationships. But you guys are my number-one priority, always. That’s why it’s so important to me that you both like her.”

  “It’s kind of hard to like someone you’ve never met,” Zoey said.

  Dad laughed.

  “You will meet her. Soon,” he said. “And definitely before there are any real talks of marriage!”

  “Okay, everyone!” Aunt Lulu announced. “It’s time to open the presents!”

  Everyone gathered around in the living room, and Marcus and Zoey took turns handing Aunt Lulu presents while Uncle John kept a careful list of who gave what, so they could write thank-you notes.

  “Zoey, this is just too cute for words!” Aunt Lulu exclaimed when she held up the outfit and hooded bath towel Zoey made. “Everyone, my incredibly talented niece made these! She’s been on TV, you know!”

  Zoey blushed but was secretly pleased by how proud Aunt Lulu was of her.

  Marcus handed Aunt Lulu the very beautifully wrapped present from Dad.

  “This is from Dad,” he said. “But you know he didn’t wrap it. The Mystery Lady did.”

  “She chose it, too,” Dad admitted.

  Aunt Lulu opened the box and took out an adorable onesie with a bunny motif and a matching hat, and a hand-knit baby blanket. Zoey was impressed.

  “Well, I have
to give the Mystery Lady points for good taste,” she said.

  “Oh, she has really good taste,” Aunt Lulu agreed.

  “Wait, you’ve met her?” Marcus asked.

  “We have,” Uncle John said.

  “She’s great,” Aunt Lulu assured them. “You guys are going to love her. I promise you.”

  “Yeah, if we ever get to meet her,” Marcus grumbled.

  “Patience, grasshopper. You will,” Aunt Lulu said.

  “I know. Sorry, Aunt Lulu,” Marcus said.

  “It’s okay, honey, I understand,” Aunt Lulu said. “Now hand me the next present.”

  When all the presents were unwrapped, and everyone had placed their bets on the birth date and sex of the baby, it was time to go. As Zoey was about to leave, Aunt Lulu waddled over to say goodbye and took her aside.

  “Zoey, honey, I wanted to apologize for not wearing the dress you made for me to the shower. You see . . . Niblet here must have had a little growth spurt between Friday and this morning, because I put on the dress and then, when I sat down before the party to put my feet up and rest my swollen ankles, I heard this great big riiiiippppp!” she explained. “And what do you know! My entire backside was hanging out when I got up!”

  “Oh no!” Zoey exclaimed.

  “Oh yes!” Aunt Lulu said. “Thank goodness it happened before the guests arrived!”

  “And that you had a backup dress,” Zoey said.

  “That too. The doctors are actually thinking of moving my due date up because the baby is growing so fast,” Aunt Lulu said. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you earlier, but I got all tied up with party things.”

  “I’m just glad that it wasn’t because you didn’t like the dress,” Zoey said.

  “Of course not! I love the dress! In fact, I was hoping you can fix it to make it into a loose comfy dress for after the baby is born,” Aunt Lulu said.

  “Sure, I can do that,” Zoey said. “Where is it? I’ll take it home now and see what I can do.”