The Seamstress' Nightmare

CHAPTER 1

Oh Sherry, I am so excited about the trip I can barely wait until tomorrow, Harriet said.

So am I, Sherry said, at least we have everything we need for our trip in our mobile home.

I still don’t know how you got the sewing machine to fit inside, Harriet said, scratching her head. How long do you think it will take us to get to Garden Grove, California?

Less than two weeks the way I have our schedule planned, Sherry said, pushing her long black hair from her oval face.

Are you sure our employees are going to be okay while we are gone? Harriet said.

Yes, we’re leaving the company in the capable hands of Flora Karmaro. Flora knows the fashion business and has a good head on her shoulders, Sherry said.

Does Flora know how to get in touch with us if she needs to? Harriet asked.

"She certainly does, I gave her all the telephone numbers along with some addresses.

Sherry Margaret and Harriet Delah Torris lived in a two story ten room brick house. Sherry and Harriet’s great Grandfather Samuel Thomas Torris had left them the house in his will along with a hefty trust fund.

Sherry at age twenty five and Harriet at age twenty two had long black hair and brown eyes along with rosy cheeks and full lips like their mother Elizabeth. They were tall like their father Harry.

Harriet was a famous designer and Sherry a professional seamstress, who sewed all of Harriet’s samples. Their only brother, Gerald Michael Torris, was a detective who worked in Camden, South Carolina, until he got transferred to Garden Grove, California. He too was tall, his hair a light brown and eyes that was blue as the sky.

The doorbell rang and Sherry opened it.

Hey Marko, you have some mail for us?

Yes a letter you have to sign for, he said, handing Sherry a pen.

Thanks, we are going to California for a while.

You girls have a good time and stay out of trouble, he said.

Okay, we will send you a post card, Sherry said, opening the envelope. Her eyes widen when she read the letter with big bold cut out letters, DON’T COME TO GARDEN GROVE. Who could have written such a letter, she wondered. No one is going to keep us from Danita’s wedding, she muttered, putting the letter into her pocket. She looks at the rest of the mail and went inside.

Is there any mail for me?" Harriet asked.

Yes, a letter from Danita, she said, giving the letter to Harriet.

I hope its good news.

Yes, Danita says they have our room ready and is anxiously waiting to see us.

Sherry smiled she liked Aunt Faye, Danita’s mother, she was always jolly. Uncle Hamika was even jollier. Sherry called him Uncle Hammy since he was always a ham. Their parents, Elizabeth and Harry were going to the wedding too, and they were going to fly to Garden Grove.

Aunt Faye has invited all the relatives to the wedding hoping it will be a family reunion too, Sherry said.

A knock on the door brought Harriet to open it. It was her friend, Dallas Garner. She smiled at the handsome man with black wavy hair. He had a sad look in his sea green eyes.

I have come to take you ladies out to dinner, Dallas said.

I don’t know we still have a lot of work to do."

It’s going to be weeks before I see you again, Dallas said. I’ll take you to your favorite pizza café.

Okay, come on Sherry, Harriet said, taking Dallas’s arm.

The Olympia Café wasn’t far it took about ten minutes to drive there.

May I help you?" a waitress asked.

We will have the family size pizza, Dallas said, two iced teas and one coffee.

Thank you, The waitress said and left.

I’m going to the salad bar, Sherry said, rising from her chair.

The salad bar was on a long table and consisted of all sorts of foods. Sherry filled her plate with green salad and started back to the table when someone hit her arm causing her food to fall to the floor. She turned to see a tall man with brown eyes and brown hair. He had an apologetic look on his strikingly handsome face.

I am sorry miss, are you hurt?

No, I had no idea anyone was behind me, Sherry said.

I will get you another plate, he said, moving quickly.

Thank you, she said, watching him walk away.

He returned with a plate and handed it to her. I’ll try and stay out of your way.

Sherry filled her plate again and sat down. She noticed the man sat directly in front of her at another table.

What are you staring at? Harriet asked.

At the man who bumped into me and made me spill my salad.

Oh, he is handsome, Harriet smiled.

Sherry blushed, we should go, she said quickly.

Sherry, are you going to tell Galen good by? Dallas asked, curious.

I have written Galen a letter, he knows we are leaving tomorrow, Sherry said, following Harriet out the door.

My goodness, Harriet said, there are two mobile homes just like ours, only they have California tags. I wonder what part of California they are from.

We will probably never know, Sherry said, getting in the car.

The early June air was warm; the dark sky was full of tiny stars surrounding a full bright moon. Sherry wondered if the moon shone as bright in California. She turned to Harriet and said, I’ll leave you two alone I have and errand to run I’ll see you later.

Okay.

Sherry drove to Captain’s Bruce Lewis’s large white frame house. She was glad to see a light in the window. She knocked on the door and waited.

Captain Lewis opened the door. Sherry, what brings you here this late?

Come outside Captain so no one will hear us.

Okay, he said, closing the door.

I got this letter in the mail today, she said, showing him the paper.

She watched Captain Bruce run his hands through his silver white hair, something he did when he saw a problem.

Are you still going to Danita’s wedding?

Yes, I’m not scared this easy.

How well I know this, what did Harriet say when she read the letter?

I haven’t told her about the letter I wanted to show it to you first. Do you think I should tell her?

Not right now, I will fly to Garden Grove tomorrow and see if everything is okay.

Want Miss Lila become suspicious?

Not if I tell her it is work related. This is not the first time I have had to fly to California.

Thanks Captain, I’ll talk to you later, Sherry said, returning to the car.

Harriet had already gone to bed when Sherry entered the house. She quietly went to her room so she wouldn’t disturb her. She went to sleep thinking about the letter.

The smell of coffee woke Sherry; she showered and put on a pair of blue jeans and a red shirt before going in the kitchen.

Good morning, you rose with the sun didn’t you? Sherry said reaching for a cup.

Yes and a beautiful sun it is, Harriet said, there are scrambled eggs and bacon in a plate on the stove.

Thanks there go the doorbell.

I’ll get it, Sherry said, leaving the room. She glanced out the window to see Dallas’s car before opening the door. Come in you are just in time for breakfast.

Thanks, I have already eaten, Dallas said, following her to the kitchen.

What do you have in the basket? Harriet asked.

Food from my mom she prepared for you to take on the trip.

That was sweet, thank her for us, Harriet said. There goes the bell again.

I’ll get it, Sherry said. She opened the door to see Galen Sutton, a man with brown hair, big blue eyes and a little taller than Sherry. Hey Galen come in.

I can’t believe you ladies are driving all the way to California, won’t you let me buy each of you a plane ticket? Galen pleaded.

Money isn’t the problem Galen, Harriet and I want to see the country side, Sherry said.

We should be planning our wedding darling, Galen said, moving close to Sherry.

I told you I am not ready to get married, Sherry said, a little agitated.

Will you please think about it while you are away? he pleaded.

Yes, Sherry said, kissing him, now we should be going.

Please be careful, Galen said, walking Sherry to the mobile home.

I love you, Dallas said, kissing Harriet, call me everyday.

You bet I will, she said, getting in the mobile and behind the wheel. I’ll drive first if we are lucky we should be near the Smokey Mountains by tomorrow noon.

They rode in near silence for a while with Harriet concentrating on driving. The view is beautiful, she said, staring out the window. The flowers are colorful; the cedar and pine trees shimmer in the sunlight. The big oak leaves are bright green. Can you imagine how beautiful the leaves will be in the fall when they start to turn yellow, red and orange?

Yes, Sherry said. Are you tired of driving?

No, I just past a sign; there is a café up ahead. I’m going to stop and get something to drink; you can drive when we return from our break.

Okay, there it is on the right side of the road, Harriet said.

I am going to get these thermos bottles filled, Sherry said, entering the café.

Inside the café she noticed it was half filled with travelers. She handed a clerk the bottles and said, Fill these with hot coffee please?

Sherry, are you going to sew some on Danita’s gown while we rest? Harriet asked.

Maybe tomorrow, Sherry said, going out the door.

Wow, see those two mobile homes over there? Harriet said, pointing.

Yes what is odd about them?

Aren’t they the same mobile homes that were at the café? Sherry asked puzzled.

Oh yes, I remember the orange stripes around them, Harriet said, what a coincidence.

We will probable see a lot of mobile homes before we get to California; it is the beginning of summer vacations, Sherry said, my goodness.

What is wrong? Harriet asked.

We have a flat tire, I will get the jack, Sherry said.

Are you ladies having trouble?

Sherry turned to see the gentleman she had bumped into earlier.

Yes we have a flat.

Allow me to fix that, he said, taking the jack from Sherry’s hand.

She started to tell him she could fix the flat. Instead she watched his muscular arms twist the lugs off, and pull the tire off. Several minutes later he had another tire in place. This is a new tire I have removed, you might want to have it checked at the next service station, he advised.

Thank you we will.

Are you traveling far?

"Yes, I am Sherry Torris and this is my sister Harriet. We are on our way to