A Nightingale in Parkleigh Square

Chapter Nineteen

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T he lights, from icicle to snowflake with integrated fiber optic tech that pulsed on the 'warm glow' cycle were fully installed by the next morning, and synced to the wireless system. Nina tested the full lights twice to be sure, as Molly and Bradley worked to secure the snowflake chains, and the single ones extended by a nearly-invisible clear wire rigged under the second tier's balcony balustrade.

Everything cycled with a beautiful warm glow, nestled amidst the twinkle lights and the cool snow blanketing the branches and the frosted pinecones tucked artfully throughout the trees by Molly.

"We still haven't made the decision about the tree toppers," she said. Molly was decorating the main tree's mirror-facing side, and Bradley was just returning for fresh icicles to decorate one of the smaller trees.

"Guess we'll think of something before the party, right?" Molly seemed very interested in getting the drape precise for one of the chandelier prisms.

Nina wanted to sigh, but didn't. "That's the deadline, so we should probably put our heads together before then, no?" she said.

"Text me some ideas, I'll take a look at it," said Molly, untangling a few more prisms from each other.

"I don't have any, that's the problem," said Nina. "What about you?"

"Nope. I don't know. Maybe we just buy some nice stars. We said Reina could make one from those broken bottle necks, so maybe we look online for something that matches?"

"Bare tree tops are chic these days," pointed out Bradley, as he opened the new icicle box.

"Okay, maybe for the rest, but not for our main tree," said Nina. "I think it needs a statement piece. Any suggestions would be welcome."

"You're the one who knows for sure, so maybe you should just go with your gut and pick something," said Molly. "It'll be nice regardless, right?"

"Molly, come on. We're talking about the biggest assignment of our career," said Nina.

"I get it, but I'm just saying that of the two of us, you're probably better at this."

"I want your input," Nina persisted. "We're a team."

"I kind of have my hands full with one of the many trees we're decorating," Molly replied. "Again, you're the one looking for the right vision, so you should field this one."

Nina bit her lip, frustrated. Bradley gave her a sympathetic look, then ducked out behind the drapery again.

Nina ducked out a moment later, carrying a box of snow-dusted metallic icicles. Between her and the next tree, Natalia was having an argument with one of the staff who had apparently rearranged the display of designer gloves.

"Looks like we're meeting again in the strangest of places." Vincent was behind her, carrying a winter coat and hat that must be destined for the garment display being revamped last minute.

"Why do you say that?" Nina couldn't help the tingle that traveled through her spine with thrilling little sparks — connecting to the kiss lingering on her lips.

"Because I spend most of my time upstairs cutting out dress-up clothes and you spend most of your day behind those curtains like the Wizard of Oz," he answered. "It's strange for either of us to be in this main gallery like normal people."

"Okay, I get it," she answered, laughing. "But I have to finish my trees and you have to finish the spring line just in time for them to change all these mannequins' clothes, right?"

"That's the idea," he said. His smile changed, softening around its edges, with the elements of humor dropping quickly. Nina felt her heart shift gears to a faster rhythm.

"Are you busy tonight?" he asked.

She smiled. "I don't know," she answered, softly.

"Is that a nice way of saying you don't want to see me?" He was joking, but she sensed he was a little bit cautious at this moment. Did he think she was being coy after the kiss? Like she was that good of an actress?

"No, I want to," she reassured him. "It's just — it's work. And there's this situation I have to try to fix if we're going to have harmony on this project for the remaining time. It's like everything is on the edge of turning into crazy chaos at the last."

"I think you're too worried, you're doing fine," said Vincent. "But I respect the fact that you need to focus. So I'll stop before asking the next question I had, and ask instead if you're free for lunch."

"I think I can manage that," she answered. Her cheeks were trying to blush, and she was doing a really terrible job of hiding it. He must think she was totally smitten. Am I? That would be crazy, since I've only known him a few weeks — we had one dinner together.

"I'll meet you here around eleven thirty," he said. "There's a little restaurant a couple of blocks from here that makes a great pot pie and winter greens salad."

"Okay, sounds good," she said. She managed to hide the blush this time, to seem more nonchalant, because people were probably watching. His smile caught her off guard as he turned back, Nina fighting the response inside her to its boyish charm.

Just keep your head clear . She hoisted the box and turned, finding Natalia Gaborelli was in her way, trailed by an assistant who was carrying an armful of gloves and hats.

"Ms. Alvarez," said Natalia, sounding annoyed as she veered the same direction as Nina by accident.

"Sorry," said Nina. "Just trying to deliver the trees for the big day."

"Yes. I suppose it's debatable as to what we'll actually see at the finish," said Natalia, tersely.

"Something wrong?" asked Nina, innocently.

"I've seen the purchase notices. The ornaments we requested banished, replaced by cheap mass-produced decor," said Natalia.

"Yeah, but we explained that we didn't have a choice," said Nina.

"I expected replacements of quality, not bulk merchandise that will be hanging next to — beer can ornaments and plastic Santa hat-wearing flamingoes on every home tree in America," said Natalia. "It's outrageous. How can you possibly think I would approve?"

"I think you're judging it too harshly — you don't understand what we're trying to do yet," said Nina.

"Understanding that you didn't see the vision for this store's debut is sufficient for myself," said Natalia. "This Christmas event needs to be nothing less than stunning for the unveiling of the London branch. I feel that you do not understand this in the slightest."

"Ms. Gaborelli, Paris is on the phone." Natalia's assistant waved from the foot of the stairs, and with a sigh of exasperation, Natalia joined them.

Message received, Nina thought, chafing. Of course Natalia didn't understand that the ornaments would look stunning in the end — at least, that's what they hoped, based on the principles that made decorating an art form. But she didn't have any faith that they could do it. Was she feeding those doubts to Simone? It wasn't going to be good news for them if the final product was good, but not amazing , for example.

It had to be amazing. It had to take the breath from Natalia the moment she saw it. It had to leave Simone Van Stewart speechless. Everything had to be perfect, down to the tree topper they didn't yet have.

Why couldn't she get Molly to talk to her? She needed her advice and opinions, because Molly was the one who had impulses to leap after. It was sometimes the only way they moved forward when stuck with indecision. She didn't think she could create that energy in herself on the fly, even though Molly made it look easy.

"I could make a star, if that's what you want," said Reina. "But I was thinking a snowflake might be easier. You said you just wanted something quick, not a lot of thought, and I could use some of the leftover glass fragments for the fractals, you know?"

"It would be gorgeous, I'm sure," said Nina. "I'd love to see a sketch."

"I'll message you one. Gotta go, I have a class to teach in 3-D glass art in twenty."

"Bye." Nina hung up, glancing at the signs on the buildings around her, searching for the one where she was meeting Vincent. Reina was definitely their best option, and a snowflake would be perfect. So why wasn't she more excited by the idea?

"So are you and the rest of Display by Design excited about the Christmas party?" asked Vincent. "Posh London Christmas parties are usually worth the invitation — good food, great networking. Sometimes a live orchestra. That's the rumors I've heard." He smiled.

"I hadn't thought about it," said Nina. "I didn't think we would stay that long to begin with." She had originally considered taking a flight back to New York as soon as the decor was finished, so she could enjoy as much time at home as possible before coming back to pack up.

"You're coming, right?" he said.

"I guess so." She didn't mean to sound demur, but it was the only way to fight the crazy feelings inside her. "I suppose I should look for a dress or something. Is there a discount for Simone Van Stewart's if you're one of her decorator's?"

"Probably not," he said, shaking his head. "But I know of some places that rent or sell dresses in London at affordable prices, and have quality merchandise, even if it's not all label."

"We should probably wear something with a designer's name on it to a party for a designer's retail store," mused Nina.

"Or maybe I could make you something," said Vincent.

"In time for the party?" she joked.

"Good point. But I could still tailor a dress for you. I can tell — you'd need a fitted bodice, something that followed your lines — a sweetheart neckline," he said. "When you were at the loft the other night, I was thinking you were the perfect canvas. But ... that might have been for other reasons."

Nina looked down. "Do you think ... this is too fast?" she asked, softly. "It hasn't even been two months. Me a New Yorker, you with a place in London?"

"Isn't it all too complicated and difficult," he supplied, in a soft voice as well. "I don't think so. You never know what the future holds. I could be working at a design house in Manhattan two years from now. You could be working for a window staging company in Paris."

"Me?" She almost choked on her lemon drink as she laughed. "I don't think so. Why would a decorator in Paris hire me?"

"Because you're extremely talented," he said. "You have pluck and panache, and you never let your clients down, and you're honest with them. Why wouldn't any reputable decorator want that person on their staff?"

"For the same reasons Natalia reminded me that we're not the right choice yet again," said Nina. "Besides, I have a business, and I'm happy there, I'm near my family and the places I've always known. I couldn't ask for more."

"No. Except maybe bigger horizons, more challenges ... maybe love." He was joking, but she could tell he was being serious. "Wanting one doesn't mean you forget the other. Or that you walk away from it for good."

No bigger challenge in the world of window dressing than staging a scene in a Paris Christmas window. Nina couldn't help a new kind of tingle wrapping itself around her nerves, to the tips of her fingers holding an invisible ornament waiting to be placed thus so. Could she work on a staff that coordinated perfect fantasies out of everything from Hollywood-quality props to motion-timed animatronics? Could she create a chic little window on her own?

"I think it's — an academic question," she said, shrugging. "But the compliment was pretty sweet. Thanks."

"Any time," he said. "Speaking of which, Simone likes my current design, so she's putting it to the team for a full prototype for Paris. That gives me a little free time, and I was thinking maybe if you were sticking around for a little while after the party, I could take you on a couple of day tours of England beyond London. Or even to Paris for a stroll through the fashionable district?"

"It sounds magic," she said. "But ..." She hesitated.

"But you're going home," he said. "I know. I just thought I'd make the offer. You want to say something, sometimes ... even if it's futile."

His smile was a surrender; he looked wistful, deeper in his eyes. Nina felt her heart crack a little bit, disappointment seeping through. It wasn't all that likely she would see him again after Christmas disappeared from the Billington's main gallery. Maybe a few phone calls and emails before they lost touch.

"It still sounds really nice." That disappointment probably colored her smile and her eyes right now, but like before, she couldn't help it.

It took time for dozens of ornament boxes to become empty, and the branches of those Christmas trees to become full. Nina hung an orb with a warm light filigree at its heart, wrapped in frosty, feathered leaves, which peeked through the soft opaqueness of the pearlized finish. Her eye mentally calculated its distance and proportion in ratio to the others, with an artistic checklist in her brain making certain that no two of a kind were placed too closely together.

Her fingers ached. Still two boxes to go, maybe three, before this tree would be finished. Already, Bradley had left early to arrange to rent a tux for the upcoming party, and Molly had finished her work, saying something about grabbing a bite before finishing work on the garlands for the balustrade.

Nina found her spritzing fake snow on fir tree boughs. While the foamy spray was wet, Molly sprinkled on glitter snow, letting it dry for a few minutes before dusting the extra lightly onto paper covering the table.

Nina set down a fruit smoothie. She moved to the opposite end of the table, and began spritzing the same fake snow on a large wreath, a central focal piece which would hang high in the gallery. Tomorrow, it would be suspended in place when the tall ladders came — along with the crew installing the special ambience lighting system they had rented for the party.

Molly glanced her direction. "I've got it," she said. "You can finish your dinner."

"I want to help. It's not like we have a shortage of work, do we?"

Molly's smile might've flickered a tiny bit — she wasn't sure. "We probably have some extra tasks hidden away in the closet," she remarked.

"Hand me the glitter?" said Nina. Molly passed her the large bottle with the sprinkler top. Nina dusted the wet snow, giving the crystals time to adhere.

"Look, Molly. About what happened ... the dinner date ... I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't," she said. "I was scared. Of what you and Bradley might think. Of what it actually meant."

Molly glanced, but said nothing.

"I haven't had a guy like me in forever, so I have no idea what's going on here," said Nina. "You know it's crazy, nobody would tell me faster that this is headed for trouble."

"You're right about that," said Molly.

"I just ... like him." Her voice grew softer. "He has this amazing charm, and this great ability to be sympathetic, that totally seems out of character for someone who designs things that world famous models wear on runways. So ... that's what happened."

"I don't have to be the person you ask for advice, I know," said Molly. "If you want to talk about work with someone else, that's none of my business. And I know I leaped to conclusions that he was getting a say in what we did." She hesitated. "That was my bad."

"Nobody could replace you," said Nina, with a grin. Molly caught it, turning her own to a saucier version.

"I hope not. I put my own money into this venture," she said. She added a metallic silver ball to one of the branches, wiring it on carefully.

"You make things work that I sometimes think should be scrapped," said Nina. "You stop us from starting over — countless times — when we can still save what we've got."

"I didn't this time," said Molly, wryly. "I thought we should throw in the towel."

"Nobody can do it perfectly every time. That's why you need me," said Nina.

This time, Molly laughed. "Okay, I ... have a confession to make," she said. "I think this has been crazy, and maybe a mistake, but I'm glad we came."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. It's been good. I had no idea I was capable of facing a giant department store and making it look like Christmas. Even if it's not the right version of it for the customer, we still did it. From now on, sky's the limit, right?"

"Who knows where we can take this? Anywhere we want to, right? Manhattan, Seattle — Paris, Rome." That next to last one still made Nina shiver a little bit.

"They'd be crazy at Skyline not to give us another sweet contract." Molly fastened an icicle onto the garland, adjusting its fall.

"Crazy's the word for it."

With cramped fingers and the residue of fake snow embedded in her cuticles, Nina flopped over on her bed at their B they were giving it their best, even if they couldn't control the outcome, and that was the terrifying part. If it wasn't good enough, they would still believe in themselves, right? If you walk away with a last place trophy, you could still fight for first place in the future. Right?

The tree topper issue had not been solved, despite her and Molly talking like partners again. Reina's suggestion was the natural one, so why wasn't she satisfied? It would be one more item on their to-do list crossed off before the party.

Maybe it shouldn't be about perfection, or the design house's image , she thought. Maybe it should be about Simone . About a bigger vision, that connection they should always have with their client, even a famous fashion designer who talked to them a grand total of twice.

She lay thinking about it, trying to decide what was missing from this answer, as Molly snored gently, curled up in her clothes with the comforter pulled over her.

***

T he letter from Skyline Inspirations was blunt and to the point. As of January 2nd, we are terminating our satellite relationship with Display by Design, and will no longer be recommending you to our clientele. This decision is final, and will not be reconsidered.

Val stared at the notice, open on top of the mail's pile, including the latest issue of Vogue she had been looking forward to paging through before opening the business email's inbox.

Nina and Molly would be devastated. Sending it right before Christmas — what a cheap move. She always thought Skyline had no class, even if they were snobs. Everything that happened was their own faults, and they were blaming somebody innocent to cover themselves.

She crumpled it up and tossed it in the drawer. It could wait. Molly and Nina wouldn't know yet, and it's not like it would change the present if they did, except make them feel crappy.

That one's for you, Skyline . She flicked a glob of green nail polish on it from her half-painted candy red and green nails. It looked like a gob of green slime on the paper.

***

"S o no problems to report ?" Nina checked both directions before crossing the lane's zebra stripe.

"Nothing at all. It's all smooth sailing here, boss," said Val. "All projects photographed and documented as requested. Actually, they looked pretty good — my cousin, you should hire her to do some more stuff when we're backlogged, you know?"

"Because we're going to be swamped with projects after this one, aren't we?" said Nina, with a pretense of sarcasm.

The pause on Val's end made her think the call had disconnected, but only for a fraction of time. "Sure, yeah you will," said Val. "After your windows and staging are all over social media, you'll have a dozen offers in the first week alone."

"You keep thinking along those positive vibes," said Nina, as she scanned for the sign belonging to the shop that sold the batteries for their miniature lights. They needed a big stash to be sure all lights would stay lit through the party and the grand opening both.

"Things must be awesome there," said Val. "You guys are crushing it, I know. You need to send photos."

"It's great. And we will," promised Nina. "Call you later." She ended the call and checked her messages quickly, but there was nothing from Molly or Bradley. Reina had not answered her latest text about the snowflake tree topper, asking if fewer spikes would look more striking, possibly.

As she erased the latest message about the best times to Christmas shop in Manhattan, she looked through the window of the shop she was passing, which had decked its window in silver and gold to showcase the jewelry on display. Make it a two turtledoves kind of Christmas! said the sign propped by a set of matching 'his and hers' rings on a pillow. Little gilded pears decorated the tree, with silver swans and beautiful spun-glass gold birds — calling birds, Nina thought, because they didn't seem to represent any particular bird species with their long, curly tail feathers and headdresses.

The spun glass shone in the light, almost like a sunrise. Maybe they were really emblems of romantic wishful thinking for shoppers to identify with — hope in the future, or something like that, in the mind of the decorators.

As she stared at the ornaments, her mind made the perfect connection. She breathed out with a sigh of amazement. Why hadn't she realized it before?

She dashed in and out of the shop in record time, but instead of going back to the studio or Van Stewart's, she went to the B&B. By her luggage, in a stack of items purchased at the antique shop where they bought some of their window props, she found the European fairytale book, thumbing through its pages, past the elves and trolls and skipping goats, until she found the right tale.

She marked it and tucked the book under her arm.