I Will Love You

Chapter 11

- Maddie!- I say it loud enough for her to hear me before getting on the coach.

She turns to me with a friendly smile on her face, and curious eyes to know why I suddenly call her that.

- Are you going downtown? - I stop running, tired, feeling my chest rise and fall quickly.

- Yes, do you want to come, Lily?

I nod, as I fasten my pace towards her, she climbs into the carriage looking at me intently, waiting for me to enter and so I do. I settle on the leather bench, taking a deep breath in an attempt to regulate my breathing again. I put my hand on my chest, feeling the racing heart beat.

- Did your sister see you running?- Maddie asks, looking away at the small window to her right. I shake my head in denial. - What do you want to do in the center?

I lift my left hand, showing the slightly crumpled envelope.

- I need to take it to the post office ...

Maddie looks back at me.

- Is it for your father? - I nod, still trying to compose myself. - You could have asked me to take it.

- Actually I wanted to stay a little far from Schmidt's family drama.- I admit, except for a low and discreet laugh from the woman in front of me.

- It's a great choice, I can accompany you if you want, I know great places here.

- I'd love to, Maddie ...

We were silent. I knew exactly what Maddie was going to do in the city, as well as replenish the house's pantry. We are only a few weeks away from the autumn festival, which means that this is an unmissable opportunity for a new dress in the name of Diana Schimidt.

I remember our last conversation. Some doubts are still present in my head, such as the death of the Schimidt parents, but of course I will not be inelegant and old-fashioned in asking this to Diana, or one of the last two survivors of the family. But I find it too strange that both of my closest relatives are dead ... Maybe it was just a disease, and I'm just delusional, or fixing something interesting in that house.

Some time passed, and the sound of the horse's trotting became lower and slower, until it was inaudible. I looked quickly out the window, seeing some people, mostly women accompanied by their friends and / or children. The few men were positioned relaxed in front of the pubs and alleys. Merchants were pushing their wooden carts, while shouting the price of their merchandise.

-Let's go to the post office first, what Diana asked me can wait a few minutes.- Maddie says sweetly as she gets out of the wagon.

- Me too.- I answer her excitedly, as I get out of the carriage.

Her arm entwined mine and took me down the main avenue, to a light yellow wooden wall, very cheerful, large white windows and a letter design on the glass of the door. As soon as we entered, a high-pitched bell sounded through the room, a man with white hair and a beard turned to us, with a welcoming smile between his lips, his hand touched the brown beret over his head in a quick wave and then rested on the balcony as white as snow.

- How can I help ladies? - He spoke politely.

Behind it were a few compartments, with envelopes of different sizes and colors, mostly white.

-We came to send a letter,- Maddie replied.

I held the envelope out to him, his eyes studied the white paper thoroughly.

- To Interlaken? - I nodded. - Do you have family members there?

- Yes, two brothers and my parents.- I replied gently.

- Let's send your regards to Miss's family ...

He looked at me suggestively, waiting for me to complete his sentence.

- Meyer.

The man smiled, reached for a stamp to his left, took the object and pressed it for a few seconds under the envelope and then took it to a specific compartment.

- I hope your answer comes soon. Have a good day.

We thanked him and left quickly. Maddie had to go to Abigail's studio soon, I imagine you were already expecting her with the specifications of my sister's dress;

- Diana asked me to see how you wanted your dress, but I was so busy I ended up forgetting. - Maddie spoke calmly as we walked down the cobblestone walkway. - But you are here and you can tell Abigail as little as you want your dress.

From a distance I saw the window with exposed mannequins, dressed in dresses of noble fabrics and accentuated in their ceramic bodies, some with ruffles and others with puffed sleeves, some with full skirts, others with beautiful embroidery of flowers. As we approached the atêlie, she felt a pressure build up, even because until now she had no need to think about how I am going getting dressed at a festival that until a few days ago I didn't even know existed.

I believe he was created by Diana, Spiez does not seem to me the type of place that celebrates the harvest, not least because most of the farms are more than two hours away from the city, the real people who should celebrate that date, don't celebrate . Diana told me that the festival is always held on the 14th, as the 15th is reserved for Catholic festivities.

- Lily, dear! - Abigail says coming towards me.- What a pleasure to see you here.

-I came with Maddie, she came on behalf of Diana.- Her eyes strayed to the woman beside me.

-I imagine today's order is for the festival and for the Assumption of Mary day, isn't it?- I just nod.

- Here are all the specifications of Diana.- Maddie held out a small paper to Abigail.

The well-dressed lady, with her gray hair tied tightly, read the entire contents of the paper, perhaps memorizing everything, before placing it under the counter and returning her attention to me, obviously curious as to how I desire my dress. So that the woman would not be agonized, I hurried to say that I would like a light fabric, that the skirt was not so full, that they did not have so many details, maybe a frill in the bust part just to give a charm to the dress, in a light blue tone with a well-marked waist;

- Honey, it will be beautiful, - Abigail said, after writing down everything I said. - But maybe you should ask for another one, for the festival, Diana would kill you if she saw you wearing something so beautiful and classic to go on land.

Isn't she wrong, but is a second dress really necessary? I could barely think of one, and now she wants me to think of two? Perhaps it is better if I allow her to do what she wants, whatever she thinks suits me, let’s agree that in addition to knowledge and class, Abigail also has great taste, if she didn’t, she wouldn’t own a*****e. dresses.