Tailored Desires: Love in Stitches

Chapter One Rosella was so glad she had gotten her certificate just the day before. Life looked great and she planned to relocate to New York, get her own apartment and start her fashion design career. She quickly rushed to her former Madame’s house with a cake to appreciate for being such a wonderful person to her. “Knock knock”, she knocked on Madame Louise’s door, then she remembered Madame Louise insists she use the door bell like a proper lady. She chuckled and rang the door bell. Madame Louise opened the door seconds later, a beautiful motherly smile on her face. “It’s good to know you remember my words”, she said with a French accent. “Yes Madame, good morning”, Rosella said with a smile. Madame opened the door wider and Rosella walked into the warm living room. Madame always have pastries and cookies on her dining table so Rosella helped herself to it. She moan as the buttery warm taste touch her tongue. She didn’t have such luxury in her aunt’s house so she didn’t waste any time in delving into the cookies. Madame Louise rolled her eyes and gave her a light spank on her back. “Did you wash your hands?”, she asked her with a sigh. “Umm….uhm, no Madame”, Rosella said and rushed to the kitchen to wash her hands. Madame opened the box containing the cake and smiled. On it was written “Thank You, Angel.” She smiled and picked up the note by the side and it read: “You became my mother when I didn’t know mine. Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for teaching me how to design and sew when I couldn’t afford to go college. You’re my mother and you’re an angel”. Madame Louise cried tears of happiness and Rosella walked in on her. “Madame why are you crying?”, she asked concerned. Madame Louise pointed to the note and the cake and Rosella gave her a hug. They stayed crying in each others arms for a couple of minutes. Rosella broke the hug and wiped the tears of her and Madame’s face. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow, I came to see you before I leave because I don’t know when next I’ll see you”, Rosella said. “I’m going to miss you, Rosella”, Madame said and touched Rosella’s face. “You’ve been good to me. I remember I used to stand outside your shop when I was younger, in awe of the beautiful designs you put on display. I’d wish I could do that too but was blinded by my obsession with going to college. When I graduated high school, my aunt told me she couldn’t afford my college fees as she’s saving up for own her daughter’s college fees when she graduates. I thought my life was over and be a cleaner or unemployed woman looking for a man to depend on. I bless the day I took the bold step to enter your shop and I asked you to teach me first and pay later when I’m working. You surprised me when you not only agreed but promised to teach me for free. Madame Louise, will you be my *mère*? Can I call you *Maman*?”, Rosella asked with a fresh set of unshed tears in her eyes. “Yes, yes, Rosie. You became the daughter I never had. I was an old and lonely spinster before you came into my house. I lost my child when she was just a baby and I miss her every day. I knew your aunt took care of you grudgingly when your mother died, if she had her way she’ll put you up for adoption and my heart went out for you. The entire *ville* knows that”, Madame said with a laugh. Madame was right. Her aunt treated her like a help and not like a niece. She was glad she’s leaving her house tomorrow but at the same time she doesn’t want to leave Madame Louise. “I’ll be on my way out first thing tomorrow morning. I decided to spend the whole day with you today. If you don’t mind, we could draw some designs”, Rosella said with a smile. “Of course, mon chèrie”, Madame said with a smile and went inside her bedroom to bring design supplies. Rosella took another cookie and sat at the dining table waiting for Madame. Finally, it was time for Rosella to leave the *ville* for New York. She got to the train station leading to the main town where she’d reach the airport. After a couple of minutes the train started to move and Rosella sat by the window, looking out and wondering what the future held in store for her. She hoped the people at her new job are nice and accommodating. She was leaving France to another country on an entirely different continent and she couldn’t help but feel goosebump and anticipation in her tummy, which by the way, was empty as she hadn’t had breakfast. She decided to wait till she get to the airport before eating. She finally got to town and got into a cab to the airport. In less than five minutes she was at the airport and she rushed inside to get something to eat. She got a cappuccino and French toast and ate it while she was waiting to be called in. She was definitely going to miss France but not her aunt and cousins. She was glad to be away from them and didn’t to look towards her future with a optimistic view. She already got a job and an apartment and she couldn’t wait to be a working independent lady. Despite her aunt’s greedy nature, she left the house with some money, just enough to be comfortable before her paycheck by the month’s end. She is going to be working with Marcello J. New York Ltd. A very famous fashion design company in New York, very beautiful from the pictures she saw online and it gladdened her heart. She hopes she makes friends and nurture good relationships with people around.