of the box.
Chapter Seven
“Good afternoon. Welcome to the Beaded Dragonfly.” I held the door so the waiting customers could come in. “Can I help you find something?”
“No, thank you.” The young girl smiled and pointed over to the counter. The older woman, who I presumed was the mother, didn’t look as anxious. If I wasn’t mistaken or paranoid, I’d think she was giving me the onceover.
“If you need anything, please let me know.” Was I being paranoid? Did everyone in Swanee really suspect that I was the killer?
I eyed the woman back by giving her a friendly smile that wasn’t returned on her end. She didn’t look like a jewelry beader, but the young one might be, but they went to the counter, which gave a good inclination that they were here to buy.
I was always curious to see who was a beader and who was buyer. They were two completely different kinds of clients. I loved showing people how to bead, but loved the buyer even more. The most lucrative part of owning my own bead shop was designing jewelry for people.
When I first opened the shop, I had a grand vision that women would flock to me to design their next cocktail party necklace, or bead themselves a really cool watch. It had turned out that people wanted to learn how to make their own.
“Oh, look at these!” Marlene continued to inspect every new bead in the box, interrupting me.
The younger customer hurried over to Marlene to see what all the fuss was about, her high, brown ponytail whipped around in circles as she trotted over to eye the beads.
“Oh, Momma!” the girl gasped, her big brown doe-eyes growing wide. “These are perfect.”
“Of course they are, dear.” The momma leaned my way and her voice dripped with a sarcastic tone. “Everything is perfect in her mind.”
The young woman had good taste. The foil-lined glass beads were very popular with brides-to-be, and judging by that chunk of diamond on her ring finger, she was definitely about to walk down the aisle.
I walked over to get Marlene’s hands out of the box, so she could finish her to-do list.
“Let me help you with that.” I took the new inventory box and sat it behind the counter. “Are you looking for something special?”
Marlene grabbed the box back. She knew she needed to check off the inventory before it could be put out to stock. Most mornings we had time to do that, but not today.
Marlene tiptoed over Doug’s spot. She did a little shimmy, almost tipping the beads out of the box.
“Just creeps me out.” She held the box with one hand, and circled her free hand over Doug’s spot.
I could just see those amazing new beads spilling out and finding a home in The Under . That was something I couldn’t afford today. I gave her the look to shut her up. I might have found a bride client, and I couldn’t afford to lose her. In the back of my mind, I had to wonder if Marlene was trying to sabotage my appointment.
“I’m sorry.” I turned my attention back to my bride, er, customer.
“I am looking for something really special.” She beamed, and wiggled spirit fingers in front of my face. “I need at least sixteen matching bridesmaid necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.”
“I think we should not be hasty, Margaret.” The mom patted her daughter’s hand.
“Oh! You’re Margaret McGee.” I had heard her name from Ginger quite a few times since Margaret’s father, Bear McGee, was the Sloan’s lawyer. I had voted for him as the city attorney. I didn’t know them personally. Come to think of it, I bet Ginger threw the business my way.
I laid the photo album with pictures of my designs in front of them. I had taken pictures of other items I had designed and made for myself over the years and put them in an album for customers just like Margaret to look at.
A couple more customers came in. I left Margaret and her mom to check it out while I walked over to the others.
“Welcome. Are you here for the beginning beading class?” I
Chapter Seven
“Good afternoon. Welcome to the Beaded Dragonfly.” I held the door so the waiting customers could come in. “Can I help you find something?”
“No, thank you.” The young girl smiled and pointed over to the counter. The older woman, who I presumed was the mother, didn’t look as anxious. If I wasn’t mistaken or paranoid, I’d think she was giving me the onceover.
“If you need anything, please let me know.” Was I being paranoid? Did everyone in Swanee really suspect that I was the killer?
I eyed the woman back by giving her a friendly smile that wasn’t returned on her end. She didn’t look like a jewelry beader, but the young one might be, but they went to the counter, which gave a good inclination that they were here to buy.
I was always curious to see who was a beader and who was buyer. They were two completely different kinds of clients. I loved showing people how to bead, but loved the buyer even more. The most lucrative part of owning my own bead shop was designing jewelry for people.
When I first opened the shop, I had a grand vision that women would flock to me to design their next cocktail party necklace, or bead themselves a really cool watch. It had turned out that people wanted to learn how to make their own.
“Oh, look at these!” Marlene continued to inspect every new bead in the box, interrupting me.
The younger customer hurried over to Marlene to see what all the fuss was about, her high, brown ponytail whipped around in circles as she trotted over to eye the beads.
“Oh, Momma!” the girl gasped, her big brown doe-eyes growing wide. “These are perfect.”
“Of course they are, dear.” The momma leaned my way and her voice dripped with a sarcastic tone. “Everything is perfect in her mind.”
The young woman had good taste. The foil-lined glass beads were very popular with brides-to-be, and judging by that chunk of diamond on her ring finger, she was definitely about to walk down the aisle.
I walked over to get Marlene’s hands out of the box, so she could finish her to-do list.
“Let me help you with that.” I took the new inventory box and sat it behind the counter. “Are you looking for something special?”
Marlene grabbed the box back. She knew she needed to check off the inventory before it could be put out to stock. Most mornings we had time to do that, but not today.
Marlene tiptoed over Doug’s spot. She did a little shimmy, almost tipping the beads out of the box.
“Just creeps me out.” She held the box with one hand, and circled her free hand over Doug’s spot.
I could just see those amazing new beads spilling out and finding a home in The Under . That was something I couldn’t afford today. I gave her the look to shut her up. I might have found a bride client, and I couldn’t afford to lose her. In the back of my mind, I had to wonder if Marlene was trying to sabotage my appointment.
“I’m sorry.” I turned my attention back to my bride, er, customer.
“I am looking for something really special.” She beamed, and wiggled spirit fingers in front of my face. “I need at least sixteen matching bridesmaid necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.”
“I think we should not be hasty, Margaret.” The mom patted her daughter’s hand.
“Oh! You’re Margaret McGee.” I had heard her name from Ginger quite a few times since Margaret’s father, Bear McGee, was the Sloan’s lawyer. I had voted for him as the city attorney. I didn’t know them personally. Come to think of it, I bet Ginger threw the business my way.
I laid the photo album with pictures of my designs in front of them. I had taken pictures of other items I had designed and made for myself over the years and put them in an album for customers just like Margaret to look at.
A couple more customers came in. I left Margaret and her mom to check it out while I walked over to the others.
“Welcome. Are you here for the beginning beading class?” I
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