At the Drop of a Hat Read Free Page A

owners of Mim’s Whims—Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont—and their apprentice, Fiona Felton.”
    â€œAriana, what a pretty name,” I said. I gave her my most winning smile. “It suits you. Do you and Harrison go a long way back?”
    Harry raised his eyebrows, no doubt surprised that I hadn’t used his nickname. Well, just like he didn’t know that I liked the name “Ginger,” he also didn’t know that I considered “Harry” my personal name for him and I really didn’t want to share it.
    â€œNot at all, just a few rugby seasons,” Ariana said. She and Harrison exchanged a smile. “My fiancé, Stephen, plays on the same league team, and when I said I wanted to get my mother’s hat fixed for our wedding, Stephen asked Harrison about Mim’s Whims. I was thrilled to find out you’re still here.”
    She put the old hatbox on the counter. “I was hoping you might be able to help me. My mother’s hat needs some refurbishing and since it originally came from this shop . . .”
    â€œLet’s see what we’ve got here,” Viv said. She gestured to the box. “May I?”
    Ariana gave her a quick nod and Viv eagerly pried the lid off. Nested amid layers of pale tissue paper was a wide-brimmed white confection. Viv carefully reached into the box and gently pulled the hat free.
    I gasped. It was beautiful: a wide-brimmed, white silk hat swathed in tulle with a large silk bow and a lush organza rose nestled in the center. As Viv lifted it, a long organza train fell down from beneath the bow and spilled over the brim. Fee reached out and pulled the train free—it was long and delicate with embroidered edges. Even I could see our grandmother’s handiwork all over it.
    â€œOh, Mim,” Viv said. Her voice sounded wistful and I knew just how she felt. To hold something our grandmother had made over thirty years ago brought her right back to us.
    The sweet scent of lily of the valley filled my nose. I glanced at Viv at the same moment she glanced at me.
Mim.
It was the distinct scent Mim had always worn. I glanced around the shop as if expecting her to appear, but of course she didn’t. Still, she was here, or the essence of her was here. I was sure of it just as I was sure she wanted Viv to restore the hat.
    â€œI’d be happy to try and fix the hat,” Viv said. “No, I’d be honored.”

Chapter 2

    â€œAre you certain?” Ariana asked. “There’s been some damage.”
    Viv examined the hat. A vee formed in between her eyes as she examined the fabric of the hat.
    â€œDupioni silk?” Fee asked.
    â€œYes,” Viv said. She ran her fingers over the silk, examining the stitches.
    â€œHow is that different from other silk?” Harrison asked. I could have hugged him for asking what I wanted to know but hadn’t asked because I didn’t want to look dumb.
    â€œDupioni silk is a crisp type of silk,” Viv said. “They use a fine silk in the warp and uneven thread from two different cocoons, sometimes in different colors, in the weft.”
    â€œAnd here I thought I’d understand what you were talking about,” Harrison said with a shake of his head. “Please excuse me, ladies, while I go play with numbers, which make much more sense to me. Ariana, give my best to Stephen and tell him I’ll see him on the pitch.”
    â€œI will,” Ariana promised.
    Harrison turned and strolled to the workroom in the back of the shop. As I watched him walk away, I admired the broad shape of his shoulders under his sweater and the way his dark brown hair curled at the nape of his neck. He was an annoyingly handsome man.
    â€œAll right, Scarlett?” Fee asked.
    I glanced away from Harrison to find all three of them looking at me.
    â€œAbsolutely. Why?” I asked.
    â€œYou sighed,” Viv said. Then she grinned and added,