Leonardo made his way through the newly fallen snow that had coated the ground the night before. He approached the sidewalk that lead to Noelle's door. He noticed a sign she had hung there: WITH A CUSTOMER PLEASE COME IN. Normally, her appointments would always knock and she would let them in but anytime she was working with another customer she would always hang the sign on the door so her other customers would know to come in and make themselves at home. Noelle's home was not at all big enough to accommodate her business and her life…but it was all she had and she didn't mind at all to share where she lived with the public. Leonardo could hear Noelle in another room with her customer. He nervously sat on the edge of the couch near the window. He could have taken the liberty to take his scarf and coat off but he was just too nervous. Noelle's laughter from the other room was music to his ears. Leonardo did manage to pull his gloves off and put them in his pocket. He was still sitting on the edge of the couch until he heard a tiny meowing sound. A kitten appeared before Leonardo from underneath the couch.
"Oh…hello there kitty." Leonardo petted the kitten only to hear it start purring. "You're a furry little one." It was just what Leonardo needed to relax him at least a little bit. The kitten jumped up beside Leonardo. He smiled at the kitten as he pulled his scarf off. "Would like to lay on my scarf?" he asked the kitten curling his scarf up on the couch. Leonardo took his coat off and laid it on the floor beside the couch as he watched the kitten curl up on his scarf. Leonardo could hear Noelle's voice coming closer.
"I'm so glad you like what you see so far. It's coming along nicely. So, I'll see you again in two weeks on the 12th after I complete the buttons on the bodice and you can try it on again and then we'll see if anything else needs altered." Noelle explained to her customer.
"Oh, I can't wait to try it on again. Thank you, I'll see you later." Noelle's customer caught sight of Leonardo on the couch as she made her way to the door. She put alluring eyes all over him. "Hi there." She said putting her hand on the doorknob.
"Hello." Leonardo answered not paying her much attention.
"Bye, MaKenna!" Noelle called to her as she opened the door to leave.
"Hi!" Noelle greeted Leonardo glowing all over. "I see you've met my new little buddy." Noelle said pulling the cloth tape measure from off her neck.
"I...I have, he jumped up here when I came in." Leonardo said.
"I found him a couple of days ago outside meowing his little heart out and he looked so hungry. I couldn't bear to see him so distraught." Noelle said. "Oh, you haven't been waiting long have you? I'm a little backed up today and my bride came in earlier and that took longer than I had anticipated." Noelle explained.
"Oh its fine, I haven't been here long at all." Leonardo said. Noelle smiled.
"So um….I should tell you I did something to your jacket…I…well it's not green anymore. See, I was...I was at this market outside of town and I found this fabric that was just beautiful and when I saw it…I…well I thought of you and how perfect this fabric would be…I mean not that the green wouldn't…be…just perfect…but…" Noelle nervously tripped over her words. "Just come see." She smiled as Leonardo stood up and followed Noelle. She lead him through her kitchen and into one of the back rooms of her home where she had piles and piles of sewing projects for others.
"It appears you're quite busy these days, Noelle." Leonardo observed all her neatly organized completed and incomplete projects.
"I have, indeed. It's been a good thing though. My father has recently began taking a new medication and it's quite expensive. I can use all this work and the wedding gown I'm working on is a blessing right now. Here we go! Are you ready to see it?" Noelle asked excitedly. Leonardo shook his head yes and Noelle revealed the jacket as promised…except instead of it being green as planned it was a beautiful black and gold brocade. Leonardo couldn't believe it.
"Oh my…Noelle it's….it's just beautiful. It's so…..wow…this is going to be the fanciest thing in my closet that's for sure." Leonardo didn't know whether to panic with excitement that Noelle actually thought of HIM when she picked this fabric out or to panic over the fact that he knew he would have to try this on so she could pin it.
"I'm so glad you think so! Here, try it on. I'm sure I still have some adjustments to make." Noelle said handing the lovely brocade piece over to Leonardo so she could get her pin pillow. She got underneath her sewing table to retrieve it while Leonardo stood before the full length mirror in the room now wearing this fabulous black brocade jacket.
"I wasn't sure when…" Noelle stopped talking and found herself staring, mouth agape at the sight of Leonardo. She also knew he would look immaculate and amazing in black but she had not prepared for herself to respond like this. Pull your act together Noelle and stop staring! She silently scolded herself.
"Is something wrong?" Leonardo asked of her.
"No, no no….no…I just…well I'll be quite honest…I knew this would look good on you but I hadn't expected it to look this good…" Noelle could feel her face certainly turn red. Leonardo smiled with delight. Oh my god, maybe she secretly liked him the way that he liked her! Or maybe Leonardo was just wishful thinking. He was doing just fine….until Noelle put her fingers on his shoulders. Now he could feel his throat grow tight and now would be the part where he said nothing and just panicked instead. Noelle was still in a little bit of a trance. "It…fits really well…maybe just a dart here…" Leonardo swallowed hard as he felt her hand slide down the front of his chest and place a pin at his side. "And…here…" Leonardo watched her dreamily as she ran her fingers over the gold trim at his waist checking for evenness all around. "Excellent." Noelle commented brushing off the stray threads. "Don't worry, you can easily wear a quiver on your back." Noelle reassured him stepping back.
"It's….it's perfect…thank you Noelle." Leonardo was grateful.
"I'll have it done for you next week, is that okay? I'll sew the darts in and finish the buttons. Say…next Wednesday?" Noelle said putting her pin pillow down as Leonardo handed this stunning garment back to her. He was running out of time. Leonardo heard the bell that was attached to Noelle's door which indicated she had another customer after him. He had better talk and fast!
"Of course, yes. There's no hurry so if you have something more pressing." Leonardo reassured her. Noelle picked up her cloth tape measure again and shoved it in the pocket of her apron.
"I'll have it done and I'm glad you were okay with me having switched the fabric." Noelle had nearly walked out of the room. In another fifteen seconds Leonardo would lose the opportunity to ask her to the winter dinner and then Edward would kill him for sure! Leonardo could feel his heart racing.
"Uh…Noelle?" he was so nervous.
"Yes?" She turned to face him. Why!? Why did she have such a kind face! Such calm and unthreatening brown eyes! And why did she push her long black hair from her face so delicately!? Why!?
"No…Noelle, I was wondering…see there's this…this dinner next Saturday…it's called the winter dinner. Micaiah has it every year…um…" Leonardo fidgeted horribly. "Noelle, I was wondering if maybe….maybe if you weren't busy…if you'd come to the winter dinner with me?" There, the deed was done! Oooooh god the deed was done…now what….oh my god there was silence right now…oooooh god no one was saying anything! Noelle smiled nervously and felt her face getting hot.
"I'd love to! Yes, yes absolutely." She answered delighted after she had gained her composure.
"Well, that's fine I understand…I just thought that maybe…wait what!? Yes? Yes, you'll go with me…to the….winter dinner…thing?" Leonardo was dumbfounded right now. He had completely set himself up for rejection. "Oh my god…Noelle that's…that's perfect!" Leonardo tried to hide his excitement. "Oh you'll have a wonderful time! It's such a fun night and there's…" Leonardo shook his head and cut himself off. "You know what, never mind! You'll see next Saturday!" Leonardo beamed with excitement. "I should tell you, that everyone in attendance has to make something for the dinner. Me and Edward are baking all of this bread and I'm going to make a cranberry salad just because." Leonardo explained excitedly.
"Oh, I have lots of recipes. I'll go through them and pick out something for a crowd." Noelle said. She couldn't hide the fact that she was glowing all over.
"Great! Okay…um…I'll be by to get you next Saturday at 6:00. We'll go with Edward and he's taking this girl Mia. I hope that's alright." Leonardo said now regaining his composure.
"I'll look forward to it." Noelle said walking Leonardo back through her kitchen. Noelle's next customer was sitting near the door, an older woman whom Noelle had been sewing for the past few years. The kitten was curled up asleep on Leonardo's scarf.
"Hi Mildred, did you bring me those curtains you were talking about?" Noelle greeted the woman. Leonardo reluctantly woke the sleeping kitten to take his scarf back.
"You better bundle up son, it's cold out there!" the older woman cautioned Leonardo.
"Thank you for the warning." He said to her. "I'll see you next week." He said to Noelle. Once Leonardo was outside he let out sigh of relief and couldn't stop smiling. He knew if anyone was watching him they would have to think he was ridiculous out here smiling for no reason in the middle of the snow. Now it was time to go meet Edward down at the corner where the market vendors started lining up their wares. Leonardo hurried down the street towards the market. He couldn't stand the fact that he actually had to stop and wait on the passing Nevassa traffic before he could get through the intersection. Why were there so many horse drawn carts out today anyway? Once there was a break he dashed across the street and into the merchants to look for Edward.
As promised, there was Edward standing near a cart full of flowers. He waved to Leonardo and rushed over to him. "Leonardo!" Edward called hurrying through the snow. "Well?" Edward asked him a bit breathless and wide eyed. Leonardo couldn't hide his overzealousness.
"She said yes." He shared with Edward smiling all over.
"See, I told you she would!" Edward said punching him in the shoulder.
"I can't believe she said yes! I just can't believe it." Leonardo said as he walked with Edward. "Hey, by the way…who is Nolan taking to the winter dinner?"
"Oh, Nephenee." Edward said.
"Wait…the girl with the javelin?" Leonardo asked. Edward laughed.
"I can't believe you just called Nephenee the girl with the javelin!" Edward was quite amused.
"What!? I barely know Nephenee! I barely remember that her name is Nephenee! But I do remember that she has a javelin." Leonardo said.
"Well, I guess he got to know her through that Brom fellow; who seems like a nice guy." Edward explained.
"Come on, we need to pick out our bread recipe and make a list of things we're going to need for next week. I have fresh bagels at the house and a tea kettle ready to be boiled." Edward said.
