The next morning Sunny woke up and crawled into bed with Olivia and fell asleep again. By the time Olivia woke up all the older children had gotten up and Jacque was knocking on the door and softly pushing it open. He smiled at the sight of Sunny curled up beside Olivia and announced that breakfast was ready and there was no need to dress until after breakfast because they weren't going into work today and the children had chosen to stay in their sleepwear and demanded he change back into his. So, there he stood in dark blue pyjamas in the doorway.
Olivia got out of the bed and handed a stirring Sunny over to Jacque so she could pull her dressing gown on. Sunny snuggled into Olivia's arms again the moment she was passed back to her. Together they walked into the kitchen to see the children were well on the way to making a mountain of eggs and bacon and toast. At the bench Quigley was squeezing oranges to make juice for the meal. Olivia and Jacque stood in the doorway next to each other watching the children go about their preparation with smiles on their faces.
"What a wonderful morning it is children" Jacques exclaimed after a minute of watching the children
"Good morning" the triplets replied in unison earning a look of amusement from Olivia.
"it is a nice morning" Klaus said
"good morning Jacques. Good morning Olivia" Violet said and directed a smile to the three people in the doorway.
"good morning Violet" Olivia said walking over to lower Sunny into her makeshift highchair. Olivia as astonished with what Violet could do when she tied her hair up.
A few minutes later and everyone had settled down at the table and had started eating. Jacques decided this would be a good time to talk about the days plans.
"So, children, as you know Olivia and I have been arranging all the details for your new home. we are heading over to move everyone in later this afternoon. Before we head over there we are all going shopping for new outfits for you children because when we arrive at the house everyone is to pose for a photo in front of your new home. does that sound nice?" the children all nodded their heads, that feeling of bitter sweetness coming back again at the aspect of Jacques and Olivia leaving them soon.
"I was thinking I would take Violet, Isadora and Sunny with me to a boutique downtown while you take the boys to pick out their outfits" Olivia spoke the sentence with a slight questioning at the end of the sentence.
"Perfect. We leave after breakfast and everyone is dressed" Jacques stated taking another bite out of a piece of bacon.
Jacques, Olivia and the children had finished breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, packed their belongings and gotten dressed before heading out to the taxi. Jacques taxi had been traded in for a taxi with an extra seat across the back. They all climbed into the taxi and Jacques started the engine and pulled out of the driveway. Driving towards their first destination, the boutique, the children chattered happily to each other while Jacque and Olivia sat and immersed themselves in the hay noises.
"Here we are ladies. Good luck" Jacques drawled out and earned a smile and eyebrow from Olivia. "We will meet you back here in an hour Olivia Caliban"
"We will be waiting Jacque Snicket" she leaned over and kissed him shortly on the lips.
The boys in the backseat looked on with confusion on their faces. When had that happened. Violet, Isadora and Sunny leaned around Olivia to watch the two volunteers with surprise and smiles that grew bigger after the shock disappeared. Olivia broke away from Jacques and straightened up, turning lightly on her heels. She gestured towards the boutique and following the girls as they walked to wards the shop.
Jacque, leaning over the passenger, seat watched the girls enter the shop and only after the door swung closed behind them did he pull away in the taxi.
Olivia, Violet and Isadora walked up to the reception desk and Sunny leaned down in violets arms to ring the small sliver bell. Sunny pulled herself up again, not experiencing the uncontrollable urge to slam her palm against the bell repetitively as many children her age do, and honestly, some grown adults. The curtains to their right were pushed open to reveal a woman standing in the doorway to a much larger shop.
The woman, who Olivia supposed owned the shop, drew small smiles from the girls and Olivia. Eccentric. That's the word that described this woman! And it was beautiful. She had short white hair, the only thing that really showed her advanced age. Thick red glasses adorned her nose. Her jacket held a bird printed pattern all over it. Not small black and white birds, but large colourful parrots. She appeared to be wearing a bright green jumpsuit under her jacket and her shoes clashed wonderfully being the bright purple that they were. And then she spoke. She was just as loud and colourful as her appearance.
"Ladies! Welcome to Bumblebee Boutique" she exclaimed finally lowering her arms from the curtains and clasping the together. "You can call me Miss Claudia, what can I and my little boutique do for you today?" a wide grin remained spread across her face as she talked.
"good morning Miss Claudia. The girls and I are looking to purchase three semi-formal dresses today. And we are glad to make your acquaintance" Olivia smiled. "my name is Olivia. This is Isadora, Violet and little Sunny"
Ten minutes later and Olivia was helping Sunny into the dress they had chosen for her. It was a pale yellow with a pattern of bright lemons printed on the skirt and bodice. The sleeves were a bright white laced material that matched the collar. Pulling Sunny's arms through the sleeves, then standing back to admire her, Olivia smiled down at a beaming Sunny and exclaimed "that is a wonderful colour for you my sweet girl." Olivia knelt again and straightened the, already straight, bottom of the dress. Olivia secretly just wanted a reason to look at her for longer. Sunny smiled up at her again and raised her arms. Olivia scooped her up and walked over to the dressing rooms. "How are you two fairing?"
"One second" Isadora said drawing out the 'o' in second before shoving the curtain aside and bounding out of the dressing room. Isadora twirled around, the excitement of a new dress overcoming her. "what do you think Olivia?" she asked with one of her biggest smiles.
Olivia watched Isadora twirl again and thought about how wonderful and beautiful this young lady, on the verge of being a teenager, was. Her dress was a slightly royal blue with long lace sleeves of the same colour. The skirt of the dress came down past her knees and swirled around the excited young lady. The lace of her sleeves ran up to cover her chest and to meet a solid collar.
"that is a beautiful dress Isadora and it suits you very well. I have always been fond of dresses that swirl around the knees" Olivia smiled and ran her hands over the sleeve of the dress "remarkable design to the lace as well"
Isadora grinned and threw herself towards Olivia and Sunny to hug them both
"does the dress you are wearing today swirl around your knees?" Isadora asked
"sadly, no" Olivia replied while lifting part of her skirt. "it slightly to heavy a material to swirl and the only dress I haven't packed away already. Not that I own any that swirl around my knees nowadays."
Isadora mouth pulled together for a moment before exclaiming "we should get you a dress that swirls" she pulled away from the girls to rifle among the dresses hanging on racks.
Olivia smiled and shook her head slightly before walking over to Violet's dressing room and calling through the door.
"Violet darling, are you having trouble with your dress?" Olivia called with a touch of concern in her voice.
"No trouble, it fits" Violet said sounding happy. Olivia instantly knew there was something not sitting well with Violet about the dress. Olivia knew it was unrelated to her mood the days before. Violet stepped out of the dressing room and walked over to the mirror and positioned herself where she knew Olivia could not see her face in the mirror. Violet was not a complainer and after all, she had picked this dress all on her own. She also knew that she was lucky to get a dress at all.
Olivia stared at violets posture and placed Sunny slightly out of the way before walking up to her and saying. "it is a lovely dress but I'm not so sure that it suits who you are." Olivia looked at the dress again. Its bodice was pink, it had no sleeves and the skirt had thick horizontal stripes. White, pink, white, pink, white and hemmed just above her knees. It was pretty but it was not the Violet Olivia knows. "Go back into the dressing room. I think I saw a dress that is more your style." Olivia said and walked over to a rack she had previously looked through.
Violet walked back into the dressing room while Miss Claudia walked over to the rack next to Olivia's and hung up a few new dresses "Are you finding everything easily? Sunny and Isadora both look stunning. Does Violet like the dress she chose? Are you sure you don't need my help for anything?" Miss Claudia asked
"I think we are finding our way around" Olivia responded. "I don't think Violet quite likes the style of the dress she chose, but I think I saw the perfect one in this rack. Isadora on the other hand loves her dress and is thrilled with the fact that it swirls" Olivia smiled and glanced over at the girl still looking at dresses. "She might find one she likes better by the looks of it. Shame really, because that is a beautiful dress she has on"
"it does suit her well" Miss Claudia said
Olivia smiled and jumped on the spot a little bit when she found the dress she saw earlier. She pulled it off the rack and started walking over before stopping short at the price tag. It was a little more expensive than the dresses the girls had picked out. That wasn't a problem but Violet would surely refuse to let Olivia purchase the dress if she saw the price tag. Miss Claudia walked over to Olivia with a knowing sparkle in her eye and snipped the price tag off. "I will reattach the tag later after you leave if she doesn't like the dress" Olivia grinned at Miss Claudia as the older lady tucked the tag in a pocket and walked over to chat with Isadora.
Olivia ran her finger over the top of the door to check for dust before lifting the dress up and draping it over the door. "Try this dress on Violet."
"Alright" Violet said and placed the other dress over the door. Olivia took the pink and white dress and put It back on the hanger and hung it on a nearby hook. Sunny stood and walked over to Olivia and, as expected, was picked up instantly. Olivia was still focusing on Violet, but Sunny's attention had been caught by Isadora grinning while Miss Claudia held up two dresses in Olivia's direction taking turns of lifting and lowering the dresses in a common sizing up movement.
Sunny smiled over Olivia shoulder and reached up and pointed at the dress Miss Claudia was holding in her right hand. Miss Claudia and Isadora smiled at Sunny and nodded before going back to talking quietly together.
Sunny turned around in Olivia's arms when she heard the door start to open. Violet stepped out of the dressing room with a wide grin directed at Olivia. "I really like it it doesn't make me feel overdressed at all."
Oliva held up her arm and twirled her pointer finger. Violet, unlike Isadora spun slowly and only one time. Olivia looked at the dress. It was nice. Not to flashy but will still pull off semi-formal. It was just passed the knee and looked like to pieces of clothing. The top half was white with small spots all over it. The skirt was light and flowy and a very dark blue. There was a thick decorative belt around the waist breaking up the two materials. Finally, the collar was floppy and wide and tied together at the back with a thick ribbon the same dark blue of the skirt. Violet. It was very Violet.
"it's perfect Violet. This definitely more you" Olivia said
"You really think so? Me too!" Violet said excitedly.
"I do. You all look wonderful" Olivia said
"Oh Sunny, you look so beautiful! I love the lemons. Do you love the lemons?" Violet asked Sunny and reached out to take her as Isadora and Miss Claudia approached them.
"That is definitely more you Violet." Said Isadora
"One of my favourites!" said Miss Claudia
"We will take these three dresses please Miss Claudia. We have twenty minutes before Jacques is due to arrive." Olivia said. Jacques was already outside in a new outfit the boys had insisted he buy.
"Plenty of time then" Miss Claudia stated, and then was leading a confused Olivia over to a dressing room and practically shoving her inside, leaving no room for argument. "Elegant but casual. And most importantly swishy." Miss Claudia said tossing the dress to a stunned Olivia and closing the door on her. "Put it on!"
Olivia stood still for a moment shocked by what had just happened and then jumped a little when Miss Claudia slapped the door to the changing room. Olivia, honestly a little scared of what Miss Claudia might do if she didn't put the dress on, started to change outfits. "I don't need a new outfit…it was only for the girls…but if you insist…then I'll humour you." Then there was silence and Olivia stopped moving having finished changing. She stared at herself in the mirror.
"Well?!" Miss Claudia called
"Its…beautiful" was all Olivia could say
"good. Today's special. Get three dresses get a forth free." Miss Claudia said.
"…Thankyou" Olivia said coming out of the dressing room with a uncertain smile on her face. The children all had happy and content smiles on their faces as they looked at Olivia and slowly nodded in silent agreement that this was indeed a beautiful dress and that Olivia looked beautiful in it.
Ten minutes later Miss Claudia was helping the children and Olivia put their old clothes into boxes. The girls having to wear their dresses for the photo and refusing to allow Olivia to change back into hers. As they walked towards the door Miss Claudia said "Say hello to dear Jacques for me. He was always one of my favourites."
They turned back and smiled at her before walking out the door
Jacques was leaning against his taxi waiting for Olivia and the girls to come out of Bumblebee Boutique. The quagmire boys and Klaus were talking in a small circle about journalism stories. Jacques observed them, he noticed that they stood so much taller, more confident in the clothes they picked out from the menswear store he took them to. Klaus was wearing brown jean like pants with slightly darker casual shoes and a light blue collared shirt that was folded up to meet his bunched-up sweater sleeves. His sweater was navy blue with a grey stripe running horizontal across his chest and arms. There was a red stripe of the same description running four centimetres below it. The collar of the blue shirt was tucked under the thick woollen flipped collar of the sweater. The sweater was finished with two wooden buttons that appeared to have no logical reason to be there.
Duncan's chosen style was plainer but still stunning on the boy. He had chosen dark jeans and brown boots as well as a shirt simular to Klaus' but had chosen a plain grey sweater with a vee neck. His brother Quigley, a little more adventurous had chosen pretty much the same outfit but had chosen a black and white stripped sweater. The stripes started at his chest and ran down the sweater and its sleeves. Jacques thought the boys looked amazing in their new outfits and he was quite happy with the new suit the boys had talked him into purchasing. It was casual but not too casual and formal but not too formal.
And then the girls came out. He saw quick glimpses of the girls in their lovely dresses before his focus was snapped straight to Olivia as she walked out of the boutique. She looked amazing, she always looked amazing. But this dress was stunning. Simple but stunning on the body of someone you loved. The dress came down to her calves. It was a rich slightly darker purple and crossed over her body. The dress then fell down Olivia's body in a flowing light material that Jacques, personally, thought would swish around her did she turn to fast and he loved that idea.
As the girl walked over to admire their brother's outfits and show off their own, Olivia walked up to Jacques, who had fallen limp against the taxi, and winked at him. "So, Jacques Snicket, do you like my dress?" she asked with a smirk
"With everything in me Olivia Caliban" Jacques replied with an answering smirk of his own. He won't dwell on the improper response he wanted to give her. Defiantly not in front of the children
