Finding Memories: Chapter 7

Her third day in San Francisco was another perfect weather day—cool with bright sun in a cloudless sky. She walked along the bay for blocks before turning inward to the neighborhood and street where her mother lived. Greeted this morning as an expected visitor, Maria had brought home made tortillas to wrap around black beans. Sara liked this kind of food and lost no time in expressing her appreciation. In this way, she mentioned that she was usually a vegetarian, but she ate eggs and cheese.

On this day, the women were finishing alterations on a wedding dress and seven identical bridesmaids' dresses. Each dress had a large tag listing measurements and two dress maker models were changed for each dress. Sara found herself busy as she learned to make adjustments to each of the dummies, laughing as she told stories about the kind of dummies used in her work. She did not say 'former work' but she was almost certain that she would not go back to that kind of work.

Clean white sheets covered all surfaces while they worked on the bride's dress even though the room was exceptionally clean. It was obvious that the four women had worked together for many years; a word or a signal from one got a pin placed or a needle passed. The dresses would be delivered later with two of the women going with them for last minute adjustments. Sara was intrigued with what and how they worked on fabric.

Pam and Maria showed Sara other projects they had in the works. A christening gown was unwrapped and they showed her how they had taken a wedding dress and made this baby's gown. The work was beautiful in design and detail.

"We get plenty money for this!" Maria whispered as if she were sharing state secrets. "Grandmas and tias—aunts—want us to make these from old dresses. Beautiful, yes?"

Sara agreed. She was beginning to understand how four women worked here; dry cleaning was a small part of business.

There was a flurry of work as dresses were wrapped, a taxi called, and Ann and Pam left with the wedding dresses. Maria left for her home leaving Sara and her mother alone as few customers came in late in the day. The two had slowly gained confidence in talking to each other about every day happenings. Neither could approach the subject that hung between them yet an observer would notice the glances one gave the other and see the unspoken questions in their dark eyes.

Ending the day in much the same way as the day before, Sara helped her mother fix a meal and the two women returned with tales of the bride and seven bridesmaids trying on dresses, adjusting a few stitches, and leaving everyone happy.

"We hear all their secrets—no one notices the help," Ann laughed, her face wrinkling with her smile, her accent still pronounced but easier to understand after three days of hearing her words.

Sara watched as the three women finished their meal, and without a word, one cleaned the kitchen while the other two did additional housecleaning chores. She gathered trash and carried it to the bin downstairs. Again, they asked her to stay in the small apartment and again, she politely refused, telling them she might have company in a few days.

Back in her room, she called Grissom. He was in the middle of a crime scene—the rodeo was in town. He was learning more about bulls and bull riding than he wanted to know. Before sleeping, she tried to think of ways to bring her father into a conversation, finally deciding the photographs might be a starting point.

The next two days passed much like others. The women stayed busy. Sara went with Pam to shop one afternoon, hearing how she and her parents arrived from Vietnam as their country was in chaos. They worked until they could buy this business and when her father had died she and her mother kept working. Sara's mother had worked with them for twelve years. They knew her history. They knew she had skilled hands for sewing. She had moved into the apartment over ten years ago.

"It was her idea to make the christening gowns from wedding dresses. Your mother has talent."

At the market, several people asked Pam if they would be at the farmers market on Saturday. On the walk back, Pam explained the questions. At certain times during the year, they would ride with a neighbor to local fields and pick fruit—this time of year strawberries were ripe. On Saturday morning, they would sell the fruit to people coming to the farmers market. It was work, but fun and "we make a pocket full of cash!"

A/n: Leave us a review, please!! We know people are reading this, so tell us what you think! Lots more to come on this one.