Chapter 7: What My Mother Had Been Hiding
Nia stood beneath the boutique's awning, holding her phone against her ear long after the call had ended.
Her mother's final words kept repeating in her mind.
If Evelyn finds out what we did to the dress, she might discover what happened to the original design.
Nia looked down at the photograph Evelyn had given her.
The cream dress.
Her dress.
What had they done to it?
She called Olivia.
"Can you come over?""
"What's wrong?""
"I think there's something my mother hasn't told me.""
Twenty minutes later, Olivia arrived at Nia's apartment carrying two coffees.
Nia showed her the photograph and repeated the conversation.
Olivia frowned.
"Wait. Your mother said Evelyn might discover what happened to the original design?""
"Yes.""
"That sounds like more than a damaged seam.""
"That's what I thought.""
Olivia placed her coffee on the table.
"Where are your original sketches?""
"In my bedroom. I kept everything.""
"Then let's look.""
They went upstairs.
Nia opened the bottom drawer of her desk and removed a thick folder containing sketches, fabric samples, measurements, and photographs of the cream dress during construction.
Olivia spread everything across the table.
"Look at this.""
She pointed to a photograph taken three weeks earlier.
Nia was standing beside the unfinished dress, holding a piece of ivory fabric against the bodice.
The date was visible in the corner.
Another photograph showed the completed garment hanging beside her sewing machine.
Olivia compared it with Evelyn's photograph.
"The waist looks different.""
Nia leaned closer.
"You're right.""
She examined the original design.
The hidden support panel was supposed to run from the waist down into the upper skirt. It was a distinctive feature because it allowed the dress to maintain its shape without heavy internal boning.
In the altered version, the panel was missing.
But that wasn't all.
Nia turned to another page in her notebook.
Her pencil drawing showed a delicate pattern of overlapping folds along the back.
The photograph of Maya wearing the dress revealed that those folds had been rearranged.
Someone had removed the original waist structure and sewn the material differently.
"They changed my design," Nia whispered.
Olivia looked at her.
"Can they do that?""
"It's my work.""
"Then we need to find out exactly what happened.""
Nia remembered something.
A week before her mother took the dress, she had left the sewing room to answer a phone call. When she returned, the door had been closed.
Her mother had been inside.
At the time, she hadn't thought much about it.
Now she remembered seeing a pair of scissors beside the dress.
"Mom was in my room before she took it.""
Olivia frowned.
"Did she touch anything?""
"I don't know.""
Nia searched through the photographs.
Then she found one showing the dress from behind.
The original design included a narrow line of decorative stitching along the waist.
In a later photograph, taken after her mother had entered the room, the stitching appeared slightly different.
Nia enlarged the image.
There was a faint mark where the fabric had been cut.
She felt her stomach drop.
"She didn't just take the dress.""
Olivia looked at her.
"What?""
"She started altering it before Maya ever wore it.""
Nia picked up her phone and called Evelyn.
The boutique owner answered quickly.
"Hello, Nia.""
"I found something.""
Nia explained the photographs and the missing support panel.
Evelyn listened without interrupting.
When Nia finished, she spoke carefully.
"Can you bring those original photographs tomorrow?""
"Yes.""
"And your sketchbook?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Don't confront your mother until we understand the full situation.""
Nia hesitated.
"Do you think she intentionally damaged the dress?""
"I don't want to make assumptions. But the alterations were not accidental.""
After the call, Nia sat quietly.
Olivia placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're going to be okay.""
Nia nodded.
But she wasn't sure.
The following morning, she returned to Evelyn's boutique.
Evelyn examined the original photographs alongside the altered garment images.
She studied the waistline, the seam placement, and the internal structure.
After several minutes, she removed her glasses.
"Your mother may have attempted to change the silhouette.""
"Why?""
"Perhaps she wanted the dress to fit Maya differently. But the alteration removed an important structural element.""
Nia pointed toward the sketch.
"That support panel was my idea. I designed it to keep the skirt balanced.""
Evelyn nodded.
"Exactly. Whoever removed it didn't understand its purpose.""
She opened another folder.
Inside were printed copies of the photographs Maya had submitted.
"There's something else.""
Nia leaned forward.
Evelyn pointed to the original photographs Maya had sent.
"Look at the description.""
Nia read it aloud.
"An original couture design inspired by classic European eveningwear.""
Her face tightened.
"She said she made it.""
"Yes. But that's not the only issue. She also sent me a proposed product description claiming the internal construction was her signature technique.""
Nia looked at Evelyn.
"That's mine.""
"I know.""
Evelyn placed the documents side by side.
"I didn't respond to her proposal. I wanted to speak with you first.""
Nia looked down at her own sketches.
For months, she had worked on the dress.
She had experimented with the hidden panel.
She had tested different stitches.
She had even written down why the construction worked.
Now Maya was presenting those details as her own.
Evelyn closed the folder.
"I can offer you a paid design collaboration. But before we move forward, I want you to understand something. Talent alone doesn't protect your work. You need records.""
Nia nodded.
"I have the originals.""
"Good. Keep copies somewhere safe.""
Nia gathered her notebook.
As she stood, Evelyn added:
"One more thing. Maya has scheduled a meeting with me this afternoon.""
Nia froze.
"She's still coming?""
"Yes.""
"After everything?""
Evelyn gave a small smile.
"I suspect she believes she can persuade me.""
Nia looked toward the boutique entrance.
"Will you tell her?""
"I'll ask her to explain the design process.""
Nia understood immediately.
Evelyn wasn't going to accuse Maya.
She was going to give her an opportunity to demonstrate what she claimed to know.
Nia left the boutique.
For the first time, she wasn't afraid of what might happen at the meeting.
She wanted the truth to come out.
But as she reached the sidewalk, her phone vibrated.
A message from Maya appeared.
*Maya:* Mom says you have until tonight to fix the dress.
Another message followed.
*Maya:* Otherwise, she's throwing away all your sewing things.
Nia stared at the screen.
Then she called home.
No one answered.
She hurried toward the bus stop.
When she reached her apartment building, the front door was already open.
Her sewing room was empty.
May you like
The machine was gone.
And beside the bare table lay a single envelope with her mother's handwriting.
