“Funny thing is, that’s exactly what you should be doing too.”
Mari nodded her head. “You’re right. One day at a time for both of us.”
Dakota clasped her hands together, excitement, anticipation tinged with a sliver of fear racing up her neck. “Can I show you something? And if I do, will you promise to be honest and not sugarcoat your remarks because of my accident and the whole debacle with my fiancé dumping me?”
“Sure. You know I always tell the truth. What is it, show me?” She got off the blue-and-white striped couch and pulled Dakota up with her, a mischievous grin breaking out on her tear stained face.
“Follow me. When I was recuperating, Dad wouldn’t let me get my tools out of storage. Claimed it would be cruel to let me try and make jewelry when my hand wouldn’t work properly. So I bought a basic tool set online and started working on something I already had in the early stages of production before the accident. Something completely different to my jewelry that I didn’t tell anyone about. You’re the first to see them.”
“Ooh I like that.” They gave a conspiratorial giggle and a bump of hips.
They hurried into the workroom and Dakota flipped open the lid on the packing box on her workbench she’d put aside earlier. She took a tissue wrapped object out and placed it on the table, turning to Mari. “You have to promise to be honest.”
“Scout’s honor.” She lifted her fingers in the scout salute and grinned. “Come on, already.”
Dakota unwrapped the decoration, her heart pounding and held it out to her sister.
“Oh my goodness.” Mari took the fragile glass and copper angel, held it up to the light and watched the rainbows dart over the ceiling as the decoration spun on its golden thread. “That is so beautiful. I’m so envious of your talent, honey.”
“You really like it?” She analyzed it as it swung, noting the blues and purples in the copper edging, wondering if she should have used a different metal and made them brighter. Perhaps silver would have been a better idea but the copper had appealed to her sense of color matching, thinking it would make a good replacement for gold. That metal would have put the ornaments beyond the average person’s wallet and that wasn’t what she was aiming for with this new collection. She wanted something anyone could afford. Something worthy of being handed down generation after generation.
“Its stunning, Dakota. Really stunning. Did you do the glass yourself?”
“No, definitely not my forte. I buy all the components from a factory in Egypt and let my imagination take over. Welding them together with copper makes for a really luxurious bauble, I think.”
Mari smiled her agreement, holding the angel up again. “This isn’t a bauble, honey. It’s a work of art. I should hire you to make me a heap of these for the hotel. We need to showcase your talents. Even if you can’t go back to making the finer jewelry you used to make, these would sell like crazy.”
“I’m kind of hoping so too. I’ve already got together a website to see if they take off, still under the Glitterz label. The response has been huge but I’m not taking orders yet, just testing the market, putting out feelers. Each one is unique, same as all of my creations. I’m going to launch it once I take some more photos of what I’ve done so far.”
“I can tell you for a fact that you will be worked off of your feet once word gets out. And with Christmas fast approaching, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.” Mari held the angel in her hand. “I have an idea. There’s a meeting at the hotel this week. Some of the locals want to try and raise money for the Grange. It’s run-down and Mr. Clement senior wants to try and band the town together and see if they can save it before it’s too late. Every year that goes by is a year lost that they can’t get back and something else deteriorates beyond repair. You should come. Be a great chance to meet everyone and you could put your hand up to help.”
“I don’t know. I’d rather have time to find my feet and ease into the community slowly. I don’t want to roll in like a steam engine and make my presence known by taking over.” She took the angel back and wrapped it in the tissue, placing it in the box for safe keeping.
Mari gave a chuckle. “I know something that you don’t.” She leaned her elbows on the workbench and grinned.
With a roll of her eyes, Dakota gave in. “Spill it, Sis.”
“I had a look around the Grange earlier today. Adam gave me the tour because he’s had to take over from his father for now and they think my hotel would be a good place to hold all the meetings. For my part I only have to supply them with snacks, they’ll buy their own drinks but I couldn’t refuse, especially not once I saw what they’re trying to preserve.”
“You wouldn’t anyway. It’s not in your nature and you want…”
“To belong, yes exactly. The Grange is a mess but I believe fixable if they can raise the money. Great bones and a terrific meeting place for the town.” Her lips curved in a small smile. “But what might interest you are the chandeliers. Two beauties that are screaming out for loving repairs.” She pointed to the wrapped angel. “This makes me think you could do it.”
“Really? I’ve never tackled anything like that before.” The thought of doing repair work on something as old as they must be piqued her interest. “I’d love to go and have a look.”
“I can show you tomorrow or better still, get Adam to. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Dakota shook her head. “I don’t want to bother him. He’s a busy man.”
A laugh filled
