I Can’t Change How I Feel
Chapter 38
Addison’s POV
One day, when Corbin is older, I will tell him about his father and allow them to meet, but not
now. The pain of him choosing to start sleeping around again was too fresh. He already
knows his grandparents, Tandy and Russell, very well. They have spent a great deal of time
with him. I know that they love him very much. It is hard to watch them leave as Tandy cries
every time. Russell is more stoic about it. I can tell that it hurts him, too, but he is not as
emotional as she is about it.
He always gently helps her into the car to leave. I know they want more time with him, and I can understand that, as he is a sweet baby boy. They loved and accepted him from the minute
he was born. Tandy sent me a picture of Garrett as a newborn, with Corbin’s picture right next
to him. They didn’t even ask for a DNA test, as Corbin was Garrett made over. They knew that
Corbin was Garrett’s son. I did even have to try to convince them to believe me. They just did, right from my aunt’s first call to tell them.
I watched the trees fly by as we got closer to our subdivision. I am forcing my mind to go back to work. Thinking about Garrett is very upsetting. Business was booming, and I needed to stay focused. I refuse to sit here and have a pity party because the man I love doesn’t love me
back. I am happy to report that I have numerous appointments with clients, as well as multiple orders in place for my custom suits. It is all thanks to our photographs from the event spreading that we have been inundated with orders.
What the customers loved the most about our clothing line was that I made sure we could
capture their imagination and work with their requests to have something uniquely theirs. I had fabric dyed in a rainbow of different colors–not just black, brown, blue, or tan, which is
how most suits come these days. But I stepped out of the box to ensure we had brighter,
bolder colors.
Pro players are usually not shy about what they want to wear. They are in top physical
condition and not scared to show off how good they look in our suits. The unlimited color
choices allow our clients to capture everyone’s attention immediately, no matter what event they are going to. We have a great number of colors to choose from, and our clients love the
selection we have. At least that is what I have been told.
Giving our clients a way to make their visions come to life has dramatically boosted our sales.
We don’t just carry solid colors. We have plaids and numerous other designs, like paisley,
1/4
+8 Point
I Can’t Change How I Feel
Herringbone, and Houndstooth. Word about our ability to allow them to match their wives and girlfriends was spreading pretty fast. Word of mouth had jump–started the sales after my family had mentioned what line they were wearing. My grandparents were the ones who had drawn the most attention the night of the event. We were also tagged in the photos in local publications. So some of the sales came from that as well.
I also ran a recent contest for the local NFL team. It was a giveaway for two suits. The only caveat was that the two men who won had to agree to take professional pictures. The pictures were going to be used for advertising, as they were wearing their suits. Only ten members of the team decided to participate according to the rules of the drawing. Despite the
increased sales, we were still considered up–and–comers with our men’s line. I was still really happy about it.
I picked two members of the local NFL team out of a hat for a live video for the boutique. We showed all ten participants‘ names being added to the hat. I had only shown my arms and hands in the video. I had Kate and my aunt recorded from different angles to prove everything
was above board. A running back, and a tackle were the men who won. They were both pleased to come in to be measured for their suits. My aunt assisted the tackle, and I assisted the running back as they made their color choices.
The tackle chose a dark blue suit with a gray tie. The solid colors help make him look slimmer than his intimidating size. The running back had a slimmer build. He decided on a pair of dark gray pants, and he picked a plaid jacket. The plaid was deep blue and gray and had white stripes for the plaid accents. They both went with team colors. He chose a blue tie to go with. it and bought a second gray tie to change his appearance a bit and make it even more versatile. They both looked great in their suits and loved how the pictures came out. We let them pick their favorite shot and chose the second picture for the ad.
We also made their posters for the store, which were placed in the men’s showroom. They were even kind enough to come and take another picture in the showroom next to their ads. The fact that they returned and picked up a second suit spoke volumes about how they liked their new suits. They didn’t come alone either. I was glad for the heads–up so we would be prepared to assist them properly. Two of the guests who came with them were fellow teammates who hadn’t even participated in the drawing.
Those promotional shots have significantly increased the amount of business lately. My aunt told me that it was a brilliant move. The running back brought his wife in, and she asked me to design a gown for her. She loved the idea of helping create her evening gown. Happy customers are always glad to tell others where they got their clothing.
Our business had increased so much that we were about to hire a second seamstress and a
2/4
+3 Points
I Can’t Change How I Feel
seamster to keep up with demand. The seamster would oversee the men’s line, reporting to
me and my aunt. The second seamstress would take up the slack for whoever needed her.
Right now, the women’s line is still the busiest. I believe the men’s line will soon give the
women’s side some stiff competition. It is an off–season for the NFL team. The MLB is just
starting its season, and the NBA’s season has just ended. The seamstress was glad to have help. They were excited about the direction the business was going.
Back in February, we increased the size of our showroom. We absorbed the empty bay next
door to us and made the new area, about twelve hundred square feet in total, into the men’s
area. My grandparents‘ matching outfits for the gala increased the orders for complementing
outfits. The giveaway now had orders coming in daily. I think that both ideas are going to push
us to the next level.
She completely rejected the idea when I suggested to my aunt that she could bring in another
designer. She said the boutique, her and Ana’s baby, was born to her and my mother. She was
looking forward to passing off the reigns to me one day. She refused to budge. I was going to
be the designer for Ana and Alex. I then refused to budge on changing the name of the
boutique. During that conversation, she also told me about the new tags inside the clothes. It
used to say Ana and Alex, and had until this last week.
From today on, the name tags will be unique for each piece. The tag will bear my name from
the month I took over as the designer. All the dresses that I designed will bear my name,
Addison. She chose that because she wants me to have recognition, too, despite my name not
being on the sign. She wanted me to be acknowledged, and I thought it was so sweet of her to think of me like that. A month ago, she had me sign my name on paper.
She worked with the seamstress to ensure each piece came with my tag. She said it was time
to grow my name and put it out there since I refused to allow her to change the boutique’s
name. We already had name recognition for the boutique, and it represented and
acknowledged them both. I honestly didn’t need my name to be on the sign. The little tag that I had held in my hand was cute. The satin tag was white, with my name in a deep
reddish–brown. It was pretty bold. She said it was fiery, just like our hair.
“We’re here, Ms. Vilario,” Colton advised me as we pulled into the driveway.
I saw my aunt and Corbin standing out front, waiting for me. She held his little hand in hers,
knowing he liked to dash out to me. I never knew how they figured out when we were going to
arrive. Colton probably called or texted them. It doesn’t matter why today. Even though it had
been two weeks since I found out, it still hurt. I needed to be hugged by my baby boy, I wanted
some comfort food, and to get some extra sleep. I was tired. I knew it was because I was
probably depressed again. I took it pretty hard when I found out,
3/4
+3 Points
I Can’t Change How I Feel
Phillip found out, and I expected him to mention it. He didn’t, but I knew my aunt had told him. She was on Team Phillip all the way. But that was because she didn’t know Garrett. There were a thousand times when he was the hero of my story–just not this time. Tandy hated to mention it. She couldn’t tell me that he had started sleeping around again. She had called my aunt to deliver the news. No one knew why he had done it. The guy keeping Tandy updated, didn’t want to push too hard when Garrett refused to answer his question when he asked him why he suddenly changed his mind.
I guess this is another example of I guess I’ll never know. It doesn’t take the sting away. It doesn’t make me feel any better. Not knowing why is entirely frustrating. It makes you rethink everything. What did I do wrong? What happened? But the only question I wanted to be answered was why now? After almost three years of doing so well? Why had he just all of a sudden given up? It just didn’t make any sense.
“Dinner will be ready soon, Addison. We made your favorites tonight,” my aunt told me as Corbin excitedly told me what he had done that day. He had a new painting on the fridge. He had an eye on him. He is an excellent painter. I am not saying that because I’m his mother. I love the fact that he got his talent from his grandmother. I will make sure he paints daily and encourage his artistic side. I knew my mother would be so happy to see how he took after us.
Corbin was also blessed with having my mother’s temperament. He was an incredibly calm toddler. He didn’t get my tendency to be angry or have the level of sarcasm I used to enjoy. I calmed down after Corbin was born. I just didn’t care about arguing with anyone anymore. I wasn’t angry, just numb. I am doing the best I can. I hate that Garrett’s rejection of me is
weighing on me like this. If I could wave a wand and take the pain away, I would. The truth is that I don’t know if anything will ever make me feel better again.
