Chapter 322: Finishing Touches
*No, mother. I opened the stores hoping to lose money. – Shiloh*
Shiloh had lunch with her family on Sunday and was still recovering on Thursday. Her grandfather and cousin were supportive of her decision. The family business was a hard one, and not everyone was cut out for it. Shiloh was not. Despite her mother and current stepfather’s wishes and plans.
“Shy?” Gertie called out as she entered Dark Moon carrying the day’s mail. “There’s a letter here from Elizabeth Giordano.”
“She’s my … mother. Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose our parents.” Shiloh replied as she finished stocking the baby section.
Several of her friends had babies and complained about the pastel baby crap, their words, not hers. When she came across a small business that specialized in goth baby items she reached out. Along with black onesies that declared “Not smiling, it’s just gas.” there were also bottles with the poison label and Deadly Nightshade. Spider and skull rattles and teethers.
Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie and Corpse Bride were scattered throughout the store. Tim Burton was big in both stores. The goth loved his dark side. The rockabilly embraced his vintage extremism.
Gertie handed over the envelope and Shiloh smiled at her. Her bruises and injuries had healed enough to be hidden under makeup. In an act of rebellion, she had cut her hair short.
In Shiloh’s bathroom with her kitchen shears.
Earlier today, she had gone to get it fixed from her hack job. 1920s flapper girl finger waves covered her head. Shiloh reached out and touched a red swoop on the side of her friend’s head.
“It’s too much, isn’t it?”
“No.” she said grabbing her friend’s hand and dragging her through to the adjoining store. Going to one of the back racks, she pulled out a black, knee-length 1920s-day dress. Holding it up to her friend’s body, she couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s beautiful.” Gertie whispered turning and looking in the nearest mirror.
“Go put it on.” Shiloh gave her a little push to the dressing room.
“Shiloh, I -.”
“If it looks as good as I think it will, that’s what you’re wearing for our grand opening on Saturday.” She didn’t give the other woman a chance to object further before opening the door and shoving her inside.
“You sure are bossy!” Gertie laughed as the door closed behind her.
“That’s why I’m the boss.” Came the reply as Shiloh moved around the store. She grabbed up some shoes in Gertie’s size, two necklaces, bangle bracelets and a pair of vintage style earrings.
“Hello?” a man called out as he came through the New Moon door.
“I’m sorry, we’re not open yet.” Shiloh called back.
“I’m Jerry with the rental company.” He said walking further into the store.
“Oh! Yes.” She sat the items in her hands on the plush pink chair outside the dressing room. “Gertie, there’s shoes and accessories out here for you.”
She mumbled her thanks from inside the room as her boss rushed across the store.
Shiloh had dressed down today. She wore a black tank top with a skull and roses on it. Her legs were covered by a pair of 1950s red Capri pants, matching the red roses on her shirt and in her hair. Platform Mary Jane shoes rounded out her outfit.
She wore her winged eyeliner and blood red lipstick. And other than lip, eyebrow and cartilage piercings, she wore no other jewelry. Her shoulder length hair was in a high ponytail without any color extensions in her ponytail or Betty bangs.
Yes, this was dressed down for Shiloh. Rarely did she ever step out of her bedroom without being dressed and made up perfectly. She wasn’t certain if it was because her grandmother drilled it into her that you never knew who was watching. Or if it was self-preservation from the beatings that her mother would give her for not looking like the perfect child.
Maybe it was a little of both.
Right now, she wasn’t concerned about why she was screwed up in the head over her clothes. Just like everything else, it all boiled down to her family. Past that, it didn’t matter.
On her way out of the building, Shiloh grabbed her new can of bright yellow spray chalk. “Jerry? I’m Shiloh. Oh, crap. My tablet.”
“Here.” Gertie handed her the device. She wore the dress and a pair of black socks with pink pentagrams all over them.
“That looks wonderful. You’re wearing it Saturday.”
“Thanks.” Gertie blushed and turned to go back inside.
Pulling up her plans she showed him how she wanted the tents set up. They rearranged a little bit to accommodate ropes and anchor buckets. Once it was settled she started marking it with her spray chalk.
“Can you email that to me? Just to make sure everything is done right?”
“Absolutely. If this goes as well as I’m hoping, we may do this again.”
“My daughter and her friends are excited about it.” He admitted as he held his hand out for the can. “Let me do that. I’ll put our codes on it also.”
“Thanks. I feel like I have a zillion things to do.” She admitted handing over the can.
“I’m sure. We’ll be here to set up tomorrow morning.” He smiled broadly at her. “And good luck.”
Shiloh went back inside and checked on Gertie. She was in New Moon setting up a display of vintage kitchenware.
“How’s it going?” Shiloh asked.
“Really good. I’m starting to get excited about this.” Gertie admitted.
“Good. I’m going to go check with the vendors for Saturday. Want to hit Nightingale tonight?”
“Yes! I haven’t been out since…”
Shiloh walked over and hugged her friend. “You’re strong. You’ve got this.”
“Thanks, Shy.”
“Anytime.”
Shiloh went to her office in the basement. She sent the grid to Jerry’s email and responded to a few others. The vendors were called, and everything was verified. Lastly, she reached out to the local media outlets and confirmed that they would also be there.
Once everything was settled, she picked up the envelope addressed from Elizabeth. It was a single piece of paper with a short note of only five elegantly written words.
*I expect you for Thanksgiving.*
