Intimate Secrets
1 – Visit With Emma
Natalie finished her designs by the deadline, and they were showcased at GR Fashions as planned. She hadn’t stressed over it after the initial meeting; Brandon had taken care of all the details. Looking at the glossy photos on the magazine pages, she felt honored. Standing in his showroom, dressed in light gray slacks and sweater, Gianni Rinaldi was the bachelor heartthrob of the industry, if not the city.
His lightly gelled, sandy-colored hair and grayish blue eyes lent him endless charm. The article mentioned all the contemporary designs he offered for the fall, including some stunning items from Natalie Baker Designs. Gianni’s expression exuded confidence, combined with casual friendliness, making him all the more desirable.
Although glad she didn’t have to deal with him directly, Natalie was honored to be mentioned in the high-profile article. Tanner’s reaction after the one and only business meeting she’d had with Gianni didn’t encourage her to nurture the relationship.
It was good there was never anything to indicate he had any intentions other than establishing the business relationship. Natalie didn’t need to test Tanner. He hadn’t gone crazy with jealously in recent weeks. Nor had she hadn’t given him any reason to. It seemed he was beginning to trust the sanctity of marriage; the last thing she wanted to do was upset that.
That morning she’d been to visit her mother, and it made her feel good to know Emma was doing well. Doctor Gene had called, letting her know to schedule an appointment with a hepatologist, a specialist in treating liver disease; he’d provided a referral. Remarkably, Emma had avoided many of the complications of cirrhosis of the liver. Natalie partly attributed this to the quality of care she was receiving.
However, the illness would progress as time went on. Emma would never regain her energy, and she had lost some weight due to poor appetite. What concerned the doctor was an elevated ammonia level. He recommended more tests and wanted her to be seen by a specialist associated with a transplant center, just to be prepared.
The thought of Emma declining and needing a transplant worried Natalie. Since her mother was already frail, major surgery would be difficult for her, if a transplant could be arranged and the procedure done without complications of its own. Recently seeing Nicolas stirred resentment in Natalie. Her mother began drinking when he’d abandoned her, and not because she couldn’t manage to support her family. Emma drank from heartache, and for that, Natalie wasn’t sure she could ever forgive her father.
Emily Suzanne Baker, called Emma by all those who loved her, wasn’t even fifty yet. The beauty of her youth was still reflected in her soft brown eyes and hair, though her pale skin and frail form made her look much older than she was. Loving and generous, in some ways her mother never aged, still enjoying life and sharing the future with her family.
Sitting on the brown leather, comfortable sofa, looking at Natalie’s wedding photos had been good for her. Emma had some color in her cheeks after chatting and remembering the wedding: the kiss with Manhattan in the background, all the beloved guests dancing, the walk down the aisle, and vows spoken under an arch of flowers. The wedding had been lovely, and Natalie and Emma had filled the album her mother made as a wedding gift with all the best photographs.
“I’m so happy for you,” she said, “and Jazzy too. Both of you mean everything to me, and now you have wonderful husbands to share your life with. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
Natalie could imagine, though she had no children of her own yet. It was nice to see her mother happy, and she hoped the new doctor could help with any new physical issues. Fortunately, Emma wasn’t one to sit and feel sorry for herself. Always a seamstress, she continued to create clothing for a variety of
1 – Visit With Emma
Natalie finished her designs by the deadline, and they were showcased at GR Fashions as planned. She hadn’t stressed over it after the initial meeting; Brandon had taken care of all the details. Looking at the glossy photos on the magazine pages, she felt honored. Standing in his showroom, dressed in light gray slacks and sweater, Gianni Rinaldi was the bachelor heartthrob of the industry, if not the city.
His lightly gelled, sandy-colored hair and grayish blue eyes lent him endless charm. The article mentioned all the contemporary designs he offered for the fall, including some stunning items from Natalie Baker Designs. Gianni’s expression exuded confidence, combined with casual friendliness, making him all the more desirable.
Although glad she didn’t have to deal with him directly, Natalie was honored to be mentioned in the high-profile article. Tanner’s reaction after the one and only business meeting she’d had with Gianni didn’t encourage her to nurture the relationship.
It was good there was never anything to indicate he had any intentions other than establishing the business relationship. Natalie didn’t need to test Tanner. He hadn’t gone crazy with jealously in recent weeks. Nor had she hadn’t given him any reason to. It seemed he was beginning to trust the sanctity of marriage; the last thing she wanted to do was upset that.
That morning she’d been to visit her mother, and it made her feel good to know Emma was doing well. Doctor Gene had called, letting her know to schedule an appointment with a hepatologist, a specialist in treating liver disease; he’d provided a referral. Remarkably, Emma had avoided many of the complications of cirrhosis of the liver. Natalie partly attributed this to the quality of care she was receiving.
However, the illness would progress as time went on. Emma would never regain her energy, and she had lost some weight due to poor appetite. What concerned the doctor was an elevated ammonia level. He recommended more tests and wanted her to be seen by a specialist associated with a transplant center, just to be prepared.
The thought of Emma declining and needing a transplant worried Natalie. Since her mother was already frail, major surgery would be difficult for her, if a transplant could be arranged and the procedure done without complications of its own. Recently seeing Nicolas stirred resentment in Natalie. Her mother began drinking when he’d abandoned her, and not because she couldn’t manage to support her family. Emma drank from heartache, and for that, Natalie wasn’t sure she could ever forgive her father.
Emily Suzanne Baker, called Emma by all those who loved her, wasn’t even fifty yet. The beauty of her youth was still reflected in her soft brown eyes and hair, though her pale skin and frail form made her look much older than she was. Loving and generous, in some ways her mother never aged, still enjoying life and sharing the future with her family.
Sitting on the brown leather, comfortable sofa, looking at Natalie’s wedding photos had been good for her. Emma had some color in her cheeks after chatting and remembering the wedding: the kiss with Manhattan in the background, all the beloved guests dancing, the walk down the aisle, and vows spoken under an arch of flowers. The wedding had been lovely, and Natalie and Emma had filled the album her mother made as a wedding gift with all the best photographs.
“I’m so happy for you,” she said, “and Jazzy too. Both of you mean everything to me, and now you have wonderful husbands to share your life with. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
Natalie could imagine, though she had no children of her own yet. It was nice to see her mother happy, and she hoped the new doctor could help with any new physical issues. Fortunately, Emma wasn’t one to sit and feel sorry for herself. Always a seamstress, she continued to create clothing for a variety of
Similar Books
