My Velvet Love

Down on 23rd Street was a quaint thrift shop known as Velvet. It had a fairytale-esque window that gaped at anyone who’d pass by it and glance in at the variety of velvet clothing. Around Christmas time the shop’s owner would dress the interior of the window in red lights and silver garland. At night, when the moon would hang low above the velvet blanket of snow, she’d find herself on the sidewalk outside the shop. She gazed in with wonder.

 

Charlotte looked past the twinkling red lights at a mannequin wearing a red dress crafted entirely out of velvet and lace. She imagined herself slipping the dress on and it falling over her body like a crimson river. The corners of her faded pink lips curled upwards when she imagined letting down her raven-black hair. It would fall over her exposed shoulders, mingling with the velvet hugging her body.

 

One of the twinkly bulbs had burned out. Charlotte adjusted her attention onto it, losing sight of her dream. She found herself standing alone in the moonlight wishing that the day would come where she’d have enough in her pocket to afford that dress. It was only at night when her optimism called to her heart. When the sun rose her dreams had been laid to sleep. Charlotte pursed her lips, twisting her heel in the snow, she began to walk home.

 

Home for Charlotte was a studio apartment two doors above a jazz bar. She could hear jazzy Christmas jangles a block away. The closer she was the warmer she felt from hearing the music echo down the street. She was tempted to slip into the bar to watch the jazz band but her weary eyes cried out for rest. Charlotte took herself up to the studio and climbed into bed without stripping out of her workwear. She laid on top of the blankets, gazing out the window that stood at the foot of her bed. She gazed out at the starry night.

 

Her phone buzzed inside her coat pocket. Reaching in to retrieve it, she sighed. When she checked her phone she saw that she had received a text from Jaxon, her boyfriend.

 

How much is the dress, hon?

 

Charlotte sniffled. Creasing her brow, she squinted at the bright screen. She texted back.

 

Too much. I’ll look elsewhere.

 

Jaxon replied shortly after her last message.

 

Maybe next Christmas.

 

Charlotte tossed her phone aside on the bed, losing it somewhere in the blankets. She rolled onto her side with her hands tucked under cool cheek. She wondered what the dress would feel like on her skin. Would it be smooth like silk? Heavy like corduroy? It didn’t matter since the Christmas ball was the following evening and the dress was out of her budget. Perhaps she had to settle with last year’s gown that was wearing out at the seams.

 

She nodded off wearing her work outfit. She woke the next morning and felt itchy all over from sweating in her grey blazer. Charlotte showered and put on a different outfit for her work. On her way to pick up coffee she had passed by Velvet. She slowed down a bit to sneak a quick glance at the mannequin in the window. Charlotte froze at the sight of it, feeling her heart sink into her belly. The dress was no longer on display.

 

Charlotte had a few minutes to spare so she went into the shop. She found the manager in the back tagging a few new jackets.

 

She asked the woman, “The velvet dress that was on display, where is it now?”

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She folded her brow at the woman as she turned to reply, “I sold it to a young man. He bought it as a gift.”

 

“Oh...” Charlotte frowned. “Thank you. I’m sorry to bother you.”

 

“Oh, you’re no bother at all. Take care, Miss.” Charlotte gave the woman a quick smile and left.

 

She grabbed her coffee from the local cafe and went straight to work. The bell above the bakery’s door trilled as she hurried into her mother’s sweet shop. Her mom peered up from the cupcakes that she was dressing in icing at Charlotte.

 

“Morning, sweetheart!” Her mom’s eyes smiled beautifully under the fluorescent lights above. “How are the cupcakes for Mrs. LaFleur coming along?” asked Charlotte.

 

“Wonderfully!” exclaimed her mom. “Did you buy that velvet dress yet?”

 

Charlotte walked around the counter and stood over the cupcakes. She sniffed at them. Their creamy scent stirred her belly awake. Standing back, Charlotte shrugged and said, “Someone had bought it already.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Her mom nudged her shoulder gently. “Well, Jaxon called. He still has a few things to pick up for Christmas.” Charlotte hummed in response, and her mom said, “He’s a wonderful man. He truly loves you.”

 

“I know, momma.” Charlotte surveyed the bakery. “I got lucky somehow.”

 

Familiar faces and faces of the unfamiliar passed in and out of the bakery. Charlotte boxed cupcakes and handed them out to every customer that ordered them. By the end of her shift she was winding down. Charlotte offered to close the shop so her mom could head home early. The sun was on its way out as she headed home. She didn’t bother looking in through Velvet’s window for there was no longer anything for her to see. Charlotte arrived home and found the bar quiet. When she headed up to her apartment she found her door ajar. She pushed open the door and found Jaxon sitting on her bed, waiting for her to return.

 

Jaxon stood and gave her a smile. A smile so bright the room glowed. His green eyes stood out against the black tuxedo that settled on his body. “Jaxon, what are you doing here?” asked Charlotte.

 

“I wanted to surprise you before the ball tonight,” he told her in a quiet voice.

 

“What’s the surprise?” she asked, anxiously.

 

Jaxon stepped aside while gesturing at the red velvet dress laying on her bed. Charlotte felt her heart beating in her throat and her cheeks turn red-hot from shock. She swept her eyes onto Jaxon as they welled with tears. Covering her quivering lips with her hand, Charlotte gazed back at the dress.

 

“You’re the one who bought it?”

 

The words barely left her lips.

 

Jaxon smirked and said, “Of course! You wanted it so I bought it before someone else could.” Charlotte turned her eyes onto him. Pink rings formed around her heavy eyes as she let her hand fall away from her lips.

 

“You shouldn’t have. It was expensive,” she swallowed against the guilt bobbing in her chest.

 

“Nothing is too expensive when it's for love.” said Jaxon. “Merry Christmas, Charlotte.”

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