Chapter 12: A Blast from the Past
Kimberly was hard at work in her dressmaking shop, a sense of normalcy finally returning after the adrenaline-fueled mission on the train. The soothing hum of the sewing machine and the soft rustle of fabrics created a comforting rhythm that helped her focus. She was putting the finishing touches on a wedding dress when the doorbell chimed.
"Emma, can you get that?" Kimberly called out, not taking her eyes off her work.
Emma hurried to the front of the shop, greeting the customer. A few moments later, she returned, looking flustered.
"Kim, there's someone here to see you. He says it's important."
Kimberly frowned, setting down her needle. "Who is it?"
Emma glanced over her shoulder.
"He said his name is Ryan."
Kimberly's heart skipped a beat. Ryan? It couldn't be. She hadn't seen or heard from her ex-boyfriend in years. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the front of the shop, her mind racing with questions.
Standing by the door was Ryan, looking as handsome and confident as ever. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Kimberly," Ryan said, his voice smooth and familiar. "It's been a long time."
"Ryan," Kimberly replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
"What are you doing here?"
Ryan smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"I was in town for business and thought I'd drop by. I heard you have a successful dressmaking shop now. I had to see it for myself."
Kimberly crossed her arms, unsure of his intentions.
"Well, here it is. What do you want, Ryan?"
Ryan's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression.
"I wanted to talk to you. Can we go somewhere private?"
Kimberly hesitated, glancing around the shop.
"Alright. We can go to the back room."
---
In the back room, Ryan looked around, taking in the neatly organized shelves of fabric and the work-in-progress dresses.
"You've done well for yourself, Kim. I'm proud of you."
Kimberly took a seat, keeping a safe distance from him.
"Thanks. But I don't think you came all this way just to compliment my shop."
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're right. I came because I wanted to see you. To talk about us."
Kimberly's eyes narrowed.
"There's no 'us' anymore, Ryan. That ended a long time ago."
Ryan leaned forward, his expression earnest. "I know, and I've regretted it ever since. I made a lot of mistakes, Kim. I was young and stupid. But I've changed. I want to make things right."
Kimberly felt a surge of emotions—anger, confusion, and a flicker of something else she couldn't quite identify.
"It's too late for that. I've moved on with my life."
Before Ryan could respond, the door to the back room opened, and Timothy walked in, carrying a coffee cup. He froze when he saw Ryan, his eyes narrowing.
"Kim, everything alright?" Timothy asked, his tone protective.
Kimberly stood up, moving to stand beside Timothy.
"Everything's fine, Tim. This is Ryan, an old... friend."
Ryan's gaze shifted to Timothy, sizing him up. "Timothy, huh? And who might you be?"
Timothy stepped forward, his stance confident.
"I'm Kimberly's boyfriend. And you are?"
Ryan's eyes flicked back to Kimberly, a hint of jealousy in his gaze.
"Ex-boyfriend, actually. We have a lot of history together."
Timothy's jaw tightened, but he kept his voice calm.
"Well, the past is the past. Kimberly and I are together now."
Kimberly felt a pang of guilt at the tension between them. She placed a hand on Timothy's arm.
"Tim, it's okay. Ryan was just leaving."
Ryan stood up, his expression conflicted.
"I just wanted to talk, Kim. But I can see you're happy. I won't interfere."
As Ryan walked past them, he paused by the door, looking back at Kimberly.
"If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."
With that, he left, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
---
Timothy turned to Kimberly, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Kimberly nodded, though she felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just...unexpected. I haven't seen Ryan in years."
Timothy took her hand, his touch grounding her. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Kimberly shook her head. "Not right now. Let's just get back to work."
---
Over the next few days, Kimberly tried to focus on her work, but Ryan's visit weighed on her mind. She could sense Timothy's unease as well, though he tried to hide it. One evening, as they were closing up the shop, Timothy finally broached the subject.
"Kim, we need to talk about Ryan," he said, his tone gentle but firm.
Kimberly sighed, setting down her tools. "I know. It's just...complicated."
Timothy sat down beside her, taking her hands in his. "I understand that. But I need to know how you feel. Seeing him again, does it change anything for you?"
Kimberly looked into Timothy's eyes, seeing the vulnerability there. "Tim, Ryan is part of my past. Yes, seeing him brought back memories, but they don't change how I feel about you. You're the one I want to be with."
Timothy's expression softened, relief washing over him. "I believe you, Kim. I just needed to hear it."
Kimberly leaned in, kissing him softly. "Thank you for understanding. I promise, Ryan being here won't affect us."
Timothy smiled, pulling her close. "Good. Because I love you, Kim. And I'm not letting anything come between us."
---
Despite Kimberly's reassurance, Ryan's presence lingered in the background. He started showing up at the shop more frequently, always with a seemingly valid excuse—dropping by to see how she was doing, offering to help with the business, or just catching up.
One afternoon, Ryan walked in with a bouquet of flowers. "Hey, Kim. Thought I'd bring you these. Just a little something to brighten your day."
Kimberly forced a smile, taking the flowers. "Thanks, Ryan. But you really don't have to keep doing this."
Ryan shrugged, his smile easy. "I just want to help. Besides, it's nice to see you again."
As Ryan left, Timothy walked in, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the flowers. "More flowers from Ryan?"
Kimberly sighed, setting the bouquet aside. "Yeah. He's been persistent."
Timothy's jaw clenched. "I don't like this, Kim. He's clearly trying to win you back."
Kimberly placed a hand on Timothy's arm. "I know, but it won't work. You have to trust me."
Timothy nodded, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "I do trust you. It's him I don't trust."
---
That evening, Kimberly decided to confront Ryan once and for all. She found him at a local café, sitting alone with a cup of coffee.
"Ryan, we need to talk," she said, sliding into the seat across from him.
Ryan looked up, surprised but pleased to see her. "Kim, hey. What's up?"
Kimberly took a deep breath, steeling herself. "You need to stop this. The visits, the flowers, everything. It's not fair to me, and it's not fair to Timothy."
Ryan's expression faltered, a hint of pain in his eyes. "I just wanted to be close to you again, Kim. I still care about you."
Kimberly shook her head. "I know you do, but I'm with Timothy now. You need to respect that."
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it. I do. But it doesn't change how I feel."
Kimberly leaned forward, her voice firm. "Ryan, it's over between us. It has been for a long time. Please, let me move on."
Ryan looked down, his shoulders slumping. "Alright, Kim. I'll back off. But if you ever need anything, I'm here."
Kimberly nodded, standing up. "Thank you, Ryan. Take care."
---
Back at the shop, Kimberly found Timothy waiting for her. "How did it go?" he asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Kimberly smiled, wrapping her arms around him. "It's done. I told him to back off. He said he would."
Timothy's relief was palpable as he hugged her tightly. "I'm glad. I don't want anything to come between us, Kim."
Kimberly looked up at him, her eyes filled with love. "Nothing will. I promise."
As they stood there, holding each other, Kimberly knew that they were stronger together. Whatever challenges came their way, they would face them as a team.
Kimberly glanced at her schedule for the day and saw a name she recognized: Rachel Simmons. Rachel was a long-time client who had a reputation for being a bit demanding but always paid well and appreciated Kimberly's work. However, today, Rachel had scheduled a fitting for a new gown she needed for an upcoming gala.
"Should be straightforward," Kimberly muttered to herself as she tidied up the fitting area and made sure the gown was ready.
The bell above the door jingled, and Kimberly looked up with a smile. Rachel walked in, looking glamorous as ever in a tailored coat and high heels. Behind her, however, trailed an entourage that made Kimberly’s smile freeze in place.
Rachel’s entourage consisted of her mother, her sister, her best friend, and a stylist who appeared to be juggling multiple bags and accessories. Each one of them was chattering excitedly, filling the shop with a cacophony of voices.
"Kimberly, darling!" Rachel exclaimed, air-kissing both of Kimberly's cheeks. "I hope you don't mind, but I brought some people with me. I need all the opinions I can get!"
Kimberly forced a smile, trying to hide her growing anxiety. "Of course, Rachel. The more, the merrier. Please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable."
As the group settled in, the noise level only increased. Rachel’s mother, Mrs. Simmons, immediately began inspecting the racks of dresses, commenting loudly on each one. Rachel’s sister, Monica, took out her phone and started snapping pictures, while the best friend, Tiffany, was already draped over a chair, giving fashion advice to Rachel.
The stylist, Daniel, seemed to be the only calm one, though his calm demeanor did nothing to reduce the chaos around him.
"Rachel, let’s get you into the fitting room," Kimberly suggested, trying to steer the situation into something manageable.
Rachel nodded and followed Kimberly to the fitting area. As soon as Rachel was behind the curtain, the rest of the entourage closed in, their voices blending into an almost unintelligible din.
"Rachel, don't forget to show them the shoes we bought last week!" Monica called out, waving her phone.
"And the earrings, darling," Mrs. Simmons added, pulling out a small jewelry box from her purse.
Kimberly took a deep breath and focused on her client. "Alright, Rachel, let’s get this gown on you."
Rachel slipped into the gown, and Kimberly began adjusting the fit, pinning and tucking where needed. The gown was a deep emerald green, designed to accentuate Rachel’s figure while maintaining an air of elegance and sophistication.
As Rachel stepped out of the fitting room, the chatter reached a fever pitch. Tiffany immediately leaped up, clapping her hands.
"Oh my God, Rachel, you look amazing!"
"Turn around, let me see the back," Daniel instructed, squinting critically as he examined the fit.
Mrs. Simmons stepped forward, adjusting Rachel’s hair and scrutinizing the dress. "Hmm, it’s lovely, but don’t you think the neckline could be a bit lower? And maybe some more sparkle?"
Rachel looked at herself in the mirror, turning this way and that. "What do you think, Kimberly? Is it too much? Not enough?"
Kimberly suppressed a sigh and smiled. "I think the gown suits you perfectly, Rachel. The neckline can certainly be adjusted if you'd like, but I believe it already highlights your best features without being too revealing."
Monica snapped a few more pictures and showed them to Rachel. "What do you think? Instagram-worthy?"
Rachel nodded slowly. "I love it, but let’s get some second opinions."
Kimberly watched as the group circled Rachel, each offering their unsolicited advice. It felt like a circus, with everyone talking over each other.
"Lower the neckline, definitely," Tiffany insisted.
"Add more sequins," Mrs. Simmons chimed in.
"I think it needs a belt," Monica suggested.
Kimberly stepped forward, trying to regain some control. "Rachel, why don't we take one adjustment at a time? Let's start with the neckline."
Rachel nodded, looking a bit overwhelmed. "Yes, that sounds good. Kimberly, please lower the neckline just a bit."
Kimberly quickly made the adjustment, pinning the fabric to show how it would look. Rachel studied herself in the mirror, and the entourage leaned in closer.
"I like it," Rachel finally said, a smile spreading across her face. "It's just right."
Kimberly nodded. "Great. Now, about the sequins—"
Rachel shook her head. "No, I think it's perfect as is. No more sequins."
Mrs. Simmons looked slightly disappointed but nodded in agreement. "It does look very elegant."
As Kimberly made the final adjustments, Daniel stepped forward with a pair of earrings. "Try these on. They’ll complete the look."
Rachel put on the earrings, and everyone gasped in approval. The emerald earrings matched the gown perfectly, adding just the right amount of sparkle.
"Stunning," Tiffany declared. "You’re going to be the star of the gala."
Rachel beamed. "Thank you, everyone. And thank you, Kimberly. You always know exactly what I need."
Kimberly smiled, feeling a sense of relief and accomplishment. "I’m glad you love it, Rachel. I’ll make the final adjustments, and it will be ready in no time."
As the entourage began to file out, still chattering excitedly, Rachel lingered for a moment. "Kimberly, I really appreciate all your hard work. I know it was a bit chaotic today."
Kimberly laughed softly. "It’s all part of the job. I’m just glad you’re happy with the dress."
Rachel hugged her. "I am. You’re the best, Kimberly. I’ll see you soon."
With a final wave, Rachel joined her entourage, and the shop finally returned to a semblance of calm. Kimberly took a deep breath and glanced around at the scattered fabric and pins.
“Well, that was something,” she said to herself.
Timothy walked in just as the door closed behind Rachel. He looked around at the disarray and raised an eyebrow. “Rough day?”
Kimberly laughed. “You could say that. But it’s all worth it when the client leaves happy.”
Timothy smiled and walked over to her, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. “You’re amazing, Kim. I don’t know how you do it.”
Kimberly leaned into him, feeling the stress of the day melt away. “It’s a lot easier with you by my side.”
Timothy chuckled. “Always.”
As they stood together in the quiet shop, Kimberly felt a renewed sense of purpose. No matter how chaotic things got, she knew she could handle it. And with Timothy and her supportive clients, there was nothing she couldn’t achieve.