We discussed the design, price, and deadline. A few days later, she placed the order and paid a deposit.
It wasn’t enough to transform my finances.
But it was another customer, another piece of work, and another reason to keep going.
I was cutting fabric for that order when Emma came into the dining room holding a new school supply list.
“Mom, I need some things for our science project.”
“Let’s see.”
She handed it over without apologizing.
No nervous questions about prices. No suggestions that she could manage without everything.
Just a ten-year-old telling her mother what she needed for school.
I looked through the list and told her we’d pick everything up that weekend.
“Okay!” she said, already turning toward the kitchen.
I watched her go.
Then I glanced at the pale-blue princess dress hanging beside my sewing machine.
The sleeve I’d unpicked twice was still perfectly smooth.
