Serendipity Read Online Free PDF Page B

her life, that she discovered Faith Moreland had no skills, no likes or dislikes, apart from her husband’s. And it had taken Kate’s prodding for her to face the harder truth. Her divorce wasn’t enough to change who she’d become. Neither was her desire to open her own interior design business. Faith had more work to do. Not just from the inside out but also from the outside in.
    Her new business needed clients and Faith needed friends. To acquire either, she had to be approachable. Beginning with how she presented herself. It was embarrassing to admit she had a closet full of clothes she wore but didn’t like. Clothes that put people off and said I’m better than you . Faith might still be figuring out the deeper aspects of who she was, but Kate was right. These clothes weren’t her.
    And Faith resented them just like she resented herself for getting caught up in the charade.
    She still had boxes in the corner of the living room left over from the move and she pulled one out now and began placing items of clothing inside. Overly elegant gowns, day dresses she’d never have use for here, the silkier blouses she used to hate when her mom wore them, all went into a box.
    As she sorted through her closet, Faith came to another painful realization. Her clothes both emulated and represented what she’d always disdained in her own mother—the useless country club lifestyle that killed time and probably brain cells. Determined to put that life behind her, Faith placed a select few things into a shopping bag that she could carry with her, and when she was finished, she headed out the door.
    Consign or Design was a quaint shop on a side street behind Main with only two other stores in the strip, one a bakery, the other one empty.
    Faith stepped inside and the sound of bells welcomed her as did the décor. Minimalist and simple, mint green walls surrounded her along with hardwood floor and racks of clothing for sale.
    â€œI’ll be right out,” a female voice called.
    â€œTake your time!” Faith continued to browse, noting that the farther back into the shop she walked, the more unique the clothing and the more individual the pieces on display.
    â€œCan I help you?” A woman stepped out of the back of the store, a tiny Yorkshire terrier puppy at her heels.
    Drawn by the tiny animal, Faith bent down to pet the top of the dog’s head. “He’s adorable!”
    â€œThank you.”
    Faith rose, glancing at the other woman for the first time. She was a redhead, not a natural one, judging by the vibrant color, and her clothes were funky and pure fun. A denim vest with distinct emblems sewn on over a white tank top and ruffled skirt.
    Faith realized she was staring and cleared her throat. “I have some clothes here. I wanted to know whether you could sell these items for me. There’s plenty more where these came from. I just thought I’d start with the few I could carry.”
    The other woman’s eyes lit up. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” She took the bag and walked to the counter, laying out Faith’s pieces to view. “Ohh, look at this Chanel!” She eyed the jacket Faith had worn the day she’d run into Ethan.
    â€œWhat do you think?” Faith asked hopefully. If she was going to shop for new clothes, even less expensive ones, she hoped she could defray the cost by unloading what she already owned. “Is there a market for these kinds of things?”
    The woman shook her head. “Not here, honey. I’d have to put these up on the Internet. I’d get you a better price there. Around here those who can afford designer clothes wouldn’t be caught dead in someone else’s. Even items as gently worn as these. And my regular customers need their money for more important things like paying the rent or the mortgage.”
    Faith eyed the other woman warily, unsure if she was being patronized, but