Stitched In Harmony

“Candace—did Parker come and pick up the outfits for Fashion Week?” Ashlee asked, juggling a roll of leather fabric in one hand and a set of grommets in the other.

“Yes, Ash. He came and picked those up yesterday,” Candace replied, focused on updating Luxe Loom’s social media feed before they opened their doors for the day.

“Awesome,” Ashlee murmured, making her way to the back of the boutique to her workspace.

She carefully placed the leather material on one of her workstations before settling at her desk. The strategic placement of her desk among the workstations optimized her workflow and creative aura.

The clock on her iMac read 8:30 a.m. As she placed her index finger on the keyboard to unlock it, the “Ashlee James” monogram on her wallpaper made her let out a long sigh. She hated to admit it, but she was exhausted. She had stayed up late all weekend to ensure the New York Fashion Week outfits for her client were perfect. It was yet another big moment and milestone in her career since opening Luxe Loom five years ago.

Starting a boutique from scratch was tough enough, but being a young African American boutique owner in Pasadena after moving from the South made it even tougher. Ashlee was grateful for Candace—her cousin and best friend. They grew up like sisters, and when Ashlee needed help, Candace graciously moved to Pasadena to manage the small staff and day-to-day operations at Luxe Loom. This freed Ashlee to focus on custom designs and expand her stylist duties.

Checking her calendar, Ashlee noticed she had free time after 2 p.m., which was perfect. She could finally collaborate with Candace on some boutique upgrades they had been planning. Ashlee had allocated funds from the last few months to give the boutique some much-needed upgrades that would make her clients feel like they were in Beverly Hills. After all, the slogan for Luxe Loom is “Where Every Thread Tells A Luxurious Story”.

Before diving into her sketches, her phone buzzed beside her, the notifications reflecting in her blue light glasses. Another text from Brent—her ex. Ashlee ended things with him eight months ago, yet every few weeks like clockwork, he would text her every morning for about a week straight. When she didn’t respond, he would stop, only to start again a few weeks later.

Brent had shattered her trust when she discovered that the money she loaned him—intended for business investment—had instead been used to secure an apartment for his ex-fiancée. He had claimed it was for a partnership in a new local restaurant, but the truth had come to light soon enough. Fortunately, getting her lawyer involved ensured she recouped every cent.

Turning 30 this year didn’t mean Ashlee was willing to settle for someone who didn’t respect her ambitions or match her drive. Luxe Loom was her pride and joy, demanding most of her time and energy—something Brent had never truly understood. While she thrived in her work, she also valued having people in her life with pure intentions, those who kept her grounded. Too often, she felt as if she had shut herself off from the world, especially after moving to Pasadena—a city where she knew no one.

With a deep breath, Ashlee smoothed her hair behind her glasses, set her phone aside, and opened her sketchbook, diving into designs for an upcoming fall collection and a personal request from one of her largest clients. The sound of soft instrumental music filled the boutique as she sketched, lost in her work. Midway through refining a design, Candace peeked into the workspace.

“Hey, let’s grab lunch soon, and after that, we can go over those upgrades,” Candace suggested, twirling a pen between her fingers.

“Sounds good. We can let Gwen handle the front while we brainstorm,” Ashlee agreed. Gwen, their intern, was more than capable of holding things down while they stepped away.

By noon, Ashlee and Candace were huddled over design swatches and boutique layouts at a nearby cafe, sipping iced matcha lattes. They had just started discussing new lighting fixtures when Candace’s phone buzzed with a group text from their close friends.

Brianna: Ladies’ night tonight? Drinks and karaoke?

Morgan: Ashlee, don’t even think about saying no!

Candace grinned and nudged Ashlee. “Come on, Ash, you never go out anymore. You’re going to work yourself into the ground. You need to have fun once in a while.”

Ashlee rolled her eyes playfully. “I do have fun. It’s just... my idea of fun is finishing these sketches without interruption.”

Candace leaned in with a teasing smile. “You know, I don’t want you just designing and creating my wedding dress without doing your own one day.”

Ashlee laughed but before she could respond, her phone rang. It was an unknown number, but she recognized the area code. Answering it, “This is Ashlee”, she was met with the frantic voice of Olivia, a stylist she had worked with before.

“Ashlee! Thank goodness you picked up. I have a major emergency,” Olivia’s voice was filled with urgency. “We have a wardrobe crisis for tonight’s concert, and I need your help. The manager is... let’s just say very particular, and I need everything to be flawless.”

Ashlee instinctively switched into business mode. “What exactly do you need, Olivia?”

“Alterations and accessories for the entire group of six females. Some pieces aren’t fitting right, and I need a stylist with an eye for detail,” Olivia explained.

Ashlee glanced at Candace, who was already giving her an understanding nod. Despite the chaos this request would bring, Ashlee couldn’t say no.

“Alright, I’ll do it,” she said with determination. “Text me the details and I’ll meet you at the venue.”

As she hung up, Candace smirked. “Looks like ladies’ night might have to wait.”

“Duty calls,” Ashlee said with a wink, already mentally planning how to tackle the last-minute fashion emergency.

Ashlee pulled out her planner, jotting down everything she would need for the evening. From emergency stitching kits to fabric steamers, she knew this job demanded perfection. She packed everything into her usual travel organizer with gold “Luxe Loom” stitching on the side. She called Gwen to the back to go over shop responsibilities while she was out.

“Gwen, I’ll be out this evening handling a client emergency. You’ll be fine up front?” Ashlee asked.

“Of course! I’ve got everything covered,” Gwen replied confidently.

Candace chimed in, “And I’ll be here if anything comes up until closing.”

Ashlee smiled, feeling grateful for the support system Luxe Loom provided. Despite the stress, moments like these reminded her why she loved what she did.

She had no idea that this frantic call would change everything—and introduce her to someone who would challenge her in ways she never expected.