Ciro embraced her and called up the stairs to Enza. Laura removed her gloves and placed them in her purse. She walked the length of the main room, peering through the window to Enza’s sewing room as Ciro ran up the stairs to bring Enza downstairs. Laura could hear them chatting in the stairwell, so she raced to the front of the shop. When Enza appeared in the doorway and saw Laura, she squealed with delight. Laura embraced her, and soon, both of them were weeping. Laura stood back and took in Enza’s full and lush beauty.
A customer, a miner of around forty-five, pushed the door open, saw the women weeping, pivoted, and left.
“Girls, you’re costing me business,” Ciro joked. “How about we show Laura the apartment?” He picked up Laura’s luggage.
“You must be exhausted,” Enza said to Laura as they followed Ciro up the steps.
“No, I’m loaded with pep. I went stir-crazy on the train. I hope there’s lots for me to do.”
“You can put your feet up and rest, and maybe my wife will do the same,” Ciro said.
“We have everything ready, and I’m glad. We can have a good visit before the baby comes,” Enza said as she pushed the door to the guest room open. “Make yourself at home, I’ll put on coffee.”
“I’d like that,” Laura said.
Enza closed the door behind her and stood in the hallway motionless, as if she was in a dream. Ciro put his arms around her.
“Did you know?” Enza asked him.
“I wouldn’t have been able to keep it a secret.” Ciro kissed her.
Enza took her handkerchief from her wrist, where she had tucked it in her sleeve, and dried her eyes. “As happy as I am about the baby, I was afraid of being alone. I am so happy Laura is here.”
“Well, I may stay forever. I love my room!” Laura said as she joined them.
“I’m going to get back to work,” Ciro said. “You girls let me know if you need anything.”
“Let me show you the nursery,” Enza said.
“The girls in the costume shop made some things for the baby. I’ll get them.” Laura went into her room and came out with a box. She followed Enza down to the nursery across from the master bedroom. Enza sat down in the rocking chair while Laura pulled up a stool, handing Enza the box.
Enza unfolded a satin baby blanket. There was a hand-knit cotton cap and baby mittens, and a black felt crib pillow shaped like a musical note. Laura had embroidered “From your friends at the Metropolitan Opera House” along the staff.
“How is Colin?” Enza asked.
“Who?” Laura pretended not to hear.
“What’s wrong?”
“He hasn’t asked me to marry him, and I don’t think he will.”
“Why?”
Laura shrugged. But then she tried not to cry. “I left without knowing why.”
“You didn’t talk to him about it?”
“It’s very difficult to bring it up. Remember the girls who would issue ultimatums? They ended up with their ultimatums and not much else. Colin is wonderful to me at work. I thought I was good with his sons. I try to be. I take them to the park and the show. When they come to the Met, I clear a work space in the costume shop and help them do their homework while Colin is busy in the box office. I’ve really grown fond of them.”
“So what’s the matter?”
“It’s his mother. She doesn’t want her widowed son to marry a costume shop seamstress.”
“That can’t be,” Enza said softly.
“Yes it can. I’m shanty Irish—and how do I know I am? I heard her say it to the help in the kitchen of her Long Island home. I was helping clear the dinner dishes, as a matter of fact, when I overheard it.”
“Did you tell Colin?”
“I couldn’t wait. I told him on the drive back into the city. And he made excuses for his mother. He said she was an Edith Wharton character. She had airs, and she always would. I shouldn’t take it personally.”
“You have to take it personally,” Enza said.
“That’s what I told him! There’s no other way to take it. But I don’t know what to do. I love him.”
“And he loves you.”
“But I’m without pedigree. I’m not a Vanderbilt or a Ford.”
Enza couldn’t help but think that Laura’s work ethic had given her pedigree. After all, she had worked her way across the Hudson River to eventually gain a position at the Metropolitan Opera House. That had to account for something. So Enza said, “The