That behavior wasn’t shocking after what Rielle had learned about Gavin’s ex-wife. “Well, for never having a dog of your own, Sadie is sure taken with you.”
“Probably because she misses Rory, huh?”
“Nope. I got Sadie after Rory went to college, so she’s pretty much my dog.”
“I thought my dad said you had, like, a pack of dogs?”
Rielle transferred the dyed fiber from the pint-sized glass jars into individual plastic grocery bags. “That was true the first time he stayed here. We had three dogs. Spuds died last year. Rory’s dog, Jingle, is around if she is. I take care of Ben’s dogs, Ace and Deuce, whenever he and Ainsley go out of town. So maybe that is a pack.”
Sierra watched her tying off the plastic bags. “Now what do you do with that?”
“Heat it in the microwave to set the dye.” She set two bags in the microwave and set the timer. “Then it cools, I rinse it, spin out the excess water and hang to dry. The immersion batches on the stove are left to cool to room temp. Then I rinse it, spin out the excess water and hang to dry. Sense a theme?” She pointed to the piles of raw, combed wool. “That is called wool roving. Sometimes I dye it whole, or tie it off and tie-dye it. But this batch I’m hand painting. It’s a messy process and I like to use several different colors. The dyed fiber looks weird, but once I spin it into yarn, it is amazing. I can’t keep it in stock and I have ten batches to finish.”
“Where do you sell it?”
“I’ve been working with several stores over the years who know my quality is good and I’m not afraid to experiment with different fibers, so that keeps me in a higher paying niche market. I also sell directly to experienced knitters I’ve met over the years. I supply all sorts of different spun and dyed fibers to a woman who knits projects specifically for publication in how-to books. It’s cool to see the patterns she creates from the yarn I’ve hand-dyed and spun.”
Sierra peered in the pot. “That’s a really pretty color. It would be so awesome to wear something you’ve made.”
“I’ve got so much of this burgundy hue; I’ll keep some and work on a project over the winter.”
“Could you teach me how to knit?” Sierra blurted. “I know you’re busy, but if you’re just sitting by the fire some night, maybe I could watch you and take notes?”
Rielle was absurdly touched by the request. Sometimes when she looked at Sierra she saw a privileged, world-weary teen. But other times, like now, she saw a sweet girl who was eager to learn something out of the norm because it interested her. “I’d be happy to teach you.”
“Really? Cool!”
“Vi won’t get upset? I know she likes to do crafty type activities with you.”
Sierra shook her head. “Grams crochets, just like my other grandma did. It doesn’t interest me because you can knit much cooler things.”
“Okay. I’ve still got a pair of beginner’s knitting needles around someplace.”
“Yay!”
Rielle took the bags out of the microwave, checked to see if all the dye had been absorbed and set the bags on the cooling rack. Then she put in the next two bags and set the microwave timer.
“Now I know you’re big on the barter system, so you have to let me teach you to do something.”
“Sierra, that’s sweet, but not necessary.”
“Fair’s fair. And there’s one thing I’m good at, because I’ve been doing it since I could hold a brush.”
Please. God. No.
“I’ll give you a makeover!” Sierra jumped off the barstool. “This is gonna be so awesome!”
Shit. “Well, I need to finish setting the dye in the last two batches. And clean up.”
“It’ll take me ten minutes to get my stuff together anyway. Then I’ll meet you in your bathroom.”
The enthusiastic teen was through the swinging door before Rielle could reply. How did she tell Sierra she wasn’t interested in a makeover?
She couldn’t. She’d always considered herself lucky that Rory hadn’t forced her love of all that girly stuff on her. Although…Rielle could admit her new hairstyle had made a world of difference in how she viewed herself.
What did she have to lose except for a few hours? Nothing.
But she poured herself a big whiskey Coke anyway before she wandered down the hallway.
Sierra had already set up in Rielle’s bathroom. She pointed to the toilet. “Sit. Get comfy.”
Rielle sat, drink in hand.
“Where is your makeup?”
“Drawer on the right. There’s not much.”
Sierra cleaned Rielle’s face with a warm cloth, which was really weird. She asked questions about Rielle’s skincare regimen, which consisted of washing her face with Ivory soap and moisturizing with Lubriderm lotion.
Surprisingly, that didn’t earn a heavy sigh like it would’ve from Rory.
Rielle kept her eyes closed and took the occasional sip of her drink as Sierra discussed skin tones, the best way to mask her under eye circles and cultivate the natural look. Which prompted her to ask, “So not wearing any makeup isn’t an acceptable natural look?”
“It’s fine when you’re working outside, as long as you’re wearing skin protection with at least thirty SPF.” She smeared something beneath Rielle’s eye. “But you don’t want to look like you just whipped off your gloves and sun hat when you go to town, do you?”
That’s exactly what Rielle had always done. So she deflected. If Sierra was anything like Rory, she’d love to talk about boys. “I haven’t heard you mention any cute guys at your school.”
“I try to avoid talking about guys around my dad. He gets a little uptight and lecture-y about it.”
“Your dad isn’t here. Since you’re avoiding my question, is there some guy you’re interested in?”
Sierra sighed. “There’s one guy. He’s nice and funny and bossy and kind of quirky. I see him at the library or around school and we talk and stuff. But he’s made it clear that he just wants to be pals.”
“Huh.” Rielle stayed still as Sierra’s fingers dotted something cool on her cheeks, nose and forehead and gently smoothed it in. “Doesn’t the new girl catch guys’ interest?”
“Two guys offered to break up with their girlfriends to go out with me. But I don’t need any more crap from the girls at school.”