Free Set Up by Cheryl B. Dale

I'd get her something she actually wanted.”
    Johanna narrowed her eyes.
    He rushed on, embellishing on the fly. “I can't get the dress if I don't know the designer. I don't remember where we were when we saw it but we weren't at a store. And Claire was so enthusiastic.” He let his shoulders sag. “Oh well, if you won't help me, I guess it's perfume like last year.”
    “And the year before.” Johanna took the sketch. “Okay, bro. Strangely enough, I might be able to help you despite your totally inadequate skills as an artist.” She went to the closet and pulled out a beaded top. “Was this the label?”
    There it was. The satin oval, the lace. “You are a witch.”
    She laughed and turned back to her packing. “I'm not so bad when you get to know me. Besides, Jane's doing my wedding dress.”
    Cal read the embroidered script, the curlicues so embellished that it took several minutes to puzzle out the words. A. Jane, Atlanta .
    “Doing your wedding dress, eh? Where did you buy this top?”
    Johanna was intent on the large open suitcase. “From Jane’s shop, silly.”
    “Jane's the designer?”
    “Yep.” Johanna folded a sweater and put it in a pile on the bed before pulling out another drawer of clothes. The cat strolled over and inspected the items on the bed before making a leap into the open suitcase.
    Cal pretended not to see. “So tell me about Jane.”
    Johanna held up a garment. “This shirt doesn't fit right. I ought to get rid of it.”
    “If it doesn't fit, yes. So where's this Jane's store?”
    “It's not a store.” She held the shirt to her shoulders. “I hate to do away with it. It was the last thing Mother gave me. Maybe I can get it altered.”
    Cal gnashed his teeth. “Jane. Where's her boutique?”
    “She calls it a dressmaker shop. It's near Lenox.”
    The cat curled up in the suitcase and closed its eyes. Johanna didn't notice. Cal ignored it. “Lenox Square in Buckhead?”
    “That's where it was there the last time I looked.” She shook out slacks. “Jane's great. Everyone in Atlanta uses her.”
    “I don't.”
    She gave him an indulgent glance. “She designs for women, Cal.” She folded the slacks, turned to the case, saw the cat. “Snick, get out of there.” The napping cat, amber eyes blinking in feigned bewilderment, was picked up and set aside. “Look at those damn cat hairs all over my good pants.”
    “Tell me about Jane.”
    She brushed yellow fuzz off jeans. “What's to tell? Jane, like, personalizes things. She's great for giving clothes that extra little oomph. Her stuff costs the earth. You and Claire are springing for her to do my wedding gown, though.”
    “We are?”
    “Y'all offered to go thirds with Dad on the wedding, remember?” She replaced the jeans and glared at the offended cat who sat on the floor cleaning white-tipped paws and ignoring the open suitcase. “It's the most romantic dress ever, an absolute miracle. I have my last fitting this afternoon.”
    “Your last fitting, eh? Near Lenox. I'll go with you.”
    “You?” Johanna forgot the cat. “Are you sure you're looking for a dress for Claire?” Her eyes narrowed. “You're not tangled up with another woman, are you?”
    “Me?” He put on his virtuous face. “You know I gave up women after my last divorce.”
    “Hah.” Johanna slapped her hands on her hips. “So what were you doing with that French model when she threw you in the fountain? I thought Robert was going to have a heart attack when he opened the morning newspaper.”
    “Robert worries too much about my business.” Cal waved a negligent hand. “No, really. I have given up women. Except for an occasional fling,” he amended under her skepticism. “Come on, Johanna. Give me a break. I really want to do something nice for Claire.”
    Good thing Johanna's entry to adulthood hadn’t changed her. She was easily diverted where Claire would have been tenacious. “Well... Claire loves Jane's things but doesn't buy