Page 64 of British Daddy to Go

I take in my full body in the mirror. “You chose well, Roger. Thank you for your help.”

“It was entirely my pleasure, sir. I think this was our fastest visit yet!”

He’s right. It normally takes two or three tries to find exactly what I’m looking for. Maybe Roger is getting to know me a little too well. Or, more likely, he got lucky on the first try this time around. I’m sure we’ll be back to our usual run-around the next time I come by.

“You’re going to make a splash at your meeting next month,” Roger continues. “I don’t think they have anything like this in England!”

England is much more fashion forward than we are here, even compared to New York. There are likely businessmen walking around in this fabric already. I decide against telling him this, considering I’m not going to England next month anyway. I don’t know when I’ll wear the suit, only that I’ll make sure to find an occasion. It’s not an office kind of outfit. I need to wear the suit for a special occasion. I’ll have Greg search my calendar to find the perfect event.

“Shall we get things sized for you, Sean?”

This is my moment! “Yes,” I tell him. “Can you have Maggie do it? She’s really done such a great job these last few visits. You should be glad to have hired her.”

Roger’s face reddens. “Maggie is no longer employed with us,” he informs me.

“Excuse me? Did you fire her?”

“We didn’t have to,” he says. “She quit. She called less than a week ago and said it wasn’t working out and that she would be returning to her parents’ store instead. The girl didn’t give notice or anything, just up and quit without returning! Her things are still on her desk in the back. I haven’t had time yet to hire her replacement…”

My head spins. “I thought she loved this job. Why would she quit?”

“Beats me. She left me high and dry, though. I thought I’d hired a professional when I took her on. Clearly, I thought wrong.”

That doesn’t make any sense. Maggie really did love this job. It was her gateway to being a fashion designer, like she has always dreamed of! Did she quit because of me? That’s possible. Maybe she thought the only way to avoid me for good was to quit working at Havisham’s.

I hope that’s not the case. If she’s so desperate to get away from me, I could have taken my business elsewhere or ensured I never had her as my tailor. Instead, she up and quits!

“I will tell you this,” Roger adds. “She sounded a bit strange on the phone. I would have thought it was a prank, but she hasn’t shown up to work at all this week, so I guess it was real.”

Before I can ask what Roger means by Maggie sounding strange, an older tailor arrives to get my measurements. I do love this suit, so I obey her every command until I’m sized and ready to go.

“We’ll have this ready for you before your trip, sir,” Roger assures me. I feel bad that he’s going to rush my order for a nonexistent business meeting. “And we’ll see you next week for your final fitting for the wedding tux!”

I thank him for all of his help and start toward the door, but a beep from my phone stops me.

The display shows one unread text, so I open it up. The message came from an unknown number, and all it says is,Maggie is in trouble. You have to help her.

I read the message over and over again, trying to make sense of it. Maggie is in trouble? What kind of trouble?

I don’t have a chance to ask the mysterious sender. I tuck my phone back into my pocket and break into a sprint.

If Maggie really is in trouble, I’m going to help her.

That’s what you do for the people you love.