'Making up these patterns in stretchy jersey will be difficult,' he pointed out. 'Take the gathered sleeve there, with the bow at the end. I don't know if we can do that, for example.'

'Maybe you could give it a try?' Annie asked encouragingly.

'I'd rather not. We've got a very narrow time frame here.'

'We have to have the sleeves like this,' Elena insisted. 'It is supposed to look like upmarket and chic, but in sweatshirt material. This is the style.'

Brad Barrington scratched the back of his head and took a long, appraising look at the sketches.

Silence. One of those silences when clearly no one wanted to back down.

Annie and Elena stole a little glance at one another. They weren't going to give in. If Brad here wanted their business he would have to give the dress sleeves a go.

'All right ...' he said finally, 'I'll give them my best shot, but I can't promise they'll come out OK. Could we have that in the contract? If they don't work, then we'll put something simple on there, a b.u.t.ton cuff maybe?'

'Yes,' Elena said, 'but tight b.u.t.ton cuff, then much looser sleeve gathered into it.'

Annie was impressed with the way that Elena was so on top of all the details.

'Well, if you ladies would like to get comfortable in the waiting room, drink a coffee or two, I'll take some of your fabric and your paper patterns and we'll go make you a dress right now so you can see what it's like.'

'Now? Really?'

Annie couldn't believe it would be so quick.

'Yes, really. Settle in over there, read through your contract with us and I'll come back with the first finished product. Have you brought labels for us to sew into the dresses?'

Elena snapped open her bag and handed over an envelope.

It was not even twenty minutes later when Brad returned with the dress.

Annie jumped up from her chair and headed towards him, desperate to take a look.

Turning the hanger this way and that, she showed the dress to Elena. 'Look at the seams, so straight, so cleverly done. Ooh, I love the way the skirt flares out.' Although it was a straightforward shirtdress, the panels of the skirt were cut diagonally to give plenty of flippy movement.

'How are the sleeves?' Elena asked, her deep voice still solemn.

Brad held them out for her to inspect. 'They didn't go as badly as I'd thought. In fact we got very close to your original design here, we've just shortened the ties a little to make it a bit easier to handle.'

'And this you can do on all the other ones?' Elena asked.

'Yes ... yes, I think so.'

'Good.' Elena didn't go over the top with her approval. She was touchingly businesslike.

'Try it on,' Annie urged her, 'just slip it on over your dress and we'll get an idea of what it's like.'

Elena stood up and slipped her arms into the grey sleeves. She b.u.t.toned up the front and did a twirl for Annie and Brad.

Annie could see now how genius these dresses were going to be. She loved the chic, uptown colourful, silky numbers that Perfect Dress had been producing so far, but this was the fantastic downtown version. A slouchy, casual but totally pulled together look which everyone was going to love. Heels, a belt and a beret, it could do the school run, even the office at a push. Leggings, flats and a slouchy bag, and it was totally s.e.xy weekend.

'I love it!' Annie said. 'Isn't it cool?' she asked Brad, but she sensed the term was slightly lost on him. This was a man in a checked shirt and saggy cardigan.

'It's a nice design,' Brad said professionally, 'your designer's really thought the pattern through. It works. Apart from the sleeve, it's all very simple.'

The contracts were signed, the delivery dates were agreed and as they climbed into the taxi, Annie felt truly optimistic about the dresses for the first time since she'd touched down at JFK.

'I hope you're pleased,' she told Elena. 'I really think this is going to work, and he's promised to get everything to us in time for the first due dates!'

'I have to go and show the new dresses to the clients, make sure they still want these dresses, even though they are different from the ones they ordered.'

'But they will,' Annie enthused, 'I've worked in fashion for years and I know that these dresses are absolutely perfect for right now. They're really going to sell.'

Elena still didn't look especially happy and Annie wondered if it was to do with Sye. To Annie's knowledge Sye had barely been in touch from his model shoot. But he was due back in town tomorrow, so surely the lovely couple would be able to make up then.

They sat silently for a while, then Elena's phone began to ring. She looked at the screen and issued a totally Svetlana-like 'Tschaaa' of disapproval.

Sweeping her hair out of the way, she pressed the phone to her ear.

'Sye, yes, h.e.l.lo. How are you?'

Annie tried not to listen, but she was in the back of a cab with not much choice. Well, especially as the conversation now took an unexpected turn.

'I am very busy, Sye,' Elena began. 'I don't think I have time to see you this weekend. I don't know when I'm going to have time to see you ... no not next week. Sye ... maybe not ever.'

There was a pause, which Annie a.s.sumed must be Sye objecting. But to her amazement all Elena said in reply was 'No, I don't think so, Sye. No. Goodbye.'

With that, she hung up, stuffed the phone quickly into her handbag ... and burst into tears.

Chapter Eighteen.

Lana's dinner date: Dark blue b.o.o.b tube (J. Crew sale rail)

Black harem trousers (discount warehouse)

Blue suede three-inch heels (on loan from Elena)

Silver clutch (Macy's)

Packet of condoms (Duane Reade)

Cloud of perfume (duty-free sample)

Total est. cost: $125

'Just coffee!'

As Annie slid the plastic card into the hotel room lock, Ed called from the other side of the door. 'Annie?'

'Oh yes,' she said pushing the door open, 'it's me and I've made it back from the wilds of Connecticut.'

Ed, wet-haired and wearing a fresh shirt and pair of trousers, was lying on top of the bed. He patted the empty s.p.a.ce beside him.

'Lie down, enjoy the soothing breeze of the air conditioning and tell me all about it.'

It was the best offer Annie had heard for hours.

She dumped her bags and flopped down onto the cool white sheets. This bed was so soft and springy compared with the sofa bed. 'Heaven ...' she told him.

'I know: just you, me, a locked hotel room.'

'Was sightseeing fun?' she asked, turning to put her arm over his waist.

'Yes, but I have even more fun in mind,' he said and moved in to kiss her on the lips.

'Mmmmm ... smooching, it's been too long,' she agreed.

But right on cue, her mobile began to ring.

'Leave it?' Ed suggested.

'I can't,' Annie replied, already up, reaching for the phone, 'it might be Lana, it might be home ... someone might really need me.'

'But I really need you,' Ed complained.

'h.e.l.lo ... h.e.l.lo?' There was no sound at the other end, but Annie immediately knew who it was. 'Mum, is that you, are you there?'

Ed sat up.

'Mum, it's Annie here. Did you mean to phone me? Isn't it very late at home?'

'Annie, I can't sleep and I just wanted a little chat,' Fern began.

Annie noticed how tired her mother's voice sounded. 'How are you doing?' she asked soothingly.

'Oh not too bad. Not too bad at all. But I can't sleep and I thought you might still be up.'

'I'm in New York, Mum,' Annie reminded her.

'You're in New York? What? Now?' Her mother sounded astonished, as if this couldn't possibly be right.

'Yes. I'm here for a few weeks.'

'All the way over in New York? Why didn't you tell me?'

'Well, I did, Mum, but it must have just ... gone to the back of the queue, you know.'

This was their code phrase, because any mention of 'forgotten' or 'forgetful' made Fern upset.

'Oh no, dear, I wouldn't let a thing like that go to the back of the queue.'

'I wouldn't come all the way over here and not tell you, would I, Mum?'

'Well ... I don't know,' she said, 'you do always like to rush off here, there and everywhere.'

'Mum, you're phoning me, all the way to New York on my mobile. I think you should put the phone down and I'll call you right back.'

'Good grief,' Fern exclaimed and put the receiver down without another word.

'Would it be cheaper to call her back on the mobile or the hotel phone?' Annie asked Ed.

'I have no idea.'