Bartholomew Jay Westwood, or simply Jay, is a suit fanatic. They're easily his one indulgence. He owns one in every color, which makes it nearly impossible to pick one for an upcoming holiday party. The only one that seems suitable is white, and he originally bought it for a Halloween costume three years ago. But he can't quite bring himself to wear it and settles for another number from his vast collection.<br><br>Unfortunately, tragedy strikes after he stops to pick up a last-minute gift. But the incident takes place outside his favorite suit shop, The Well-Dressed Man, and waiting inside is none other than expert tailor Walden Conway. He might have just the thing Jay needs, and it may be more than a suit.

The Tailor

After quickly flipping their sign to ‘closed’ and locking the door, he directed Jay to the back room. There were boxes and the room had an odd smell to it, one Jay couldn’t place. A few lights burned softly around a table that appeared to be home to Walden’s sewing machine and whatever else a tailor needed to get the job done. Jay wasn’t overly familiar with the actual process. Just to the right of the table stood a mannequin decked out in a suit like none of the others in the store. He stepped before the headless dummy to give it a proper look, pleased with what he saw, already imaging how it would look on his frame.


“Of course,” Walden nodded. “It should fit; I’ve got all your measurements on file, and if there is any need for last-minute alterations, I think they can be done. You might be a little bit late for your party, though.”


Chapter 4