The Glassblower(104)
Ruth’s objections were rather more practical. “If you actually manage to find a wholesaler for Marie’s globes, when is she going to fill his orders?”
“At night of course,” Marie answered. “That’s the way I’ve always done it. Or what do you think?” she said, turning to Peter. All he did was nod heavily in agreement, whereupon she made a face at him.
“You’ll have to do it that way at first,” Johanna conceded. “But if more orders come in—and I’m counting on it that they will—then you’ll have to stop working for Heimer.”
Two pairs of eyes stared at her in horror while Peter sat back, watching without saying a word, just as he had from the start. Johanna shot him a glance, unsure whether she was glad that he was staying out of it or whether she would have preferred his support after all.
Ruth was the first to recover.
“I could help with the painting,” she offered. “I know that nobody can paint as well as you can,” she said to Marie with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, “but I could manage your ice crystals and winter landscapes. And I can pack the globes of course. We’ve still got a whole pile of cardboard boxes left over from before. The globes must be about the same size as the pharmacy bottles, don’t you think?”
“Slow down,” Marie said. “What Johanna is suggesting here would mean opening our own glassworks. I don’t know . . . three women, running a business. Can something like that even work?”
“Why not?” Ruth replied. “It would mean that we were working for ourselves. We wouldn’t have to answer to anybody else.”
Peter cleared his throat. “When are you thinking of going to Sonneberg?”
Johanna looked at him in surprise. “Perhaps next week? Or the week after? I haven’t really thought about it.”
“But you ought to, if your plans aren’t going to run aground. Or have you forgotten that the American, Mr. Woolworth, is coming to Sonneberg in August? He’s arriving in two weeks.”
“Woolworth? What’s he got to do with my plan? He only visits . . .”
Peter laughed. “Oh no he doesn’t! It looks like Strobel’s only getting a small slice of the pie this year. Almost every wholesaler in Sonneberg has had a letter from Woolworth announcing his arrival. They’re talking about nothing else in town right now. Everybody’s wondering what special deals they can offer the man, and they’re all hoping for nice fat order books by the time he leaves.”
It took Johanna a moment to digest the news.
“That means I’ll have to go to Sonneberg as soon as possible. Once Woolworth’s in town, nobody will have any time for me. I’ll have to get to them before the American does. And then”—she gave them all a grin—“our wholesaler, whoever it is, can show Marie’s baubles to dear old Woolworth when he comes!”
“In that case, you should go this week. Shall I come along with you? I could help you carry the samples and then wait for you with Wanda while you visit their shops,” Ruth put in.
Johanna’s grin faded. A wave of nausea passed over her at the thought of Sonneberg. All the same she said, “No, I think I’d rather go on my own. I don’t think Wanda would like it in town in this heat.”
“Magnus could go with you,” Marie suggested. “He has the time, and I know he’d be happy to . . .”
“Magnus! What’s Magnus got to do with it?” Peter asked, frowning. “If anybody goes with Johanna, then I will.”
Johanna looked from face to face, irritated.
“Are you quite finished? I don’t need anybody to go with me,” she said, rather more loudly than she had meant to. “I’ve been going to Sonneberg on my own since I was seventeen years old. And I’ll do it again. I don’t need a nanny.” She swallowed. “I’ll set off first thing in the morning—even if it’s raining cats and dogs. If it would make you feel better, I’ll take the train; then I’ll be in town in next to no time.”
The other three looked at one another. There was nothing they could say to that.
“But I’ll decide which globes you take along,” Marie said. “I’d best go choose which ones are fit to be seen.”
“And I’ll find that crate of cardboard boxes. Then we can pack up the best bits this evening.” They left the room arm in arm. Shortly thereafter there was the sound of footsteps and furniture being moved up in Joost’s old room.
As Johanna poured a glass of water for herself and for Peter, she said quietly, “Thank you.”