How much trust do friends extend? - Evelyn

Evelyn owned a bespoke boutique. She was a designer dressmaker who customised clothing for her customers.

Fanny had been Evelyn's loyal customer for many years. She recommended Evelyn's boutique to her circle of friends and ordered several pieces every month. The relationship felt warm and easy. They would chat about life over fabric swatches and pattern books.

During a financial crisis, Evelyn noticed that Fanny was slow in making downpayments for her orders. At first, it seemed like a temporary hiccup. But it gradually escalated. Without discussion, Fanny seemed to expect Evelyn to produce pieces without payment.

With a backlog of unpaid orders piling up, Evelyn felt uneasy. She couldn't afford to keep producing custom pieces with no money coming in. When she gently told Fanny she couldn't take on new orders until the outstanding payments were settled, Fanny was livid.

"I've been a loyal customer for years! I've brought you so much business!" Fanny said, her voice sharp with hurt. "We have such a great friendship. Surely you could be more understanding and wait for my business to turn around?"

Evelyn felt the weight of those words. Had she been unkind? Unsupportive? Was she a bad friend?