Fashionable Choices
Our group exits the vehicles after getting parked at the shopping center Zyra suggested. She’s driving one car, and Exos has borrowed Theodore’s. Jackal’s brother-in-law stayed home with a very excited Lottie, who was more than pleased to have an entire day to play with Pickles.
I do imagine he’ll be given at least one or three too many biscuits on this trip, but since he has an iron stomach to match his fireproof skin, things should be all right.
While my thoughts are still insisting he could burn down the house, I’m arguing back that he’s safer there than out in the open, where someone might find us.
I imagine I’ll continue to ruminate on the possibility in the background, but I don’t let it stop me.
Starla’s convinced, and Jackal tends to agree from their history, that Councilman Taylor’s men were attempting to control her but not necessarily harm her. The definition of harm being incredibly loose in that scenario.
I’m not so certain. But I’ll admit that my pattern of thought has gone from overall anxious to a bit cynical, ever since my interactions with Leon and Ivyrn Works.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that her dad truly is just that terrible a parent.
It’s not like mine are winning any awards, so I’m fully able to believe that even having his daughter forced into a visit could be his way of trying to get a moment alone with her to clear the air before the rest of us descend.
I run my fingers over my shell necklace. At least my mother got it to me, even if she didn’t make the trip herself.
It’s probably better that she didn’t.
Having decided not to call her father after he sent his welcoming committee, Starla has planned our shopping list around events from years past and added a few things we should get just in case.
Zyra paces in front of the rest of us, reading from Starla’s list and sound as serious as a general giving orders.
“You gentlemen will need suits, but not just off the rack. Something tailored. You’ll also want to get some slightly less-formal but still elegant attire for the weekend.”
Ji-hwan bows at the hips.
“Leave it to me. I promise I’ll ensure these two have something suitable prepared when we meet back at the car park.”
Zyra blushes, smiling behind her hand as she agrees.
“All right, then. That leaves us, ladies. Follow me!”
“After this, we just need to look at makeup and perhaps a few accessories, and we should be good to go,” Zyra says a couple of hours later.
The hyena shifter looks energized, and her expression has brightened the longer we’ve been going.
“I love to shop,” she continues, “but admittedly I haven’t really gone on a true spree in a while.
Theodore and Lottie are wonderful, but they’re not exactly clothes hounds, or at least not when it comes to things like ballgowns.
And I certainly don’t have anywhere to wear anything like that.
Thank you for letting me help you two. This has been fun. ”
“Of course. I couldn’t have done it without you,” I say.
Zyra throws an arm around each of us.
“You will come back, won’t you? On a proper visit. One without power-tripping warlocks.”
My cheeks heat.
“I would love to, if you don’t mind.”
“Mind! You’re practically a sister! And you’ll be Aunt Leena. You’re welcome anytime. As are you, Starla, but you already know that.”
Starla responds as I mumble a thanks, some of the tightness in my chest loosening under the warm affection of Jackal’s family.
Between them, I have secured gowns for tonight and tomorrow night’s events, plus shorter dresses for the various things Councilman Taylor may have planned during the days.
We’ve chosen things that will still hold up to the chillier weather.
It’s not so much an issue for me, but Starla reminded me that her father is likely to invite a large number of witches and warlocks who have temperature tolerances closer to humans, and it could help to blend.
I’m also the owner of several new pairs of shoes—probably more pairs than there will be events.
Starla has insisted on covering the bills. While her bar makes a living, I know the coven has all sorts of funds as well.
“I’d sooner spit in the eye of a rampaging wildebeest than take my father’s money, but I have no problem business-expensing some things through the coven,” she said when we checked out from the first store and the total made my eyes bulge.
“Grammy insisted that, since the deal made with my father was technically a benefit to the entire coven, they could bear the expense.”
We make our way into a coffee shop for a much-needed caffeine break. The shop smells of fresh ground coffee, relaxing me further. We choose our drinks and find a table near one of the windows. Starla leans back, sipping a coffee, one hand on her temple.
“I have shopped until I have literally dropped into this chair. Jet lag, you have found me. I’m more tired than a tortoise after racing fifteen hares.”
Zyra chuckles.
“Does that mean you don’t want to look at jewelry and makeup after all?”
Starla bolts upright.
“Sacrilege! Of course we need to accessorize! The show must go on!”
The two have a fire in their eyes that borders on fanaticism, and I shake my head at them.
I may not have their enthusiasm for things, but I’m not going to scoff at it, either.
I rather like how I look in the dresses they helped me choose, and I’m looking forward to seeing Jackal’s reaction when he sees me in them.
And perhaps helps me out of them. Once we’re away from the manor, or his sister’s, and somewhere with some privacy, of course.
“What about you, Leena? Is there anything on your shopping list today?” Zyra asks.
I can feel my cheeks growing warm.
“Well, it’s not a clothing item. It’s also a bit silly, particularly since we’re sitting here with coffee. But I’ve always wanted to try a traditional afternoon tea. With the little sandwiches and cookies and cakes?”
I can envision myself sitting near a sunny window, enjoying a scone with cream. I’d linger with the snacks, basking in the glow of a lazy afternoon while I sipped tea and read a romance novel.
“We can make that happen!” Zyra’s voice is enthusiastic.
“Wait, really?”
I’m certain it’s a total tourist request, but the hyena gives no hint of being annoyed or being ready to laugh at me.
“Absolutely. I know just the place. Let’s go grab the accessories, and then we can pop in for a nice afternoon tea. This place is casual enough that we won’t need to change into any of your new outfits.”
A relief, since we’re wearing jeans and heavy sweaters lent to us by Zyra.
The makeup doesn’t take long. Starla already has a list of favored products, even if she doesn’t wear a lot on her face when we’re back home at the beach. Jewelry takes a little bit longer, but Zyra has a keen eye for what will suit both our outfits and us.
When we’re done, we’ve still got ample time before we’ve planned to meet the guys, and I feel more excited than I want to admit at the prospect of a proper tea.
A bell sounds as we enter the place Zyra indicated.
The outer door is painted a dark, deep blue.
The interior has a lot of natural wood and brass accents.
It’s exactly what she said. Not a place where we’d need to be dressed in fancy clothes, but a welcoming and cozy spot.
“It’s a build-your-own type of experience,” Zyra explains as we approach a counter.
“You choose a tea, and a set number of both savory and sweet items for the tray. Perhaps a bit less posh than ordering everything tableside, but the pastries are all homemade, and I can vouch that they are delicious.”
“Zyra! Haven’t seen you in a while!” A woman with her brown hair pulled back in a bun and wearing a flour-stained apron comes to the counter to greet us.
“Camille!” Zyra and the woman trade pleasantries, with Zyra explaining that she has some friends in town. She doesn’t bother giving details, and that’s probably safest.
“Camille is a dear friend of mine. You all can choose anything on the menu, but I have to say you should try the raspberry almond cookies. It’s her own recipe and they are delectable.”
For a moment, I marvel at the two women discussing the town, Lottie’s winter break from school, and a few other things. Of course Jackal’s sister has a regular life, but it can be easy to forget that, after meeting her how we did.
When Camille turns her attention to us to ask for our order, I beam, warmed by the atmosphere of the shop and the way this moment of normalcy helps prepare me for the potential coming storm.
“Well, what do you think?” Starla asks as I polish off the last dregs of my tea and a final bite of raspberry almond cookie. Camille brought us a plate of extras after noticing that we tore through the first set.
“Everything you expected?” Zyra asks.
I give a warm smile to both of them.
“Better.”
And it is.
Both women grin back at me, but then Starla’s expression shifts.
“Uh-oh.”
“What?” Zyra asks, twisting her head toward the window, where Starla is focused.
It’s raining outside, which is obscuring the view a bit. Perhaps a good thing, because it means Dennis and Chaz don’t have a great view of us, either. Dennis has the collar of his coat pulled up, and his hair is dripping. Clearly the two of them weren’t prepared for the rain.
Chaz is pointing to the shop, perhaps suggesting they come inside to get warm or dry. Or it could be he’s spotted us, but the two look far too grumpy to be men who have found what they’re searching for.
“After all this preparation and effort, I’m not showing up to my father’s manor being dragged like a drowned cat through the rain by those two.” She scowls at the window, but ducks back so she’s hidden behind Zyra’s head.
Zyra gets up, leaving Starla exposed, but within moments she’s brought back Camille.
“Head out through the employee entrance. It’ll let you out in a small alley where we toss the trash. From there, go to the next street over.”
Camille presses a bag into my hands, and I can smell more raspberry almond cookies.
“Thank you,” I say.
She smiles.
“Come back anytime.”
We make our way past the counter, and the employees-only door is closing behind us when we hear the entrance bell ring again.
“What did you tell her?” Starla asks.
“Just that I needed a bit of assistance. Camille’s a good friend. With a good friend, sometimes you don’t have to explain.”
Starla and I look at each other, no doubt understanding exactly what she means.
I’m determined to have another day like this and return when we’ve sorted everything. Plus, I need an opportunity to try to talk Camille into parting with her cookie recipe.