Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
JACK
“I look like an idiot.”
“You look like a gentleman.” Abigail lifted a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh.
After the pickpocketing expedition, the two had found a store named Bateman’s Boutique and had gone inside to find new clothes.
The store was jam-packed with circular clothing racks; walls with shelves, floor to ceiling bursting with clothing and accessories; and the rudest clerk Jack had ever seen, until the clerk saw how much money they had.
As soon as Abigail waved her folded green bills in front of his nose, his tune changed. A different person entirely had come out from within the husk of the scrawny man.
“This is the latest fashion in New Hope, darling,” he crooned at Jack. “Trust me, sweetheart, you’re going to be the bell of the ball, mmm-hmmm.”
Jack turned again to look at himself in the full-length mirror. He wore a brown suit complete with a vest and a top hat. The suit coat fell down past the back of his knees in two coat tails.
“It doesn’t seem like a bit much?” Jack looked into the flawless mirror to catch Abigail’s eyes.
“We need to … fit in with the fashion worn here in New Hope.” Abigail looked over at the store clerk to see if he had caught any of her cryptic talk.
It was clear the man hadn’t. He was rifling through a rack of dresses, already choosing one for Abigail.
“Okay, I guess we’re doing this.” Jack adjusted his pants. “It just feel so weird and … uncomfortable.”
“Welcome to the world of a woman.” Abigail accepted the clothes from the clerk. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappeared into a changing booth. A long, dark purple curtain shielded her from the rest of the store. Jack could only see the very bottom of her feet as she changed.
“So, are you two here visiting?” the clerk asked as he sidled up to Jack. “Where are you from?”
Jack was sure the clerk was only trying to make polite conversation, still something in the back of his mind told him they needed to be careful.
“We’re here visiting our family.” Jack did his best at a lie. He had never been comfortable lying, but he needed to now. Both his and Abigail’s safety depended on it. “We’re from just outside New Hope. I got a raise at my job so we thought we’d come in and buy some new clothes while we were here.”
“Oh, how fantastic!” The clerk clapped his hands together. “You look like a go-getter. What company do you work for? Wait, let me guess, you seem like an accountant.”
There was a snort from inside the changing area as Abigail tried to contain herself.
“Yes, how did you know?” Jack was trying to keep track of all the lies now.
His new persona was proving to be difficult and the hole he was digging for himself was only getting deeper.
“I work for a firm that deals in gnome job placement. You can imagine there is a high demand for those skilled little workers.”
“Oh, how interesting!” The clerk feigned admiration as a plastic smile twisted his face. “My brother-in-law does the same thing. What firm do you work for?”
“What’s that?” Jack’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as his mind worked on overdrive.
“I said my brother-in-law also works for a job placement company for the paranormal.” The clerk had slowed down his speaking as if it would help Jack understand. “He works for Martinez and Sons. What company do you work for?”
“Oh, what company do I work for?” Jack repeated the clerk now. He could feel his face grow hot as panic began to set in. “Well, that’s actually a funny story. I work for Martinez and Sons, too.”
Jack bit the inside of his mouth as he realized what he had just said. Not only had he doomed himself to be found out as a liar, but he was also sure the clerk would be able to see the sweat forming at his brow.
“What a coincidence.” The clerk’s mouth opened in the shape of a large O. “You must know Jerry, then. The company isn’t that large. I think there’s only a handful of employees.”
“Oh, yeah … yeah that Jerry.” Jack nodded along. His throat was so dry, it was hard to swallow. “He’s a heck of a guy. We go way back.”
“Well, what are the odds?” the clerk asked with a high-pitched laugh. “I’m going to have to tell him I met you. What was your name again?”
“Ja—”
“Jeremiah, what do you think?” Abigail pulled back the curtain, revealing her new outfit.
She wore a black-and-red sleeveless dress that came down to her feet.
The dress billowed at the bottom, making her look as elegant as any lady of New Hope.
In Jack’s eyes, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
“You look amazing.” Jack felt a cool rush of air wash over him as he realized she had saved him just in time from putting his foot into his mouth.
“Oh, you two just make the most amazing couple!” The clerk handed Abigail a black cloak she could wear in the evenings. “It does get chilly in New Hope at night. Be sure to also buy a cloak. Now, please allow me to ring you up at the counter.”