."He was gorgeous."
Lissy sighed. No one could deny it. Well, no one would want to deny it.
"Dashing"
"Superbly handsome"
"Charming"
"Noble"
The girls around her sighed one by one, exclaiming over the stranger in the shop helping Theresa Potter. It was astonishing that a fine gentleman such as he would even lay a hand on the window glass and it vexed the girls terribly that he had exchanged friendly words with the eldest daughter of the Tailor.
They continued to rant about his wonderful features.
"Sophisticated"
"Sensitive"
"A great kisser."
This comment, from the daughter of the mayor's second cousin in town, drew surprised shrieks from the rest of the girls crowded in front of the cafe.
"Hey!"
"-What?!"
"How do you know?"
Mel burst out finally, "You…you man-stealer!"
After much bickering and intimidation of the girl, whose name was Patricia; they managed to coax the truth out of her. Pat whined, saying that they were just jealous, until finally she spilled.
"Okay, fine. So he didn't kiss me. Melissa, you prig. I'm not a man-stealer! I'm just a compulsive liar." Pat grinned, her rosy lips tilting upwards and a little sideways.
"Well, bet you he is a great kisser," the rest of the group assured each other.
"Suave, too… and intriguing. Girls, if I faint, you simply must catch me!" Mel declared, and the girls looked at each other uneasily; Mel was twice their weight.
Lissy closed her eyes, long lashes resting upon creamy skin. She listened to the words of those around her and smiled.
"Girls, girls, I know... He's perfect," she whispered with finality.
The sun was high in the sky as puffy white clouds danced across a vast blue sea. Theresa Potter, eldest daughter and in charge of her father's shop, rushed down the crowded streets of Fairaway, done with her grocery needs for the day.
Seros was standing at the doorway to the shop when Theresa returned from her morning chores. Eyes wide, she blinked for a second at the pristine cream and gold suit. A light breeze blew by, rustling locks that fell neatly downwards and matched his suit perfectly. Today he looked a prince out of a fairy tale. She'd bet almost anything 'the crown prince of Key look' would be a hit with the customers. And that was all that mattered, Theresatold herself resolutely.
She hurried to the front door to open it for him. His eyes lit up when she drew close, and she swallowed as she ducked past him while apologizing for making him wait.
Seros leaned against the wall casually as Theresa finished fumbling with the lock. When she dropped the key twice, he offered to carry her grocery basket for her. Theresa flushed, and muttered a 'no'. She could take care of herself.
"Perhaps just until you open the door?"
"Fine. Thank you," Theresa murmured before she added. "...Seros."
A shadow seemed to pass over his gaze as he took the shopping bag from her but this must have been her imagination, because the front door suddenly flew open and Seros whisked her inside, free hand brushing her back. 'Funny,' thought Sophie. 'I wasn't leaning on it.'
After putting down her things in the other room at the back, Theresa returned to the main shop to find Seros standing near the counter at the back of the shop, unmoving.
"Seros? Feel free to sit down," Theresa called, feeling tentative. Did he change his mind about staying and helping her run the shop for the next few days?
"Theresa."
Though his voice was soft, there was a note in it that made Theresa's body shiver. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me by my name during store hours. Just when there are customers."
As if sensing her question, Seros lifted his head and met her gaze. Theresa cringed, uncertain if she'd offended him. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
There was a new tenderness and apologetic layer to his voice. "It's just that the name might cause some gossip because of who it's connected to," he explained.
Theresa nodded. She didn't want to cause Seros any distress. There was something about him, though. Something that was different, if not a little off. Seros Westley, no matter how charmingly he smiled at the women in the shop the other day and no matter how lightly he laughed, was always more than he let on. No matter how far you reached out, he could and would always avoid any real contact with a flicker in his twinkling eyes and a smile on his face.
Sophie--like so many others--wondered. She wondered if ever, behind the perfect image and manners, she would find someone who would have just as many fears and just as many hopes as she did for the future. She wondered if his freedoms and grand adventures were just talk. If he simply enjoyed the challenge of making a huge commission of uncanny volumes of hat sales.
But still, she knew little about him, other than his name. Surely she shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially one so good at business. And so Theresa promised him that she wouldn't utter the name 'Seros' in the presence of others.
As she attended to the shop blinds, Theresa thought about why Seros had entrusted her with his name. He'd told none of the customers. At least, not as far as Theresa knew. All those strikingly beautiful girls in the neighborhood—none of them received the loud laugh and warm gleam in his eye. Theresa's chest grew warm at the thought, but she shook her head and focused on pulling up the blinds.
As sunlight streamed into the small shop, Theresa turned back, silhouetted in bright daylight that haloed her slim frame. Seros sat on his bench at the perfect angle, facing her from the opposite end of the room.
An odd look washed over his face, one which Theresa thought she'd never seen before. Quickly, she averted her eyes and returned to the counter.
"You're beautiful, Theresa."
The words came from Seros's lips, and Theresa immediately wrung her hands. Her face was burning.
"Beautif- " she paused. "Stop teasing."
He smiled vaguely in response, eyes never leaving her face.
Theresa cleared her throat.
"No jokes, Seros," she murmured. "I intend to pay your commission without such words, too."
In what seemed like an age, Seros turned his face so he was staring back out the windows. Theresa's eyes followed him.
His lips parted, and he said softly, shrugging, "Well, Theresa, it seemed the right thing to say just then."
Silence settled on the hat shop. Theresa fiddled with a loose string on her dress. Seros seemed to stare endlessly at the warm flow or sunshine from the window glass, a serene look on his fine face.
The two passed time away like that for a while. The girls that usually came sneering at Theresa didn't arrive that day, and Theresa wondered what they were up to.
"So, what do you do for a living, Seros?" Theresa asked tentatively. She watched with curiosity as Seros blinked once, then opened his mouth and seemed to seriously think about her simple question.
"I—" The words died on his lips. Theresa was about to ask what was wrong when the shop door opened and the bell dinged suddenly.
Comments (0)
See all