11) Odds & Ends

The shops became smaller and less glamorous as Spi wandered further down the street. A block and a half later she saw a turquoise arrow, flashing just five bulbs out of the dozen or so around its perimeter. The arrow pointed down an alley, and Spi turned right and followed it.

Two doors down was a small tea shop with a turquoise door and a faded sign that matched the arrow.

Spi ordered hot tea and cucumber sandwiches, selected a book from the shelf by the counter, and sat down at a corner table to read and enjoy her tea.

A few minutes later the bell jingled, announcing the arrival of two very eccentric and interesting-looking women in their fifties. From their rather loud and animated conversation Spi learned that one was Jada and the other Ellie, and they were related somehow – sisters or maybe cousins. Jada was apparently upset at Ellie about something and eventually stomped out, slamming the door behind her.

Ellie and the man behind the counter gave one another a knowing glance, then Ellie sat serenely, enjoying her tea.

Finally Spi's curiosity got the better of her. She returned her book to the shelf and walked over to Ellie's table.

"May I join you?"

"Certainly," quipped Ellie. "I've been waiting for you."

Spi couldn't tell from the half grin or the twinkle in Ellie's eye if she was joking or serious. She sat down with her tea.

"Ellie, short for Eleanore," Ellie said, "but you probably already heard that." She laughed.

"Spi, you probably didn't hear that." Spi laughed with her.

The two hit it off immediately and sat for a while, enjoying the tea and conversation.

The clock on the wall struck one and Ellie started. "I'm late!" she exclaimed. And in a flash she was through the door and down the alley.

Spi returned the empty dishes to the counter, put a generous tip in the jar, and complimented the man on his delicious tea, sandwiches, and shop. Then she inquired about where to find Ellie, as it seemed urgent they not lose connection.

The man drew her a simple map on a napkin, leading off the beaten path to a small cottage-style store called Odds & Ends. A small sign in the window read: Vintage Clothing, Alterations, Furniture With a Story, Rare Books, Tea & Biscuits.

Spi gently opened the door. A bell chimed, and she was enveloped in the scent of old paper, lavender, and something faintly herbal.

The store was a labyrinth of carefully curated chaos: racks of clothing from every decade, bolts of fabric, shelves of books stacked to the ceiling, random gadgets, knick-knacks, lamps and small pieces of furniture with price tags dangling from them, a small tea station in the corner with mismatched cups. In the back, sunlight streamed through a window into a cozy seating area with overstuffed chairs.

Ellie appeared from behind a curtain. "Ahhh," she winked. "Following me, are you?"

Spi grinned, feeling at home yet strangely flustered.

"Welcome to my abode!" She clasped her hands together. "Now that you found it, what are you searching for? You've got that look."

"I don't know," Spi said slowly. "But I think it's here."

"I didn't mention it at the tea shop, but I'll say it now. You're not from here."

"No. I'm just arriving."

"I thought so. You have the look of someone who's still figuring out which way the wind blows." She gestured toward the racks. "Feel free to browse. Everything in here has a story. Sometimes the stories are more interesting than the items themselves."

Spi spent the afternoon exploring. She found a silk kimono in dusty rose, a velvet jacket with tarnished gold buttons, a dress from the 1950s with a perfect swing skirt, a silver-plated brush and comb set, and a very interesting lamp with a fish carved into the stand. But nothing felt quite like her – not yet.

"Five o'clock," Ellie piped up as the last customer walked out the door. "Time to close up shop."

Spi was disappointed. She was certain there was something here for her. If only she could find it. She felt again that she wasn't quite in the flow, and it was bothering her.

"Here's something," Ellie offered, holding up a simple white linen dress and a lace shawl. "I'm a seamstress, you know. I take things that are almost perfect and make them exactly right."

Spi was dubious. The dress was pretty but obviously not her style and too large. And the shawl… she wasn't quite ready to be a grandmother.

Ellie was undeterred. "Just a nip and a tuck is all they need. You'll see."

"Now go put this on and come back out here," she ordered.

Spi obeyed without a moment's delay. In the dressing room she looked in the mirror and found the dress to be absolutely hideous on her, but something in Ellie's eyes and her commanding voice forced Spi back into the main room.

Ellie told her to stand on a small stool and started taking measurements.

"Hmm… Yes, this way. Little nip here. Little dart there. Now stand still so I get it right. This is delicate work." Ellie kept mumbling, sometimes to herself and sometimes directed at Spi.

Finally she straightened up, seemingly satisfied with her work.

"Be ready next Tuesday," Ellie said. "Stop in then. Price is twenty dollars."

Twenty dollars? What kind of rag would this turn out to be?Spi wondered.

Still flabbergasted, she walked out into the early evening sun.

What just happened?! she wondered. That was surely one of the strangest encounters I've had so far!

Before she could decide what to do next, her phone rang. She jumped! This was the first call she'd gotten. She made a mental note to change the ringtone to something less harsh.

Richard Prescott was on the other end of the line. "Spi! We're having a dinner party tonight. Wear the green dress. Jonathan will drive you. See you at eight!" There was no room for negotiation in his voice.

What?! How did he know about the green dress? Eight!That was barely enough time to get home and changed. After a couple false attempts she summoned an Uber and made it just in time to shower, get changed, and look fabulous!

Jonathan did a double take when he opened the car door for her and couldn't help but steal glances in the rearview mirror at every opportunity.

Spi was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to notice. She still felt out of the flow and had a sense of urgency to do something about it before they reached the party.

She sank back in the plush seat and closed her eyes, withdrawing into her inner sanctuary. Her senses shifted, and the car turned into a carriage, swaying as it moved along. Grace and ease, she remembered. Flow, create, be. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she became totally immersed in the experience. To an onlooker, it looked like a woman asleep in the back of a Rolls. Behind her eyelids, she was fully present in another world.

As they reached their destination the car slowed to a stop and Spi came back to the present, opening serenely. She felt much better, her uncertainty replaced by confidence this night would have a fairy tale ending. Jonathan took her hand as she alighted from the Rolls and escorted her to the door. Richard met her, taking her elbow and steering her through the crowd, introducing her as his muse.