“I’m working.”
“Okay. Later, maybe? I mean, if you can’t wear a dress to a fancy tea party, then why have a dress at all?”
I had a reply, which involved me griping about missed dinners, demons, gods, and an absent boyfriend, but I pushed it away. “Maybe I’ll put it on later.”
“Sure.”
“When I’m not on duty.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I do like it.”
“Right. I can see that.” At my scowl, she tucked her thumbs into the pockets of her bright green capris. “You know a dress can just be worn for fun, no strings attached.”
“Well, that’s good to know because buying one secondhand has been a hoot a minute.”
She laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m just saying, maybe you were saving the dress for something special, and maybe the special is just this. A nice day. A nice town. Averynice shop owner.”
“If I wear the dress will you stop badgering me about it?”
“Maybe. If you send me pics. Oh,” she said, as the idea hit her. “Wear it to the crowning. You’re off duty then, aren’t you?”
“When is this thing? I swear everyone’s telling me to be there.”
“Tonight? I’m not sure. Sunset?” If she was lying, she was amazing at it. “Hang on, I have the flyer thing Bertie dropped off.” She ducked into her shop, then came back with a flyer that had been folded in half lengthwise. “I really don’t pay much attention to the itineraries. Clothes shopping is sort of hit-and-miss at these kinds of things.”
“Not much traffic?” I asked, taking the paper.
“Halloween is my big season. Well, and Christmas. And prom. But high tea after everyone’s already done their back-to-school shopping? Not so much. Give me a week.”
I opened the flyer. The crowning was at six. Right before sunset. It would be the cap to the event, the big announcement of the tasting winner, and raffle prizes from local businesses would be given out.
“Hi. Happy High Tea Tide,” Cheryl said.
I glanced up and moved out of the way as three young women—sisters, I’d guess—all funneled past her into her shop, already cooing over how retro the place was.
“Could be worse,” I said nodding at the girls.
She gave them a long look. “I think there are a few items they’d like.”
“Well, go ahead. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your retail threatening.”
She barked a laugh and waved at me, disappearing into the shop with a jangle of the bell over the door.
FORMAL DRESS PREFERRED
Right there, in all bold, after the line item that explained what the crowning would be.
I looked around the crowd, and yes, there were more people in dressier clothes than the normal yoga pants, shorts, and flip flops we usually got.
“Hey, Boss,” Shoe said as he came down the sidewalk toward me.
“Shoe. Are you in on the whole crowning thing too?”
“What, at sunset? The prize giveaway? No. Why? Should I be? Did one of the judges drop out?”
Okay, he wasn’t lying. “No. People just keep telling me I should be there.”
