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FRANNIE COULD SENSE the difference the moment she entered the mall. The air hummed with pre-Christmas activity, most of it cheerful and light-hearted. She paused to observe a few elaborate window displays and not for the first time she was grateful that her chosen line of work wasn’t seasonal. Graphic artists – at least the good ones – were in demand year round. It wasn’t something she had considered when learning her craft, but at this moment she was thankful for her independence.
Shayna looked up from her spot behind the till and motioned that she’d be free in a minute. As the store manager, her friend was required to spend a lot of time in her office, but she enjoyed working out front. “I love talking to the customers,” she often said. “It gives me insight into what they’re thinking, what they’re looking for in books.”
Frannie wandered into the Young Adult section. Brad Lyon’s books were prominently displayed, and she took a step back to compare the cover designs on his books with the other authors in the fantasy genre. No two illustrators had the same style of course, but she still thought that her designs were as good if not better than the others. The publisher never failed to send her copies of each new release and she displayed them proudly on a bookshelf in her studio. She still recalled the ripple of excitement she’d felt when she got her first cover commission. That had been four years ago but in some ways it seemed like yesterday. The important thing was that she was still learning and that her work continued to be innovative and current.
“Admiring your work?” Shayna strode down the aisle and reached forward to straighten some books.
Frannie blushed. “I guess I was, but it’s the only time I get to compare them up close and personal with what the other illustrators are doing.”
Shayna turned one of Brad Lyon’s books face-out. “I may be prejudiced, but I like yours the best. I think it’s something to do with the way you make your creatures glow from the inside out.” She grinned. “Nobody likes a dull dragon.”
Frannie laughed. “Thanks, I think. Ready for something to eat?”
“Yeah, let’s go to the Food Court. I can only afford to take a half hour, but it will feel good to sit down. I’ve been out front all morning.”
* * *
“THAT’S ALL YOU’RE GOING to eat?” Frannie frowned at the single taco on Shayna’s plate. “A taco and a coffee won’t give you much energy.”
Shayna grinned. “I’m too excited to eat.” She edged forward on her chair. “You won’t believe it, but I’ve actually met someone!”
Frannie set down her coffee cup. That was supposed to be her line, wasn’t it?
Shayna continued. “Remember last Monday, after we had lunch?”
Frannie nodded.
“Well, after we left the restaurant, I went to the grocery store.” Her friend’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “And I met the most wonderful man.”
Frannie wanted to be happy for her friend, she really did, but she was suddenly gripped with cold apprehension.
Shayna took a sip of coffee, her delight obvious as she relayed the story. “There I was, trying to decide which lettuce to buy and he comes up behind me and asks which garlic I should buy.” She rolled her eyes. “As if I would know. Anyway, we got to talking and he invited me to have coffee with him in that little coffee shop... you know, the one in the grocery store.” Her eyes took on a faraway look. “It was kind of sweet, really. He was nervous about approaching me ‘cause he’d never done anything like that before. He said he felt like he was in a movie.” She refocused, oblivious to the look on Frannie’s face. “Anyway it turns out he’s a widower who moved here to start a new life. And guess what? He’s also a pilot.”
“What’s not to like?” Frannie was surprised she could speak.
“Exactly!” Shayna sighed. “He says he’d like to take me to Hawaii next time he has a long layover.” She paused. “You look pale and you’re not eating. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” She stared into her coffee. “Isn’t it rather soon to be talking about taking you to Hawaii?”
Shayna blushed. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together. Every night last week.”
Frannie almost choked. “Every night? When does he work?”
“His schedule is loose.” Shayna picked up her taco and took a bite. “He has the cutest little dog. Remember the sweet little dog that was here at the pet store about a month ago?”
Frannie nodded.
“It looks like that one, but he found it alongside the road and took it to the vet. Isn’t that the most considerate thing? Most people wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble.”
Frannie needed some time to absorb this. “What’s the dog’s name?”
“Tina. He named her after Tina Turner.” We had a good laugh when I told him how much my grandmother likes to do Tina Turner impressions when she’s had too much sherry.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I don’t talk about it much. But Brett seemed to think it was hilarious. And when I told him that Gran’s name was Stella, you wouldn’t believe what he said.”
Frannie shook her head. “Let me guess. His grandmother is also called Stella?”
“How did you know?”
Frannie couldn’t meet her friend’s eyes. “Lucky guess.”
Shayna pulled back, her expression one of confusion. “Francesca? What’s going on?”
Her friend rarely called her by her full name. Frannie took a deep breath.
“Shayna,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “I had my own reasons for wanting to meet you here today. You see, I met someone last week too.”
Something moved behind the other woman’s eyes. At that moment, Frannie would have given anything to put her friend’s smile back in place, but she couldn’t. “I was choosing squash, and he approached me asking about garlic.” She mimed holding a head of garlic in each hand. “White or purple?”
Tears pooled in Shayna’s eyes. “Which did you recommend? Purple, right?”
Frannie nodded.
“Garlic prawns. He made them for me on Tuesday night.” Shayna was trying hard to be brave. “When did you meet him?”
“Tuesday.”
“And what’s his name?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“Brett.”
For a moment she thought Shayna hadn’t heard. She picked up a piece of taco shell and munched it thoughtfully. “Tuesday. After he’d been with me on Monday.” She dropped her head into her hands. “You’re probably wondering why I’m not insisting that you’re wrong, that there must be some explanation.” She seemed to drift off for a moment, and then forced herself to continue. “I’m ashamed to admit this, but while we were together I kept thinking it was all too good to be true. And I don’t mean that in a good way, I mean there was something ‘off’ about some of his stories.”
Frannie began to relax. “I only met him for a short while and I thought so too.”
Shayna nodded, continuing as though she hadn’t spoken. “You know how much I like anything to do with aviation. Well, I asked him about his rating and he didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. When he caught on that I was asking which type of aircraft he was qualified to fly, he inferred that I didn’t know the correct technology.” She gave a wry smile. “I let that one slide, but there was one other thing and when you add it all up...” She spread her hands in a gesture of futility. “I asked him what his wife’s name was. At first he gave me the strangest blank look, then told me her name was Melissa.” She exhaled slowly and for the first time, looked directly at Frannie. “What does it say about me, that I’m willing to get suckered in by a guy like that?”
Frannie wanted to hug her friend but was afraid they both might burst into tears in the middle of the mall. Instead, she glared at Shayna. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. He’s the one with the problem, not you! He’s a con artist, through and through.” She paused for a moment. “Not a very good one, either. I mean, picking up women in the produce department? If you ask me, he’s seen too many movies.”
Shayna dabbed at her eyes with a napkin and offered a weak smile. “Yeah, but he got us both, didn’t he?”
Frannie laughed, but it came out more like a snort. “What are the odds? Pulling the same scam on friends! Know something else? I’ll bet he bought that dog from the pet store and made up that story about rescuing it from the side of the road.” She looked down at her uneaten food. “I’ve lost my appetite. Let’s go and ask them.”
* * *
“YOU WERE RIGHT,” SAID Shayna as they left the pet store. “What a creep.”
Frannie perched on the arm of one of the big easy chairs in a rest area and studied her friend. “I wish I could say something to make you feel better.”
Shayna shook her head. “I won’t deny that I’m hurting, but I’ll be fine. From now until the end of December I’m going to be so busy with work I won’t even have time to think about him.” She looked into her friend’s eyes. “What about you?”
Frannie shrugged. “At least I didn’t go out with him, so nothing’s lost there. You know, I think I’ll take Carly up on her offer and go to Mount Washington for a few days. Clear out my head and think about the new assignment.”
“Carly Hudson, from school? She has a place up there?”
“It’s just a small unit, but she sent me pictures and it’s perfect for an escape. It’s in a little cluster of buildings, so there will be people around.”
“I hate to tell you this, but you don’t ski.”
Frannie grinned. “Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be happy to just sit in the Lodge and watch.”
“Well don’t fall in love.” Shayna grimaced. “Maybe that wasn’t very funny.”
“That’s okay.” She sighed. “I haven’t had much luck in the romance department, have I?”
Shayna frowned. “No, you haven’t. I still remember your first boyfriend in school.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Or were you thinking of Galen? That guy in school who kissed you and caused all the trouble.”
Frannie smiled at the memory. “Funny you should mention that. I was thinking about him the other day. He was really kind of sweet.”
“I remember him as being sort of dorky.”
“I guess he was, in a way, but I can still remember that kiss.”
Shayna lifted one shoulder. “But you didn’t have time for geeks. Not when your boyfriend was the star quarterback on the football team.” She shook her head. “We were both so shallow.”
“No kidding.” Frannie stood up. “I’ve kept you too long. Come here and let me give you a hug.”
The women embraced and Frannie studied her friend. “You can call me anytime if you need to talk. You know that, don’t you?”
Shayna’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Thanks, Frannie. Have fun on the mountain.”
“Will do.” She watched her friend walk into the bookstore. As Shayna answered a question from a customer it occurred to Frannie that she’d forgotten to tell her about the author signing.
