Page 17 of Hemmed

“Seriously.”

“Okay.”

For the next hour, she would grab a few dresses and go into the dressing room, then come out shaking her head. Her mother would hand her a few more, and she would do the same. In the end, she found the perfect thing for her.

“What do you think?” asked Sonja.

“Well, it’s very you,” smiled her mother. “I like the pants and tuxedo jacket.” Her daughter frowned, hearing her mother’s tone.

“You don’t like it.”

“Actually, I love it,” said her mother. “I think it’s reflective of you, it’s formal, and it fits you beautifully.”

“Really? Thanks, Mom.”

“You bet. Now, let’s get changed, and we’ll finally get some lunch before I fall over.” Her daughter went back into the dressing room and a moment later, walked out with the pants still on, but the jacket replaced by a t-shirt.

“Sorry, but the t-shirt is a no.” Her daughter shook her head, looking around to see if anyone else was there.

“Mom,” she whispered.

“What’s wrong?” frowned her mother. “Did you start your period?”

“No,” she said in exasperation. “No. Mom, I think there’s a camera in that dressing room. You have to stand at the perfect angle, but there’s one behind the mirror.”

Her brave daughter, who was afraid of nothing, had tears in her eyes, her face pale and drawn. She nodded at her, walking into the dressing room.

“Let me see if I can find the earring, honey,” she said casually. “Are you sure you lost it?”

“Y-yes,” said Sonja.

“I’m looking,” she said casually. “Oh, I see it now. I’ve got it.”

She left the dressing room, handing her daughter her shorts. She held up the tuxedo jacket and nodded for her to change behind the jacket. She tossed the pants to the floor and put on the shorts.

“Mom, what are we going to do?” she sniffed.

“I’m going to buy this outfit and have someone return it later and look in that room. Don’t say a word. We’re going to take care of this.”

Her mother paid for the suit, smiling the entire time as the woman checked them out. When they were in the car, she drove straight back to their home and called the person she knew could help.

“Grandma? I need you to help me with something.”

“Hey, Ruby. What’s up?” asked Ghost.

“Ghost, my granddaughter just called me to tell me somethin’ I don’t like at all. Somethin’ involvin’ my great-granddaughter.”

“Okay,” he frowned. “How can we help?”

Ruby told the story as the men started to lean forward, staring at her. They interrupted several times, asking questions, then finally, Ruby stopped.

“You ain’t actin’ like this is new to you,” she frowned.

“It’s not, Ruby. We’re working on something that we believe is related right now. What was the name of this boutique?”

“Evolve. It’s off Canal. My great-granddaughter is beside herself with embarrassment. She said she was in and out of that room for nearly an hour tryin’ on clothes.”

“We’ll head down there right now,” said Ian.

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