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“I don’t want to waste their time, though,” she said. This place didn’t look like it was part of a chain, at least a chain she had ever heard of. And the pandemic had hit independent shops hard. Sally didn’t like the idea of getting a shopkeeper’s hopes up for a sale only to end up with nothing.

She explained this to Amy who responded by giving her a quick kiss.

“You are just soooooo fucking sweet!” she exclaimed. “So we’ll each buy something! Earrings or a bracelet or something. A memento from our trip to Seattle.” She cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me I actually have to convince a woman to buy jewelry…”

Amy’s plan made Sally feel better and she smiled.

“Alright, fine.”

The shop was small but well-appointed and designed in a bright, minimalist style that was simultaneously couture but welcoming. They were the only customers and were greeted by a thin and beautiful woman with exotic features—Sally guessed North African—and who was dressed entirely in black. She was even taller than Sally, a fact made even more remarkable by the fact that she was wearing flats. And as soon as this woman made eye contact with her, Sally’s gaydar started pinging.

“Welcome in,” the woman said. “My name is Adilah; how can I help you?”

“Oh my god, that’s such a pretty name!” Amy enthused.

Adilah blushed.

“Thank you; it’s Moroccan,” she said. Sally felt a little proud that her secret superpower of being able to correctly guess at least the geographic region of where a person was from was still working. “By the way, I’ve been vaccinated and so if you’re more comfortable with your masks off, feel free.”

“I’m Sally and this is Amy,” Sally said, taking off her mask, feeling it was only fair to introduce themselves as well. “And we’ve both been vaccinated as well. We love that necklace in the window.”

Adilah thanked them again and then said, “My wife designed it.”

And score one for my gaydar!

“We also love those rings in the window!” Amy said.

“And I designed those,” Adilah said, with a laugh. “You two are making my day! I do all the rings and Ekaterina does most everything else. Would you care to look at some of the rings?”

The rings…?

Sally looked at Amy who smiled and shrugged playfully.

“Why not?” Amy asked. “We’re here.” To Adilah, she said, “Yes, please.”

“Water? Coffee? Champagne?” Adilah asked.

“Ooh, I didn’t expect that!” Sally exclaimed. “I’d like some Champagne.” She pointed at Amy. “She, however, will probably want all of the coffee you’ve got, including the grounds and, if you have them, the beans too.”

Laughing, Amy playfully smacked Sally’s arm.

“Shut up!” she said. Looking up at Adilah, Amy then said, “But, she’s not entirely wrong…I actually will have coffee, please.”

When Adilah shimmered away, Amy leaned closer to Sally.

“This doesn’t weird you out, does it?” she asked.

“What?”

Amy sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and shrugged.

“That I told her we’d like to see the rings,” she began.

Sally shook her head.

“No, not at all,” she said, hoping she sounded nonchalant. “We were admiring them, after all. It will be cool to see them up close.”

Tell her now!