Eternally 21: A Mrs. Frugalicious Shopping Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

local media figure, turn and head out the door, never to return, was stopped by the sight of Tara peeking through the open doorway just out of Laila’s view.
    “She really does feel awful,” Tara said quietly.
    “Mortified, really.” Perspiration now dotted Laila’s forehead. “I hope you’ll accept my apologies by allowing me to honor all the discounts you have and give you an additional ten percent off on the entire purchase.”
    Tara gave a thumbs-up and disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared.
    I didn’t expect to have an encounter with Laila again. I definitely wouldn’t have expected her to be so contrite, even knowing I wasn’t exactly a garden-variety shopper. That she offered to accept all my coupons plus 10%, however, could only be called a suitable apology. “Thank you.”
    “It’s the least I can do.” She took my pile of merchandise to the workspace beside her, picked up a cuff bracelet, and began to ring. “I guess I didn’t expect the wife of Frank Finance to be fumbling for coupons.”
    That made two of us.
    “I happened to have them, so I figured I might as well use them.”
    “Your husband’s really handsome,” she said with a slurry giggle. “It must be cool being married to a celebrity.”
    From the moment Frank smiled at me on my first day as a summer intern at the TV station, I’d been dazzled. And dazzled I’d remained, not only by his presence both on and off camera, but by the access and admiration that came from being his date, girlfriend, and then wife. Any downside to being public persona adjacent was far outweighed by the benefits. Until recently, anyway.
    “It has its moments.”
    She covered her mouth and stifled what seemed to be a belch. “This probably isn’t one of them.”
    I managed a tight smile. “All’s well that ends well.”
    “My friend Shoshanna from Whimsies almost got fired for not recognizing theShoplifter, so even with all the surveillance cameras we have around here”—she rubbed her temples—“we have to be extra diligent.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Stress.” She looked down. “I swear it’s making me dizzy.”
    You don’t say? I didn’t say as she finally looked back up and picked up the beaded hoop earrings I’d selected for Eloise.
    “They’ll look just great on you with the gold highlights in your hair.”
    Laila seemed truly distraught, or at least very intent on making amends, so I didn’t have the heart to tell her they were for my demographically appropriate stepdaughter. Instead, I focused on the multiple deductions appearing on the register as she rang up my pile of braided belts, floral hairclips, multi-strand necklaces, patterned tights, lace back tunics …
    “Your grand total with tax and all discounts,” Laila smiled, “is $91.69.”
    I reached into my purse for the crisp hundred I’d earmarked for my back to school holiday shopping. “That’s just wonderful.”
    “You can get another ten percent off if you sign up for the Eternal Card. 5 ”
    Since Griff had outed my not-so-secret identity, there was no reason not to make the best of the situation and save another eight or so dollars. “What do you need?”
    Laila blinked a few times like she had something in her eyes. “Just your driver’s license.”
    “Laila,” Tara’s voice came over the phone intercom as I thumbed my ID from the protective plastic slot in my wallet and handed it over. “There’s a call for you.”
    “Take a message.” Laila smiled, hopefully not already in the midst of calculating the disparity between my birth date and claimed age of under forty.
    “It’s Richard.”
    “Tell him … tell him I’ll call him back.”
    “He says it’s urgent.”
    Laila’s smile faded. “I’m afraid I have to take this.” She turned for the back office. “I’ll only be a second. Please don’t go anywhere.”
    I couldn’t, even if I’d wanted to, since she disappeared holding my driver’s license.
    Luckily, Tara reappeared