Cabinville had an orderly grocery store with liquor behind the counter,and a hardware store with a toy aisle. Other than that the down town had 5 empty storefronts, town hall, a library in Greek revival style, a thrift store, a sportswear store and a boutique.Entering that boutique, Landine felt that she was stepping across a threshold of time and space into another world. A carpeted world of hats and shoes and perfumes, meant to provide powerful women with the very specific supplies needed for their charmed lives.When she went in she was so focused on the mysterious nature of this reality that she wasn't her usual friendly self with the shopkeeper, even though she'd known her pretty well in high school.Landine knew that if she was arrayed in this finery, Milo would become a love-slave to her. He liked her plenty now, but if she stepped out with him in clothes like that, he'd watch her all night and take her home early. His hands would float on her skin as if the only thing stopping them from melting into one was the electric current between them. Her sigh stirred the silk of the blouse she was looking at. She went up to the counter and spent ten dollars on a silver tube of red lipstick. She crossed the street to the thrift shop with a strong feeling she'd find something wonderful there. Stepping in she saw her friend Lulu behind the counter, erasing old price tags so they could be used again. "Landine, I'm so glad you came in, Penny said if you fill in for her on Thursday you can have anything in the store for free,but she can't pay cash unless you have a real busy day"
"oh that'll be fine Lulu, I'd probably just spend the cash here anyway."
She turned to the racks of clothes with an air of authority.
In terms of finding an outfit that suited her she moved with reckless certainty.Within five minutes she was holding a silver skirt that had once been part of the three piece set for a mother of the bride, a top with spaghetti straps that was Milo's favorite color, and low heeled sandals with x's on each buckle.She went into the changing room and put on the outfit, combed her hair and put on her new lipstick."I'm gonna wear this now Lulu, you just take the tags and I'll square things up Thursday". She stepped out into the spring day a little under dressed for the weather, but a fine sight to see.She could walk all the way to the cabin on the old path through the woods just feeling the warm and the chill of spring.