Thanks to WAA for the proofing and editing.
*****
Samuel stared out the window as night fell on the Big Easy. His mind pondered on what he was going to do. So much weighed on his mind, from his sister, to Labo, to Edna, and Lola accepting the offer or not. Pulling out his phone, quickly typing out a text to his sister telling her he loved her.
"
We love you too, Sammy
." Samuel smiled as a picture of his sister, mother, and aunt were squeezed into the frame of the picture she sent him. "
Don't worry, Mom and Charlotte are with me. Go focus on what you need to do
."
"Here we are, Mr. Goodall," Amalia said, pulling to a stop along the curb in front of a tailor shop. Samuel stared confusingly at the shop; he didn't think they had time to get a suit made. "Lady Nimue called ahead and ordered a few made for you. She has an excellent eye on her," she informed him, smiling coyly into the rear view mirror.
"Right," Samuel said. He should have thought about that given how he had woken up on her bed.
"Please, if you would," Amalia said, holding the door open for him. "If you wish, you may reveal your nature in the car. It must be taxing for you having to hide your nature in that house," she said, leading him up the brick steps of the storefront. The brass bell hanging over the door jingled as she and Samuel entered the store and jingled again as the door closed behind them.
"Yes? Amalia! How are you?!" a fiery red-head said excitedly as she came walking to the front of the store upon hearing the bell.
"Hello Samantha, I'm fine," Amalia said, smiling sweetly at Samantha. "We have an order waiting," she said, propelling Samuel forward.
"Ah. I was wondering who it was for. I take it this is a rush job?" Samantha asked, arching an eyebrow at Amalia.
"Naturally," Amalia nodded.
"Right. Come with me," Samantha said sternly, taking Samuel by the wrist. "Now strip down to your underwear, and stand on that," she commanded, snatching the curtain of the fitting room open. "I'll fetch the one we have currently done. Ms. Nimue will have to return for the others; this is the only one we could complete in such a short time," Samantha said, walking off.
"Would you be more comfortable if I turned my back to you?" Amalia asked.
"Nah, not like I haven't been naked in front of strange people before," Samuel said. Lifting his shirt up. Peering over his shoulder, seeing his reflection and Amalia's in the mirror. "Hey! Isn't there like a thing about us not being able to see ourselves in a mirror?"
"Ah, the old mirrors, yes, that was true. They used to be backed by silver; mirrors these days aren't," Amalia said, matter-of-fact.
"Ah," Samuel said, at least with this he could keep up the ruse that he was still human.
"If you would?" Samantha asked, handing Samuel the 18
th
century style suit Nimue had commissioned, along with a pale white shirt. Three buttons lined the button placket stopping at the bottom of his sternum. The soft linen fabric brushed down his chest. Delicate lace was stitched at the cuffs of the sleeves flaring out, covering the backs of his hands to his knuckles. "You have some strange eyes you know that? Are they contacts?" she asked. Her hands running along the high collar of the shirt making sure it was right before flipping it down.
"No," Samuel said plainly. Watching her hands moved down his arms, making sure the length of the sleeves were right.
"Turn around please," Samantha said, "well they can't be your real eyes," she said, running her hands along his back. Samuel glanced to Amalia in the mirror who simply shrugged her shoulders.
"They are, they changed when I became the Herald of Hekatê," Samuel said truthfully.
"You know you don't have to make something up, if you don't want to tell me you don't have to make up such a ridiculous story," Samantha grumbled, tugging on the hem of the shirt. Samuel noted how Amalia was laughing silently behind her hand. "Now try on the pants," she ordered, crossing her arms so the pin-cushion on her left wrist pressed into her right arm. "How do they feel? Are they too tight around the waist?" Samantha asked, her fingers running around the waistband once Samuel had buttoned the fly.
"They're pretty snug actually," Samuel said, looking down at her.
"That's no good," Samantha said, unbuttoning his fly, rolling down the waistband, popping a few stiches to give it a little more slack and placing a pin to hold it until she could run to the back. "Try that now," she said watching him button up his fly again.
"Better," Samuel said, as her fingers once again probed his waistband.
"Good. Now hold still," Samantha said, running her hands down his left leg. Rolling up the cuff to Samuel's ankle, placing four pins to hold it in place then doing the same with the right cuff. "Now try on the jacket," she ordered. Her masterful eye moving over the garment ensuring that nothing was wrong with it. "Please take the pants off so I can hem them," Samantha said, before walking to the shoes that Nimue had payed for. "This shouldn't take more than a moment," she said, draping the pants over her arm before heading towards the back room.
"You would think speaking the truth to mortals they would take it at face value," Amalia said, holding out her hand to Samuel as he stepped down from the fitting platform.
"You would think," Samuel said, slipping his right foot into the shoe.
"I'll hold onto these," Amalia said, picking up his clothes.
Ten minutes later Samantha walked back into the fitting area of the store with his pants in hand. "Try these on one last time," she said, handing them to Samuel. "Good. Good. I assume you have tried the shoes?" Samantha asked, peering up at him as Samuel nodded. "Did they fit?"
"A little tight in the toes," Samuel admitted.
"I see," Samantha muttered, overturning one of the shoes checking the size. Picking up the other shoe as she rose, scurrying over to the rows of dress shoes. Choosing a half size bigger shoe in the same style before walking back over to Samuel. "These should be a better fit," she said laying the shoes down before the stool.
