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later for more skirts and slacks.”
    Did she say more
skirts and slacks?  My eyebrows did the questioning thing in CeCe’s direction,
but she gave me the don’t ask slight shake of the head.
    CeCe answered,
“That’s eleven tops.  I’ll add these to your eight skirts and six pants before
I run your American Express.”  CeCe was tallying and entering everything into
the register while I started folding and bagging.  Tornado Lady slipped on her
shirt which she had left with her purse at the counter.  As she got the last of
her blouse buttoned and tucked into her skirt, I finished bagging, and CeCe
ripped the receipt from the register.  Tornado Lady signed, slipped her purse
onto her shoulder, retrieved her keys from her purse, snatched the bags off the
counter, and flew out the door yelling, “Thanks.  I’ll be back but gotta get to
court now.”
    While CeCe took a
few deep breaths, I said, “Let me guess.  She was arrested for indecent
exposure?”
    “She’s an
attorney,” CeCe corrected.  “Said she woke up this morning and found her
clothes were uncomfortably tight, unlike yesterday when they still fit fine. 
She was planning to hit the maternity scene this weekend, but junior apparently
had a growth spurt overnight and changed her plans.  You should have been here
for the romp around the shop in her blouse and panties.  That’s how we tried on
the skirts and pants.  So that’s pretty much how the customers have been
running this morning.  How did things go with Aunt Pearl?”
    I know CeCe’s
morning should have made me feel my morning wasn’t so bad, but I was still
feeling the sting of having humiliated myself in front of a gorgeous guy.  Just
as I was about to pour my heart out, two women came through the door and
answered “yes” when asked if we could help them find something.
    “I’ll tell you
later,” I said quietly to CeCe.  “But I promise you this.  I will never again
belittle you for your words or actions when you are around Ben.” 
    “Deputy Ben,” CeCe
automatically corrected as we walked toward our customers, “and now I can’t
wait to hear.  That must have been some trip with your mother.”
    After assisting
the steady stream of customers who came and went, CeCe and I were more than
ready to eat when Fry strolled in to cover us for lunch.  The big smile on his
face when he came through the door put me on high alert and made me dread what
he would say about our encounter at the Build-N-Fix-It earlier. 
    “Morning, CeCe.  Hello
again Maaaaggie,” he greeted, and the longer it took him to say my name, the
wider his smile grew.  Yup, I think this situation calls for dread and maybe a
preemptive strike.  
    “Hey, Fry.  CeCe,
did I tell you I ran into Fry and a friend of his at the Build-N-Fix-It this
morning?  I barely remember it since I was in such a fog at the time.  Now Fry
knows why I should never give up caffeine,” I half-chuckled as I spoke.  “I go
without it one morning, and I can hardly function.”
    CeCe looked a
little lost.  “You saw Fry this morning?  Who was the friend?  What do you mean
you went without caffeine?  I could have sworn I saw you drinking coff . . . .”
     “Oh, Fry’s friend
was a guy we knew in high school.  Luke.  You remember Luke?  Fry mentioned him
yesterday.  He used to hang out with Fry in school?  Anyway, he moved away
after high school, but now he’s back in town to take care of his uncle.  Isn’t
that what you said, Fry?  He’s going to be taking care of his uncle?  Isn’t
that nice?  I think it’s so sweet when the younger generation takes care of
their older relatives.  Just like older relatives took care of the younger
generation when they were – you know, younger.  Don’t you agree?  Man, I am starving. 
Are you ready for lunch CeCe?  Can we bring you back anything, Fry?” I rambled.
    No one said
anything for about 10 seconds.  I could tell CeCe was trying to figure out