By the time Friday came I was about dead on my feet. I had spent the whole week getting everything ready for Alice's birthday and now, with just one day to go, I had finally finished. Somehow I had managed to keep all my plans secret from her and, after I had dropped her at work, I went into the shop.
"Hi Andy how's everything going?" Marie asked when I got upstairs.
"Everything is sorted." I told her. "You will be there won't you?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, neither would Isabelle."
"How's the week been?" I asked.
"Very busy the shop is doing brilliantly." She answered.
I was pleased that she had coped so admirably while I had been away. If, or more likely when, the day came to open a second shop I knew I would be leaving this one in the hands of two very capable women. I saw Marie hadn't been exaggerating about how busy the shop had been when I went through the last few day's takings, it had been the best week ever, and there was still Saturday to go. Deciding that, because the week had been so good, I quickly wrote a sign, went downstairs and attached it to the front window. With the party happening and the fact that we had been so busy I decided to shut the shop at three o'clock.
As the day went on I was pleased that I had come in, not just wasted the day at home, as I was getting myself excited about Alice's birthday and if I had been doing nothing time would have dragged by so slowly. As Marie and I continued to sell item after item, virtually nonstop, I decided to something else that I had never done.
I shouted downstairs to Isabelle and asked her to stay behind for five minutes once we were shut, and asked Marie the same.
The day was flying past and, by mid afternoon, the shop had taken more than any day ever.
"Things really are flying aren't they Marie?" I said.
"Told you it was going great." She answered.
Finally we looked around and saw that, for the first time that day, the upstairs was empty and I went to make us all a drink. The thing was once I had made it and walked back on to the shop floor the store had filled up again. I looked around and saw there was about twenty people upstairs alone, including the six women that had become regulars. I put the cups on the counter and went over to them.
"Good afternoon again ladies." I said politely. "So glad to see you back again."
"Oh hello glad to see you're back." The blonde said. "We've missed seeing you here."
"I hope Marie looked after you while I was away."
"Oh yes she was excellent." The redhead answered. "But she isn't as good looking as you, well not to me anyway."
I was flattered, and stunned, by her response but stayed chatting with them as they wandered around the store. By the time Marie had served all the other customers the six of them still hadn't chosen anything.
"Is there anything specific you would like today." I asked.
"Apart from you no but I'm, sure we will find something else that takes our fancy." The black haired one said, winking at me.
I walked over to Marie, told her what the women had been saying, and she smiled at me with a look that told me she knew more than she was letting on. I just brushed it off as all six of them suddenly appeared at the till, all holding an armful of clothes each.
"Have you all found something you like?" I asked.
"Most definitely." The brunette said.
