Ilook over at the jewelry vendors next to us— a mom, a dad, and a kid who is about ten— andIcan’t imagine a group looking less like international gem thieves.
Zoeworks on getting the laser scanner situated in a bouquet of flowers whileItalk to customers.Andby “talk to them,”ImeanIalternate between saying, “Negovorim srpski,” whichI’mpretty sureIbutcher every time, and “English?” in a hopeful voice.
Thiswould be so much easier if one of us spokeSerbian.OrifDamjancould man the shop with one of us while the other keeps watch, but since we can’t use him in an active mission because theCIAworries his cover will be blown, he’s on comms and it’s all up toZoeand me.
Ido make a few sales, though, andI’mfeeling pretty proud of myself.
Acustomer who responded with a “Yes” to myEnglishquestion has been eying some sunflower starts on one of the shelves.Sheturns to me and asks, “Dothese require special soil pH levels?I’veheard they do.”
Yeah,Ihave no idea about soil pH levels. “Thesearen’t your average sunflowers,”Isay. “Theyprefer a pH balance that’s equivalent to a light gourmet coffee.Justsprinkle coffee grounds around them every now and then— they love the caffeine boost, especially just as the sun is rising.”
Shenods slowly as if she’s trying to decide ifIknow whatI’mtalking about or not.Apparently, she decides onnot, because she walks out of the booth without buying them.
Zoeturns to me holding a giant bouquet of flowers, with a paper thing wrapped around the outside of them. “Whatdo you think?”
“Tenout of ten.Ilike that you skipped colors that traditionally look ‘pretty’ together and instead went for the bold choice of combining very conflicting reds, purples, and bright oranges.Itmakes it… festive.”
Zoerolls her eyes. “Ichose based on which were themost scented ones since we want her to smell them.Comeon; give it a test.”
Itake the flowers, lean in, and breathe deeply through my nose.Thecombination of the three “most scented” ones isn’t horrible.Ofcourse, it isn’t exactly pleasing, either.Butit is interesting.Enoughto take a second sniff.
“Gotit,”Zoesays, looking at an app on her phone. “Hmmm.Oneof the flowers got in the way and kept it from scanning the bottom right quarter of your face.”
Sherearranges it, then has me try it again between customers.
Thistime, it works.
“Didyou see the scanner when you were smelling them?”
Ishake my head. “Itwas the red light thatImostly saw.”
Zoebites her lip, which takes my attention right to them, andItry not to think about earlier today when those lips were on mine.Orlast night, whenIfelt so connected to her in an entirely different way. “Well, then,Iguess we’re going to have to get her to smell them with her eyes closed.”
“Head’sup,”Damjansays in our earpieces. “MonaLizais on her way to you.She’sabout five booths away.”
“Ithink she’ll respond better to you,”Zoesays and puts the bouquet in my hands.
Ipull back. “Wait.Areyou saying that you thinkIam going to be better at this than you would be?”
Shenearly takes the flowers back, butIturn away. “Nope.I’mdoing it becauseIagree thatI’dbebest at it.”Iknow what kind of flirtingElizaresponded to earlier, soIcan do it again.Justnot with the same voice.
Igo to the front of the booth and hold out the bouquet, offering to let people smell it as they walk past.Frommy peripherals,IseeElizanearing.She’sditched the navy blazer but is still wearing the cream blouse and dark pants from earlier.
Irun my finger and thumb down the two sides of my big handlebar mustache to make sure it’s stuck well.Oneof the languagesIspeak best isRussian, andI’vegot the accent down pat, soI’lluse that accent to keepElizafrom recognizing my voice.
Asshe reaches our booth,Zoegoes out and around me, like she’s trying to get to the other side, nearly knocking intoEliza.Sheapologizes, andItake the moment withElizahalted to say, “Youare a beautiful lady.You’rethe first person whose beauty matches the beauty of this scent.I’dbe honored if you would stop to smell.”
Isuddenly don’t think she’s going to say yes.Shedoesn’t seem like the type of person to stop and smell the flowers often.
“Oh, thank you.”Shelooks toward the café, then glances at her watch and nods. “Okay,IthinkI’vegot a tick.”
Ithink it’s my voice that got her to say yes.Myaccent is very different from the accentIuse asTobias, but something in the sound of my voice seems to enthrall her in the same way.It’stoo bad it’s not a universal thing for everyoneIrun across.Itsure would make life easier.
Justas she’s leaning in to smell,Ipull the flowers backand say, “Wait.Ineed to set the scene.Okay, now close your eyes.Iwant you to picture yourself standing in the middle of a meadow.”
Shelooks wary for a moment but thenIguess she decides to throw caution to the wind because she closes her eyes.Icontinue, trying to make my voice extra… whatever it is this woman likes about it. “You’restanding with your arms out, eyes closed, tilting your face toward the sun.”Ihold the flowers up to her, andIcan seeZoeonEliza’sother side, pressing the button in the app to start the scanner. “Nowbreathe in deeply,”Isay as the red line moves across her face from top to bottom, “taking in the scent of all the flowers that surround you.”
Shedoes, keeping her eyes closed.Andthen just as the laser is crossing her bottom lip toward her chin, she inhales three breaths in quick succession then sneezes, loud and big.Ibarely pull the flowers back before the gale hits them.
