And then she remembered why she couldn’t workhere.
Sam waited until she’d finished eating, thengestured at Mariah to follow her outside—out of hearing of the other diners. “I have no social security number to give Dinah,” she whispered, looking for the thrift store but distracted by the artistically-decorated planters lining the boardwalk. “I don’t want to turn her down, but I’m pretty sure she needs ID for her records.” Although she didn’t know how she knew all this esoteric informationand still couldn’t remember hername.
“I don’t have any either,” Mariah said. “Dinah is happy to feed us in exchange for our work. If we work more than we’ve eaten, she’ll pay us in cash. I don’t think Dinah has proper permits and whatnot. She has a past in New Orleans that you’ll hear about when she trustsyou.”
Oddly, this evidence of town lawlessness lifted a heavy load off hershoulders. She wiggled her shoulders, releasing the tension before examining the planter outside the door. It was decorated in shards of mirrors and mosaic tile and filled with pansies and lobelia. “I feel like I’ve fallen through the Looking Glass,” she admitted. “Can you go with me to pick out a dinner outfit? And should I be nervous abouttonight?”
Mariah started down the wooden planks,past an ice cream shop and antique store and more planters, most of them containing struggling flowers. “Kurt is one of the most boringly unimaginative Nulls in town. He’ll want to grill you to see if you’re one of them or one of us. Beyond that, enjoy the food. It’sgood.”
“And if I’m not either?” Sam asked in puzzlement, wistfully studying an enormous red geranium spilling out of anotherpot.
“Everyone is one or the other. If you’re not one of us, you’re a Null,” Mariah said, pushing open a glass door that tinkled welcome. “It’s not all bad, if so. Val will quit pushing you around and the Kennedys will feed you. But if the Red Queen starts talking backward,run.”
Sam laughed, but she wasn’t entirely certain it wasn’t a genuine warning that she needed to translate.Maybe she was missing the bits necessary to understand what she ought toknow.
They found a sprigged pink, green, and white skirt, green tank top, and a white draped jacket that fit. Sam would rather have worn jeans, but Tullah nixedthat.
Not as dark as Dinah, but taller and more elegantly dressed, the thrift store owner jangled an armful of gold bracelets as she folded up the outfit.“Put on some heeled sandals and make him look at your legs. It’s good forhim.”
“I only have a pair of black pumps,” Sam admitted. “Student wardrobe, I’m afraid.” She didn’t know that, but the description feltright.
Mariah slapped a pair of strapped, heeled sandals on the desk. “These should be close enough. You really need bronzed goddess shoes to make him crazy, but these willdo.”
“Yeah, if I’m doing goddess, I want the gold crown and jeweled scepter, please.” Sam studied the heels, wondering if she knew how to walk inthem.
“This outfit demands a crown of vines and flowers,” Tullah said. “We’ll find you one of Harvey’s carved walking sticks for yourscepter.”
Sam had a feeling vines and branches were probably more her style, but if she meant tobe a new person, she needed to explore her options first. “I really appreciate this, thank you. Can I do anything for you inreturn?”
“Depends. Can yousew?”
Sam had no idea. “Sweep floors? Wash dishes?” she suggested tentatively. Surely she could manage those. She glanced out the window to the thrift store’s planter, which hadn’t been planted yet. Someone had painted it in oceanblue and added seagulls over foaming waves. “What if I fill yourplanter?”
Tullah brightened. “I never know what to put in them things. They always dieanyway.”
Now that she’d suggested it, that felt right too. Maybe Samantha Moon had a green thumb? She really needed another look at those textbooks. “Do you think the other owners would mind if I thinned out some of their pots andused the cuttings for yours? I can’t buy plants, but I can help everyone weed andwater.”
“I’ll talk to them,” Mariah said. “Some are a bit ornery, but if you’re volunteering to do pot maintenance, they’ll come around. Daisy decorated all the old clay troughs and Monty insisted everyone maintain their own, but not everyone knows how.” Mariah pushed open the door. “Thanks,Tullah!”
Sam hefted her packages, waved good-bye, and followed Mariah out. “I think I can do the pots, but I really don’t know how long I’ll behere.”
Mariah planted her hands on her hips. “You’ll stay as long as Cass wants. Now go get ready and I’ll tell everyone we have a plant goddess intown.”
She marched off, leaving Sam to ponder her words. As long asCasswants? She couldn’t get inher car andleave?
