There she was, rushing in through the door. With just moments to spare as the last piece of pancake disappeared.
Gone was the leather outfit. Marie was now dressed in tight, dark blue jeans and a peasant girl shirt with tiny floral hems on the end of each short, puffed up sleeves. She hurriedly glanced around and found me at the booth farthest from the door. She paused for a moment and swallowed, as if taking a last breath before a plunge into cold water, then steadily approached.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Marie said as she slid into the booth opposite me. “Mistress Lorin kept me there doing last minute clean up, coiling used ropes and hanging up leather equipment. I would still be there, but she got an outcall for a steady client of hers and took off.”
“Did you at least finish cleaning u
