“That’s true,” Tabby said. “I’ll go tell her right away that only her talents can help a woman in need.” She whispered in my ear, “Feed her a little flattery, and she’s your friend for life.”
I hiccupped and gave her a tremulous smile.
By the time Fleur and Fatima had escorted me back to the central room of the harem, Melinda was waiting for me. She was a medium-sized black woman with skin like polished ebony. Her hair was cropped shorter than mine, but her face was warm and friendly. She took my hand and kissed my cheek and smiled. “So you are my new project, eh? Come right along,” she said and took me into a small room built into the side of a wall and surrounded by potted plants which obscured it slightly; it was a small beauty parlor, I realized.
Inside was a chair right out of a st
