‘What’s supposed to be so bloomin’ special about this place anyway?’ Ed muttered. ‘And what’s with all the checkered tiling? It’s like walking into a giant optical illusion.’
He kicked the floor. His shoe squeaked. The sound took Lily back to the stuffy high school gymnasium where she was a cheerleader twenty years ago.
Ed tried to make the sound again, but failed. She ignored him and soldiered on. She was not going to let him spoil her one little indulgence on their anniversary trip. She didn’t usually allow herself many luxuries, but she was set on this one.
At the centre of the ground floor, she found what they came here for: the beauty department. It was gorgeous. Mahogany cabinets, glass counters and carefully displayed bottles in all shapes and sizes.
Behind her Ed picked up a bottle and tossed it from one hand to the other.
‘Look at it,’ he huffed, ‘Golden Glow, this one’s called. Tacky. What manner of perfume is this anyway? It’s thick as honey, look.’ He shook it. ‘How are you even supposed to spray that on?’
An attendant materialized next to him and relieved him of the bottle.
‘Golden glow is a very delicate perfume, monsieur.’
He was all smiles. Dressed in a black shirt with a grey vest. Black pants with a razor-sharp crease. He looked like he just stepped out of a display himself.
‘Allow me,’ he said to Lily and took her hand. ‘You only need to dab it on the side of the neck and smell like summer all day.’
He tipped the bottle and massaged a drop into the inside of Lily’s elbow. She was suddenly very conscious of her soft and doughy skin, quietly wishing herself twenty years younger.
Next to Lily, Ed remained completely silent and still, without having to look at him, she could sense his annoyance.
‘Give it a minute to settle and adjust to your own natural scent. Trust me. You’ll like it.’
‘I’m actually looking for map of the heart,’ Lily said quickly, conscious of Ed’s rising blood pressure.
‘Aren’t we all?’ the salesman answered, not missing a beat.
‘I mean the perfume called Map of the Heart. It comes in a heart-shaped bottle?’
‘I understand. I was only joking,’ he said, ‘this way.’
He led them to another display and took a bottle from it.
‘It’s shaped like a heart!’ Ed cried out, horrified, ‘I mean, an actual heart! Arteries and all.’
‘Yes, like the lady asked.’
Ed shook his head. ‘I thought it was heart shaped. You know, like…’ he fumbled his fingers around, trying to convey the shape. ‘Oh, never mind. You understand.’ He wandered off.
The attendant nodded and started to wrap the perfume while Lily just blushed and stared at the mirror behind the counter. In the reflection she saw Ed suddenly bend towards the shelf of heart-shaped bottles. She knew what was coming before it happened.
‘Two hundred and fifty bloody dollars!’ Ed shouted.