Chapter 32
"Sarah, we're out of film for the camera. I'll meet you back here in about fifteen minutes. Will that be all right, sweetheart?"
"Sure. I want to step into this shop and look around anyway. Take your time," smiled Sarah, waving as he walked off.
AJ slipped into a camera shop and quickly walked to the counter. "Good morning! How may I help you, Sir?"
"I need this roll of film developed-and there are two photos that I would like enlarged to five-by-sevens, and I need a side-by-side frame for them." When the man pointed out the frames they had, AJ chose a pewter one that he thought Sarah would like, and a matching single frame for himself, then gave the sales clerk the rest of the instructions, "The shots are of a lady standing near a shark and of myself and the lady in front of a horse-drawn carriage. Can you put a gold plate at the bottom with the word 'Memories' on it, and then ship it to this address? Oh, and I would like an eight-by-ten copy of the picture of the young lady and myself, with the same plate on this single picture frame." AJ glanced over his shoulder to be sure Sarah hadn't followed him. "Oh, and I need more film please."
Sarah had decided she wanted to buy AJ something special to remember this trip. Going into the tiny store that specialized in handmade sailboats, she picked out one she thought he would love. "Sir, I would like this one, please, and I need a box so my friend can't guess what it is!" grinned Sarah.
"All right! We would be glad to help you with that. This is a beautiful sailboat, it's our best seller, and it's called 'Lady Sarah'," smiled the sales clerk, placing the ship into a box.
Stunned, Sarah asked, "Lady Sarah? That's the name of the ship?"
"Yes, Ma'am, didn't you read the name that's on the plate at the bottom of the ship?" asked the salesman, ringing up the purchase.
"No, I'm afraid not," replied Sarah, deciding to buy it anyway. After all, she was his wife on this mission. Pleased with her purchase, she walked back outside and waited for AJ. He was back within minutes and ready to head back to the hotel. As far as he was concerned, he was through shopping.
"What did you buy?" asked AJ, reaching out to carry her bag.
Moving it out of his reach, she laughed, "Just a present for someone I care about."
AJ frowned. 'Rabb! I should have known she wouldn't forget him long!' "Sarah, are you finished for the day? We can go back and go swimming."
"No, not yet! I saw a cute little shop back there while you were gone. It looked strange, and I want to check it out-come on." Set between two newer buildings was an old store that looked as though it hadn't been taken care of in a long time. Above the door was a sign with the paint peeling from it that read 'Rose's Aromatherapy'.
"Sarah, you want to go inside this shop?" It was old and dark inside. The place looked like it was about to fall down.
"Yes, I want to go inside. It feels different. Where's your sense of adventure, AJ? Please?" begged Sarah, as she turned the knob and opened the door. A tiny bell above the door gave off an old-fashioned tinkling sound as they went inside. AJ took a deep breath and felt he had walked into another world. The place may have looked like it was falling down, but it smelled wonderful. Tiny bottles, boxes and odd jars filled the shelves. It was a menagerie of different containers, each filled with such delicious smells.
"What are in all these containers?" asked AJ, looking around.
"Different things, like medicines, perfumes, bath salts, and special oils. Hello, I'm Beatrice, but most people coming in call me Ms. Bea," smiled a tiny white haired lady that looked to be anywhere between seventy-five and ninety years old.
To be continued….