The horse and cart made its way along Albert Road and stopped outside the lace and linen shop.
“I can’t go in there,” said Cordelia, panicked, “not after last time.”
“Oh, you’re not worried about that are you?” asked Mazu, “That’s all in the past and the damage was fixed. See, nothing wrong with these windows.”
“What if she remembers me?”
“Cordelia, it’s been three months since you were last here, there’s probably been hundreds of customers in and out since then.”
Cordelia dithered by the cart as Mazu and her three friends walked towards the door.
“Are you joining us?” asked Mazu.
Cordelia reluctantly entered the shop and the brass bell rang overhead. The shop was still dimly lit and it smelt of must and lavender just as before. Cordelia instantly noticed another room to the left of the doorway that she hadn’t seen before. Her eyes lit up and her three friends squeezed past her in the narrow entrance to get into the room.
“Don’t be nervous,” said a strangely familiar voice.
The old woman was standing behind the wooden counter on the other side of the entrance.
“I used to eat my lunch in there,” said the old woman, “but it didn’t seem to be a very good use of the space.”
The woman made a valid point. The room she had been using for the shop was long and narrow but this room was far bigger and grander. Cordelia’s eyes slowly scanned the beautiful dresses in the room, gowns of every colour and style.
“I like to offer the latest fashion,” said the woman, “the ladies from Limerick have come to expect it. They have very high standards.”
The ladies from Limerick weren’t the only ones with high standards. Cordelia watched Mazu inquisitively; she admired the way she conducted herself with such grace and confidence, always impeccably dressed and always seemed to know exactly what she wanted and how to ask for it.
“We’re buying four dresses today,” said Mazu, “four of your very best.”
“A special occasion is it?” asked the old woman.
“Cordelia turns sixteen today,” said Mazu, proudly.
The old woman frowned and peered through her eye glass. Just as before, she had not recognised Cordelia in the dim light. The woman gasped.
“There’s no need for concern,” said Mazu, “we won’t be breaking any windows today, will we Cordelia?”
Cordelia shook her head.
“You’re the fisherman’s daughter, aren’t you? They say he’s back from the dead.”
Lana and the twins stopped fondling the dresses, wondering what might happen next.
“That would be impossible, wouldn’t it?” said Mazu. “He was simply lost and now he’s found.”
“It’s a miracle,” said the woman.
“A miracle would be finding four dresses before lunch time,” replied Mazu.
“I’ll be next door if you need any help,” said the woman. “There’s a fitting room behind the curtain,” and she pointed to a corner of the room.
A mannequin displaying a midnight blue dress attracted Cordelia’s attention. Her eyes lit up.
“It’s beautiful,” said Mazu, “it would look perfect with your hair.”
“I couldn’t,” said Cordelia, “something this beautiful must cost a fortune.”
“At least try it on,” said Mazu.
“Yes,” said Nerissa, “you must.”
“Excuse me,” called Mazu to the old woman. “May we have your assistance please?”
The old woman shuffled towards them.
“Cordelia would like to try on this dress,” said Mazu, gesturing towards the mannequin.
“It’s a very expensive dress,” said the old woman.
“And we’re looking for the best,” smiled Mazu.
The old woman removed the dress from the mannequin and hung it behind the curtain for Cordelia to try on while Mazu assisted Lana and the twins with their choices. Cordelia grimaced in silence at the discomfort of her clothes rubbing against her shoulder blades. The pain caused her cheeks to flush red and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. ‘At least the dress will cover the marks,’ she thought. The dress had navy lace covering the arms, chest and back but she struggled to fasten it. Hot and flustered she yelped in frustration.
“Is everything alright in there?” asked Mazu.
Cordelia took a deep breath. “Everything’s grand, thank you.”
“D’you need a hand doing it up?” asked Mazu.
Cordelia let out another yelp when Nixie appeared beside her and started fastening her dress.
“Everything’s fine!” said Cordelia.
“You didn’t think I’d miss a girl’s day out did you?” whispered Nixie. “Even if you were mean to me.”
“I’m sorry about that,” whispered Cordelia. “I wasn’t myself.”
Nixie carefully fastened the dress over Cordelia’s shoulder blades. “Be careful.”
“Are you talking to someone in there?” asked Mazu, pulling the curtain across just as Nixie had finished. “Nixie, how good of you to join us.”
“I was helping Cordelia with her dress,” said Nixie.
“I see,” said Mazu curiously. “Let’s have a look then, come out here where we can see you properly.”
Cordelia walked gracefully into the middle of the room.
“You look so pretty,” said Nerissa.
“It brings out the colour of your eyes,” said Lana.
“Do you think you can manage not to chop this one to pieces?” asked Mazu.
Cordelia smiled and nodded.
“How are we getting on in here?” asked the old woman reentering the room.
Mazu shot daggers at Nixie who quickly vanished into thin air.
The old woman stood still and raised her eye glass. “You look wonderful,” she said, and her eyes twinkled with delight just as they had done the first time Cordelia met her.
When everyone had chosen their outfits, Mazu paid the old woman and stepped outside where she bypassed the horse and cart and continued walking up the street.
“Where are we going?” asked Masika.
“The bakers,” said Mazu. “If you can’t have a treat on your birthday, when can you?”
The smell of fresh baking wafted out the door where the mermaids’ noses were almost touching the glass window panes as they admired the cakes. Mazu entered the shop and returned with a very large box.
“What’s in there?” asked Nerissa.
“A birthday cake, of course,” said Mazu. “A very special birthday cake.”
They returned to the lighthouse in time for a surprise birthday lunch. Cordelia felt a little awkward with all the attention and the weird looks from Morwen and
