Chapter 3.10

Ethan once again waited for Isabelle outside the shop.

"I have to go. See you, Jean!" Isabelle waved her friend goodbye and walked towards Ethan. "Then? How did it go?" She asked as soon as she stood in front of him.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him leaning down. Was he going to kiss her so publicly? She would not mind, but… "When we're alone, Isabelle, I'll show you my gratitude." He whispered in her ear.

That was not any better than a public kiss, and it made her furiously blush just imagining all the things he would do to her when alone. Would he do it on the way home? At home? At any other place? Her throat dried in anticipation.

"It went well, I guess?" Isabelle cleared her throat and inquired, though she already knew the answer. He smirked.

"Pretty well." He grabbed her hand and led towards the town's exit.

"Wait!" She stopped him. "We have to go somewhere first."

If her smile was a bit mischievous, he would soon know why.

The bell jingled, announcing a new client.

"Welco-" Ginna swallowed her greeting after noticing who the clients were.

"Nice to see you again." Isabelle amiably smiled. "I came to buy some of the nice light blue Poplin fabric you have." Her light and bouncy steps quickly took her to the shelf with the fabric she saw last time.

Because she was angry with Ethan and Joseph the last time they visited the shop, she only bought fabric for Lucas and Felix. Brown for the pants, and dark red and blue for the shirts for Lucas; black for the pants, and light green for the shirts in the case of Felix.

Knowing Ethan was hired, or put on a trial period as he told her, Isabelle decided to make him a couple pieces. He had no good clothes to wear to a place as Mr. Dodds' restaurant. And! She was even going to implement her idea with his clothes.

She couldn't wait to go back home and try her new ideas out!

"Two yards of this light blue." Isabelle pointed at her chosen fabric. She had wanted to buy it last time, but she had no more money.

She, then, eyed the other colors and pondered. She thought shirts were better in colors, the pants could easily be black. She looked at the helpless Ethan, who stood behind her and looked at everything except the annoyed Ginna.

"Come here, Ethan." She beckoned at him. He did as he was told and let her guide him to stand next to a bolt of fabric. "This auburn is nice, too. I want two yards of this one."

"Anything else?" Experienced with the last purchase, Ginna did not immediately start cutting the fabric Isabelle asked for. Sure enough, Isabelle considered the other fabrics.

"I bought blue for Lucas..." Isabelle mumbled. "Maybe..." Her ramblings halted when she saw a dark blue bolt. Not the same shade as the dress she embroidered though. It was close to black, yet the light coming from the opened windows allowed her to see it was blue. "And two of this one. I think that is all." She nodded.

Ginna waited for a few seconds, and after making sure no new order was going to be made, she put herself to work. She did send a pointed look at Ethan who completely ignored her. Huffing, she kept working.

Ethan took that moment to lead Isabelle away, pretending to look at the bolts in that corner. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" He seriously inquired. He had promised her his past would not disturb them, yet Isabelle herself was jeopardizing the peace she asked for.

"I trust you to not get involved with her or her sister." Isabelle felt as bit guilty to have brought Ethan to that shop, however… "I really am going to patronize this shop. The fabric is varied and with a good price. If you want to keep your distance from her, I will not come with you in the future."

Ethan sighed, accepting her words. It was nice to hear he was trusted by his lover. He just feared Isabelle would get in trouble for what she was doing. He guessed that as long as she only kept an employee-customer relationship with Ginna, then everything would be fine.

The jingle of the bell interrupted their conversation. They turned to look at the newcomer but only saw a pile of fabric entering.

"Ginna! Help!" A muffled voice cried out. Ginna stopped her task and helped the person by carrying a few bolts of fabric, uncovering a middle-aged woman behind the pile. "I had good luck this time! I was able to cheat out some good fabric from my cousin!" She cheered in victory.

"Mrs. Attile..." Ginna gestured with her eyes at the customers in the shop.

Mrs. Attile turned to look at the couple and reacted. "Well, welcome! Can I help you?" Ginna sighed at her boss' antics.

"No, we're already-" Ethan was about to say they were about done with their purchases, yet Isabelle cut him off.

"Is that sateen!?" Isabelle quickly approached and reached for the fabric in Mrs. Attile's arms. Though, she stopped herself from touching at the last second.

The middle-aged lady did not mind the other woman's desire to touch. Her eyes even sparkled in enthusiasm. "You know the good stuff! I see, I see. I found a peer in this out of the way place." She nodded and appreciated Isabelle. She even noticed that the clothes she was wearing were different from the one the ladies in town wore.

Not only the cut, the fabric, too.

"How much is this?" Isabelle cut to the chase and asked the important question.

"Hm. This fabric is a bit expensive even in cities." Mrs. Attile pondered out loud, placing the bolts on a nearby table. "But, salaries in cities are higher than towns. Way higher than this town, that's for sure. Anyway, I got this for free, so I can give you a discount because you'd be the first to buy. 3 coins the yard."

Ethan and Ginna were shaken by the price. 3 coins! Both came from villages, so they knew earning 3 coins was not that easy. Only Isabelle thought it was a good price. Her eyes looked from bolt to bolt to decide which to buy, or if she could buy more than one color. She had money, after all!

However, she calmed herself and started thinking with a cold mind. She had money, yes, but there were many places where she could use that money. She could not splurge it just on fabric.

"1 yard of black, then." She still bought one yard because another idea came to her mind.

"Right away!" Mrs. Attile beamed. Ginna reached for some scissors to let the owner of the shop cut the new fabric. It shimmered and flowed as it was extended, capturing everyone's attention. "Here. Anything else?" She amiably asked after nimbly cutting it.

Isabelle eyed Ginna, silently asking if her other fabric was ready. "I… yes, I'm almost done." Ginna hurried to resume her task. With the owner there, she could do or say nothing.

"Are you from around here?" Mrs. Attile off-handedly asked Isabelle as she led the couple to the counter.

"From Yellow Leaf Village." The first thing she learned was the place she woke up at, so it was something she would not forget.

"Oh? Could have sworn you were from this town or a city." Mrs. Attile commented. Neither Isabelle nor Ethan replied. Luckily, they did not stay silent for long as Ginna returned with the cut fabric. "Six yards of Poplin and one of Sateen. 6 coins and 6 dimes."

Isabelle took out her purse and counted 7 coins from the money Mrs. Priddy had paid her for the dress. The rest were bills. Isabelle also remembered she had yet another bag of coins given by the Commissioner. She would check that at home.

"Your change." Mrs. Attile smiled at Isabelle, giving her 4 dimes. "Come back again!"

"I sure will." Isabelle smiled, took Ethan's hand and both exited the shop.

"She's definitely not from here." Mrs. Attile commented. She eyed her employee, who had not stopped glancing and trying to get the man's attention. "Don't try anything, Ginna. Just work honestly."

Mrs. Attile hired Ginna because both were in need. Mrs. Attile had just opened her shop in Basin Town once her husband settled in his new post as a camp trainer, so she needed someone to look after the shop while she went out looking for fabrics. Or, to go beg her cousin in Silver City to give her some fabric.

Ginna was looking for a job in town once she realized she could not depend on a man like her sister did with Ethan. Mrs. Attile hired Ginna because the latter had good memory and was well-mannered. Though, if she started creating trouble with customers, then Mrs. Attile would not doubt in looking for another person.

Like that young woman who knew about fabrics.

Ginna just pursed her lips and nodded. She really had no right to meddle in Ethan's life anymore. She just lamented the 'what ifs'.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Isabelle still roamed around town, looking for shoes. People in villages tended to use sandals or clothe shoes, whichever they could afford. In Basin Town, most people used sewn shoes made with very resistant fabric, or leather shoes.

Leather shoes came in different styles and quality. Isabelle had seen many used some simple style of leather shoes that did not need to be tied. It looked like one only needed to put the feet in. She was searching the shop that sold them.

"I don't think they're necessary." Ethan tried to protest.

"They are a must, Ethan. You cannot go to your new job looking less than your best." Isabelle rebuked. She finally found a shop that sold shoes and entered.

"Welcome! How may I help you?" The male attendant greeted them. He did a once over at both, but still kept an amiable smile.

Isabelle looked around, searching if those shoes she wanted were on display. "There!" She exclaimed, walking towards the shoes. They were a bit ugly from up close and smelled rather weird. She grimaced and immediately put them down. "Do you have a similar style but better?"

The attendant fluttered around, collecting different shoes. "We have all these. All come in average size and are unique, meaning, we don't have another pair in another size. Unless you place the order."

"Come look, Ethan. Which ones fit you?" Isabelle waved at the silent Ethan.

He looked down at the shoes with a really difficult expression. He had always thought the man providing for the woman was the norm, that was what he always saw in the village and in town. To have a woman provide for him was rather novel and a bit embarrassing.

There was no other choice, though. Isabelle had money, he did not.

He grabbed one of the shoes and compared the sole with the clothe shoe's sole he was wearing. The shoes were a bit bigger, but he thought it was better that way. He heard once a man complaining about his wife buying him shoes that exactly fit his feet, but were tight when he wrapped his feet.

Apparently, he could not use leather shoes without wrapping his feet.

"This one." Ethan said. Isabelle looked at the black shoes that were still a bit ugly, but since they did not smell weird, she thought they were fine.

"How much for the pair?" She asked the attendant.

"10 coins." Ethan sharply inhaled. Isabelle only nodded.

"We'll buy them." The attendant smiled and grabbed the shoe from Ethan's slack hold, picked the other shoe to form the pair and walked to the counter to wrap them up. Isabelle used a bill to pay.

After thanking the attendant, she led the still frozen Ethan out.