When the bell above the door jingled, Melinda looked up from the menu she was organizing, her smile warm and bright as she greeted the newcomer. “Hello, how may I help you?”
She paused for a moment, when she took in the appearance of the other woman. Normally she didn’t mind what other people wore – as long as it wasn’t overly dirty and smelly – but something about this person… Her eyes widened when she recognized her fellow shop owner. “Romilda?” she asked, slightly shocked to see the otherwise permanently sharply dressed woman looking like something the cat had dragged in… wearing something the cat had slept in for a week. “Are you all right?”