She passed her hand quickly over the orb, and the blue glow faded back to silver.

"Aldrec, I'm so sorry, but I have to cut this short," Mericlou said, hurriedly stuffing the ether link back into the hip satchel. "I just forgot something very important. Can we talk again soon?"

Aldrec smiled. "I'd like that very much." He poured another helping of golden cider from the carafe the waiter had left at the table. "Do you have any days off?"

"Believe it or not, today was supposed to be my day off," Mericlou said as she stood up, "but we had some … ah … problems back home; you know how it is. I'll be off tomorrow, though; I promise."

"All right then. How about we meet in the flower shop? When will be a good time for you?"

"The flower shop will be wonderful," Mericlou replied, "but it'll have to be after lunch. I tend to let my sleep mode last longer than I need." She started to back away, glancing at her watch. "Well anyway, it was nice to have met you, Aldrec, and I'll see you … tomorrow, hopefully?"

"Until tomorrow," Aldrec said as Mericlou turned and walked off. "Oh, by the way, you dropped this earlier."

Mericlou turned, and saw the bouquet of flowers she had bought and dropped before chasing after the purse-snatcher, now clutched in Aldrec's hand. It had to have been magic; she had not seen him holding them while he was walking with her to the garden.

"Oh, thank you so much!" She said, receiving them and taking a brief moment to deeply inhale their aroma. "I'd completely forgotten!"

"Of course," Aldrec said with a polite nod.

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"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then?" Mericlou said, backing away once again.

"Divine willing," Aldrec said with a wave.

"Goodbye!"

Aldrec waved until she disappeared behind the hedges and pavilions in the distance. He took one last draft of his cider and then put down his tip.

Well, he thought, mildly bewildered at the day's recent events, you really can never know what one day will bring.

The remaining floral scent of Mericlou's perfume dissipated as Aldrec began the long walk home. And that was when he found himself longing for tomorrow to be now.




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