“I’m ready,” he announces. “I have my reference. I learned it on the plane. Who do I say it to? You?” He turns to Rhona and makes a small bow. “My name is Danny Kovitz—yes, the Danny Kovitz—thank you—and I am here today to recommend Rebecca Brandon as a personal shopper without parallel.”
“Stop!” I say, pink with embarrassment. “This isn’t the right place. We need to find Gayle, my new boss.”
“Oh,” says Danny, unfazed. “OK.”
Meanwhile, Anita has reappeared from the dressing room and heads over to Rhona. “OK, I’d like to get the black lace dress. And the pink clutch and the sash.”
“Well, dear,” says Rhona, her face still pinched with annoyance. “If you’re sure. Now, what about this fabulous pink stole? It would set off the black lace wonderfully.” She reaches for a length of pink tulle adorned with oversize white sequins and spreads it out on the counter.
Anita glances at me and I surreptitiously shake my head.
“No, thanks,” she says confidently. Rhona whips round in suspicion, but I give her an innocent smile.
“We’d better find Gayle,” I say. “See you later, Rhona! Have fun at the prom, Anita!”
As I head away with Danny, I can’t help wrapping an arm round him. “Thank you for coming. You’re such a star to do this.”
“I know,” he says complacently.
“I’m going to miss you when you go to Greenland! Couldn’t you have chosen somewhere nearer?”
“What, some hike in the mountains?” says Danny dismissively. “Some little day trek?”
“Why not? We would still have sponsored you—”
“Becky, you don’t get it.” Danny gives me a serious look. “This is something I have to do. I want to push myself to the limit. I have this great trainer, Diederik, and he’s done the Greenland expedition. He says it’s a mystical experience. Mystical.”
“Oh well. Mystical.” I shrug.
“Who buys these clothes?” Danny seems to have noticed the racks for the first time.
“Er … lots of people. Lots of very fashionable, stylish, um … chic people.”
“Chic?” He looks at me with a comically appalled face. “Chic?”
“Shhh! There’s my boss!”
We’ve reached the entrance to the personal-shopping area, where I’ve agreed to meet Gayle, and there she is, looking around anxiously. Maybe she thought I wasn’t going to turn up. She’s a really lovely woman, in her forties—very pretty except her hair’s too long, in my opinion—and I’m looking forward to working with her.
“Hi!” I wave to attract her attention.
“Rebecca.” She exhales. “I was about to call you. This is very awkward. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry …”
She’s about to tell me that Danny still hasn’t come through with his reference, isn’t she?
“No, it’s fine,” I say hastily. “He’s here! Danny, this is Gayle, my new boss.” I nudge him. “You can start now.”
“Excuse me?” Gayle looks baffled.
“This is Danny Kovitz,” I explain. “He’s come here especially to give my reference! Go on, Danny.” I nod encouragingly, and Danny draws breath.
“My name is Danny Kovitz—yes, the Danny Kovitz—thank you—and I am here today to recommend Rebecca Brandon as a personal shopper without parallel. Where there is disaster, she will find style. Where there is blah, she will find a look. Where there is … um—” He breaks off, pulls a piece of paper out of his jeans pocket, and consults it. “Yes! Where there is misery, she will find happiness. Not just fashion happiness, all-round happiness.” He takes a step toward Gayle, who looks a bit shell-shocked. “You want Rebecca Brandon in your store. The last person who tried to fire her faced a backlash from the customers; am I right, Becky?”
“Well.” I shrug awkwardly, feeling a bit overcome. I had no idea Danny would be so nice about me.
“You may have heard some strange rumors about Rebecca.” Danny has gone on to his second sheet of paper. “Yes, she once deliberately trapped a customer in a dress. But she had good reason.” He hits the paper emphatically. “Yes, she’s been known to disguise clothes as sanitary products. But she was helping her clients. Yes, she organized two weddings for the same day and didn’t tell anyone, even her fiancé.…” He peers at the sheet.
“Danny, shut up!” I mutter. Why is he bringing all this up?