Guilloche

"Ma'am!" A small boy, about six years old, grabbed her coat sleeve and tugged, trying to get her attention. "Ma'am, something's sticking out of your shoe!

" "It doesn't matter," she replied, not even glancing at him, as a familiar silhouette flashed past a boutique a few hundred meters away.

"But..." the boy protested.

She yanked her sleeve free and headed in the direction she'd just seen. A young woman in an elegant red coat, leading a child who looked about four by the hand. Ida knew the girl was exactly four years and three months old.

The woman entered the store, and Ida followed. Casually, not hiding behind the racks of clothes. She couldn't have known who she was. Mother and daughter walked to the children's section and began looking at dresses.

"This one is beautiful," Ida pointed to a dress lying on the side, unseen.

The woman eyed her. The inspection must have been successful, because she smiled and reached for the lace wonder.

"Yes, indeed, you have a good eye," she smiled. "So, honey, do you like it?" She leaned over the child.

"A beautiful girl," Ida said.

"Thank you.

" "Mommy, I want this one." The girl took a liking to the puffy dress Ida had pointed out. "Can I try it on?"

"Of course. Let's go to the fitting room.

" "I'll help you." Ida reached for the rest of the purchases, which were difficult to put together.

"Thank you, that's really kind of you.

" "No problem. I'm just looking for something for my little one. I can do that while I'm at it.

" "Do you have a daughter too?

" "Yes, she just turned four and three months," she lied without batting an eye.

"Oh! It's just like my Dziunia. This dress is a belated birthday present from Dad.

" "Dzunia? A pretty name.

" "It was my husband's idea. Short for Elżbieta."

"Elegant. Your husband must be a man of class.

" "Yes, indeed.

" "Excuse my indiscretion, but then he should probably make the purchase."

"Yes, he came with us, but he's at the bank right now. He'll join us in a moment."

Ida felt her face heat up. She'd see Him in a moment... After all these years... It was a good thing the woman had been summoned by little Elizabeth, otherwise she would surely have noticed the changes in her face. Even though Ida had mastered the art of shaping her face to perfection, she still didn't believe that nothing could be seen.

She quickly said goodbye to his wife and went outside. She couldn't allow him to see them together. It was hard to predict his reaction, but he certainly wouldn't be thrilled. Besides, she wanted to meet him alone, to talk, to at least try to find answers to the questions that had been tormenting her for hundreds of nights. Maybe tonight, at least, she'd fall asleep more peacefully. Maybe she'd even be able to sleep at all?

What did he look like? Had he changed much? Did he have wrinkles yet? His wife was still as beautiful as on her wedding day… No, he couldn't change. Anyone but him.

She tried to calm her heart. Calm down, calm down, she'd soon find the answers to her questions. At least some of them. It was now or never.

She'd completely lost track of time. Had it been minutes, or hours, since she'd left the store? How long would it take?

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed the boy who'd previously caught her attention approaching her again. The boy was staring curiously at her face, which reflected all the emotions she'd just experienced. For a moment, it seemed to him that lightning flashed across the face of this beautiful, proud lady, but he was only a child and didn't understand what it could mean.

"Madam," he tugged at her sleeve again, just as Ida was making an important decision. "Your guilloche is sticking out of your shoe! Do you hear that? Guilloche!

" "Guilloche... Guilloche?" she whispered through white lips. "Even two of them would be sticking out!" She laughed nervously, then moved forward and disappeared around the corner a moment later.