“No! No.” Elle tried to think what exactly to say to this restrained woman, how to explain her circumstances. Strangled by a hulking shadow, a leap into the ocean, washing ashore and being rescued by Adam. Having no memory of her full name or anything else important. She couldn’t say all that. “No.”

Angelica waited, but when the silence went on too long and more information was not forthcoming, she asked, “Would you trust me to pick out your clothes?”

Elle had seen Angelica on videos, talking about the best paint colors for the kitchen cabinets, cooking with other celebrities, caring for her garden and her pets. “Please. But I’m not able to pay immediately, and I won’t be a burden on Adam Ramsdell.” She corrected herself. “More of a burden.”

“Sit there.” Angelica pointed to a seat beside the cash register and walked toward the back of the store.

Elle noticed the stack of newspapers on the counter. She put down her Cheery Freeze, picked up a newspaper. She read the headlines and stared at the pictures. She didn’t remember anything about these stories. How could she have lost so much? Would she ever regain her memory?

“Are you all right?” Angelica stood a few feet away.

Tamalyn stood behind her with her arms full of clothes.

Elle couldn’t say I’m afraid and I don’t know what I’m afraid of. “Yes, I just... You have newspapers. Real, paper newspapers!”

“The area includes a fair number of elderly who refuse to break with tradition, so when one of my employees comes in from San Luis Obispo or Sacramento or LA, they bring a stack of newspapers.”

“Because Gothic is so boring nothing ever happens, and we don’t need our own paper.” Tamalyn glowered with hostility, although this time it seemed distributed over the whole of Gothic.

Angelica ignored her. “We put the papers on the counter, and they slowly sell until the next batch arrives.”

“That’s interesting. I can see reading the news this way would be a tactile experience.” Elle could almost hear Tamalyn roll her eyes.

“Go ahead and take it. You can catch up on events, and who knows? Adam might be interested, too.” Angelica glanced at the paper upright on the counter and grimaced. “Because it’s the wrestler, Big John Hammer.”

Angelica had to be kidding. “That’s his name?”

“Where have you been?” Tamalyn asked nastily.

I don’t know.

Angelica turned smoothly. “Tamalyn, thank you for your assistance. Now, if you’d go help our new customer...”

Tamalyn piled the clothes on the counter while muttering, “It’s Mrs. Worcsh and that toddler of hers. He’ll wreck the place. Don’t put him down, don’t put him down...” She rushed toward the woman and her wiry son.