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Thanks Christine for posting this faded glory themed pic to #LuxvilleTales. Here is your story.

THE HOUSE OF LUX.

She almost stepped on it as she ran out the door. Car-keys and phone in one hand, bag and water-bottle in the other.

“Bye Ginny.” she yelled over her shoulder as she pulled the door closed and swept up the parcel in her wake as she belted for the car.

She had all the time in the world until she had none. Same every-time. Always rushing, always late, always apologising, always trying to make it up.

Her phone lit up as she paused at the traffic lights. She snuck a look.

‘black hat shut go2 tearooms cu there’

Great! She could relax a bit. The meeting would start late but it wouldn’t be her fault. It would be stupid Mondays in Luxville’s fault; when you could never be sure who would be open, and when you could be sure the coffee wouldn’t be great.

The Luxville Tearooms were closer, so she got there first. Some time to check out the parcel.

It was beautifully wrapped in brown paper with thick golden thread wound round and round. Hand delivered to her back door. She untied the thread and wound it between her thumb and little finger. Multiple infinities. She unfolded the paper to reveal a small water colour. Unsigned, no markings.

A street scene, people walking, others supping under cafe umbrellas, leisurely, autumn, timeless. And a women in red walking a poodle. Her and Ginny? ‘The House of Lux’ read the card, also unsigned. She smiled to herself.

Christine looked up and saw her client walk into the tearooms. Above the door a ghost sign read ‘House of Lux’. Okay now THAT’s weird! She’d never seen that sign before. Time did that strange thing of expanding.

Her phone lit up, pulling her back to the present.

‘where you?’

Through the window she could see her client scanning her phone. Ten minutes had passed unnoticed.

Christine got out of her car slowly. She smoothed her red frock and checked her lipstick in the side mirror. She reached back into the car for the painting and headed for the tearooms.

Inside she proffered it to her client.

“Alice check this out. My yesterday self gave my today self a gift. And my tomorrow self will be intrigued!”

“It’s about time!” Alice replied, “I’ll take the whole series!”

LUXVILLE TALES with TALE BY Erin McCuskey and IMAGE BY Christine & Erin.

Please Note: The #LuxvilleTales are generated from reader contributed images. Post me an image themed ‘faded glory’ and I will write you a short tale. Tag it #Luxville & #LuxvilleTales and tag me too! Love Madame Yum