“What shopping?” Marielle asked. “I’m not aware of anything that I need to buy.”

“I want us to go window shopping later on,” Francie stated in a light-hearted tone.

“Oh, what for?” Marielle asked. “What do you have to buy?” she asked with a smile.

“I don’t need anything myself, but this is not for our private use. It’s for a new production,” Francie responded in a sing-song manner.

“What new production?” Marie asked, frowning in ...