Prelude to kisses

Chapter 20

Jackie stood in front of the long open window of her new apartment, looking out into the busy street. As soon as the realtor opened the door to this apartment room, she'd known she would never fit anywhere else. The neighborhood was quiet and very pretty. She loved the park they'd seen on their way here and the little bakery at the corner down the street. It was a romantic neighborhood. A little far from Jossie but she didn't mind it at all. She could start over here, she thought. It felt like a new beginning.

She brought the coffee mug to her lips again and took a few sips of the hot contents. The sun was just rising, the cold morning air floating soundlessly around her. When she finished drinking her coffee, she rinsed the cup and went into her bedroom. She looked at herself in the full body mirror. Her hair was parted in the middle, tied into a low bun, lifting her cheekbones. She wanted to seem at least a few years older than she actually was. The long black silk skirt and white blazer over her V-shaped shirt made her feel older and elegant.

She took a few minutes to check that she had all the proper documents she needed in her purse before exiting into the busy streets. The council building was right in the center of the busy town of Victoria Falls. She was nervous as she walked inside and took a seat. The nervousness quickly went away when she was ushered into a room and was given an application form to fill. She read through the documents, going through every word before filling in the form then giving it back for submission along with all the necessary documents required.

The process could take up to three months, they informed her. In those three months to come she'd be visiting some construction companies. She didn't want to waste anytime sitting around waiting. She was going to make everything happen for herself.

"Have you thought about finding a job in the meantime?" Angie asked on one of their long phone calls.

"No not really. It's only been a week and a few days since I made a submission. I've already signed a contract with a construction company, and they are starting as soon as the land is purchased. I've been so busy with the planning and building designs I haven't had the time to think about that".

"The printing business is doing well, both shops. But I know how expensive it is to start a business. At least something that can cover your rent and living expenses".

"Yeah, you're right Angie. I didn't think about it like that. Not right now though. Once everything has picked up and construction start then yes. I was actually thinking of opening another printing shop here, with the profit we make this month. It's been on my mind, but I wanted to hear what you thought first".

"Absolutely yes, it's a great idea".

The call came exactly three months after she had applied for the land purchase. The days from then onwards were extremely busy and tiring, going over paperwork, making purchases, visiting constructions sites. Going over the planning for the apartments. She loved every second of it.

 While visiting a few local printing businesses to get a feel of the atmosphere around and see how they ran their businesses one day, she met a guy that printed t-shirts, mugs and logos. He was employed at one of the companies but as soon as she saw his customer care and how good his services were, she couldn't help but approach him. He hoped to start his own business at some point.

It only took a coffee meeting, and they were shaking hands at the end. She had the finances; he had the skills. They partnered up and pretty soon they started to see customers coming. He already had a few close customers at his previous employment that it didn't take time until customers were floating in and out of the shop. She spent so much time with him during the set up in the first few weeks, helping him around the shop when she wasn't busy, and they had established a close friendship.

Everything was taking off pretty well. She was starting to see some returns on their printing business but building costs were fast draining her bank account leaving her with very little for living expenses. She didn't want to go into her savings just yet. It took months but finally she found a job as a personal assistant for a law firm. It was great, because she didn't have furniture yet, only the immediate necessities she used in the house.

Her boss was a middle-aged man, tall and very lithe. He was a workaholic and sometimes she'd leave work before he did. The three-story building was home to printing business, loan companies, a herbal clinic and funeral pallor. There was never a dull day in her life now, always something to do, a call to make and calls to take and errands to run she barely had any time to think about Mathew. It was only on those cruel nights when dreams of him crept up on her to remind her she couldn't run away further enough. At this point she was becoming used to it. Used to the dreams and the unwelcomed thoughts of him.