Taking Charge (6 page)

Joy smiled.
“You sure about this?” Jordan pulled her into his arms and kissed
her gently.
“Yes I am sure.” Joy smiled and kissed Jordan.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.” Joy smiled. Jordan shook his head.
“What is it that we are baking? Because I can smell it.” Joy
smiled.
“Banana loaf.” Jordan smiled.
“Tea time?” Joy nodded.
“A big loaf?” Joy nodded.
“Big.” Jordan smiled.
“Nose in the files.” Joy chuckled as Jordan kissed her and walked
out. Joy stood and sighed.
“Oh Jordan. It is going to break my heart to leave. I feel as if I
am at home.” Jordan smiled and listened as he walked down the
stairs. He whispered.
“Then don’t go.” Joy smiled. She sat on the couch and went through
her notes and all the paperwork. She took out the plan of the
school that she had requested. She marked every class off and wrote
the teacher’s name in the area. There were a few classes to spare.
She would soon work something out for those classes. She knew what
they needed. She put the notes down and got up as the timer went
off on the oven. She walked over to the oven and took the Banana
Loaf out of the oven and put it on the counter. She smiled as she
took the loaf of bread out and made herself a ham and cheese
sandwich. She smiled and made another two for Jordan. She had a
funny feeling he would join her.

She heard the footsteps. Jordan
smiled.
“Oh just in time.” She handed him his sandwiches. They sat at the
little bar table and had their lunch.
“And did you work out what you are going to be doing tomorrow.” Joy
nodded.
“They are going to be assigned a classroom. And the kids are going
to be marching.” Jordan nodded.
“But that is how it is supposed to be done.” Joy nodded.
“And I have a few classrooms left open. I will sort something out
with those. But that is how it will be. The kids get the roster.
They will move. Not the other way around.” Jordan nodded.
“I see our tea time snack is ready.” Joy chuckled.
“It is. Would you like a take away?” Jordan grinned. Joy sliced a
few slices and buttered them and put them in a container.
“Hide it.” Jordan grinned. He kissed Joy and left. Joy stood in the
kitchen and touched her lips. She closed her eyes and smiled. She
whispered to herself.
“I am in love with you Jordan. I have fallen in love with you.” Joy
smiled as she stood in the kitchen. She walked back to the lounge
and got busy again. There was so much to change. But the first
day’s changes were huge.

Jordan sat in his office and went through
the previous day’s till slips. Everything balanced. He looked at
the turnover and smiled. He looked up as Sarah put his cup of
coffee down.
“Thanks Sarah.” Sarah stood with her hands on her hips. Jordan
looked at her.
“Where did that come from?” She pointed at his little container
which had already been opened.
“Uhm. Uhm. I.” She took one of the little slices. She took a bite
and nodded.
“She bakes well. The ingredients are perfect. The texture is right.
Marry her Jordan.” Jordan roared with laughter. Sarah leaned over
and whispered.
“I know where that came from. My nose is trained.” Jordan grinned.
Sarah smiled.
“Let me have that recipe and I will get the sales up!” Jordan
roared with laughter. Sarah nodded.
“I bought it from the shop down the road.”
“They don’t do Banana loaf.”
“Well. That is strange.” Sarah smiled.
“You have a little bundle of fun in your home.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“You do. But I am not going to say a word.” Jordan chuckled.
“I am innocent. Honestly.” Sarah looked at Jordan.
“You might be innocent but you look different today. You actually
look happy.”
“I am always happy.”
“Yes. But I mean really happy.” Jordan shook his head.
“I haven’t done anything.” Sarah smiled.
“You don’t have to do anything to be happy. Happiness comes from
within. And when you meet a certain somebody you feel even happier.
It shows.” Jordan smiled and looked at Sarah.
“Not saying a word. But I know.” Jordan chuckled.
“They do a good Banana loaf down the road.” Sarah smiled and walked
out.
“I don’t think they know how.”

Jordan chuckled. He had to be very
careful. He knew his staff would never breathe a word to anyone if
they knew. But he didn’t want a slip of gossip going around. It
would not be right for Joy. He smiled to himself. He always came
down first thing in the morning and went back home late in the
evenings. He never went home during the day. And he had already
popped in once. He got up and listened to his staff. They were
always busy.
He quietly
walked up the stairs.

He smiled as he got to the lounge. Joy was
huddled in a little ball on the couch with all her papers piled on
the floor. He walked down the passage and
fetched a blanket and carefully covered her. Joy
smiled and opened one eye.
“Hey handsome.” Jordan felt his little insides take a turn. He
loved that she had said that. He spoke quietly as he went down on
one knee.
“I don’t normally come home during the day so that is why I am so
scarce.” He kissed her on the lips. Joy smiled.
“I don’t mind as long as you don’t mind me here.” Jordan
smiled.
“I love you being here. Have you had some coffee?” Joy smiled and
shook her head. He walked to the kitchen and sliced a few more
slices of Banana loaf and put some on a plate for Joy. He poured
her a cup of coffee and took it over to Joy with the plate. He put
them on the floor. Joy smiled.
“Take some for tea time.” Jordan smiled.
“It is tea time. I will see you later.” Joy smiled and put her arms
around Jordan’s neck.
“See you later.” He whispered.
“Did you mean that. About me being handsome?” Joy smiled and kissed
Jordan.
“I did.” He smiled and kissed her.
“Later.”
“Later.” He took his slices and headed down the stairs with a huge
smile. He had fallen head over heels in love with Joy. What she had
said meant the world to him.

Tanya walked in just before six.
“And how was your day?” Jordan nodded and smiled.
“A lovely day and yours?” Tanya nodded.
“The folks are at home. They did pop in though.” Jordan smiled and
nodded. Craig smiled as Tanya walked in.
“So what is news? Anything we should hear about?” Tanya shook her
head.
“Nothing to tell. The residents are behaving.” Craig chuckled and
nodded.

Frank walked up to Jordan and
Tanya.
“News has it that there is a new woman in town. We don’t know who
she is though.” Tanya nodded.
“So give us all the news.” Frank nodded.
“This is not gossip. I don’t gossip. This is all truth.” Jordan
nodded.
“And?”
“Well now. There is a lot to tell.” Jordan and Tanya looked at
Frank.
“So. The lady went to the bank so that they can move her branch to
here.” Jordan nodded.
“I hope Gretchen doesn’t disclose any of her details.” Frank shook
his head.
“Now that she doesn’t do.” They both nodded.
“And the lady went to the wholesaler and placed a whopping big
order. Garth is a little scared.” Jordan nodded.
“But if she placed the order she will pay for it.”
“Only when it arrives. And Garth says the things are rather funky
and if she doesn’t take them they won’t sell.” Jordan nodded.
“Has he ordered the goods?” Frank nodded.
“He has. But he is hoping that she buys them.”
“I am sure she will.”
“And.” They both looked at Frank.
“She went for a haircut at Alfonso’s.” Tanya grinned.
“And since when is Alfonso cutting ladies hair?” Frank
smiled.
“Alfonso is so proud. And he says it looks so good.” Jordan
chuckled.
“I hope it wasn’t a number two.” They all chuckled.
“So who is this lady then Frank?”
“The lady that came here with the bikers. That lady. I am sure it
is her. I think they said her name is Miss Sheridan.” Jordan nodded
and smiled.

“
By
the way. Those liqueurs. When are they going to
arrive?”
“During the week some time. Hopefully by Friday.”
“And why are we carrying that kind of thing?” Jordan nodded.
“Well. On Friday. I noticed quite a few new couples coming in.”
Frank nodded and smiled.
“So have you got your eyes on a particular lady?” Jordan chuckled
and shook his head. Tanya watched Jordan as he answered.
“I will let you know.” Frank smiled.
“Never known you to look. The ladies know to steer clear.”
“And that is how I like it.” Frank nodded.
“No change.” Jordan chuckled and shook his head.
“No change.” Tanya looked at Jordan.
“Are you going home for supper then?” Jordan looked at his
watch.
“Yes. I will be down a little later Frank.” Frank
nodded.

Joy stood in the kitchen. She heated the
left over macaroni until it was warm and she added the salmon. She
chopped up a little cheddar cheese and added a little Feta. She
mixed it all up and made a nice sauce to add to the salad. She
hated a dry noodle salad. She looked at the dish and started adding
all sorts of things. Boiled eggs and onions were next. She took a
taste and nodded. She took out the bread and buttered a few slices.
She heard the giggling as Tanya ran up the stairs.
“Quietly Tanya.” Tanya chuckled and nodded. Joy smiled as they
walked in.
“Just in time for a fishy concoction. And how are the boots doing?”
Tanya smiled and looked at Joy’s feet. She wiggled her toes.
“Fit perfect.” Tanya grinned.
“These boots were made for walking. And tomorrow back to heels.”
Joy chuckled and nodded. Jordan leaned over and kissed her hello
and Tanya looked away. She had never seen Jordan kiss a
woman.

Joy dished up for everyone and added a
slice of bread. Tanya grinned. She took a mouthful and
sighed.
“This is divine!” Jordan nodded as he ate.
“I could hear my stomach grumbling.” Tanya grinned. She looked at
the Banana loaf.
“Oh you are so spoilt! Banana loaf!” Jordan chuckled and
nodded.
“Joy felt like baking.” Joy nodded.
“Stranger things have happened.” Tanya grinned.
“So what did you do all day?” Joy hopped off of her bar
stool.
“That reminds me.” She gathered all her paperwork and walked
through to the bedroom and put it on the bed. She walked back to
the kitchen.
“We definitely need lollipop chairs and a table like this. Are you
okay standing Jordan?” Jordan chuckled and nodded.
“Not really.” He walked out and ran down the stairs and took a bar
stool. Everyone looked at him and he chuckled. He walked up the
stairs and put the chair at the table and hopped on it. He smiled
as he got up on the chair.
“Much better.” Tanya smiled.
“Lollipop chairs?” Joy nodded.
“It is like a bar stool. With a thin tube and then you have a
little plastic chair that you sit in. They come in all sorts of
colors.” Jordan chuckled.
“We will have to get the brochures out.” Joy chuckled.
“I had to go through a catalogue at the wholesaler. Gosh his range
is boring.” Tanya chuckled and nodded.
“Very boring.”

“
So back to work for you tomorrow Tanya.”
Tanya nodded. She g
ot up
and dished a little more onto her plate. Jordan smiled as he
watched.
“We will see what this week brings. The new Principal starts
tomorrow.”
“And what is news of this new Principal?” Tanya shook her
head.
“There is absolutely no news. And on Thursday it is my turn to have
her in my class. That is all we know. It is a woman. But we don’t
know how old or anything. So I am just going to take it as it comes
and hope like crazy that she likes me. I love teaching there.” Joy
chuckled and nodded.
“And are you hoping for a big change?”
“I am hoping something gets done about the school. The results are
never good. We have about a sixty to seventy percent failure rate.
Which does not look good on my resume.” Joy nodded.
“I am sure something good will happen.” Tanya nodded and
sighed.
“I really hope.” Jordan smiled.
“Just be positive and wait and see.” Tanya smiled.
“I am very positive. Things were really bad with Mister Anderson in
charge. And well Mister Walters is much the same. They are both so
wimpy. They stand back and let things happen. They don’t guide.”
Joy smiled and nodded as she listened. Tanya and the rest of the
staff were in for a big surprise.

Jordan got up.
“See you much later sweetheart.” He kissed Joy and him and Tanya
walked down the stairs. Tanya smiled and whispered as they got to
his office.
“I have never seen you kiss anyone.” Jordan smiled.
“Get used to it.” Tanya smiled.
“I rather like it. Mum would like her.” Jordan smiled and
nodded.
“Not a word.”
“But why?”
“You will soon realize.” Tanya nodded.
“If you say so.” Jordan smiled as Tanya kissed him on the cheek and
she headed home.

It was back to work for Jordan. He served
behind the bar counter till late. Frank smiled.
“Can’t wait for the new stock to arrive. More of a selection.”
Jordan chuckled and nodded.
“We might have to sample something.” Frank chuckled.
“You never drink.” Jordan nodded.
“I like to keep a clear head.”
“But you don’t even drink during the day. Not a beer or
anything.”
“Don’t need to.” Frank nodded.
“Wise.” Jordan nodded.
“Very.”

It was just after nine when Jordan
made his way upstairs. Joy
smiled as she handed him a cup of coffee.
“I can see you are bushed.” She smiled as he put his cup of coffee
down and pulled her in to his arms.
“This is what I need. A nice cuddle.” Joy smiled as he put his arms
around her and pulled her to his body. He looked down.
“And tomorrow is a big day for you.” Joy looked up and kissed
Jordan.
“It is the make and break. Tomorrow is my only chance to win them
over. They are all going to be shocked. It is going to be a bit of
an eye opener for some.” Jordan smiled.
“And what is the strategy. Don’t they have assembly on a Monday
morning?”
“They do. And the minute they have done what they do then I will be
on that stage.”
“And what will you be wearing?” Joy chuckled.
“Oh I go suited up. You won’t recognize me.” Jordan chuckled as he
held Joy in his arms.
“So today a biker. Tomorrow a lady.”
“Exactly that. Face and all.” Jordan looked at Joy and
smiled.
“You don’t need make up. You are beautiful without.” Joy smiled and
looked at Jordan.
“This is not like me. Not at all. Jordan there is something about
you.” Jordan smiled.
“And you. You have turned my world upside down.” Joy smiled. He
pulled her closer to his body and leaned down and kissed Joy.
“Once you get to know everyone there will be rumors about me. And
you will wonder if I am the same man.”
“Good or bad? These rumors.” Jordan chuckled.
“I will leave it up to the gossips. No. Nothing bad at all. All
good for sure.” Joy smiled.