“For me?” Joy nodded.
“Oh yes.” Penny sighed.
“Oh Miss Sheridan!” Joy chuckled and shook her head.
Joy smiled as they all headed home. She walked in to the pub and smiled.
“The sneaker samples arrived today.” Jordan smiled.
“And?”
“Each teacher has their pair. In their class. Oh I hope this carrot works.” Jordan chuckled.
“Sweetheart. Sit down. You look bushed.” Joy sat down and smiled.
“All this excitement is killing me!” Craig roared with laughter as he brought their coffee.
“So where are they?” Joy grinned.
“I am sure our bouncing ball will be through any minute now.” They all looked as Tanya flew through the door.
“Sneakers!” They all roared with laughter. Tanya took the sneakers out of the box.
“Check it out!” Everyone came to take a look. Jordan smiled.
“Awesome. Now if I missed out on a pair of those I would cry!” Tanya grinned and nodded. Frank stood them in the box and took a few photographs. Jordan nodded and smiled. Joy smiled.
“They are even nicer than I thought.” Everyone nodded. Craig smiled.
“Darn but these are neat.” Frank smiled and nodded.
“Now the more you buy. Do you get a discount?” Joy nodded.
“We do.” Frank smiled.
“I think I might need to invest in a pair. Let me know when you order.” Jordan smiled and looked at Joy. She nodded and smiled. Jordan held her hand.
Jordan smiled.
“The creative team and I have decided. The newsletter will be done here. We will get everything finalized. And we can go and make the copies on Saturday.” Joy sighed.
“Oh thank you!” They all roared with laughter.
“I hope we got a few nice orders for advertisements.” Frank looked at Jordan. He nodded and smiled.
“Definitely.” Joy smiled.
“I might have two extra bits to put in. But that I will only know on Friday. Late.” Jordan nodded and smiled.
“No problem.” Tanya smiled.
“And maybe even tomorrow.” Joy smiled and nodded.
“Is there anything else I need to do?” They all chuckled. Joy rubbed her eyes.
“I am running on an adrenalin high!” They roared with laughter. Joy smiled.
It was Friday morning. Jordan roared with laughter as Joy got dressed in her uniform. She had opted for the boys uniform. She put her trousers on and tucked in her shirt. She put on her tie and smiled. Jordan fastened her tie and kissed Joy. She didn’t wear any make up. She put her school shoes on and Jordan grinned. He took a few photographs and Joy smiled. She chuckled.
“Thank heavens I have boobs!” Jordan roared with laughter.
The teachers all walked in wearing their uniforms. The pupils all stood at the gate and clapped as they walked through. Thomas roared with laughter. Tanya chuckled and shook her head. They all had their cup of coffee in the staff room and headed to their classes. Tanya smiled as she looked at her class. Even though it was a civvies day the children were dressed rather smart. One of the pupils had taken a photograph of all the teachers together. Dressed in their uniforms.
Joy smiled as she stood in Penny’s reception area. She looked at each board. There were only two stars on the board. There were no more strikes. She smiled and looked at Penny.
“We are doing very well.” Penny looked up.
“We certainly are!” Joy smiled as she headed to her office.
“Staff meeting first break.” Penny nodded. She was so organized. She sent the SMS to each teacher to inform them.
The teachers sat around. Joy smiled.
“Tanya you have got your go ahead. I would like you on stage so that you can present your idea. With training times. The works.” Tanya shrieked.
“Oh my word! On the stage?” Joy nodded.
“Absolutely.” Clive looked at Joy. She smiled.
“That goes for you too Mister Baker. You have your band. And you can do your thing on Monday.” Clive smiled.
“Yes Ma’am!” They all shrieked with laughter. Joy smiled.
They all headed out of the school when the bell rang. The parents all waved as the teachers walked out. Jordan already had all the details from Tanya and Clive. He got his SMS and started finalizing the newsletter. Frank grinned.
“She is going to freak!” Jordan chuckled.
“Oh I made sure there is enough paper at Garth’s.” Frank grinned.
“How did that photograph of the teachers get to you so fast?” Jordan grinned and waved his cell phone.
“Oh those kids are so in tune you will be amazed!” Frank smiled.
“How many adverts?”
“Thirty six!”
“Whoa!” Frank smiled.
“I didn’t realize there are so many businesses.” Jordan nodded.
“The motel. The dairy. Oh everyone had to place an ad.” Craig smiled.
“But it is affordable.” Jordan smiled.
“Rather cheap if you think about it. Every person in this town is going to be reading the ads. And this newsletter is going to be a biggie.” They all nodded.
Craig shook his head.
“From a one pager to how many?” Jordan grimaced.
“Ten!” Frank grinned.
“I see a whole lot of stapling!” Jordan whispered.
“The post office is jacked. Jill wants her copy early!” They all roared with laughter.
CHAPTER 16
Joy walked through and smiled. They all clapped as she came in with her uniform. Joy chuckled. She undid her top button and undid her tie. Jordan roared with laughter.
“Last entry. I gave the go ahead.” Jordan smiled.
“Serious?” Joy nodded.
“We need a band. Hell we need drum majorettes!” They all roared with laughter.
“Confidential!” They all grinned. Tanya walked through and everyone whistled. Tanya roared with laughter. She put her hands up in the air and gave a twirl. Sarah walked through.
“Now those ponies are really neat!” Tanya smiled.
“When is the next civvies day?” Joy grinned and fiddled with her tie.
“This tie is choking me!” They all roared with laughter. Joy smiled and shook her head.
“Gosh what a different day! And I have two guest speakers on Monday.” Tanya groaned. Jordan grinned.
He went to the office and took the printed newsletter and walked through. He put it down. Joy stared.
“Oh my word! Where did you get that photograph?” Jordan smiled. Joy beamed.
“Oh look! That is all of us!” Jordan nodded. She paged through the newsletter and oohed and aahed.
“Sneakers! Frank you clever boy!” Frank grinned. She paged.
“Our Prefects! Oh what a lovely photograph!” Tanya smiled as she looked. Joy looked at all the advertisements. She smiled.
“Oh you have done such a good job!” Jordan smiled. She turned to the front page and turned over again. She smiled and looked at Tanya and then at Jordan.
“I don’t know how you did it. But thank you. That was the last two snippets of information I needed.” Joy read the two articles and smiled. She looked up at Tanya.
“That is going to be a hit!” Tanya nodded and smiled.
“Oh my gosh! You have a photo of me!” Jordan grinned.
“One of you and one of Clive.” She sighed.
“Oh I am so proud!” Jordan grinned and nodded.
Joy got up.
“Need to shop.” Jordan gave her his wallet.
“This time I am buying.” Joy smiled and kissed Jordan. Tanya got up.
“So what are we buying today?” Joy smiled as they drove up to the grocer.
Joy stood at the meat counter.
“And today we will have kebabs. A different selection. And make it. Make it thirty.” Tanya whispered.
“Thirty!”
“Oh you never
know.” Tanya grinned. They walked out with their kebabs and Joy bought a few more items. She took out her purse and paid.
“But Jordan said.”
“Yes. His wallet fell to the bottom of my bag and I could not get it out in time.” Joy smiled.
“He covers my boarding and lodging. I do the food.” Tanya smiled and shook her head. They headed back to the pub.
Jordan smiled as Joy handed him his wallet.
“Spent it all.” Tanya nodded.
“Frivolous!” Jordan chuckled.
“I am in your kitchen. No peeking. No interfering. No being inquisitive!” They all grinned as Joy walked through.
“What time is your live appearance?” Jordan grinned.
“Nine.”
“Plenty of time.”
They both walked up the stairs. Tanya helped to make a huge potato salad. Joy had every single kebab in the oven. Tanya groaned.
“It smells divine!” Joy smiled.
“There won’t be one left.”
“I have my doubts about that. There are only three of us.”
“At the moment.” Tanya grinned. They sat and had a cup of coffee. A little while later their supper was ready. Tanya looked at her watch and Joy smiled.
Jordan walked through.
“What smells so nice?” Lloyd walked through.
“Yes what smells so nice?” Tanya giggled. Dalton and Anne walked through. They both smiled.
“Miss Sheridan?” Joy smiled.
“Goodness! The entire Lewis family!” Zeba grinned. Jordan grinned and shook his head. Joy smiled and kissed Jordan.
“I guess we can do this in the lounge.” She opened the two containers of kebabs and Tanya opened the salad. Zeba sighed. Lloyd stepped up.
“Scoop.” Joy grinned.
“Now which would you like? Lamb?”
“Yes.”
“Chicken.”
“Yes.”
“Pork?” Lloyd nodded. He moved to Tanya. Tanya grinned and dished up. Lloyd took his knife and fork and went and sat down on the chair in the lounge. Anne smiled.
“I didn’t know we were coming for supper.” Joy smiled.
“We were hoping.” Jordan smiled. He took his plate and kissed Joy. She smiled as they all walked through to the lounge.
Dalton and Anne sat on the floor with Tanya. Lloyd shook his head and sighed.
“There is just something about a kebab. And these are divine!” Anne smiled.
“And a lovely salad too. Thank you so much for having us over for supper.” Jordan smiled.
“We have never had kebabs before Joy. This was a good idea.” Zeba smiled and looked at Jordan. Jordan smiled.
“Well we haven’t.” Lloyd grinned.
“And what do you normally have then?” Tanya smiled.
“Macaroni and cheese. Chicken casserole. Alfredo. Salmon pasta salad. All sorts.” Anne stared.
“Do you cook every night?” Jordan smiled and looked at Joy. She looked at Jordan. Joy smiled and looked at Anne.
“Yes I cook every night.” Anne smiled.
“That is so nice. The motel doesn’t have a restaurant. They only have a kettle in the rooms. Which I don’t understand anyhow.” Jordan and Joy both smiled and nodded.
Anne smiled.
“That is kind of you Jordan. To let Joy use your kitchen.” Joy smiled and nodded. Lloyd grinned.
“And how are their ablutions?” Joy nodded.
“Fine really.” Zeba smiled and nodded and looked at Joy who was smiling. She looked at Jordan who hid his smile.
They all looked up. Craig grinned.
“Okay. Some person ordered six chairs and a table. And her name would be Professor J Sheridan. Can I deliver?” Joy gasped.
“They came?” Craig smiled and nodded.
“Just point where you would like them.” Joy smiled and pointed at the corner where the bar stools and table stood. Jordan looked at Joy.
“Uhm. Well. You see. I kind of.” Lloyd roared with laughter. Craig carried the two bar stools. Frank walked up and carried the table. They both walked up and down with the six chairs and the table. Joy looked at Jordan and bit her bottom lip. She whispered.
“I kind of forgot.” Jordan smiled and looked up as the chairs and table were carried inside.
Craig smiled.
“We checked the one. Perfect. We will leave them sealed.” Joy smiled.
“Frank, Craig, take a kebab.” They both smiled and each took a kebab and walked downstairs. Jordan finished his meal and washed his hands. He walked over to the chairs. Joy smiled as Dalton and Lloyd joined him. They took off all the plastic wrapping. Jordan stood back and smiled. He looked at Joy.
“Sweetheart these are absolutely gorgeous!” Tanya grinned.
“Your lollipop chairs!” Lloyd smiled as he hopped up and sat on the bar stool.
“Now these are comfortable bar stools. What a novel idea. Doesn’t take up much space. But the table is much bigger and nicer. And again. Not much space.” Jordan smiled as he sat on the chair. He nodded.
“Hell this is comfortable.” Dalton nodded as he sat on one of the chairs.
They all took a turn to sit on the chairs. Joy nodded and smiled.
“It is a hectic shade but.” Zeba shook her head.
“But it fits in perfectly. Definitely not dull and boring. It actually livens this place up. This is lovely Jordan. What a good choice you made.” Tanya grinned. Jordan smiled. He looked at Joy and smiled.
Joy made a round of coffee. Lloyd walked over and took another kebab. Jordan took another. Dalton grinned.
“Oh what the heck!” They all chuckled. There were still a lot of kebabs left.
“And what do you do with the leftover food?” Jordan smiled and looked at Dalton.
“Goes into the fridge and it comes out another day or the next time you see it you don’t recognize it.” Anne nodded.
“Neat idea. Making a little more.” Joy smiled and looked at Jordan.
“Joy fully believes in abundance.” Joy giggled. Lloyd smiled.
“Well darling. That is how it should be. Lots and lots.” Jordan smiled and nodded. Zeba smiled.
“Well. I had a glorious meal. Thank you for our dinner invitation.” Jordan chuckled and nodded.
“We will see you later. Are you coming over tonight Joy?” Joy smiled.
“Not too sure. I had a hectic day.” Tanya smiled.
“Come at eight for your one liqueur. Don’t even change. I am staying like I am.” Jordan nodded.
“Why not?” Joy smiled.
“I might as well.” Zeba smiled.
“Lloyd. Are we going for something different tonight?” Lloyd smiled and kissed Zeba.
“We can taste a few and see what we settle on.” They all chuckled.
The family headed out. Tanya smiled. She helped to put the plates in to soak.
“Those were divine.” Jordan smiled and nodded. He looked at the left overs.
“Very nice!”
“You better take them another. They are probably still a little hungry.” Jordan kissed Joy and headed down to the pub with the two kebabs. Craig and Frank grinned as they each took one and tucked in. Frank smiled.
“Since when do you get to eat such good stuff?” Jordan grinned.
“Since I have my Joy.” Craig smiled.
“I think you need to start thinking marriage and proposals and things. It has been long enough.” Jordan smiled and nodded.
“It feels like a whole lot longer.” They all smiled. Frank nodded.
“When it is right. It is right.” Jordan smiled and nodded.
“And it is right.” They both smiled and looked at Jordan.
CHAPTER 17
Joy joined the family at eight. She wore her school uniform. Jordan held her in his arms the whole time. Everyone commented on the couple. Jordan smiled as Joy had one little liqueur and left soon after. She went back upstairs and changed just before nine. She came down to the pub dressed i
n a pair of little black shorts, sheer black pantyhose and little high heeled ankle boots. She wore a black tank top but she wore her wig. Jordan smiled as she walked in. He whispered.
“I want to take you in my arms and make love to you right now.” Joy smiled and looked at Jordan.
“Naughty.” He grinned.
The band was ready and waiting. Joy walked over and clipped her microphone over her ear. She looked at everyone.
“Evening folks!” They all clapped as Chase did a little solo on the drums. Jordan grinned. They were in for a night of fun. The excitement levels were rather high. Jordan took a seat. He looked up at everyone.
“And welcome! We are going to open with a little Train. The song is ‘drive by’.” Clyde whooped. Joy smiled. They both started with the guitar and Jordan stood up and started singing. He looked at Joy the whole time. Even though it was a vibey song Joy knew he was singing to her. Jordan closed his eyes and sang and smiled. He opened his eyes and smiled at Joy. He winked at her. Joy smiled. The dance floor was packed. Everyone joined in with the chorus line. Joy looked at Jordan and he nodded and smiled.
The family watched Jordan singing. Zeba looked at Lloyd and whispered.
“Oh those two can’t fool anyone. But she does look nice with that wig. But none of them would actually recognize her. With all that make up. And the black wig does throw them off course.” Lloyd nodded and smiled. Tanya smiled as she looked at Zeba. She nodded. Tanya walked over.
“Aren’t they awesome together?” Zeba nodded.
“I think that might be your future sister in law.” Tanya nodded.
“And if he asks I hope she says yes.” Zeba smiled and nodded.
The pub was so noisy no one even heard the hum. Frank looked up and five new faces walked in. He smiled as he looked at them. They all walked over and got something to drink. Quartz looked at the singer and stared. She whispered to the family.
“Whatever you do. Do not blow her cover. She is doing that for a reason.” Graham nodded.
“Got it.” Zeba walked over.
“Quartz!” They all chuckled as they were hugged by Zeba. Lloyd shook hands with them all. He introduced the family to each other. They all sat down at the same table. They didn’t stop talking. Shane got up.
“Come Tanya. Let’s go and dance.” Tanya chuckled and they walked over.
Taking Charge Page 14
