The Legacy Read Free Page A

took me to the boutique and introduced me to
two of the women I would be working with. They were
friendly and very welcoming. They gave me a tour of the shop,
helped me to get familiar with the place, and went over what
my job would entail.
While we were there, Jessica had me try on about a dozen
of the outfits she sold there and bought them all for me despite
my strong protest. I told her they were too expensive and I
didn’t want her to spend money on me. I have never been
accustomed to people giving me things and didn’t know how to
accept Jessica’s gifts. She simply replied, “My dear, I have more
money than I could possibly spend in this lifetime and it makes
me very happy to spend it on the people I care about.” Then
she promptly ended the discussion.
So whenever I go to work, I'm a walking billboard for
Jessica’s boutique, but the clothes are so beautiful, I don’t mind
one bit. Today the springtime weather is comfortably warm, so
I've chosen to wear a tan, knee-length, crocheted sundress with
a matching shrug and gladiator sandals. The outfit actually
looks nice on me. My hair is pulled up in a bun and wispy
bangs lay lightly against my forehead. The sunlight always
brings out the highlights in my auburn hair, and each time I
leave the house, Jessica calls out after me, “You look just like a
fashion
model,
only
healthier.”
I always
laugh
and wave,
figuring I will humor her. I am nowhere near being model
material.
Jessica continually urges me to drive her car to work, but
I insist on taking the bus, just in case something should come
up and she needs the car. I have a North Carolina driver
license, but I have never owned a car and am used to taking the
bus. And the part of the Avenues in which we live isn’t too far
from downtown, so sometimes I even walk part of the way.
Gazing up at the beautiful, elegant old homes is one of my
favorite past-times because they remind me of Asheville. Only
now I am actually living in one instead of dreaming about it.
The fact that I am living in Utah is a dream in itself and I still
pinch myself sometimes.
Today I am the first to arrive at the shop. Lifting my eyes
to the clear blue sky, I silently thank God for blessing me with
this new job and life. I absolutely love working at the boutique.
Fashion is still kind of new to me, but it truly feels good to not
only sell beautiful clothes, but to wear them as well. I have
never owned so many lovely things or worked in a nicer place.
Pulling the key from my purse, I quickly unlock the door.
Having opened the store for business before, I know what to
do to prepare for the day. I still can’t believe Jessica put so
much trust in me. When I talked to April, one of my coworkers, about it a few days before, she told me that Jessica is
just that way. She loves and trusts many people. To be included
in that group is an honor, and I am determined to never let her
down.
About an hour after opening the shop, the phone rings. I
am always hesitant about answering the phone, but it is an
unavoidable part of the job.
“Jessica’s Boutique. This is Cisely.”
“Hi, it’s Wendy.”
“Hey. You don’t sound good.”
“I know. I think I’ve caught the flu. I was going to try
and come in, but I can’t even stand up.”
She really does sound miserable, and having had the flu
myself a couple of times, I can definitely empathize. “You just
rest and don’t worry. I can handle things here.”
“Are you sure? You won’t even be able to take a lunch
break if you’re there alone.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can always have something
delivered and eat when I get a chance. You just get some rest
and get better. Okay?”
“Okay. I’m really sorry about this.”
“It's totally fine. I'll be okay.”
“Thanks, Cisely.”
“You're welcome.” Hanging up the phone, I sigh deeply
and gear up to go solo. I actually do feel pretty confident about
handling things. Wednesdays are usually slow and I've only had
a couple of