Getting To Know You Pt 15
Authors note: This and all other chapters of this story, previous and future, are based on my own thoughts and are purely fictional with no connection or representation of, or to, anyone or anything intended.
It's a bright if chilly Saturday morning and Jane is up early getting breakfast for her and Mike. As it is such a bright day, she is feeling a little spring like and chirpy. There are reasons for this; the friend's holiday is not far away now, and everyone is looking forward to it. But more imminent is that, Lucy will start her job with Jane and Mike today doing general housework duties. Jane looks at her watch and calls Mike for breakfast as she serves it up on the breakfast counter.
Mike is feeling tired after a hard week at work but soon brightens up when Jane reminds him that Lucy will be here around 9am. They both eat breakfast and Jane clears the dishes away.
"Why are you doing that Jane? If Lucy is starting, then that's her job, isn't it?
"Oh Mike, let's not run away with the idea that because we have Lucy working for us, we can become slobs and leave everything for her, especially on her first day."
Mike smiles and agrees with Jane and once everything is cleared away, they both sit with a coffee chatting. Mike is in jeans and a tee shirt and Jane is wearing a just above the knee dress with a cardigan. As they sip their coffee the doorbell rings and Mike looks at his watch, "It's only 8:45 Jane, surely that's not Lucy already?"
Jane jumps up and goes to the door and as she opens it there is Lucy standing there looking cold in the morning air. Scarf around her neck, jeans with knee boots and a lovely thick coat along with a cute woollen hat with a bobble on top. "Hello Lucy, nice and early for work I see!"
"Good morning, Jane, I don't like to be late for anything, I would much rather be early, especially for work!"
Jane opens the door wider and gestures for Lucy to come in out of the cold. She helps Lucy take her coat off which reveals a loose shirt open to the breast. Lucy runs her hands through her hair after taking her hat off and looks at Jane feeling a little nervous and waiting for Jane to tell her what she would like done today.
"Come through to the kitchen Lucy, would you like a coffee before we start?"
They walk into the kitchen where Mike is still sipping his coffee and greets Lucy with a hug. "I would love a coffee Jane, but shouldn't I get started on whatever you want me to do this morning?"
"Well Lucy, I thought this morning we would chat about what we need doing and I want to make you feel comfortable with us and with everything."
"OK Jane, I would love a coffee then if that's alright. It will help to warm me up."
Mike cuts in quickly, "Oh I'm sure there are much better ways of getting warm Lucy." He laughs and Jane rebuts him for being so crass almost as soon as lucy walked in the house.
"Sorry Jane, sorry Lucy, I was only trying to lighten the mood for you." He gives her a hug and a soft kiss on her head as Jane and Lucy both laugh and smile at him.
"Find something to do Mike and leave us girls to it, you're a distraction for us, isn't he Lucy?"
Lucy replies nervously as she goes red faced and coy "It's alright Jane."
"I still think he should leave us to it so we can chat properly Lucy, go on Mike." Jane gestures with her hand for him to leave so he goes off to the lounge leaving them to it.
"Now Lucy, here's your coffee lets chat. You seem very nervous despite that you know us, and I don't want you to be, we are friends here so please be casual and feel free to be yourself."
"I'm sorry Jane but it's my first day at a new job and knowing you doesn't change that. I want to be a good asset for you and do the job well, you have been so kind to give me the job and I am so grateful."
A coy and nervous Lucy's lips quiver as she looks at Jane. Jane smiles at her and gives her a hug. "Lucy sweetheart, please relax. I know what it's like starting a new job, I haven't gotten to my mature age without going through all the emotion's life puts us through. Besides which, you know us, and we are very relaxed people so don't worry honey."
Lucy hugs Jane back and they have a momentary kiss before settling down again. "Right Lucy, let's sort some things out, shall we?"
"OK Jane, yes please."
Jane starts by telling Lucy that she will leave a list of jobs on the white board in the kitchen each week. Lucy is to work through them and prioritise as she thinks fit e.g. bed change over polishing furniture. Then see what time is left and if time, do those left behind jobs but if not, leave them until the next time. She looks at Lucy and feels Lucy is a little overwhelmed by it so decides to try to lessen the burden. "Right Lucy, if you don't mind, I am going to work with you today so that you can get a feel for what I am expecting but at the same time, I am not 'supervising' you, simply trying to help you along. Is that OK sweetie?"
Lucy nods and looking at Jane "do you mind if I change Jane. I wore jeans because it is so cold outside, but I prefer to wear something less constricting when I'm working, is that ok?"
"Of course, sweetie, pop into a spare bedroom and change and I will join you upstairs in a few minutes to start." Jane goes into Mike to tell him how nervous Lucy is and that she would like some 1 to 1 time with her to get her started. Mike nods and tells Jane he will pop in to see Neal for a chat and stay out of their way.
Joining Lucy at the upstairs she sees her in a short dress, nothing splendid but practical for work. "Let's start in here Lucy, could you change our bed and take the laundry to the basket in the utility room for washing? While you do that, I'll be sorting some clothes and putting away some clean laundry, is that alright?"
"Yes Jane, of course."
They make a start and after stripping the bed Lucy realises, she hasn't got clean bedding so asks Jane where it is. "Opposite the bedroom door in the hallway is the linen cupboard love."
Lucy goes off to get clean bedding and finds an array of plain but also luxurious bedding and ponders what to use. She decides on a set of embroidered pink satin duvet cover, pillowcases and bedsheet. She takes them into the bedroom and looks at Jane. "My word Lucy, you've got my favourite bedding out."
"Oh, sorry Jane, is this OK to use? I wasn't sure."
"That's fine love, I usually use them for special occasions, but I guess today is special, we have you here with us." Jane giggles and Lucy joins her unsure if what she has done is right or not. "You can use whatever bedding you like Lucy when you change our bed. It all has to be used love." Lucy goes ahead and makes the bed while Jane carries on putting her clothes away and tidies up. Lucy feels a little guilty that Jane is doing this herself and thinks she should be doing more.
"What's up Lucy? You seem distracted."
"Sorry Jane, I'm wondering if I can help you, after all, I am supposed to be working for you."
"Join in sweetie if you like. Most of it is done but there's some underwear over there that needs putting away. If you open the top drawer of that chest, you will see where it goes."
Lucy gets the underwear and opens the drawer. She gets a warm feeling as she handles Jane's smalls and starts to get a little excited. However, she must remain sensible and when done Jane looks around giving Lucy a hug thanking her for her help.
"What's next then Jane?" Lucy asks.
"Well, the spare rooms can wait for now as they haven't been used so we should get a start on the bathroom." When they get to the bathroom Lucy tells Jane that she will be fine doing the cleaning here and asks if Jane can leave her to it and maybe check afterwards to make sure she is happy. Jane agrees and goes back to the kitchen pottering around, preparing food for lunch and so on.