Note: Please read Brown's Shoe Store Chapters 1 & 2 before starting this one. All characters in the story are at least 18 years old. Some of you have asked for this story to continue and here we go. Copies of this story may not be made for distribution, be publishing or copied to another webpage without explicit permission from the author.
Brown's shoe store Chap. 3
It was a year later when Mike opened the shoe store early on a Saturday morning. He thought about all that had happened after Meagan left for college. At first they called and wrote each other but after two months passed the calls were few and far between. It was during the holiday break last year that things came to a head.
*****
"Well you haven't been calling me either." Meagan said as the two sat in the small chairs in the front of the store. She had joined a sorority and had met a guy who wouldn't take no for an answer. They had been dating for the past two weeks but had not gone past some kissing and light touching. Meagan wanted to talk to Mike first before she went any further.
"Have you been seeing someone else?" She finally asked as the two of them sat silent.
"Kinda." He said without looking at her. "I didn't think you really cared anymore. How about you?"
"Same. But nothing serious." She quickly added. "But I miss you." She said looking into his hurt eyes.
"Me too Meg. I miss being with you and being friends with you."
"Actually it's brother and sister." She smiled as her hand moved over to grasp his. "I love you Mike but it's not going to work."
She said what the two of them had been thinking. Their families were against them being together and the distance between them were breaking away the sexual bond.
Meg pulled his body to hers. "You will always be special to me." Tiny tears formed in her eyes.
"Hey." He said pushing her away. "Don't be sad. We will always have each other." He wiped away her tears and kissed her on her forehead. "However you need to know that I've been seeing Tara."
"Tara." Meagan snapped back. "I've always known she had a thing for you."
"Meagan stop. Remember what you said before. It's not going to work between the two of us."
"I know but I am having trouble picturing the two of you together."
"Who are you dating?" Mike asked to change the subject.
"A guy." She answered.
"Good." Mike laughed.
Meagan grinned. "He's a lot like you and even looks like you. I guess if I can't have you I'll have someone that reminds me of you."
The store door opened and Tara walked in. She saw Meagan and froze.
"It's OK." Meagan grinned at her friend. "Mike told me everything."
"We didn't plan it. It just happened." Tara said looking at Mike. She could see he was having a rough time with it.
Meagan stood and walked to Tara to give her a hug. "If I can't have him then I want you to."
*****
Mike's mind snapped back to the present. He and Meagan had recently started calling each other again but this time as brother and sister.
Mike was running the store in between going to classes at a local college. His mother and his friend Brad helped to fill in the spots but she had told him he would have to find someone else. So he put an ad in the local newspaper for a part-time employee. His first candidate was a senior girl who attended the Catholic High School next to the shop. He actually knew her since he had only been out of that school for a year.
The door open and Amy Morris stood there smiling. "Hi Mike."
"Good morning Amy." Mike said trying to look professional. After all he was the one running the store now. "I'm glad you applied for the job. But I'm going to need you at 3:00PM sharp and on weekends."
"I know. I'm not going out for the swim team this year because I need to make some money for college. I was getting tired of it anyway." She smiled.
The phone rang and Mike hurried to answer it. "Excuse me." He said to her. It was Tara. "Hi. No I can't tonight." Mike's eyes moved to Amy's body as she moved around the store looking at the display of shoes. She was a little short and stocky however she was not fat. Her blonde hair showed dark roots and her fully packed bra was easily seen through the opaque material. "I'll give you a call later." He said as he hung up.
"I'm sorry." He apologized. He moved back to sit in one of the customer chairs. "We pay a dollar over minimum wage to start but if things work out I'll add another dollar per hour after a month."
Amy turned and smiled. "That's fine. Was that Tara on the phone?"
Mike coughed. "Why yes. You know her?"
"She's my first cousin." Amy grinned. "We talk a lot."
Mike suddenly thought this might be a bad idea. He got quiet as he thought about working with a relative of his girlfriend.
Amy could see he did not take her news very well. "But, we don't talk about everything." She smiled. "I'm good at keeping secrets."
"What? No, that's not what I'm thinking about." He lied. "I was just wondering when you can start."
"How about now?" She grinned.
Mike had no reasons to turn her down. He held out his hand. "Welcome to Brown's Shoe Store." Amy smiled as she placed her tiny soft hand into his. She just knew she would love it there.
Mike spent the remainder of the morning showing her the ropes. She already knew how to use a computer which he had installed a couple of months ago. He was nervous as they walked into the back room together. "The stock is back here. If you need to get a box from the higher shelf the ladder is in the corner." They both looked at the small ladder next to the small bed.