Jao
Rose was sitting at the dining table when Karen came downstairs.
"Morning sweetie, fresh coffee in the pot. How did you sleep?"
"Morning Rose, em the coffee smells good. I slept ok I guess, I was dreaming about home for a bit. I guess I miss being back I don't know."
"That sounds normal to me sweetie, why wouldn't you miss it. Your a normal young woman, it says that you have true values the way I see it. That's nice, good on yah girl." Rose said as Karen got a mug of coffee and sat down by her at the table.
"Yeah I guess so. So how did you sleep Rose." Karen asked as she put her mug down on the table.
"I had a really nice sleep I think. I woke feeling refreshed for sure. Ready for another day.
I should go and get some groceries I guess, seeing as it's my day off today's a good time to do it."
"I'll give you a hand, it's a hike to Hugo's.... Later I was thinking of going to the store and see if Pam needs any help." Karen replied.
"Oh ok, yes it can be a long walk when you have bags to carry. I have made a list of stuff to get, not to much really. What would you like to eat sweetie, cereal or maybe some scrambled eggs?
"Cereal is fine thanks Rose. Yes groceries are heavy. If we do it together it will be a lot easier. Is there a pharmacy section there, I don't remember?"
"Yes there is, if they don't have what you want 'Rexall drugs' is just a block further up the street. Rose said, wondering what Karen wanted.
"Oh ok, I want to get the pill. The last thing I need is to get pregnant, right."
"Sexy but very right, a health young woman that you are can't be too careful for sure." Rose said with a slow nod and broad smile as she mentally read between the lines.
Finishing their breakfast Rose and Karen tidied up and put the things away.
"Ok sweetie shall we venture out." Rose said
"Yeah might as well eh." Karen replied as she went and picked up her handbag, and followed Rose to the front door.
As they were going out Kevin arrived saying. "Hi girls were are you going so early, hot dates I bet. 'chuckle chuckle'."
"Hi Kevin, that sounds sexy but no we are going grocery shopping. Want to come along and help us? Rose said, she knew what his reply would be though.
"If you don't mind i'll pass on the offer, but I will see if your lawn needs cutting while you are gone."
"Ok thanks Kev that would be nice, I appreciate your help there as well. We'll see you later then."
"See yeh Kev." Karen said with a wave as she got to the car.
"Will do sis." Kevin said as he went in Rose's front door.
Karen backed out of the driveway and drove off as Rose was buckling herself in. Leaving her hand in her lap, she slipped it over onto Karen's skirt, over her thighs just above her knee.
"Rose, no please, you distract me to much you know that." Karen said softly,like she half meant it.
"Yeah I know sweetie, I just love how soft and warm you feel under my hand. But you are right." Rose replied as she took her hand away and put in her lap, resting it at the hem if her dress and uncovering her knees.
Karen got to the grocery store and drove into the parking lot and found a spot and parked.
"I'll get us a cart." Rose said as she got out of the car.
Karen waited for her and they strolled the entrance. As it was early the store was kind of quiet.
"It's nice to have the store to one's self." Rose said as they began shopping.
"Yeah it is isn't it. People always seem it a hurry, get in and get out kind of thing. No patience." Karen replied.
"You are so right girl." Rose answered as they rounded the end of an aisle and nearly bumped into a mans cart.
"Sorry ladies." The man said apologetically.
"No problem, I wasn't paying attention either." Rose said.
"I think that's about it isn't it?" Rose asked as they turned toward the cashiers.
"Yeah I think so, we've filled the list." Karen replied.
"Good morning ladies what a surprise to see you here." Came the mans voice from their right.
"Jao is that you" Rose said in a quiet voice when she saw who had spoken to them.
"Yes, how are you. Rose isn't it? Jao enquired.
Yes that's me and this is Karen. You remember Jao Karen, from 'Choy Yee's' restaurant?"
"Oh yes, now I remember, hi." Karen said as she looked at Jao.
"So did you get the seat problem straightened out ok?" Rose enquired mischievously.
"Oh that yes I did. The workmanship, I don't know. Poor that's all one can call it." He replied as he shook his head.
"Rose I'm going over to the pharmacy ok." Karen said.
"Sure, see when you get back sweetie." Rose replied softly.
"Could I have your cell number Rose?" Jao enquired quietly.
"Eh, why not. I thought that was cheeky when I saw your name at the bottom of the take-out menu you gave me. It made my inside flutter when I saw it I must say."
They exchanged numbers just before Karen came back from the pharmacy.
"Can I take you ladies for a coffee?" Jao enquired.
"That sounds nice."Rose said.
"Lets get checked out and go." Jao said as he headed to an open cashier. Rose and karen went to another. "I'll get this Rose." Karen said with a definite nod.
"That's nice of you sweetie." Rose said as she rubbed the back of Karen's shoulders gently.
Getting to the entrance Jao was waiting for them and said "see you over at Starbucks ok" and he strolled away to his car, a black Toyota corolla.
They got to their car and put their bags in the trunk and drove out of the lot.
They parked in front of Jao's car and walked into the coffee shop. Jao waved to them from a booth over to the side of the shop.
Rose slid into the seat and Karen next to her. Jao was sitting opposite to Rose.
"Ok what would you like ladies?" Jao asked.
Rose said "An expresso for me please, what about you Karen?"
"I'd like a small latte please." Karen answered.
"An expresso and a small latte, sounds good" Jao said as he got up and went to the counter and placed the order. After a couple of minutes he came back and sat down opposite Rose, saying that the waitress would bring their coffee over to them. As he slid across the bench seat a foot touched one of Roses accidentally " Sorry Rose, my big feet."
"Thats ok Jao no harm done." Rose said as she slipped her foot out of her shoe and gently stroked Jao's leg with her bare foot.
"Here we are folks, who has the expresso?"
"That's me" Rose said softly as she held out her hand to grasp the coffee.
"The latte is mine please." Karen said.
"So the mocha is your's sir. Enjoy folks." The waitress said in a jolly voice as she turned and walked away.
"Yes let's enjoy." Jao said as he lifted his mocha in a salute.
"I hope you enjoyed your meals the other evening." Jao said as he enjoyed the secret attention from Rose.
"Yes it was really good, it's been quite a while since my last Chinese food" Rose said softly.
"You have a very pretty decor as well, the background music really sets the tone." Karen interjected.
"I'm pleased that you enjoyed our offerings, and it was our pleasure to entertain you all." Jao said.
They continued their idle chit chat for a while enjoying their drinks.
"I should go over and see if Pam needs a hand rose then i'll come back ok." Karen said.
"Ok sweetie take your time I'm in no rush." Rose said.
"I'll see that Rose gets home ok Karen, would you like to put your bags in my car?"
"No that's ok there's nothing to spoil, I'll take them home in a while." Karen said.
"See you later sweetie." Rose said as she stroked the back of Karen's hand.
"Ok, behave yourself Rose," 'chuckle chuckle'. Karen said as she strolled out of the coffee shop.
Jao and Rose finished their drinks and got up to leave. "What do feel like doing Rose? Jao asked as he picked up the empty cups and dropped them in the garbage.
"Well we could go up to the park for while if you would like." Rose said softly as she stepped out on to the curb.
"You know I've lived here for a long time and I didn't know that there was a park here. Son a gun."Jao said tentatively slipping a arm around her waist hen removing it to take hold of her hand instead.