New Lives
This chapter doesn't have a lot of sex in it, but the story progresses and has some important parts for setting the tone of the story. I'd like to thank my editor for her diligent work and I appreciate the tone and recommendations that you gave me to help me in this endeavor.
Thank you for the constructive comments, they're always appreciated. Thank you for reading and enjoy. JDC
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Jillian Sinclair was happier than she had been in over a year. Her interior design business finally took off. She was gaining an increasing amount of clients and her reputation was growing by leaps and bounds. Her son, JJ, was extremely proud of his mother and her accomplishments, as he was of his father's. He always had a feeling that his mother had a gift for her chosen field, even though she couldn't afford to do it full time.
Jill was finally making enough money in her design business that she was able, with a loan from her father, to quit the insurance company and rent an office or store in downtown Fullmer. She chose an old store that had been a butcher shop. Here she could display different fabrics and a large portfolio of pictures of her work. She was able to start an advertising campaign and was getting patronage from some very wealthy local people. Some of her jobs even spread as far as Culver. Word-of-mouth is a strong faction of business and Jill benefited greatly from this. She was known as a fresh face and an innovative decorator. Soon, she was so busy she employed a seamstress to make her custom draperies in house and raised her profits significantly.
Although her professional life was growing by leaps and bounds, her private life still suffered. She still had JJ provide personal encouragement, but felt she was sorely lacking. John was always a constant source of grounding for her. She still missed the man that she so stupidly threw away. While Mac had fed her a crop of lies, Jill realized she, herself, was the cause of John's absence in her life. However, soon the longing she felt for John turned into anger.
In her mind, John had abandoned her and JJ, while allowing her to suffer in his absence. After all, she was Jillian Sinclair, and deserved to be treated better. She was determined to make him pay for his harsh treatment of her. He should've been willing to forgive her if he really loved her the way he claimed. In her own mind, she completely discounted her role in the devastation of her marriage.
She would often talk to her head seamstress, Nella, who was a divorcee like herself. Nella was always quick to point out the shortfalls of most men. They sat in the shop, in between working, and discussed the perils of any relationships. This only solidified Jill's feelings of hate.
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John Trainor was in a continual state of happiness. He was finally doing what he felt he was meant to do. He was enjoying interacting with customers to talk about his main material love — furniture. He enjoyed talking with his boss and discussing things for the store, as well as sneaking minutes to work on building furniture during the store's lull times. The one crimp in this happiness was his interactions with Amyleese. No matter how friendly he was to her, she constantly seemed to resent him.
Amyleese Ranskovyk would constantly condescend to John every chance she got. She did resent John because he was a natural furniture salesman and she felt he was even better than her. She had been selling furniture since she was 16 years old, and here came this man that was no more than a laborer and he was doing better than she was. John knew so much about how the furniture was built that he could instill confidence in the customers.
John built several tables and chairs that he put on display for sale as custom work. People were immediately drawn to his unique and innovative craftsmanship. Several times, however, Amyleese had to intervene when John would try to price some of his work. Amyleese knew what furniture was worth and knew the value of such work. She had traveled with her grandfather for years to different manufacturers' factories and knew what the going rate was for such magnificent work.
John was an excellent craftsman, but a journeyman when it came to knowing the value of his work. Amyleese was quick to point out this lack in his knowledge. It became so bad that she finally started posting prices on John's work in the display area. Although people were drawn to John's work they couldn't always afford it. In these cases, John would lead customers over to the stock furniture and quickly point out the advantages of that type of construction and artistry. This was what made him such a good salesman, the ability to praise other people's pieces. He could point out the way the furniture was built and talk intelligently to the people that were interested in it. Usually, by the time he was done explaining things to a customer, he made a sale.
Petor was glowing with pride at his new salesman and was pleased with the growing profits. He knew he had a jewel in the rough with John. He could only see his business growing and was happier than he had been in years.
John always brought his lunch and ate it at a picnic table in back of the store with the warehouse and delivery guys. He enjoyed the relaxing banter with the gang. Frank Maxson had been with Rans furniture for 25 years and was one of Petor's most loyal employees. Anything needed to be done with confidence, Frank was given the job. He often joined Petor and any family at dinner. Frankie been married 37 years and was a father of three adult children. He was a hard worker and also interested in woodworking. If he wasn't busy delivering furniture or working in the warehouse, he could be found in the woodshop with John. John was more than willing to show Frank things and pass on techniques he learned from other people over the years.
Frank's wife, Mary, always wanted a grandfather clock in her house, but they never could quite get the money together to purchase one. Frank was the only one that worked and there were always things for the kids when they were young and, later, college expenses. John found some local, quarter sawn cherry that was very beautiful and needed to be built into something. He also found Frank a precise German eight-day clock movement that could act as the guts of the project. Together, they labored in their spare time to build Mary the clock of her dreams. When it was completed, even Petor wanted to see if John would build others to sell in the store. Frank actually cried when the clock was finished at the beauty he and John created. This was truly a dream fulfilled for Frank.
The compassion and selflessness that John portrayed in this act did not go unnoticed by Amyleese. If anything, however, she treated John worse and with more contempt. Amyleese was jealous of John's rapport with the other employees; something that she'd never accomplished in all the time she had known them.
One day Petor was watching John work during the second half of his lunch hour on a chair that he was making for dining room set. He interrupted John and asked him to come into his office.
"John you wish have fun with Amyleese?"
"Petor, I like your granddaughter but she sure doesn't like me."
"She no like many men, only me. She lose parents young and have bad marriage. She married man, no good. He bum. Try tell, she no listen. He cheat, he steal, drunk all time and treat her bad. She better now and afraid of men, especially one like you. Big, friendly, strong, confident. You just what she need. She make you good for hanky-panky."
"Why Petor, you dirty old man. She's your granddaughter, for pity's sake."
Petor laughed heartily as he replied, "I love Amyleese, she my family. She strong woman, but brash, she make good woman for you I think. She's smart and keep you straight. You need someone in life, you deserve good woman. Amyleese for you. You two good match."
"I don't know Petor, I think you're barking up the wrong tree. She'd as soon shoot me, as look at me."
"Look to her John, you need good woman."
"How do you know I don't have a good woman, Petor?"
"I watch work, you have no woman. Too much work, no play."
"You know, Petor, you'd look funny in a loincloth with a bow and arrow."
Petor just laughed hard and loudly as John exited the office.
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John thought about Petor's words and wondered. He really didn't have a social life and thought he could change that rather quickly. That night he stopped off at Mainstays to get a beer and a burger.
As Barbara Ann approached him, she said, "Oh, so you are alive, John. Where have you been? Long time no see. Your usual, Boff with everything and an SPG."
"Great memory, Barbara Ann, and that will be a yes to both."
John sat there at a table and listened to the band warm-up. When Wheels noticed John, she got a contrite look on her face and stepped down off the bandstand to approach his table.
"Buy a girl a beer, stranger?" She asked in a very demure tone.
He got Barbara Ann's attention and said, "PBR for the lady."
Wheels sat across the table from him and the waitress brought their drinks. She took a drink of her beer and said, "Are you talking to me anymore, John?" She looked at him contritely as she awaited his reply.
"Now why wouldn't I talk to you, Wheels?"
"Well, you sure wouldn't have anything to do with Skates and me after that night."
"Wheels, I don't have any problem with your bisexuality; in fact I benefited from it. Being with both of you was hot. But I don't agree with your getting off on inflicting pain on people and I can't fathom that lifestyle. Skates and you have a different way of living and that's your business. I just don't want to be a part of it."
"Okay, that's fine, John, but why did you cut us off completely? The three of us fucked great together. Why did you put a stop to that? There is a big cog missing from our fun gear."
"Wheels, you are hot in the sack and I miss that, but I couldn't handle your lifestyle. You girls are just too fast for me; I'm a slower individual."
"I just came over to let you know, the band is leaving the end of next week. Were heading to a club in Paducah, Kentucky and we may never be back this way. I just didn't want us to end like this."
