The Opening
Kim made a final walk through the store greeting his employees in their departments and commenting on displays as he’d seen his father do all his life. He checked his watch in exactly five minutes the doors would open to his own store. He hoped he would have a good opening despite all the flooding devastation people still shopped.
“At your stations, four, three, two, one, unlock the doors Paul, let’s have a good day.” Kim smiled and walked to the front of the store to greet the first shopper. Having completed this tradition he walked back to his office and loosened his tie. He poured a cup of coffee and sat down at his desk.
A little later he stood up and looked through the glass window over the floor. He saw Cara wandering through the store. He debated whether to go out and speak to her it would be embarrassing if there was a scene. He noticed she didn’t have the baby with her, probably fobbed her off on a sitter he thought. He wondered for a moment why that bothered him. Straightening his tie he opened the door and stepped down onto the floor. Cara was in the infant’s department.
“Hello Cara are you finding everything?”
“Oh it’s you, yes the store, it’s very nice Kim. I thought I might find a few things for Kimberly.” She browsed the racks.
“Oh please whatever you find, it’s on me,” he smiled broadly.
Cara cocked a brow, “I don’t think so but thank you.”
Kim followed her around the rack, “well perhaps I could buy her something.”
“Fine, pick something out.” Cara moved away from the rack and began looking at a table display.
“Um well um what size does she wear?”
“Six months,” Cara answered not looking at him.
Kim turned to the rack and flipped through it quickly pulling out a dress, “how about this?”
“Not practical.”
“What do you mean not practical, she’s a little girl why not a dress?”
Cara turned, “Kim you have only seen her twice, very briefly, you’ve never even held her how could you possibly know what she wears. She needs things that can be washed and dried, that dress you’re holding would have to be ironed. I don’t iron.”
“I’d like for her to have it for um special occasions.” He stuck out his chin.
“Fine you can iron it.” She moved over to a selection of knitwear and selected a couple of onesies.
“I’ll have it wrapped,” he said still holding the little lacey dress. Cara made no reply and he followed her to the cashier still holding the dress. “Please put this on my account Miss Wilson and I’d like it wrapped.”
Finishing up at the counter Cara turned with her bag bumping into Kim, “you’re determined for her to have that dress, what’s so special about it?” She wondered if he’d even looked at it.
“It’s the first thing I’ve bought for her.” He replied waiting for the package.
Standing so close to him she looked at his face, sure he was cocky and arrogant and a bastard, but there was something about him, something that made her go below with him on the yacht. She shook her head and moved away from him.
“Thank you Miss Wilson the pink bow is a nice touch,” Kim smiled and turned back to Cara handing her the prettily wrapped dress.
“Thank you Kim,” she said, “now if you will excuse me…”
“Have you more shopping to do?” he asked falling in beside her as she walked up the aisle.
“Ah no, not today I should be going Kimberly is with a sitter for a couple of hours.” Cara checked her watch.
“Surely you have time for a cup of coffee?” he persisted.
“You can leave your store during its grand opening?” she looked surprised.
“Ah well no, actually I have a coffee service in my office.”
“Some other time Kim, I have to go.”
Kim grabbed her arm and she looked down at his hand on her elbow, he dropped his hand, “I’d really like to see you sometime um you and Kimberly I mean.”
“Would you really,” she started to laugh until she saw the earnest look on his face. “Call me you have my number.”
“Yes, yes I will…and Cara thanks for coming by today.” Cara turned and walked up the aisle and out of the store.
Kim stuck his hand in his pocket fingering his cell phone.
