July 26th, 2003
Ireland glanced over he shoulder. Randi and Dave were busy stocking all the racks and making sure everything was ready.
"Up." Ireland giggled glancing at Lyric who was in her playpen. She started to climb up on all the crates. "Birdy!" She giggled as she stood up on the top of the crate pile. Ireland got ready to jump, but Dave grabbed her.
"No you don't." He said, "No flying off of things again, Pumpkin."
"Birdy!" Ireland giggled.
"Okay, here we go." Dave held Ireland above his head and started flying her around the room. "Ireland the bird!" Ireland giggled wildly kicking her feet. Lyric slowly pulled herself up and watched them. Her little legs wobbled as she stood. Randi walked in.
"Keep an eye on them, Dave, please. I have few people in here looking for jobs." She said.
"Don't worry. We're having fun." Dave said flying Ireland into the playpen.
"Moe!! Up!!" She squealed.
"Later, Pumpkin." He smiled softly. Randi walked out where a couple of young women were sitting.
"Anna Paulson?" She smiled looking at a resume. A young blond girl stood up, "Come into my office." Randi led Anna into her office and showed her chair. "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon." She smiled politely.
"You seem to have a lot of experience in service." She said.
"Yeah. I worked at Banana Republic for three years and Gymboree for two years."
"I see. Do you enjoy working at clothing shops?" Randi asked.
"Oh yes, I love it." She said, "I was looking around your shop. It's pretty funky. It would be a blast to work here. These clothes are totally my taste." Randi smiled softly.
"Well, great. I need all the help I can get here." She said looking over her resume again, "Let me interview the other ladies and I will call you by Friday." Anna smiled.
"Great. Thanks." She said.
"Send Nadia in for me please." Randi slid Anna's resume in to the top drawer of her desk. She was definitely going to hire her. A middle aged African American walked in. "Miss James?"
"Yes." Nadia smiled sitting down, "Thank you for being interested enough to let me interview. The job market has been horrible."
"No problem. I'm honoured people want to work here." She smiled, "So, let me see, you're a mother of two?"
"Yes. I have an eleven-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl. They're old enough so they wont interfere with my work." Nadia said, "How about you? Children?"
"Oh yes." Randi smiled, "I have two girls, an almost eighteen month and an almost five month old."
"Oh! Close." Nadia chuckled, "Must be nice."
"Yeah, but I won't be trying to have another one anytime soon." She chuckled.
"I know that feeling." Nadia chuckled. Randi looked over her resume again.
"Well, I need all the help I can get right now." Randi said as she stood up, "Let me look this over and everything and I will call you by Friday okay?"
"All right. Thank you so much." Nadia grinned as she shook Randi's hand. As Nadia left, Randi sat down and sighed. This would be hard to do. Hiring the perfect employee would be so beneficial to her shop, but if she hired the wrong one, customers wouldn't come. She didn't have long before the shop was opening. She had to do this.
August 9th, 2003
Randi inhaled deeply. Her palms were sweaty. Her nerves were on end. She fixed the roses in the vase next to the cash register. Opening Day. She never thought this day would come.
"What if no one comes?" Randi asked.
"This store is going to be flooded with costumes." Dave said, "You will wish you hired more help." Randi smiled weakly.
"I sure hope so." She said as she flipped the music on. "Turn the sign on." Dave nodded and walked to the front of the store and turned the sign on. Randi sat back. "No one is here."
"Hold your horses." Dave laughed; "We just opened up" Randi nodded. She tried not to look at the door. She started to organize the money. A group of teenage girls walked into the store.
"Good morning." Randi smiled. They all said good morning and started to browse through the racks. Dave nudged Randi, "Shut up, Booger head." Dave chuckled.
"Booger head. Smart come back." He said.
"Hi. Could I try this on?" A girl asked.
"Certainly, The dressing rooms are unlocked. You may go right in." Randi said. Anna and Nadia waked down the stairs. They were anxious to get working. Nadia went over to the group of girls and asked if they needed help.
"See? I told you that people would come in." Dave chuckled as people started to come in.
"Hey there." Chuny said walking up to the register.
"Hey!!" Randi squealed throwing her arms around her, "It's been awhile."
"I know." She chuckled, "I told Dave I was coming in today. I have a date I need to get a new dress for."
"Well, we have plenty of dresses here." Randi smiled. "I have a red number that will look great on you. Come on." Chuny gave Dave a wink and followed Randi.
"Red is good. It's one of my good colours." She said.
"Thought so." Randi smiled, "Thank you for coming, Chuny. I'm so nervous."
"It'll get easier once you get more and more customers. Then you'll start thinking of doing a few more stores in Chicago and then it'll become a national chain. The next thin you know, you'll be in Japan." Chuny said. Randi laughed as she looked through a rack of red dresses.
"There's enough stress raising a family and having this shop." She said, "I thought it was stressful at County. Oh! Here it is." Randi pulled out a red halter-top dress with maroon beads hanging off the hem. Chuny smiled brightly as she took the dress.
"Its gorgeous, Randi." She said holding it up to herself and looking into the mirror, "You made everything in this shop right?"
"Designed it yeah." She smiled, "I need to go back downstairs, but keep looking."
"Oh I will." Chuny said.
Randi kept the shop open until seven PM. They must have gotten over a hundred customers. Most of them bought one or two items. It was a highly successful first day. It was so exciting when Randi went to the bank with her first pouch of money to deposit. If things kept up like this, She could certainly expand the shop.
* * *
Randi sat in front of her make up table brushing her hair out. She was completely tired from all the work she did today. Once Nadia and Anna got into the swing of things and learn where everything was, she could leave them with the shop more. Dave walked in with a smile on his face.
"How are you doing?" He asked.
"I feel like I have run a marathon with Ireland on my hop and Lyric hanging from my nipple." She said. Dave chuckled as he ran his hands across her shoulder to massage them.
"Well, That's sort of what you've been doing." He chuckled. Dave kissed her neck tenderly. "I'm so proud of you, Baby."
"Are you?" Randi smiled as she closed her eyes. He kissed her neck again.
"Yes. I'm so very proud of you. You have done so much and today you showed me you can run a shop." He said kissing her again, "Not many people can open up their own shop, run a house, and raise a family." Randi giggled softly.
"Well, to be honest with you, I'm proud of myself too." She turned and looked at her husband. "I surprised myself with this whole shop thing. I never thought I could do it."
"I always knew you could." Dave smiled, "I have always believed in your dreams." Randi felt her heart skip a beat.
"I've achieved my dreams. Have you?" Randi asked.
"Well, we haven't had a son yet." Dave chuckled, "We could try tonight." Randi smacked Dave's chest.
"I'm too tired." She laughed. Dave winked pulling her to her feet.
"Then let's get my tired princess to bed." He said. Randi smiled as she crawled into bed.
"Today was wonderful." She said.
"And every day after this day will wonderful as well." Dave crawled into bed next to her. "Good night, baby doll."
"Night." She whispered.