I was up early again the next day.

I showered and went downstairs. I ate some cereal and had some extra milk to drink. Then I began by emptying the dishwasher and working through the list of chores that I needed to get done before Johnathan came to collect me.

By the time Anna entered the kitchen for lunch I had done every job on the list which didn't require me to run loud machinery. I was eager to run the vacuum and put on a load of washing.

"Oh Sarah, what a lovely job you've done congratulated Anna, you must have gotten up really early this morning

"About 5:30," I said.

Well I'm glad I saw you before you left, I need to give you some money to pay for the office supplies and I wanted to loan you one of my purses."

She went off to fetch the things, and when she came back she slipped a watch into the purse as well. "You may need to know the time." She explained.

So with the things I would need packed away into the purse I went out to finish the bigger, louder jobs while Anna retreated to the dining room to eat her breakfast.

Around ten minutes before 10am I finished up by packing away the vacuum and went to freshen up and don once again my lucky dress.

Johnathan arrived at 10 sharp ready to go, he held the car door open for me waiting for me to get in.

His car was lovely, nicer than any car I had ever ridden in before – nicer than any car I had even seen in Winnerrow. I imagined people from the Willies seeing me now and for the first time I wished they could. I felt like a queen riding beside a successful businessman in a lovely car like this.

Well, first I think we should collect the supplies from the Lighthouse and then have lunch together before I take you back to Firestone, does that sound ok, Sarah?"

He had a charming voice which was both warm and friendly. I liked the way he continually used my name when he addressed me. It made me feel special because never before had a man like him spoken to me with such friendliness.

"The Lighthouse?" I asked

He chuckled. "Oh that's a joke Charles and I concocted to call our favourite supplies store – it's actually where we met, by the way. We supposed that if we lived in a lighthouse we would only need to come out once per month to visit the supply store so that we could go on with business..."

He threw me a sideways glance – "We're workaholics you know."

"Oh" I said. I had no idea what a workaholic was.

Soon we were in Atlanta and Johnathan had parked the car.

"Off we go," he said. "I've parked close enough to walk easily back with all the supplies."

We reached the store and spent the next 45 minutes going through the shelves together while he explained to me why he chose some items and not others, finally we had armloads of supplies to return to the house with. The shop sent out a sales assistant to help us carry all of the things and once the car was loaded up Johnathan announced that it was time for lunch.

"Thank you for all your help Sarah," he said. "What would you like to have for lunch?"

"Anything you would like is fine with me." I was secretly glad that I had taken some of my money with me in case I needed to buy something for myself like lunch.

Ok let's go to a sandwich bar and have coffee hey? He suggested.

Ok I said.

We went to a sandwich shop that he said was a long time favourite of his and he ordered for both of us two house specials and two milk coffees.

My first coffee was really special, but I couldn't finish my sandwich- I just wasn't used to eating lunch, I don't believe I had ever had a regular lunchtime in my whole life.

Johnathan didn't notice though, he was too busy asking me how I knew Charles and Anna.

So I concocted a simple story saying that I had lived with my elderly mother until she had passed away, and while I was nursing her in her final months our savings had been used up and I wasn't able to find work nearby so I had travelled around knocking on farm house doors looking for work – that led me to Emma Lundstrom who was Anna's ex sister in law.

A short story mixed with omission and half-truth which seemed to satisfy him.

Lunch over, Johnathan was suddenly reminded of something he needed to do while in the city.

"I hope you don't mind Sarah," he said "Why don't you take the opportunity to browse in the shops? We can meet back here at 1:30pm."

"That's fine, see you soon." I said.

I stood up as he rushed off – he had left money on the table to cover our bill, such generosity was almost unheard of in the Willes and Winnerrow.

I shook my head in amazement.

I picked up Anna's purse and checked the time on the watch she had provided me with. 12:45pm, I left the cafe and began to walk up the street.

I entered another pharmacy remembering how I had enjoyed shopping in one the other day and spent some time looking over the many things they had for sale. A few minutes later I left the store and continued walking up the sidewalk. I found a dress shop. I decided to have a look at what the dresses cost, as I entered the store I felt a rush of cool air over me – air conditioning, Johnathan had had it in his car but I had never been in a store that was filled with it. I looked around in amazement - so many different colours, sizes lengths and everything was brand new. I looked at the prices and sizes but I didn't know what size I was.

The shop also had a section with bra's and underpants included – I had never owned a bra before.

I looked at the prices – I could afford one!

I was so excited as I picked up an exceptionally pretty pink one and I was busily looking it over when I heard a gravelly voice from behind me say

"Well looky what we 'ave ere..."