As Abigail approached Joanie in the mall the following Saturday, Joanie was amazed at how much the woman had changed in the several weeks or so since she had last seen her. Abigail exuded much more self confidence than she had before; she was poised and elegant, and there was a determination in her stride that hadn't been there before. She was fashionably dressed in dark jeans with a layered pink-and-gray shirt, and her hair was tied back with a pale pink scarf.
When Abigail saw Joanie, the younger woman beamed.
"Joanie!" she exclaimed eagerly.
"Hi Abigail! I can't get over how terrific you look today!"
"Thanks." Abigail smiled shyly. "Jack helped me choose this outfit."
"Well, it suits you really well. He has very good taste."
Abigail smiled and blushed.
"So, do you feel like pizza or Asian this time?"
"Asian's fine."
The two women got their food and found a booth to sit in.
"So tell me, how are things going with Jack?"
Abigail smiled, blushed, and looked down at her food. Joanie laid an encouraging hand on the girl's arm and waited patiently.
"I really like him a lot," Abigail finally told her. "He's always so nice to me, and it's so much fun to be with him. It's funny. I...well, before I just thought of him mostly as a teacher, and now...now, I think of him more as a friend. We...I..." Abigail stuttered, seeming unable to find the right words. Joanie smiled encouragingly at her.
"We...you know...did it." Abigail looked terribly embarrassed.
"Oh, Abby." Joanie smiled and patted her arm. "How did that go? Was it a good experience for you?"
Abigail smiled and nodded. "It was...really nice. Jack was so gentle and kind, and afterwards, he held me in his arms all night long."
"I told you Jack was a good man. I knew that he wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
"He thinks I should go back to school and finish getting my diploma."
"I think that's an excellent idea, Abigail. How do you feel about it?"
"I really want my diploma, but I'd just feel so out of place sitting there in class with all those kids twenty years younger than me."
"The community college has an adult high program for people who dropped out of school as teens but go back to finish getting their diploma later in life. They'd be nearer your age."
"I know. Jack told me about that." Abigail sighed. "Right now I just feel so overwhelmed with catching up on everything that's happened over the past twenty years. As far as subjects like math go...I'm afraid I wouldn't remember enough to catch up to where I'd like to be."
"It would all come back to you, Abby," Joanie said. "And of course I'd be more than happy to help you in any way I could, and Jack would too, I'm sure."
"Well, I wouldn't want to take up too much of your and Jack's time. I know you both have lives."
"But we're also both your friends, Abby. We wouldn't think of helping you as being a waste of time at all, because we both care for you very much."
"Thanks, Joanie," Abigail said shyly.
"It's no problem at all, Abby. I'm so glad we're friends." Joanie gave Abigail a big hug.