Boundaries

Begin Again.

"You what?" Phil asks, dumbfounded.

"I'm sorry, Phil." I say with a heavy sigh. "I've enjoyed working here, really. But it's time I start focusing on my future. It's time I start my life over. I need a new beginning."

Phil shakes his head. "My first wife said that to me. Now she's working part-time at a Tesco."

I awkwardly laugh. "Well, I just wanted to say thank you for everything."

"What am I going to do without you?" He asks wholeheartedly.

I was already prepared to answer this question. I open my bag and pull out a folder, handing it over to Phil. "This is my friend Khadijah's resumé. I think you should give her a call. She'd make a great employee."

Phil reluctantly takes the envelope from me before flipping through it. "Seems decent. I'll see what I can do. Thanks Jo."

I smile in appreciation before making my way out of Delilah's.

It felt good that I was able to help my friend.

Khadijah had told me her parents were threatening to cut her off if she continued to skip classes and not get her act together. So, she came to me asking me to help, and thankfully a solution had presented itself.

I could only hope Phil follows through and gives her a call.

I made sure to have Khadijah emphasize that she knew how to make a cup of coffee.

I had a meeting this afternoon with Dr. Simmons at the V&A to discuss my new position as his intern.

However, I was running a tad bit late. I had Hero to blame for that. He barely let me out of bed this morning... or afternoon, I should say.

But with a great deal of bribery and stolen kisses, I was able to pull myself free from his grasp.

When I get to the V&A, a young pregnant woman is standing out front. She had long brown hair and big blue eyes. She smiles sweetly at me as I make my way up the steps.

"Pardon me but are you Josephine?"

I nod in response.

"Wonderful!" The woman beams before extending her hand out to me. "I'm Audrey, Dr. Simmons' secretary."

I quickly accept her hand and shake it. "It's a pleasure ma'am."

"Please, call me Audrey."

I follow her up the steps and quickly go to open the door for her. "Allow me."

"Josephine, I might be pregnant, but I'm not incapable of opening a door for myself." She teases.

"Sorry." I gush.

"Not to worry. My husband does the same, although that just shows chivalry isn't dead."

"He must be excited." I say.

She looks at me before realizing what I meant. "Ah, yes. He's far too busy to allow himself to get too excited I'm afraid. The baby is due in nearly two months and we still haven't painted the nursery."

"I could do it." I shrug, mentally facepalming at the fact that I just offered to paint a complete stranger's nursery.

Audrey looks at me for a moment but ends up laughing. "Really?"

"Um... yeah I guess... that's what I said." I force a smile, laughing awkwardly.

"You're too kind Josephine, really. But I think it's best I have my husband do it with me. It'd give me an excuse to get him out of his office."