Chapter 60 - New Acquaintances

The next morning was Sunday so I had the day off and accompanied Jonna to a shopping center so that she could buy an elegant dress for the interview.

We always wore something freshly new to bring us luck on special occasions and I didn't want to give up that habit.

We walked to a shop of branded elegant clothes, and we soon began to scrutinize everything.

A shop assistant walked to Joanna and smiled at her hugely, "may I help you?" 

I raised my eyebrow noticing something uncommon about the way that guy looked at Joanna.

Was he just nice or was he interested in her?

Joanna was a beautiful girl, with long straight blonde hair and blue eyes, I guess she caught the attention of many boys but never gave them a chance since she had to take care of her father.

"I am looking for a classy suit," Joanna replied, she didn't seem to notice the way the shop assistant looked at her. 

"Do you have a special occasion to attend?"

Joanna nodded, she smiled shyly darting my gaze on me. Maybe she finally understood.

"I just moved with my friend and am looking for a classy suit to wear for a job appointment." 

The shop assistant smiled and walked toward another room, he came back a few minutes later carrying a beautiful elegant jacket with sewed details on it.

"This is one of my favorites jackets and I am sure it will suit you well." He said, smiling. His comment didn't sound unnoticed to Joanna who blushed lightly.

Joanna tried the jacket on and looked at herself through the mirror, the blazer suited her perfectly.

Joanna looked at me probably curious to hear my opinion.

"It's very beautiful," I commented.

She gazed at it for a few more instants until she nodded confidently.

"I guess I will buy this jacket, thank you."

"I doubt anything would look bad on you anyways." He whispered making Joanna blush, even more, she bent down her head before widening her eyes to me as if she wanted to know if I heard that comment too.

I bit my cheek not to giggle.

Joanna went to pay for the jacket and the assistant packed up her jacket very slowly.

"What job will you apply for?" 

Joanna cleared her voice probably to drive away her embarrassment and her difficulty to talk with a guy, she had never had significant relationships in a long time and I knew how shy she seemed at the beginning.

"As a chef..." she replied in a murmur.

A woman walked there from the fitting room, "quick at the cash. People are lining up!" She scolded him who took a resigned breath That woman was probably the boss since he immediately widened his eyes and nodded before finally giving Joanna the package. 

"Good luck at your job!" He cheered as we walked away.

As soon as we got out of the shop to walk to the next shop I dodged her gently, "he was so into you!"

she covered her face with her hand, "stop it!" she complained in a murmur.

"did you find it in the package?" I asked peeking inside the package.

She frowned confused, "what?" She asked as she opened it to check inside.

"The heart you stole him!" I giggled making her roll her eyes and then join me in the laugh.

"He was probably trying to be nice to indulge us to shop more!" She made up an excuse but I was sure she knew that guy liked her as well.

I wished Joanna would have dared to ask him his name or would have talked more.

She didn't have anyone here besides me maybe a good friend could keep her company.

However, I didn't put her under pressure, I had to make sure that guy was a good boy before she got attached to him. She didn't need more reasons to feel down after what she went through.

We continued to shop for about one more hour, and we ended up buying more things than we had to.

I bought a new short lilac skirt which I couldn't wait to wear with a vintage blazer while Joanna bought a new pair of pumps. 

When we came back home Joanna immediately went to the kitchen and started to cook, she wanted to create a full menu for me so that she could practice for the forthcoming work meeting.

I loved to see her cooking, she looked so happy and light-minded as if she stopped to care about everything and she put her whole mind and heart in the pot. Her eyes shined and a hint of a smile curved her lips.

"This was one of my father's favorite dishes." She said she added some cut onion to fry in the pot and then beat three eggs in a separate bowl.

The room filled with a delicious smell and I inhaled it. 

"I have to thank you if it wasn't for your push I probably wouldn't have to find the courage to apply for that job." She said not flinching away from her gaze from the pan.

"I am glad then, when will you have the interview?"

"On Thursday."

I nodded, then she had three more days to mentally prepare herself for the meeting.

"When they called they asked me how I developed my passion but the more I thought about that, the more I realize that I didn't develop it nor grow it. The passion was always there waiting for me to discover it." She confessed, leaning the sauce closer to her mouth and tasting it. She turned around to take the salt and add a bit of it to the pan.

"I realized that I was passionate about it when I cooked to cheer me up. When I had a bad day I thought: I want to bake to feel better.. Moreover seeing the joy of my father when he tasted my dishes made me realize I was doing it right."