Free Drive and Determination by Kara Louise Page B

bustled about everywhere.
            “Now stay close to me, Elyssa. I don’t want us to get separated.”
            He put his arm about her, drawing her closer. They walked in and she saw booth after booth of people selling their wares. There were things made of leather, ceramics, and brightly embroidered fabric. She loved the carved wood, hammocks, and the wide variety of jewelry.
            Just as George promised, when she found something she liked, he put his persuasive powers to work to bargain down the price. Elyssa took him at his word that the seller would be insulted if they didn’t try to talk down the price, but she felt uncomfortable doing so. She would have willingly paid the price as it was such a reasonably marked price in the first place.
            When they finished shopping, her goods included a beautifully embroidered vest, a leather purse, a pair of earrings, and a carved wooden box.
            Upon returning to the apartment, Elyssa was tired. George suggested a swim or some time in the hot tub, but Elyssa turned him down. “I think I’ll just have some of the chili Shelley made me and call it an evening. But I do appreciate all you’ve done for me today.”
            George smiled. “I’ll come by tomorrow and we’ll go to the preschool. Let’s plan on getting there around ten thirty. I have an early morning appointment, but we should still have plenty of time to see what they do there.”
            “Thank you, George.”
            “Then don’t forget tomorrow night, I’m taking you to dinner.”
            “I won’t. See you tomorrow, George.”
            “Yeah, tomorrow. Good night, Elyssa.”
            Elyssa was grateful to spend the evening by herself. While George was fun and certainly well acquainted with Guatemala, she was beginning to feel that he was getting a little too friendly. There was something about him that made her hold back a little, although she couldn’t figure out what it was.
            She sat down on the large sofa and looked about her. She shook her head and let out a breathy chuckle as she considered how Janet could have arranged the furniture in a much more efficient and eye pleasing way that would have given them more room and had a more fluid movement to its look. She was tempted to get up and make the changes herself, but held herself in check. There was no sense in doing that, she told herself. Janet was gone. For the first time that day, she gave in to her tears.
     
     

Chapter 5
                Elyssa crawled out of bed the next morning and put on some sweatpants and a T-shirt. When she was dressed, she came out to the kitchen to make some coffee and eat some breakfast. She wanted to be decent in case George unexpectedly came by before leaving for work.
            She pulled out the remaining fruit and rolls from yesterday. George didn’t come by, but the Walkers did. They asked her if there was anything she could use as they were going to the store. Elyssa looked in the refrigerator and then the pantry, shaking her head at the disorganized array of items. As much as she loved Janet, the two of them were decidedly different when it came to organizing a household. She told them she could use some fresh milk and eggs, but that there seemed to be a good variety of things she could eat.
            When they left, she sat down to enjoy her fruit, rolls, and a cup of Pemberleo Coffee.
            After taking a quick shower, she went to the small closet in the guest room and pulled out a simple skirt and cotton blouse. Elyssa had asked Shelley what would be the best thing to wear to the preschool and Shelley told her that she ought to dress simply but nice. The children usually came to school wearing hand-me-downs and clothes that they had greatly outgrown so