Forgotten

Part 6

Nikki's POV:

The next few weeks carried out in a similar manner.  Every Saturday, at noon, without fail, we would meet at the park to eat lunch.  It had become our ritual.

I no longer worried if she would show.  I knew she'd be there.

She was still extremely shy and quiet towards me.  And she still hadn't spoken very much and had yet to divulge much information about herself.

But, I didn't mind.  I had no problem with her keeping to herself.  I had a lot of patience and I was fine with us taking things slow.  Because I knew that's what she wanted.

But Mother Nature, on the other hand, was not quite as patient, and was quickly forcing winter upon us.

Feeling pressured by the weather and wanting to get her off the streets before winter, I decided to set my plan into motion.  And just hoped it didn't backfire and accidentally scare her off.

"So, how is the job hunting going?  Any luck?" I asked her, nonchalantly, after a long a period of silence.

She looked at me.  I had gotten her attention.  Because I knew how important getting a job was to her.  She had spoken about it several times.  

She had a sad look in her eyes and a look of defeat.  She shook her head no.  Then quickly everted her eyes away from me.

"Well... as luck would have it.  I'm actually looking for someone", I said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

She looked at me once again.  But, this time with a look of curiosity.

"Ah, yeah.  I'm actually looking for, ah, an assistant."

"An assistant?" she asked, in a quiet voice, her ice blue eyes looking directly at me.

"Yeah.  You know.  Kinda of like a personal assistant.  Someone to help me out at work, especially when I'm traveling or on location.  And someone to help me out at home.  Run errands.  And do small chores around the house.  Things like that.

Her eyes went wide.  And I could tell she was intrigued.

"So, I was kinda thinking that maybe you'd be interested."

"I-I don't know", she said, suddenly sounding nervous.  I-I've never been a personal assistant before."

"That's Ok.  You don't have to have experience.  Because it's... on the job training.  I'll teach you everything you need to know.  Plus, I offer room and board."

Her eyes grew even wider and a smile spread across her face.  And I swear, she looked like she wanted to hug me right then and there.

"Room and board?"

"Yeah.  Well... you could live with me.  Because... um... I have an extra room.  And I'm a good cook, too.  And all you've got to do is help me out when I need it.  And I'll fully train you.  So, you don't need to worry about a thing."

She thought about it for a minute.  I knew she wanted to say yes.  But, she was still apprehensive.

"There's no pressure.  And if you decide you don't like it, you don't have to stay.  It'll all be on your terms."

I could tell that she liked that I wasn't putting pressure on her.  And that I was giving her options and letting her make the choices.  It gave her a feeling of being in charge of her own destiny and a sense of control.  Something I had learned from earlier experience, was important to her.

"I-I... I say yes", she said smiling, in a voice that for the first time, wasn't in a whisper, and with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes that I hadn't seen before.