Mrs. Joyce, right from her young age, has always been a religious person; she continued to walk in the way of the Lord just as her parents had taught her.
She was the perfect description of Proverbs chapter twenty-two, verse six, which quotes in part: "Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he grows old, he will not depart from it."
Catherine, on the other hand, wasn't too interested in religious affairs because she viewed them as a hindrance and enslavement to one's knowledge.
She believed in the existence of a creature and also regularly prayed on her own, but she didn't like the idea of belonging to a religion.
Despite all that, she always followed her mother to church every Sunday because she knew that failure to do that might provoke a third world war in the house.
Like every other Sunday after the Sunday masses, Catherine and her mom cook some meals that they store in the refrigerator because their busy schedule won't permit them to do much cooking during the week.
After cooking the meal, Catherine took a glance at the wall clock, and immediately she dashed into the bathroom and started taking her bath.
While she was doing her make-up while facing the mirror, her mother came behind her, and when she saw how beautiful her daughter was, she smiled to herself.
"Who are you going on a date with?" Mrs. Joyce asked Catherine, who was still doing her makeup, and immediately she frowned at her.
"It's not a date, mom; it's Jerry that invited me over to his place for dinner," Catherine explained to her mom.
"Wow, that's wonderful, and you didn't invite me, or do you think I'm going to spoil your date?" Mrs. Joyce inquired teasingly, "
" Mum!" Catherine exclaimed while pretending to be angry.
"Come-on Kate I'm just pulling your legs," Mrs. Joyce replied while smiling.
"I hope so, and before you start thinking anything else, there's nothing between the both of us," Catherine explained with a frown, and immediately Mrs. busted into a round of laughter.
"My daughter, I never said there was anything between the two of you; you are the one saying it again. And let me tell you, what a child will climb a mountain before seeing, an old person will see it while sitting down." Mrs. Joyce said this to Catherine while smiling.
"I don't understand," Catherine replied.
"Don't worry; soon you will understand." Mrs. Joyce said this to Catherine while smiling. "By the way, there's something that is bothering me that I have been wanting to ask you, but I usually forget. Mrs. Joyce said to Catherine
"I'm all ears," Catherine replied while arranging her makeup kits.
"Do you know who Jeremiah Bernard is?" Mrs. Joyce inquired.
"Yes, it's Jerry; Jeremiah is his second name; why do you ask?" Catherine inquired, and immediately Mrs. Joyce widened her eyes in surprise.
"He's the new owner of the boutique," Mrs. Joyce explained.
"I still don't get it," Catherine replied.
"Well, Mr. Jonathan has already relocated to England with his family,and before traveling, he came and said to me that someone else had already bought the boutique, but the person didn't want me out of the boutique, and he didn't know the reason why. He told me that the person's name was Jeremiah Bernard," Mrs. Joyce explained to Catherine.
"I wonder how he knew that Mr. Jonathan wanted to sell the boutique and why he bought it," Mrs. Joyce said to Catherine, whose jaw was still dropping in surprise.
"I told him about the boutique, but I never knew he meant he was going to buy it when he said he was going to find a solution," Catherine replied.
"Wow, he's really kind-hearted; I don't know how to thank him. When is he coming over again?" Mrs. Joyce inquired.
"In a few minutes, he's coming to pick me up," Catherine replied.
"Wonderful, I will use that opportunity to thank him and also know how much I will be paying as rent every month," Mrs. Joyce said to Catherine, and she nodded in agreement.
"By the way the gown looks good on you, you really know how to make good choices of clothes," Mrs. Joyce said to Catherine while heading out.
"Thank you," Catherine replied.
"Only if she knows that I wasn't the one who made the choice of the cloth," Catherine mumbled to herself.
Catherine was still in her room, dressing up, when she heard the hunk of Jerry's car. Without hesitating, Mrs. Joyce, who was watching a movie in the sitting room, hurriedly went and opened the door for him.
"Hello, Mrs. Edmond," Jerry said with a warm smile.
"Hello Jerry, how are you?" Mrs. Joyce greeted him in reply while leaving the road for him.
"I'm fine, Mrs. Edmond. Sorry, I haven't been able to come around since then; I have been very busy with work," Jerry explained while sitting down on the couch.
"I understand Jerry. Please excuse me," Mrs.Joyce said to him while heading towards the kitchen.
After some seconds, she came out with a jug containing orange juice and two glass cups. She filled the two cups, handed one to Jerry, and took one.
"Thank you," Jerry said to her while sipping the juice.
"Don't mention it, please," Mrs. Joyce replied. "Catherine will soon be here; she's dressing up," Mrs.Joyce said to Jerry, and he nodded in agreement.
"By the way, Jerry, I want to thank you for what you did for me," Mrs. Joyce said with a sincere tone, and immediately Jerry furrowed his brows at her while sipping his juice.
"Thanks for what?" Jerry inquired with a surprised tone.
"For the boutique," Mrs.Joyce replied.
"Ooh, about that, I have wanted to talk to you or Catherine about it, but I haven't seen the perfect time for it," Jerry said to her. "And please, no need to thank me because I love helping people," Jerry said to her while sipping his juice.
As Mrs. Joyce was about to reply, Catherine came out.
Once Jerry saw her, his jaw dropped in awe. Her beauty left him speechless.
She was putting on the yellow gown that they bought from the mall, yellow heel sandals, and a white handbag that matched the diamond necklace she was wearing.
When Mrs. Joyce noticed how Jerry was staring at Catherine, she coughed lightly in order to draw back his attention, and immediately Jerry looked at her and removed his gaze.
"Hi, Mr. CEO, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Catherine said teasingly while smiling.
"Don't worry about it, Catherine; it hasn't been long since I arrived," Jerry said to Catherine while smiling, and she nodded while sitting beside her mother.
"So Jerry, as the new owner, how much will you be collecting each month as the rent fee for the boutique?" Mrs.Joyce inquired while sipping her juice.
"I won't be taking anything from you," Jerry said to her, and immediately Mrs. Joyce's eyes widened in surprise. "You are free to stay in the boutique as long as you want," Jerry said to her while smiling.
"Wow, Jerry, thank you very much. I'm very grateful. It's true I can't pay back your kindness towards me, but rest assured that God will repay you a hundred times," Mrs. Joyce said to Jerry in gratitude.
"Thanks a lot; I appreciate your blessings more than any amount you will pay me," Jerry said while emptying the last recipient in his cup, and Mrs.Joyce nodded in agreement.
"I think we should start going because they will already be expecting my arrival," Jerry said while looking at his wrist watch.
"OK, thanks once again, and please, Catherine, don't come home lately," Mrs.Joyce said to Catherine, who was already heading towards the door with Jerry.
"I will bring her back after the dinner," Jerry said to Mrs. Joyce while heading outside with Catherine, and Mrs. Joyce nodded in agreement.