Mrs Jacobs walked home tiredly. That had been her daily routine as she hadn't been paid for two months now. Her employers kept saying they would, but it seemed the day wasn't coming.
She had a few dollars on her, but she needed to get food for the children.
She walked into the local mall nearby to get some foodstuffs, but everything looked so expensive.
She vigorously rubbed her forehead.
The money she had wasn't enough to even get a complete breakfast.
Amber was also in the local mall. She came to get some local ingredients to try out a recipe she had seen online.
She noticed a woman standing at a spot, not buying anything, but looking worried. She walked up to her.
"Hey, ma'am. Is there a problem? You've been at a spot for quite a while." She said.
Mrs Jacobs turned to her with a smile.
"I'm okay, child. I'm just trying to pick up some food for my kids."
"Oh, okay. That's fine. Umm, this is my first time here, could you show me around?" Amber pleaded.
"Yeah, sure. What do you want to buy?" Mrs Jacobs asked.
Amber laughed shyly.
"Actually, I'm a chef. I just found this recipe on YouTube and I wanna try it out."
"Oh,I see. So, is it vegetables or..."
"This. It's called the African chili pepper. It's more spicier than the hot sauce. I also need some fresh tomatoes, some prawns and crabs. I wonder how it's gonna taste. But regardless, I'm trying it out." Amber said.
Mrs Jacobs nodded.
"Follow me." She said.
She showed Amber around the market and she got everything she wanted.
"Thank you so much, ma'am. You're such a nice person. By the way, I'm Amber...Amber Rowland."
"You can call me Mrs Jacobs."
"Alright Mrs Jacobs, let's go get your stuff," Amber said.
"Actually dear, I am leaving now. I don't have enough money at hand today. I'll just come back tomorrow." Mrs Jacobs said.
Amber raised a brow at her.
"Really? When I'm here? No way Mrs Jacobs. You're just like my mom and your kids need to eat too. Let's go buy some foodstuffs. I'll pay for everything." Amber said.
"No child. You really don't have to." Mrs Jacobs said.
"I insist. Let's go." Amber said and walked away.
Mrs Jacobs had no choice but to follow her.
"Pick whatever you want," Amber said with a genuine smile.
Mrs Jacobs picked a few stuff.
"This is enough," she said.
"That would barely be enough for a day," Amber said.
"It's enough, you've done enough." Mrs Jacobs said.
Amber rolled her eyes. She picked up more stuff and even filled the cart.
"I hope this is enough for you, ma'am." She said.
Mrs Jacob's eyes were filled with tears as she knelt down to appreciate her.
"Thank you so much, Amber. I really appreciate this. You were raised right. God bless you."
"Ma'am get up. Like I said before, you're just like my mother so it's only right I do this. Let's go pay for it." Amber said.
She wheeled the cart towards the cashier and paid for everything.
After the goods were packaged, she offered to give Mrs Jacobs a ride home.
"You've done quite enough. I don't live far, I can just go from here." Mrs Jacobs said.
"Oh, alright then. Take care of yourself..."
"Mum," Isla called.
She had also come to get foodstuffs but bumped into her mother.
"Isla, why are you here?" Mrs Jacobs asked.
"I was just about to ask you, but I see you've got a whole load of stuff. Where did you get all that money, Mum?" Isla asked suspiciously.
"Oh, this nice lady here bought them. Her name is Amber. Amber, this is my daughter, Isla."
Amber flashed a smile at Isla, but Isla frowned. For some reason, she didn't trust Amber.
"C'mon say hi and appreciate her too." Mrs Jacobs probed.
"Uh..hi...I...umm..I..hi, thank you." Isla stuttered and immediately stretched her hand for a handshake.
"Y... you're welcome," Amber replied after taking her hand.
She wondered why Isla was staring at her that way.
"Have we met before?" Amber asked.
"No, we haven't."
"You've been staring at me, I'm beginning to feel a little uncomfortable," Amber said.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You're just really pretty and nice. Thanks again." Isla quickly said.
"Uh.... okay. Thank you too." She said.
Isla kept staring at her, and she stared back. Each stare carries a different meaning.
"Thank you so much, Amber, but we will leave now." Mrs Jacobs said.
"Alright, ma'am. Do stay safe and you too Isla." Amber said.
She turned away and walked towards her car, while Isla and her mother walked away.
Amber sat in her car, and all her thoughts were about Isla. Did she know her? If she didn't, then why was she staring at her that way?
Her phone rang, it was Mrs George.
"Her mother."
"Amber, where are you? I hope you're fine, I told you to let the maid get those ingredients." Mrs George said.
"I'm fine mother. I'm just leaving the mall. I'll be home in about twenty minutes. Relax, okay?" She said chuckling.
"Alright, if you say so. Did you get the complete ingredients?"
"Yes, I did. Bye now. I'll see you at home." Amber said and hung up.
She started the car and drove off.
*******
"Isla, why were you staring at her that way?" Mrs Jacobs asked.
"I don't know...there's just something about her," Isla responded.
"Don't tell me you're now attracted to girls."
"Ewww, mum don't say that."
"Then, what is it about her?" Mrs Jacobs asked again.
"There's something off about her, I just can't seem to wrap my head around it. But, there is something." Isla said.
"It's all in your head there. She is a nice person. At least, we've got food to last us up to a week." Mrs Jacobs said and Isla rolled her eyes.
"Okay, if you say so." She said.
But, she was determined to find out about Amber, if she ever had the time...