"School is on break at the mont so this ans you have a lot of free ti. What exactly are you planning to do that would take a lot of your ti that you had to quit working because of it? Are you perhaps going sowhere?" Mrs Parker asked out of concern.
Although she had known Joanna for such a short ti, she was aware that Joanna had nowhere else to call ho apart from her father's house.
And because of this, she couldn't make trips when other girls her age went on holiday.
For soone like that who had only one place to return to, where would she be visiting that was more important than the job she loved so much?
"If you are going on a trip then where and why are you…"
"Mrs. Parker, I know you genuinely care about and you can't fathom how grateful I am that a na has been added to the list of those who love and care about my well-being," Joanna started in a sober tone.
"Though I can't tell you where or why I am making this trip, I promise you that I will protect myself well. I won't give you or others who love a cause to worry about ," Joanna assured her in a tender tone.
Without saying anything Mrs Parker reached out her hand and picked up the letter she had flung on the table.
"With your mind already made up I know nothing I say or do will make you change your mind," Mrs Parker said. She turned and looked towards where Leah stood at the counter.
"Bring us two cups of coffee and Joanna's favourite dessert," Mrs Parker instructed before she returned her attention to Joanna's face.
"Since I don't know for how long you will be gone I will make good use of the little ti I have to spend with you," Mrs Parker continued in a cheerful voice.
Because the happy mories between them were limited, Mrs. Parker brought up conversations about the just concluded carnival.
As they chatted away, both excited ladies lost track of ti. When Joanna realised how much ti had gone by, she sprang up from her seat.
"Soone is waiting for at ho. I have to take my leave now Mrs Parker," Joanna inford her as she reached her hand and picked up the handbag laid on the brown table in front of them.
"I will drop by when I co back," Joanna said and turned to leave.
"Are you just gonna leave like that?" Mrs Parker demanded, her gaze fixed on Joanna's back.
"Why? Is there sothing I forgot to hand over?" Joanna asked as she tilted her head to look at the woman still standing at the spot she was in.
"I thought we had grown past the stranger, employer and employee stages. Our relationship is much closer than this so aren't you gonna hug before you leave?" Mrs Parker asked playfully. Joanna let out a soft chuckle when she heard what Mrs Parker's earlier statent ant.
"Of course, our relationship is more special than those you ntioned," Joanna said and moved closer.
Under the watching eyes of the custors present Mrs Parker and Joanna embraced each other affectionately.
"Thank you so much for the care, emotional, ntal and moral support you have given . I will forever remain grateful for that," Joanna whispered, her grip around Mrs Parker's neck grew firr.
"I have gotten used to always having you around here. I will miss you a lot baby girl," Mrs Parker patted Joanna's back tenderly.
Soon Mrs Parker and Joanna released each other. After taking a careful look at the cafe she had worked in for months, Joanna turned and left.
When Joanna arrived at the apartnt she and Audrey shared, she t her best friend with a glass of blood dangling in between her fingers and her attention fixed on the white television screen.
"So how did things go? Did you properly wrap up things like you had planned?" Audrey asked without taking her eyes off the television screen which her favorite show was playing at the mont.
"Hmm," Joanna shook her head affirmatively as she sat beside Audrey on the grey couch.
"Despite how vast the Kingdom is, I only had two people to properly bid goodbye," Joanna added. She adjusted on the couch so that her back leaned against it.
"Why? Do you regret it because it feels like you haven't lived your life the right way you should have?" Audrey asked. She stole a glance at Joanna's face but only to return her focus to the show playing on the screen.
"No. Instead, I am happy that at least I have people to say goodbye to even if they are just two of them. I kinda felt reluctant to leave because of Mrs. Parker and Little Rice ball," Joanna confessed, her hand clutching her chest.
"Girl, we are only gonna be away for a few days. Why do you make it sound as if we are never going to return to the kingdom again?" Audrey scolded. She finally shifted her full attention to Joanna.
"All my life I have always wanted to go far away. Ever since I was a child I dreamt of running far away from these toxic people who took pleasure in making my life miserable. Today I have the opportunity to leave the kingdom and the people who made my life a living hell even if it is just for a few days, but why am I not happy about it?" Joanna asked rhetorically.
She caressed the necklace around her neck and stared into space.
"If you are reluctant to leave because you are worried about Kay then you don't have to. This sacrifice you are about to make is for his greater good. Besides, you made a promise that you need to keep," Audrey reminded her ekly.
"Why? Aren't you reluctant to leave too since you are also in a relationship?" Joanna questioned, her eyeballs locked with Audrey's.
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