Gini smiled as she took the roses from the delivery man. She knew who sent them before reading the note attached to it. Juwon had been kind to her last night and it reaffirmed her observation that he hadn't changed much.

She'd never gotten flowers before, she'd never had a proper date since the kids arrived either. Gini dropped the roses in a glass of water and left the house. She walked to the store and smiled as familiar faces greeted her. She ignored the sweat dripping down her back and kept smiling as she walked. Her father had sold all the cars so there was no vehicle to transport her around town. She didn't mind the exercise at all, it was good for her long limbs.

Gini opened the store and resumed cleaning the shelves and floors. While she was in town, the store was going to be opened. There were lots of goods on the shelves that it was going to be unreasonable to just let them sit there and expire. She was going to do her best to make the store thrive. Unlike her father, she didn't care if it was the biggest store in town. She only wanted the goods gone and she wasn't also thinking about restocking. There were no funds to think that far ahead and she wasn't going to be around for that long.

Gini cleaned the canned products that had dust on their heads then mopped the aisle. She went to the alcohol section and dusted the bottles. She cleaned the refrigerators after cleaning the floors and arranged sodas and fruit drinks into them. By noon, she was rearranging the store. She wanted it to have a different look. Her father had gone for the usual straight isle arrangements but Gini turned some shelves around and left some in their old positions. She arranged the most expensive stuff close to the door so they were going to be the first things customers saw. She was hoping they'd be tempted to get one or two things from the shelves before walking to get the fairly priced stuff.

Gini set a table outside the store and placed toiletries, packs of soda and snacks on it. She hoped people saw the display and understood that the store was opened for business. Gini joked and laughed with the few people that stopped by to buy few groceries. She knew they came to see what she did with the store so they could go back home and spread their observations amongst their friends. Gini didn't mind a bit. She was hoping they'd help her publicize since she couldn't afford the other options.

Juwon came around in the evening and Gini watched him get out of a slick looking car that looked misplaced in the small town. What was his job again? She'd thought he was rich like decent not rich as in wealthy.

Gini remembered her sister's warning and became intimidated. What if she told him about the kids and he took them from her? Juwon wouldn't do that, he wasn't like those rich people that liked to have everything to themselves. He couldn't be. She banished the thought from her mind and went to the entrance.

She gushed as he walked in. "What can I do for you, Mr. J?"

Juwon smiled and the tiny dimple below his lower lip dipped. "Mr. J? Hmm."

"Just trying to make my first genuine customer have a good time."

"Genuine customer? What does that even mean?"

"It means others came because they wanted material for the grapevine."

"Why doesn't that surprise me? This town really remained the same."

"So what do you want?"

"Saw the display in front and decided to check on you. Now that I'm here, I think I need to do some shopping."

"Do you want help?"

"I can find my way around but your presence would sincerely make the experience so much better."

Her insides melted as he gazed at her lovingly. "You haven't lost that silver tongue of yours after all these years. How many ladies did you maim with it?"

"I reserve it for the one who matters the most and that's my little dove."

"That wouldn't be me because I remember telling you years ago how I hated that pet name."

"Aww, are you sulking?"

"Too adult for that. Let's shop." Gini got a cart and started pushing it around the store.

"What's so offensive in calling you little dove?" Juwon asked as he walked beside her.

"It sounds like I'm a weakling."

"You're not. I'll leave the little part out, how about that?"

Gini shrugged and Juwon stopped her as she moved the empty cart. Her body pressed against his as his hand went around her waist. She stopped breathing when their eyes met, and they shared an intense look that torched her in all the right places. Gini waited endlessly for Juwon to take things further but he continued staring into her soul. She grazed her lips against his and immediately stepped back.

"I should have asked if you were in a relationship before doing that."

"I'm not. You?"

"Not really." Except for the rendezvous with her neighbor, Bruce. Their relationship was anything but romantic, she only used him for sex and he knew his place.

"There's someone," Juwon guessed.

She shook her head. "It's nothing serious."

"Then you can kiss me whenever you want."

Gini smiled and touched his face. "I'll keep that in mind." She turned back to the cart and stopped at the toiletries isle. "Are you going to need something for that stubble?"

"No, I have enough razors at home."

"What do you want then?" Gini was asking for a specific answer and was expecting Juwon to catch on. His younger self would have understood the meaning behind her words.

"To be with you."

His answer pleased her. "I got your flowers, thanks."

"Anything for you."

Juwon took the cart from her and started throwing in bunch of stuff into the basket.

"You really don't need all these stuff, J. You've seen me, you don't have to buy anything."

"Where did you get your business degree from, birdie?" he asked while smiling smugly.

"Go away."

"How can you discourage a customer from enriching your pockets?"

"That's obvious. I'm not business savvy."

"Yes, but you're one heck of a dancer."

"Just keep the compliments coming, they're doing things to my insides," she confessed.

"Are you leaving town anytime soon?"

"No, my dad's lawyer is asking for a week to sort things out. I'll stay behind and help with the store while waiting."

"Your dad would be proud of you."

Gini gave an awkward laugh. "I don't know about that."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, don't mind me. What else do you need?"

"More toiletries. There's a shelter in town I usually donate to."

She was impressed. "That's amazing."

"Would you like to partner with my charity organization?"

"You have one?"

"Not officially, but I need a store to buy the items I'll be giving out."

"I'd like that. I'd give you the best price around."

"And you said you weren't business savvy. You're doing great as far as I can tell."

"Thanks. Will you stop by the house for dinner later?"

"I'll check my schedule and get back to you."

"I'll be expecting a reply then."

"Sure. Let's get these sorted out."

Gini calculated and packed everything he bought. They went to his car and fitted the large bags into his back seat. Juwon got in and waved as he drove out of the car pack. Gini went back into the store and counted the money Juwon had paid.

Her mind took another direction as she sat idly. Why had he not given her a goodbye kiss or peck? Not even a hug. He'd gotten into his car and waved. Waved! They couldn't keep their hands to themselves ten years ago and now that they were adults, that was all he wanted to do. She hoped dinner turned out better. She was only in town for a week and it seemed like she was the only one concerned with making the most out of it.

Gini closed the store by six and went home to prepare for dinner. She was counting on Juwon showing up. She fried chicken and made a spicy sauce. With Juwon being allergic to virtually everything, there wasn't much to choose from. She made mashed potatoes to go with the chicken and went to her bedroom to change.

Gini came downstairs dressed in one of her tank tops and leggings. She had only come to town with her casual clothing and some of them even had tiny holes in them. The set she had on currently was one of the newest, thrift sets her sister got for her. Gini hoped Juwon noticed the effort she'd put in to everything. Even her cropped hair had gel in it to make it look neater. She walked barefooted to the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine.

Gini sat in the living room waiting for a knock. Juwon had said he'd let her know if he wasn't coming and she hadn't gotten any messages telling her that. She picked an old magazine to pass time as she waited. She checked her wrist after few minutes passed, he should be on his way already. It only took about five minutes walk from his house to hers. She decided to call her sister while waiting so she could talk to her kids.

One of the boys answered as the phone rang. "Gini, I miss you, I love you," he sang.

Gini laughed. "Idowu, I miss you too and I love you."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. Where is your aunt?"

"She's in her room."

"She left her phone with you boys?"

"We said we'd go to bed early if she lets us go on YouTube."

"You know what to watch, right?"

"Yes."

"Where are your brothers?" Gini asked. Usually, the other boys should be shouting in the background but she couldn't hear their voices.

"Kenny is at the neighbor's house and Taye is in the kitchen, he's making noodles." Idowu laughed as he finished.

"Tell me how your day went." I dowu gave her a detailed rundown and she smiled when he finished. "Give Taye the phone and get Kenny from the neighbor's place."

"You'll still talk to me, right?"

"Sure, baby." She heard Idowu run to hand the phone to Taye.

"Gini!!!" Taye screamed as he got the phone. "Gini, why are you not back?"

"I'll be back soon. Do you miss me?"

"Very much. Idowu is forcing me to cook."

"I know, don't burn the house down."

He laughed. "I won't. Will you get us the computer you promised us when you get back?"

"I'm working on it, Taye. You understand if Gini has Gini wouldn't hesitate to get you one, hmm?"

"I know that but everyone else in class has one already. If you get me one, I'll share with Idowu and Kenny."

She rubbed her temple as she thought about how to get funds. "I'll get it soon. Are you boys reading for your entrance exam?"

"Mama makes us study before going to bed."

"That's great. Taye-" Gini heard the phone call end and tried calling again. She called several times with no answer and sighed.

Gini checked the time and went to the door. It seemed like Juwon was never going to come. He could have at least sent her a message instead of having her waiting like a fool. She picked her phone as it rang and talked to Mama. She learnt Kenny had snatched the phone from Taye while she was still talking to him and got a punch on the face. She talked to Kenny and warned him to stop being impatient, then talked to her first son about violence. The two boys finally hugged it out per her request. Gini talked to Idowu before ending the call and going to bed.