Overheard at Chipperfields' ... Part LXIII (part 2) ...

Jaydee glanced at her watch. It was 4:30 and her shift ended at 5, and Ross had yet to make an appearance.

Adeline noticed Jaydee looking at the time and chimed in, "He will be here you know?"

"Pardon?" replied Jaydee, looking slightly confused.

"I said, Ross will be here," said Adeline, "He doesn't usually come in until later on Saturdays."

"Oh, I know," said Jaydee, "I also asked him to come in this afteroon to talk to him about a promotion idea I had, remember?" her eyes sparkled as she noticed Ross walking across in front of the big picture windows. Her smile widened as J--, The Rev and a couple of other regulars appeared in front of the store and started coming in.

"I see all your phone calls worked," said Dani as she and Kriss walked out from the kitchen at the back, the two of them noting the small crowd that was forming on the sidewalk outside.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side," laughed Kriss with a slight smile.

"Ross, isn't on my bad side," said Jaydee, "Yet !" She paused as she glanced out the window, noting that the small crowd was making its way to the front door, "but I want him squirm a little bit."

Kriss and Dani laughed, Adeline smiled as she retreated behind the counter to greet the group of regulars as they entered.

Ross and the others entered the store laughing and joking around. J-- winked at Jaydee, and Jaydee lowered her chin as she smiled, glancing at the box tucked behind the counter, out of view. In a moment the pieces would be in place for her gifting.

"Hi Ross," Adeline offered cheerily, "can I get you anything?"

"Nay," said Ross, glancing over at Kriss and Dani standing by the sink behind the counter, "I'm here to work ... sort of ..." His voice trailed off as he tried to make sense of why so many staff were on. Then noting that neither Dani or Kriss were wearing their uniforms he asked, "What brings you two in here today?"

"Oh I just came in for coffee," answered Dani, "I've been in town shopping."

"And I've been waiting for Craig," answered Kriss, waving her engagement ring idly before her.

Ross nodded, then turned and noted the unusualy large number of regulars who were in the shop on a Saturday afternoon. He failed to note the thump of the back door of the shop. Suddenly the entire staff was standing in the ktichen door, and Bonnie was standing in front of the ice cream cooler.

It took Ross a moment to register the unusually large number of staff and customers in the shop. Then as the penny dropped his face took on a shocked, and slightly frightened expression, "Okay, what the heck is up?" he asked in a harsh whisper.

Bonnie smiled and nodded at Jaydee who leaned down behind the counter and pulled out the box she had carried into the store earlier in the day.

"Ross, you always tell us that we need to be friendly to the customers, and invite them to sign the guest book," said Jaydee surpressing a laugh, "and after my experience yesterday with the two American Ranchers, I decided that you needed a gift."

"Yeah," interupted Kriss, "something to honour your role as a business man." The last two words seemed to be dripping in sarcasm.

"Business man?" Ross repeated as he swallowed, sensing that some ill wind was suddenly blowing through his day.

"Yeah Ross," Jaydee said, her face tight and serious, "a business man who looks after a number of women in the hospitality business ..." Her voice trailed off as she began to open the box.

Ross stood before her mute, his eyes wide, and his mouth hanging open. He was for the moment speechless.

J-- let out a sharp wolf whistle as Jaydee lifted from the box an enormous oversized, fuzzy, bright PURPLE fedora with a zebra patterned hat band that encircled the hat above the wide brim ...

"Ross," Jaydee surpressed a smile, "On behalf of YOUR girls, we want to give you this hat in honour of your new position as a hospitality manager for the Coffee Shop ..." as she spoke she leaned over and placed the hat firmly on his head. Ross' face reddened in contrast to the bright purple of the hat, "and, to help enhance your status and your wardrobe we also want to give you this ..." Her voice trailed off as she pulled out a thick Silver chain.

As she pulled the chain clear of the box a massive pendant that was sparkling with zirconium chips and read - "Da Boss".

The crowd in the shop laughed as Jaydee leaned over and put the pendant around Ross' neck, but before Ross could reply, she spoke, "and of course any self-respecting business man in your new line of work has to show the world how successful he is ..." Her voice again trailed off as she reached into the box and extracted another item from the box.

With a flourish she pulled out and snapped a shiny leopard skin patterned vest which she wordlessly put on Ross, who was offering no opposition. Then as her piece d'resistance, Jaydee, pulled from the box a wide lapelled sports coat in the same bright purple as the fedora. A round of applause greeted her placing the jacket on Ross, over the leopard skin patterened vest.

Ross stood quietly, saying nothing as the assembled crowd hooted, clapped and stomped their feet at the sight of Ross looking very much the part of an urban business man.

The flash of a camera snapped Ross' head to the right as he looked toward Bonnie who was happily snapping away pictures of Ross in his new uniform. Her picture taking continued as Kriss, Jaydee, Dani and Tracy all planted bright red lipstick kiss marks on his cheeks.

Ross opened his mouth to speak, but remined silent as he looked around the shop and noted the enjoyment the customers and staff were having at his expense. He simply shrugged and smiled broadly with the slaps to the back he was recieving from The Rev, J--, and some of the other regulars who were now shaking their head and smiling in delight.

Suddenly the shop fell silent as a cowboy hatted gentleman strolled in the front door. Jaydee's jaw dropped as one of her ranchers strolled in the front door with a broad smile across his face.

"Why, Hell-O Jaydee dahlin'," he said as he strolled up to the counter, "I was kinda hoping I would find y'all here."

Jaydee's face lost all emotion as her eyes widened and she glanced at Ross with a panicked look.

The rancher followed her gaze and noticed the unusual garb that Ross was wearing. He didn't speak, but instead raised an eyebrow and almost imperceptably shook his head in distain. His eyes met Ross'. Ross looking as shocked as Jaydee, merely shrugged and pulled his new fedora down over his eyes as he glanced away.

Jaydee looked that others in the shop for help, inspiration or a means of escape. In that moment none was forthcoming.

"Well, dahlin'" the rancher spoke in a heavy southern accent, "y'all didn't return any o' my calls, so I thought I could swing on back here and see if I could take you out for dinner pretty lady ..."

His words hung in the air as Jaydee struggled to utter a reply ...

(to be continued)