“Bring Todd if you want. Does he like sports?”
“We don’t talk about that much.”
Todd didn’t mention sports, at least, not what she enjoyed.Not that she’d shared much with him. She was usually the one asking questions, and he was content to talk about himself or the latest changes to the tax code.
They jogged the beach toward the Majestic Hotel, then turned around and made their way back.
When they returned home, Babe gave her a high five. “You’re pretty good. Have you done much running?”
“Some in school. I like to stay active.” She saw Skeeter across the street getting onto a bike.
“Let’s do it again,” Babe said. “Text me or bang on my door whenever you feel like it.”
“Sure, thanks.”
Maileah watched Skeeter cycle down the street. She felt good, like she was making friends. She would even try to get to know Skeeter.
After a quick shower, Maileah styled her hair and changed into one of the casual dresses she’d bought at Babe’s shop.
She returned Deb’s old Range Rover to her home on Hibiscus Heights, and Deb gave her a lift back. After seeing her off, Maileah sat in front of her laptop.
She was ready to sort out her life.
First, she pulled up the document she’d started on at Junie’s house. It listed her skills and accomplishments. After reading it, she realized it read more like a resume for a job.
She wrinkled her nose. She could do better.
Revamping it, she grouped things she could do for people together, creating sections of features and benefits and adding testimonials for her work. Frankly, those were a little lean, but she pulled some endorsements from her professional social media profile.
Next, she picked up her phone and called Junie.
“Hi, Sis.” She could hear background conversations in the store. “I’m putting together some marketing material. Could you endorse me for what I’ve done for your shop and website?”
“Hold on,” Junie said.
Maileah waited. She needed to create a site for herself, too. She added that to her to-do list. With all the new online tools, she could build a simple one quickly once she’d purchased a domain.
Junie moved to a quieter area. “What do you need me to say?”
She knew her sister was busy. “I can write it and run it past you. How’s that?”
“Perfect,” Junie said. “I had a crowd at the store as soon as I opened the doors this morning.”
“That’s a good problem to have. I’ll send it over shortly. Thanks, Junie.”
Maileah reserved her domain—this time, it helped to have an unusual name—and posted the information she’d just written.
After finishing her document, she transferred it to her phone and drove to town to have marketing flyers printed. While her services were technology based, some of her marketing would be old school, person-to-person. People did business with those they knew, liked, and trusted. Sales 101, she remembered.
She was determined not to fall behind on her rent. Asking Junie for financial help was the last thing she wanted to do.
Cruising along Orange Avenue, she spied a printer near her mother’s historical society building. After introducing herself and chatting with the owner, she printed a stack of flyers on bright paper.
On the way back, she stopped at the Crown Island Historical Society. “Hi, Mom. Anything new in history today?”
“Why, Maileah, what a surprise.”
She gave her mother a flyer. “I’m officially in business.”
