Work was hectic and both Joe and Charlene were intent on their duties as the days and weeks passed. They had little time to talk about much other than work.

Joe now knew that Suzan had a new love interest, but he was slowly recovering from his broken heart.

Charlene was sure that her plan for Joe would work nicely. She was thinking of what to pack for this African holiday and interlude. Should she bring a formal dress? Perhaps, just one. A small black cocktail dress is always perfect. What else should she bring? How many pairs of shoes and what kind?

Joe was thinking of which camera to bring and if he had enough room for his computer. The time for the trip to begin arrived quicker than expected, or so it seemed. Joe had been very busy at work and the days had passed almost in a blurr.

Charlene looked over several outfits to sleep in. Some were more revealing than others. She picked three different ones. They took up very little space in her luggage. “After all,” she thought, “It can get pretty hot in Africa.”

Chapter Fifteen

The flight to Africa would start at La Guardia Airport. It was set to take off at ten pm on this Friday night.

Joe walked into his bedroom, found his best camera and laid out some cloths. Shorts and thin tops were the order of the day as far as Joe was concerned. Well broken in boots and a pair of ternnis shoes. An African trip is no place to break in a new pair of anything.

Six undershirts, six pairs of under-ware, one pair of dress pants, four pairs of nylon travel pants and six travel shirts, short sleeved of course. Those travel pants and shirts were designed to wash in the sink and to dry quickly. They would take up very little room in Joe’s suitcase. Several pairs of socks and some handkerchiefs were the last items to go into his medium sized suit case.

He placed his camera, water bottle, an extra pair of tennis shoes and some protein bars into it, as well. A couple of different soft hats were the last items he placed in the suitcase. It was a short walk to the subway station from his apartment.

Charlene set her suitcases on the bed and looked over her list. She had compiled it over the last month. It covered any possible contingency that might arrive. She had traveled abroad several times but kept that under her hat at work. “No need to drive a wedge between her and her coworkers,” she thought. Some might get jealous and make her work life more difficult than necessary if they knew too much about her.”

Her father was a wealthy attorney after all, and she had many opportunities that those around her hadn’t. That could cause issues with some of them, perhaps.

She looked at her list again. Three different types of shoes, including newish hiking boots, several travel blouses, tights, slacks, socks, stockings, two large hats, one small and one wide brimmed that rolled up. She also included a long night gown, just in case. Some guys like them for some odd reason. Another small case carried all of her makeup and toiletries. She had arranged for a town car to pick her up tomorrow night.

The money her father gave her each month would cover that necessity, easily. She liked to travel in style when she went anywhere. She had become accustomed to that.

Chad took down two cases from several sitting on the shelf of his large walk in closet and placed them on a long, low, table in front of him. His closet was a large as some apartments in New York City. He looked around his entire business wardrobe hanging in front of him. Nothing seemed appropriate for this trip into the jungle and savannah of Africa.

He pulled out a drawer in one of the custom made bureaus in the closet and went through it. He found much of what he needed right away. It was a drawer full of shorts and casual polo shirts, all neatly folded by Maria, his house keeper. Some with long sleeves and some short sleeved. He grabbed a handful of each and tossed them into his suitcase.

He then picked through his running and hiking shoes. He packed two pairs of running shoes and a pair of very expensive hiking boots. He would wear a pair of Top Sidder dress shoes on the plane. He had several pairs to pick from. After an hour Chad was packed.

Suzan put the phone down with a smile. Chad would send a car for her tomorrow evening that would take them to the airport. Suzan couldn’t wait to move into Chad’s apartment over looking Central Park and put her mark on it. That part of her dream was coming true, finally.

She walked into her small bedroom and found her suit case among her shoes in the corner of her small but well organized closet.

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Chapter Sixteen coming up tomorrow or part of it perhaps.

This is becoming interesting. Nothing great comes fast or easy.

Remember to buy, “Sunrise, Sunset,” my book of ten short stories on Amazon or listen to it on Audible.