Satisfied Customer

As promised, here is part two to "Scrambling for a Scrapbook".

After that close call with thinking that I had lost the scrapbook and materials, I immediately got down to the business of completing both books as soon as possible. Visiting Michael’s, one of my favorite craft stores, and getting more craft supplies really got my creative juices to flowing.

I had never used stamping in my projects, so I invested in some ink pads and acrylic stamps. Of course, I also bought plenty of themed stickers to match the photos and articles that I would be putting in the books.

Once I had completed the first scrapbook, with the photos, I emailed Kevin several times telling him to come to my desk to get it. When he didn’t respond, I walked over to his desk with the book and told him that I would be finished the second one the following week.

“Well, you might as well wait until you finish the other one, whenever that will be,” Kevin said.

I didn’t say anything, because I had already made enough false promises to him, and I refused to make anymore. I would just do the best that I could and hope that he was satisfied with the results.

The following Sunday, I loaded most of my supplies in a luggage bag and my son and I went to see my dad. Daddy would be able to fill some of the demands of my toddler, who always seemed to need me when I was in the middle of something. In between letting the kid stick his finger in one of the ink pads and bribing him to leave me alone with a few stickers; I finally got everything that would fit into that scrapbook without making the binding pop. There were a few items left, so I bagged them up.

I really hoped that Kevin would like what I had done. The thought of wasting all of that time and going through those guilt trips for something that he hated would have floored me.

On Monday, I skipped the email routine and went to Kevin’s desk to let him know I was finished. We went to my desk grabbed both of his books and went outside to my car. We sat in my car and I watched Kevin flip through the pages slowly, silently evaluating ever item. At first he wasn’t saying anything, and then he began to mumble and grunt. He was driving me nuts because I couldn’t tell if he was happy or pissed. When got to the last page of the second book, I held my breath. Then he turned to me and smiled. A wave of relief washed over me and I almost hugged him. I began apologizing for taking so long as he put both of the books in the bag. Kevin began to shake his head.

“Girl, I love these books. You couldn’t rush this, you put a lot of work into them and I thank you,” then he reached in his pocket and handed me $40. “So when are you going to get another book so you can put what’s left over in them?” I giggled thinking he had to be joking. But Kevin didn’t smile. Oh boy, I thought, not again.

“Relax, next time we’ll decide together when would be a good time for you,” he said. I thanked him for his business and watched my satisfied customer walk to his car and put his books in the backseat.