CHAPTER 19
*~* Molly *~*
Men! Men! Honest to goodness I now have Breaker living in the fricking house with me. It’s a good thing he threw his gear into the spare room because if he’d tried to get into mine he’d have had a shock in store.
I admitted that I had a feeling someone was watching me, and I know he’s concerned about my safety. Just as I am if I’m being truthful, but you can’t stop living because someone like Carrie-Anne causes trouble. If I had done that, I would not have left the house in a decade.
Looking up from where I’m sitting at my desk studying the rotation of the staff I smile at Jamie, who hands me a mug of steaming coffee. “Just what I needed, Jamie, thank you.”
“You are welcome. Now, I have looked at some of your ideas, well, the ideas put to you from staff, and think we can implement them. I like the handyman appointment idea a lot. We’ve had so many small things that need attention, but we never seem to have the time to do them.
The front of the practice is messy and needs some attention before it becomes completely unmanageable. ”
“I’ll sort the list out, Jamie. I will have the handyman fix the doors, window locks, sink and the toilet seat before I get him outside to do the front of the practice.
The outside jobs, he will have nobody around him, so he’ll be able to work uninterrupted.
Inside he’ll have to dodge us all working and probably respond to questions.
” I grin because I’m imagining him having to dodge Angel’s attentions.
“It will be nice to see the flowers again. I used to enjoy doing the small flower border, but I just don’t have time. I would enjoy seeing them though, even with someone else tending them.” Jamie gives the tiniest of smiles as she thinks about the flowers.
“I’ve got one person who inquired about the handyman position, and he sounds promising. He’s fifty years of age, semi-retired, and he had a landscaping company. I’ll know more when I interview him.” Looking at my watch. “In thirty minutes.”
“Oh, he may be able to create a nice front for the practice. I hate places that are all brick, concrete or resin. We need flowers, bushes and trees for wildlife, and we need them not only to enhance our lives…”
“Jamie, I know…”
“Sorry, I can go off on one when we talk about plants and stuff.”
Jamie gives me a small, embarrassed smile, and I wave her off to save her from feeling silly. I agree with her however; we need plants and trees for the earth itself.
The handyman enters the office and I note Angel isn’t showing him any interest. That is interesting in itself, and it must show because the man smirks.
“Please come in, take a seat.” I do my best to sound polite, but I’m sure he can hear I’m a little hesitant.
“Thank you. I’m happy to come to the interview. My name, as you will know is Tim Bakerstone. I got hit on by the young woman in reception, and I put her in her place quickly.”
“Is it okay if I call you Tim?” I ask.
“It sure is. Do you want me to tell you what I think you need to know, and then you can ask anything else needed?”
“That would be great, Tim. You can call me Molly. I don’t like standing on ceremony. Well, I have made certain exceptions.” I grin, and thankfully I get a questioning look in response. When I don’t elaborate, Tim nods and then tells me everything he thinks I need to know.
“I had a landscaping business, which I ran for twenty-five years. I lost all interest in it once my wife died. It just felt like I was in a rut. I sold the business, and it’s still going strong.
I go to them twice a month and assist them with their accounts and things.
Hence, that's why I said I was semi-retired. I have given them notice that at the end of this month I won’t be going anymore.
I’m looking for something new, somewhere I can make a slight difference.
I felt this was a good one as I’m good with fixing things and, of course, can do the outside spaces you have. ”
I hold my hand up to stop him. “Tim, you sound perfect for us. We have so many minor things that need sorting out, fixing. The toilet seat needs replacing. We have doors not opening and closing right, all fixable, but our doctors and practitioners should not be doing it. The outside is unkempt, as you must have seen. I need someone who can work unattended, yet keep me updated. Can you do that?”
Tim nods. “Yeah, I can do that.”
“Okay. When can you start? For us, as soon as possible.” I give him a look that must say we are urgent as he smiles and nods.
“I’ll start on Monday morning. Do you have a room for me to store supplies? Or am I floating around?”
“No, come with me. We have a room with a sink, a drain, and cupboards with equipment. Oh, if you need any equipment let me know and we’ll sort it out.
There is a toilet attached to the room as well.
You will be responsible for the room. If you want to add shelving or anything do it, and as I said, keep me informed.
” I pass him a piece of paper with the salary and the free medical coverage he will get from the practice.
Tim looks at the piece of paper before speaking again. “That’s a decent salary, Molly. The medical coverage is excellent, and I’m happy with all of that. I’ll let you have my details before I leave. Can I see the room?”
“Sure.” I take Tim to check out the room, which is next to the back door of the practice. He checks it out and agrees he’ll organize it as he wants it. He gives me all his details, and I smile to myself as I watch him leave.
I grab a fresh mug of coffee and step out to the front of the practice to get some air. I wave at the brothers across the street, and one gives me a head nod. I still have the feeling I’m being watched, but studying the street I see nothing suspicious.
As I’m standing here, I study the front of the practice, and Tim has his work cut out for him. The borders seem to disappear into the small lawn in front of them. I’m pleased the path to the door of the practice looks clean and moss-free.
That feeling prickles again, and I snap my head down the street towards the shops.
Squinting as I try to focus on a woman standing next to the greeting card shop.
Is that Carrie-Anne? I take a step forward as I’m going to see if it is her.
But the woman notices me moving forward and disappears between the shops.
“What’s up, Molly?” One of the brother's shouts.
“I thought I saw my stepsister, but I’m not sure.” I shrug and walk back inside, but I have an itchy feeling.
After rinsing my mug and placing it on the tray in the small kitchen we all use.
I check everything is as it should be, because I’ve had to clean up twice in here from someone who keeps leaving a dirty mug in the sink, and not hanging the tea cloth where it needs to be.
Cabinet doors have been left open as well.
I’ve been leaving sticky notes, and if it doesn’t improve, I’ll have a staff meeting and rip them all a new one.
I lean on the sink and send a text message to Bri.
Molly: Do you want to come over to my house and we’ll have a girl plotting night?
I don’t have to wait as I get an immediate reply from Bri.
Bri: Yeah, both me and Marcia will be with you tonight?
Molly: Tonight is fine by me. Do you want to bring pizza?
Bri: We can do that. 7:00?
Molly: Perfect. I’ll see you then.
Smiling to myself as I’m thinking, yeah, going to catch a stepsister, and I can’t wait. My head snaps up when I hear Angel.
“I told you that there are no spare appointments to see Dr. Grant. I can book you in to see Dr. Brackenridge. Stop being so awkward about it. This is your option; take it or leave it.” Angel snaps at the patient.
“Angel!” I step up to the reception desk directly behind Angel, and now I have gained her attention. “Move…” I snap at her and take her seat. I look up pleasantly at the lady waiting. “Let me see what I can do for you.”
I fiddle with the system for a few minutes and see there is a ten-minute slot tomorrow. “Is tomorrow early enough?” I look up at the young woman, and she looks like she wants to cry.
“Yes, that would be lovely, but I want to see Dr. Grant.”
“This is an appointment for Dr. Grant. It’s 10:20 a.m. tomorrow morning.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you.” I get the woman’s details and book the appointment. When she leaves, I turn to Angel. “As soon as the practice closes you come to my office.” I don’t wait for her to respond. I make my way to my office with steam coming out of my ears.
At the end of the day, I’m waiting patiently for Angel to come into my office when Jamie walks in, giving me a raised eyebrow in question. “I’m waiting for Angel. She is on her last warning, and she’s disrespected a patient today.”
“Did you know she got her job because she’s Bear’s niece?” Jamie takes a seat and I shake my head.
“I had no idea. Is that how she got the job? By you doing a favor for a brother of the MC?” I ask, shocked. “If I get rid of her are you sure this is not going to cause a problem?”
Before Jamie can answer Angel walks in with a smirk on her face, and Bear directly behind her. I hear Jamie suck in a shocked breath, but me, I don’t react at all.
“Hi, Bear, what can we do for you?” I ask calmly.
“Angel contacted me saying you are picking on her and are going to take her job.” Bear near enough snarls.
I look at Angel long enough for her to look away. Bear gives me a dirty look, and again, I don’t react to intimidation. “Take a seat, Bear.”
I wait for him to settle into a seat, and Angel is stepping from one foot to another. Jamie as yet hasn’t said a word, but she’s frowning at Angel right before picking her phone out of her purse and tapping out a message to someone.
“Okay. Let me inform you about why Angel has been called into the office. First, I took on the job as practice manager to help Jamie run the place smoothly and economically in time and finances. As you know Jamie is available to some people when accidents happen.” I give Bear a firm look, which lets him know that this could involve the club.
“As one of my first duties I went through every person's work records. Angel is not an exemplary staff member. She was placed on a last warning with regard to her timekeeping and her attitude. Angel was clearly told that if she made one more slip, she was gone. Today, her attitude toward a patient was another slash on her work record.”
Bear turns to look at Angel who is now not looking as confident as she was. Jamie has a tiny smirk on her face, and I feel like jumping up from my seat and snarling at both Angel and Bear.
Heavy boots are heard, and looking up I’m shocked to see Rage and Breaker bursting into the office. I think now I know why Rage got his name because he is red in the face, all the veins in his forehead and neck are standing at attention. I lean back in my seat a little because shit, this is scary.
“What the fuck are you doing here trying to sort out this little bitch’s problems?
She is downright useless, you know it, and we know it.
Your brother knew it, Bear. That’s why he ditched her when he moved to Australia.
Shame his fucking plane went down, or I’d have Pres ship the bitch off.
I still might do that.” Rage is right in Bear’s face, nearly nose-to-nose.
Breakers taps Rage on the shoulder, then speaks to Bear.
“Brother, you can’t fix what can’t be fixed.
She’s a useless piece of ass, and that’s all she’ll ever be.
Wash your hands and step away. Your brother knew what she was, and he ditched her for you to sort out, because he’d had more than enough. Cut her loose. It’s time she grew up.”
“No, Uncle Bear,” Angel whines and I can see that is the moment Bear decides.
Slowly standing from his seat, Bear looks at Breaker, Rage, Jamie, me, and then Angel.
“I’m done, Angel. I got you this job, and you couldn’t keep your fucking mouth shut, head down and get ahead for once.
Every job you get you end up getting thrown out because you can’t do what is needed.
My brothers are right…it is time you grew up.
You have two weeks to find a place to live and a job because I want you out of my house by then.
I’m putting the place up for sale and moving into my room at the clubhouse. Your momma would be ashamed of you.”
Bear storms out of the office with Angel right behind him. I look at Jamie, but she’s giving Rage a soft look. Screwing up my nose at the sight, I turn to look at Breaker, who is watching me in amusement.
“Where is Angel’s momma?” I ask.
Breaker loses the smile. “She died five years ago. She was hit by a car and died instantly. It was a terrible night, and nobody could understand why she was even outside. Turns out Angel was whining and causing trouble because she wanted mac and cheese. Katie didn’t have any in the house, so popped out to get a box to make up.
Yet even now Angel still whines to get her own way.
It’s more than time she grew up and stopped having people running after her ass. ”