Chapter four
G eorgina lay in bed and stretched her arms above her head, pointing both her fingers and toes. The squawks of the seagulls in the distance were an indication that the bay was already a hive of activity. Some tourists would be combing through the main high street weaving in and out of shops, while others would be staking their claimed sunbathing spot on the small beach.
Thoughts of yesterday’s escapades invaded her mind, and at the forefront of them were thoughts of Matt and his rugged good-looks. Georgina couldn’t believe how lucky she’d been with his offer to fix her car, he wasn’t only handsome, he was caring too. All she had to do in exchange was answer a few phone calls. She definitely had the better side of the deal.
A grin tugged her mouth upwards. She was quite looking forward to working in the garage. She hadn’t a clue what else the role entailed, but she would embrace the challenge and even better, embrace the time with the handsome man who she would be working alongside.
She thought about Matt again. Why didn’t she know anything about him? She knew everyone who lived in Seagull Bay, the town was so small, and most people lived in close proximity. She even knew who lived on the outskirts of the town, but she didn’t know Matt. The only person she could think of to pick their brains about him was her sister Francis.
Georgina checked the time. Her sister would be preparing breakfast for her niece while Francesca watched her favourite children’s programmes on the TV. This was the perfect time to call.
Hitting speed dial on her sister’s number, Francis answered after just two rings.
‘Good morning Sis. How’s my little niecey nicey?’
Francis chuckled. ‘Morning Georgina. She’s twirling ballerina style as happy as can be in front of the television. Everything okay with you? Aren’t you at work this morning?’
‘Ah bless her heart... No. I’m still only working a part-time contract, they said the hours might increase at some stage, but they couldn’t promise anything yet.’
‘Ah that’s right. I remember you telling me now. Still, it’s better than nothing isn’t it?’
Georgina twirled a curl around her finger as she contemplated the statement. ‘Yes I guess so. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful, I really am, but I'm going to struggle on part-time wages...although the extra free time is nice at the moment.’
‘I’ve told you; I can lend you some money Sis. I don’t want to see you struggling.’
Georgina laughed lightly. ‘Thanks Sis, but the trouble with borrowing money is, it has to be paid back. I’d rather just go without for now. As long as my bills are paid, that’s all that matters.’ She paused, unsure whether to burden Francis with her car dilemma. ‘Although I’m being contrary, because I’m saying that after my car broke down yesterday, and I have no money to get it fixed.’
‘Oh no. Where were you? Did you get roadside assistance? I’ll lend you the money to get it fixed. You can’t go without it, you need your car to get to work.’
‘I was actually coming back from work when it died a death right on that sharp left-hand turn just half a mile from the petrol station heading back to the bay... Do you know which one I mean?’
‘Oh no. That bend is nasty. Oh my goodness. I bet that was awkward for the breakdown recovery truck.’
Georgina now wished she’d kept the breakdown to herself. ‘Erm, I don’t actually have breakdown cover at the moment.’
Francis gasped down the phone. ‘What?! Then how did you get the car recovered? Did dad tow it back for you?’
‘No. I wasn’t able to call him. My battery was dead. But luckily, I noticed a garage a little further down the road.’
‘Oh Georgina, how many times have I told you...never let your battery run lower than two bars?’ Georgina rolled her eyes. ‘Huh, did you say garage? There’s a garage near that bend? I’ve never noticed one before.’
‘Me either. Thank goodness it’s not just me. I thought I was going mad.’
‘So what happened? Did the people in the garage help you?’
‘There was just one man there, but thankfully he agreed to help me. He pushed the car, and I steered it to his garage.’
‘Crikey. That was very nice of him.’
Georgina grinned, eager to tell her sister more. ‘You haven’t heard the best bit Sis. After he found out I had no breakdown cover and no money to fix the car until the end of the month, he’s offered to do the work fo me in exchange for me manning his phones on the days I’m not working at the petrol station. Just until his father returns from holiday.’
‘Wow! That’s very generous. Who is he and what is the name of the garage?’
‘He’s called Matt and the garage is named Harris’s Garage. Do you remember the guy who came into church when Reverand Townsend had just began his sermon last Sunday?’
‘ Oh yes ...I do. The tall-dark-handsome man with the beard. Is that him?’
‘Yes, that’s Matt.’
Francis chuckled. ‘Ahhhh, now I understand why you’ve accepted the offer.’
Georgina laughed as well. ‘No-no-no. It’s nothing to do with his looks. He could be engaged or married for all I know... No. It’s just that I’d be a fool not to accept a free car fix in my current circumstances.’
‘Very true. Hang on a second Sis.’ Francis went silent for a moment and Georgina could hear her sister talking to her niece. ‘Sorry. Just had to give Francesca her breakfast.’
‘Is she okay?’
‘Yes, she’s sitting cross-legged on the floor with a doll either side of her now, feeding them as well as herself.’ Georgina smiled as she pictured her niece in her mind’s eye. ‘When do you start working at the garage?’ asked Francis.
‘No idea. I have to call Matt this morning. Do you know anything about him or his family Sis?’
‘I’ve heard the name of the garage mentioned before, but I never knew where it was located. It sounds like it’s a family-run business, but I don’t know anything about the family. Maybe ask dad...or Christine. She is an oracle of knowledge. Everyone tells her everything while getting their hair styled in her salon.’
Georgina nodded absentmindedly. ‘Ah, good thinking. I’ll call in the salon when I do my first round of door knocking in the bay, seeking volunteers for the sunset picnics event.’
‘Oh Sis. I still can’t believe you volunteered to do that. It’s lovely that you are doing something mum once did, but it’s so uncharacteristic of you.’
Georgina was quite offended by the last part of Francis’s statement, and she couldn’t hide it in her voice. ‘What are you trying to imply?’
‘I didn’t mean it like that Sis. I know you’d do anything for any of us at the drop of a hat, but I’ve never known you to offer any of your free time to anyone else willingly . I mean, even this situation with the car and answering the phones, I doubt you would have taken up the offer of the deal if Matt hadn’t looked the way he does.’
Georgina felt a stab of hurt by Francis’s comment. ‘Then I guess you don’t know me as well as you think you do...I have to go...I have my community work to perform. I’ll speak to you later.’
‘Georgina, I hope I—’
Georgina cut her sister off and ended the call before she said something to her she might regret. She could count on one hand the number of serious bust-ups Francis and she had had over the years, and she wasn’t about to add digits to her other hand.
Sitting up in bed she rubbed at the deep rut that had formed between her brows within the last minute, while she thought about Francis’s stinging comment.
Was she selfish? She’d always considered herself to be selfless.
Swinging her legs out of bed she got to her feet with a determined jut of her chin. She would show everyone. She would make this year’s annual sunset picnics event the best it had ever been.
L ess than an hour later, Georgina was knocking on the first few doors of the residents in her street. By the time she’d gotten to the end of it, she’d got one definite sign up and one possibility. Georgina stared at her list and sighed. It was going to harder than she thought. Already feeling despondent, she decided to head to Christine’s salon to pick her brains about Matt and his family, and hopefully her father Tom would be there having a tea-break in between jobs so she could ask him as well.
The tinkle of the bell above the salon door announced Georgina’s arrival. Christine was sweeping up hair from her last client. She looked up and greeted Georgina with a toothy smile.
‘Good morning, love.’ Her brow furrowed slightly, and her smile faltered. ‘Did I forget to write your appointment in the diary?’
Georgina shook her head. ‘No-no Christine. This is just a social call.’
The furrow lines ironed out and Christine’s smile grew. ‘Ah. That’s a relief because I have Mrs Calloway booked in next for a perm next.’ Christine swept the hair to the side and propped her sweeping brush against the wall. ‘I’ll put the kettle on, shall I?’
Georgina placed her clipboard and pencil down on the low table in front of the seating area and shook her head. ‘No, you carry on with what you are doing. I’ll make the tea. White with two sugars for you isn’t it, Christine?’
‘Oh bless you,’ Christine nodded, ‘and very milky as well please. I have fifteen minutes to enjoy it before Mrs Calloway gets here.’ Christine continued sweeping and Georgina made her way to the back of the shop to the new small storeroom-come-tearoom that her father had helped fit out and plumb in just a few months previous.
Marcus who rented the back room for his dog-grooming business was already inside with an air of haste about him as he hastily pulled out a mug from the overhanging cupboard. He looked back over his shoulder and smiled, but Georgina could sense he was flustered.
‘Oh, hello Georgina love.’
‘Morning Marcus. In a rush are you?’
He sighed and spluttered a laugh. ‘That obvious, is it? I’m so busy lately. My business is getting busier and busier. I don’t have a minute to spare lately and I’m gagging for a cuppa, but I daren’t leave Maisey the corgi for too long otherwise she’ll get distressed.’
Georgina beckoned him to come away from the tea station so she could approach it. ‘Get yourself back to Maisey. I’ll make your tea and bring it in for you Marcus. How do you take it?’
‘Oh would you? You are a gem. Milk but no sugar. Thanks, Georgina.’
Marcus smiled brightly as he rushed out of the small storeroom. Georgina grinned to herself as she got two more mugs out of the cupboard. When all three teas were made, Georgina took Marcus’s tea into him first.
Georgina had seen the dog grooming room when her father had finished work on it before Marcus had rented it from Christine, but she had never seen it with Marcus’s finishing touches and with it up and working. When she entered the room and saw the corgi named Maisey being lathered up in a doggy stainless-steel bath, Georgina gasped and cooed in awed surprise.
‘Wow. I love it in here. It’s like a posh salon for doggies.’
Marcus threw his head back and laughed. ‘I’m glad it’s had that effect on your first-time viewing. That’s exactly the reaction I want to elicit the first time potential new clients walk into here. I want them to be bedazzled and want to book an appointment there and then.’
A deep and meaty bark from the corner of the room startled Georgina and she almost spilt Marcus’s tea. She quickly placed it down and looked in the direction from where the bark had come from. There was a St Bernard sitting down and staring at her, his tail wagging ten-to-the-dozen as he vied for her attention. ‘There you go Marcus.’
‘Thanks Georgina.’
Georgina walked towards the dog and squinted her eyes as she dropped her head to one side. ‘Fernando? Is that you?’
Marcus nodded. ‘Yes it is. It’s Declan’s pet. He’s waiting to have his nails clipped. I’m also expecting another seven dogs before the end of the day.’
Georgina went down on her hunches and fussed Fernando. He gave her a big sloppy lick on the side of her face. ‘Thanks for that buddy. Good job I didn’t bother applying make-up today.’ Marcus laughed. Georgina looked back over her shoulder at him. ‘You’re going to be shattered later.’
Marcus nodded in agreement. ‘I am shattered come the end of every day. I’m at the stage where I need to get help.’
Georgina’s ears picked up. ‘Help? As in hired help?’
Marcus nodded. ‘Yes. I already had an established clientele when I moved here from my previous premises, but now it’s practically doubled.’
‘Oh wow.’ Georgina pressed Marcus for more information. ‘And would the hired help need to have experience working with dogs?’
Marcus looked up towards the ceiling and pulled his bottom lip into his mouth as he thought about the question. ‘It would be great if they did, but not necessary, as I could train the new employee.’ He looked over to Georgina who was now back on her feet and facing him. ‘Why? Do you have someone in mind?’
She nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes, I do. She would be perfect, but she may or may not be available for a couple of weeks.’
Marcus grimaced. ‘A couple of weeks, eh? I think I’d need someone sooner than that. Yes, thinking about it, there is a local dog competition in a month’s time, and I’d like to have my new assistant ready to tackle anything by then. I’m already receiving booking in advance for it.’ Georgina’s shoulders dropped and she looked down to the floor deflated. Her mind was working ten-to-the-dozen as she tried to make three different jobs and their rotas fit together in her mind, even though she didn’t know the working hour schedules for two of them yet. ‘Who do you have in mind?’ Marcus’s stopped what he was doing as he looked at her questioningly.
Georgina met Marcus’s gaze. ‘Me... Would the job be full time or parttime?’
She crossed her fingers behind her back hoping Marcus would say fulltime and she’d be able to drop the job at the petrol station, it would make her life so much easier.
Marcus’s brow lifted and he nodded with a smile. ‘Okay, I wasn’t expecting that answer, but it’s a pleasant surprise. Well, you appear to have a good temperament around dogs Georgina. The job would be parttime at first with a view to becoming a fulltime position. Would that be of interest to you? Are you currently working?’
Georgina decided not to mention the temporary arrangement answering phones at the garage, she knew it would just confuse things. ‘I have a parttime job at the petrol station. It’s mainly evening work, but there are a few daytime shifts as well. Would that be a problem?’
Marcus chewed on his bottom lip as he thought about it. He shook his head with a smile. ‘No. I dare say it wouldn’t. We can work around it.’ He held out a hand covered in shampoo lather. ‘Welcome to Ruff to Regal.’
Georgina lurched forward and grabbed Marcus’s hand, her mouth splitting into an enormous grin. ‘Thank you, Marcus. You won’t regret it.’
‘I know I won’t Georgina. If you have the same work ethic as your father Tom, I know you will be perfect for the position.’