Chapter 14
RORY
Attaching the report to Thomas’ email, I press send. Leaning back in my seat I rub my eyes with the heel of my hand and sigh. It’s time to sleep, and I am well past ready to close my eyes.
Tomorrow I’m going to ask Jill about her mother’s condition. I may be able to help organize some fundraising, but I need to know how the tumor is progressing. I don’t want to cause Jill any more stress than she already has.
Closing my eyes, I do my best to stop thinking.
It is one of my worst faults, not being able to cut off my thoughts when I’m trying to go to sleep.
Terrence would hum to me quietly, and I would listen to that rather than think.
A tear runs down my cheek as the memory hits me, and thoughts of Terrence are what I’m thinking when I fall asleep.
Standing outside Grady’s school, waiting for him, feels very odd. I wasn’t sure where to wait in the car and was not sure he knew which vehicle was mine. Standing at the school entrance is the best thing to do even though I’m getting odd looks from some mothers.
Grady runs toward me with a huge smile on his face. It takes me by surprise because I never expected him to be excited to see me. I return his smile mind you and give a woman a filthy look when she steps in his way as he nearly reaches me.
Grady dodges around the woman and shouts, “Hi, Rory.”
“Hi, Grady. Do you fancy an ice cream?” I ask as I throw an arm around his shoulders, while again giving the woman a nasty look.
“Yeah, can I have a chocolate one with nuts and sprinkles?”
I laugh at the look on his face. “You sure can. I’m going to have a mint chocolate one. Love that one,” I say with an exaggerated longing in my voice. “We have to be at the diner by ten minutes to four, or I’ll be late for my shift. So, let’s get moving.”
I point to my vehicle, and we quickly get inside, settle Grady in the passenger seat, and head to the ice cream shop. I’m looking forward to this because I’ve not done anything like this in a long time.
“How was school today?” I ask while I’m driving.
Grady groans. “Math. I hate math.”
“Why?” I glance at him before looking back at the road.
Grady looks at me and sighs. “I don’t really understand it, and my teacher just passes me over when I ask questions.”
“Hmm, well I’m good at math, so why don’t I help you learn, and then you can show that teacher they are stupid, and you are not?”
“You would teach me?” Grady turns in his seat, looking at me more thoroughly. “Really, do you know enough about math?”
“Grady, my job, my actual job, not the diner job is helping people with their financials, which means I have to be really, really good at math,” I say it with pride in my voice.
“You would help me?”
“Of course I would. How about Saturday afternoons? You get Jill to drop you at my house and we’ll work through all the problems you are having.”
Grady laughs, “I’m going to work hard, Rory. I’ll not let you down.”
“I know you won’t. Now, let’s go eat ice cream,” I giggle as I pull into the parking lot in front of the shop, and my mouth nearly waters at the thought of ice cream.
The ice cream goes down well. We talk, laugh, and enjoy the thirty minutes at the shop. “Are you ready to go now, Grady? I’ve got to get to work.”
“Thank you, Rory, for the ice cream, and for helping me with math,” Grady gives me such an earnest look that I squeeze his hand as I respond.
“Oh, you may not say that when you’ve had your first lesson,” I reply with a huge smile on my face.
Walking into the diner, Grady takes a seat, and I quickly make my way behind the counter to the staff area where I pick up my apron and wash my hands ready to start my evening shift.
“Was Grady behaving?” Jill asks as she takes her apron off. Ending her shift as I start mine.
“He was so good. We went for an ice cream, and I’ve offered to help him with math on Saturdays if you’ll drop him at my house?”
“You can help him with math?” Jill asks shocked.
I can’t help but laugh as I respond. “Yes, I can. I’m a financial manager. I help people get the best from their businesses, and to do that I have excellent math skills.”
“Wow. That’s good to know, Rory,” Jill giggled. “It’s a shame you can’t make my salary double what I get.”
“No, that’s not something I can do for you,” I shake my head while smiling. “I’ve got to get to work, Jill. But I want to speak to you about your mother and about a fundraiser to help with her mounting health costs.”
“She’s not doing well. The accident was terrible enough, but now they’ve found…”
Before Jill can complete her sentence Shelby shouts. “Rory, I need you here. We have customers waiting.”
I dash into the diner, grab my order pad and pencil, and hurry to the first table and take their orders.
I can see Grady from the corner of my eye, and he’s smirking at the way I’ve had to rush to take orders. As I walk away from the table I point at him, and as an eleven-year-old would, he laughs loudly.
Three hours later my feet are hurting. I should have stayed with the Doc Martens I usually wear under my black work pants.
They are shoes rather than boots and have been worn soft over the years.
They are so comfortable I could wear them for days, having no discomfort at all.
I also have Doc Marten boots that I love just as much and always had Terrence laughing at me because he said I should have been a biker’s girl with the type of clothes I like.
I pick up a plate with a BLT sitting on it nicely. Grab a black coffee and take a seat on one side near the kitchen. Break time is welcome this evening because I’m tired.
“Can I sit with you, Rory?”
Looking up, I give Rum a bright smile. “Of course you can.”
“What is your order?” I ask because I’ll take it to the kitchen and make sure it’s placed.
“Shelby took my order. You looked miles away when I came into the diner.” Rum takes the seat opposite mine and studies my face.
“I was thinking about my shoes. I should have worn my worn-in shoes that are like slippers instead of these that are scrunching up my toes.” I grimace as I speak so Rum knows I’m serious.
“Oh, well, comfortable shoes are always best when you are on your feet all day.” Rum looks up when Shelby places a plate in front of him.
“Take a while longer, Rory. It’s quiet tonight.” Shelby doesn’t wait for me to respond. Shelby quickly walks away, leaving me shocked that she’s not telling me my break is nearly over.
I finish my sandwich and look at Rum enjoying his pot pie. “Are you enjoying your job, Rum?”
“You know, Rory, I was bored to tears sitting at home all day. Now I’m working in the office at the gas station thanks to Truck.
He’s a good man, and I’m teaching him all about running the place.
I’m not sure he’s got the hang of ordering everything yet.
” Rum chuckles. “It’s going to be a good gas station, with the vehicle recovery business behind it.
They are having a membership option, so people can pay an annual fee or monthly payments.
It’s a way of cutting down on the out of area calls they have been having.
Bull, he’s the manager of that business, has been telling me if it continued to grow at the rate it was they’d have to take on a lot of men, and buy a lot of recovery vehicles. ”
“Oh, I should get a membership because I’d be no good if my vehicle broke down. I know nothing about fixing a car.”
Rum wipes his bottom lip with the paper napkin and nods toward me. “I’ll make sure you get a membership, Rory. Are you still coming on Sunday?”
“I am coming Sunday. I’m having a trip to the garden center tomorrow afternoon to get a few ideas and prices before I look an idiot for not having any answers. You can bet I’m going to get questions thrown my way.”
Rum nods. “Yeah, I imagine you will. Bring your information, and I’ll make sure Bull sets you up with a membership.”
“Thanks, Rum, that would be great. I’ll write it down so you’ll have all the information you will need.” I pick up my dirty plate and cup and give Rum a smile. “Back to it, Rum. But come over again at my break time and we’ll have another chat.”
“I will, Rory, I will.” Rum continues eating as I walk into the kitchen. I like him, and I’d like to know more about him.
On Sunday morning I park my car near the front of the gas station lot in front of the store.
Climbing out, I quickly open the trunk and pull out my gardening gloves.
Looking around I don’t see anyone, but I’m not going to waste time looking to find anyone either.
I walk over to the side of the station and look at the area where there once was a border of some kind.
Pressing the toe of my boot into the soil, I’m very happy to see it is sandy. That means it’s going to be easier to work with. Bending down, I pull a few weeds and yeah; they pull out easily.
“Hey, Rory. Hang on let me get the wheelbarrow, and I’ll come and work alongside you.”
Turning my head, I see it’s Truck shouting to me, and I give him a nod and wave right before turning back and pulling more weeds.
This isn’t going to take as long as I thought, and there are evergreen bushes at the back of where I’m weeding.
I know that’s what they are, as I saw them at the garden center yesterday.
Truck returns with a wheelbarrow just after the other three I met previously turn up, and I’ve instructed each of them on what I’d like them to do.
“Pull these out, but leave those,” I state as I pull a bundle of weeds.
“These are the ones we need to get rid of. If you see anything that you think may be flowers let me know and I’ll look before you just rip them out.
Those at the back are bushes and they need to stay in.
I need one of you to go to the garden center and purchase ten bags of mulch.
We’ll get rid of all these weeds then lay a thick layer of mulch.
It keeps the weeds down and moisture in so the border won’t need watering as much. ”
Mitchell speaks before anyone else has the opportunity. “I’ll get the mulch. Do you need anything else?”
“No, not for the moment. But we may later. It will depend on what you want to do with the borders,” I respond and look at Truck for any remarks he may make.
Truck shrugs. “No idea, Rory. I don’t reckon we need flowers. As long as it is tidy, do we need anything else?”
I shake my head in response, “No, I think the evergreen shrubs are fine, and with the mulch it will be neat. The grass cut will make a vast difference to the look of it all. Do you have a lawnmower?”
“Yeah, I saw one of those sit-down ones in the back where the recovery business is going to be,” Xero replied.
“Okay, that’s great. Come on then, get pulling weeds. Mitchell get a move on,” I smirk more to myself than the men, but they all jump to it, so I’m okay with taking charge.