Chapter 21
TRUCK
It’s Monday morning, and I was able to dodge Xero and Collins who did their best to corner me about church yesterday. I just told them it was under review, and I admit it was hard not to laugh as I was dodging all their questions.
“Let’s check everywhere and make sure we are ready for tomorrow’s opening,” I comment to Rum who for some reason is following me around.
“Everything is ready, Truck. Stop worrying so much. All we have to do is open the door in the morning. I’m interested to see how much gas we sell in the first week.
If we can get a steady stream of customers on a regular basis, it will give us an idea of how often we have to fill up the underground tank,” Rum says, and I can see he is already calculating what he needs to do.
“That is the type of thing we’ll only know as time goes along. I don’t think we’ll run short of gas at any time, Rum,” I smirk as I reply. “The stockroom has plenty in it, Rum. We can’t get more in there if we want to move around. I don’t see the store part of the gas station being that busy.”
“You’d be surprised, and if we keep our profit margin low enough, we’ll have people coming to get gas and do a fair amount of shopping,” Rum is calculating again. If he keeps this up and makes the station a good profit, I’ll see about giving him a salary increase.
I’m not sure if Rum reads my mind, but he states clearly.
“No, I don’t want or need a salary increase.
I don’t need the money sitting in a bank account doing nothing.
I’ve nobody to leave it to, and I need nothing apart from what I have.
My house has no mortgage. It isn’t in need of repairs.
I had it modernized only two years ago, and I did that because I was bored.
No need to give me a larger salary, I’m enjoying doing what I am doing, and I am enjoying the challenge of finding us the best ways to buy stock, and how much to sell for with a profit margin that is worth having but keeps customers coming back because we are not ripping them off. ”
I’m not sure what to say to all that, so I keep my mouth closed, slap him on the shoulder and walk away.
I need to check that the bunting is all tied tightly and the electronic billboard is ready.
We decided on that, rather than one we’d have to keep printing posters for.
We can give promotional information to encourage people to come into the station, like gas price drops.
Collins walks over to where I’m checking the gas pumps.
“Everything is ready, Truck. We’ve checked everything twice this morning already.
Mitchell is doing this week of late shifts.
He’s got his pump-action shotgun ready under the counter, and you can bet he’ll be carrying other weapons.
Let some little punk try coming in and robbing him.
I’m pleased we are having 24/7 cameras running then if anything kicks off, I can get the popcorn and watch it. ”
“I’ll get the beer, you get the popcorn,” I reply with amusement.
“How did your date night go?” Collins asks.
I look at him carefully to see if he’s taking the piss before I reply. “It went well. We had a steak, got to know each other, and I’m going to push to see her far more often.”
“From the little time she was here I liked her. She’s down to earth and has a good sense of humor. She’s a good one and I hope it works out for you, Truck.”
Again, I can see he is being genuine and reply with an honest response, “She is, and I hope this works out. I’m ready to settle down with a woman I can love, trust, and build a life with.
I would like to have kids, but even one would be great.
We could all practice with babies if fuckin’ Tracker would step aside for more than a minute. ”
Collins laughs. “I’ve heard all about Pres and the baby, Ayla. Finger was in the diner last week complaining about not seeing enough of his daughter.”
“Did you hear that Ayla can see Bono?” I chuckle as I ask.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Cilla can speak to the dead. Bono, Tank, and Pyro all talk to her on a regular basis. Tracker is fascinated with it, but when Ayla started to speak her first word wasn’t mom or dad. It was Ono. That fucked off Pres because he’d been saying Tracker to her from day one.”
We shot the breeze for a few minutes before we both headed inside and checked the store area. We know it is all good to go, but my nerves for the opening have me checking and checking again.
Walking into the diner, I give Rory a huge smile, which I’m happy to say gets me one in return. I take a seat near the counter, but with my back to the wall. I can watch the diner as I eat, and I’m not going to admit it's more so I can watch Rory, then for any danger that may occur.
Shelby smirks as she passes the table, but I ignore her. When the diner door opens and Rum steps inside, I give a small wave to get his attention.
“I didn’t know you were eating here tonight, Truck,” Rum says as he takes the seat opposite mine.
“I wasn’t sure myself, Rum. I fancied a chicken pot pie.”
Rum grins, “Try the honey mustard spinach salad with it. I tried it last week and Truck, it’s the bomb.”
Rory steps up to the table, her pad in hand, ready to take our order. “What can I get for you both?”
I mumble under my breath about something she can give me, but it’s not food.
Rum chuckles. Rory frowns because she didn’t hear, but I cough as I answer, you know, to cover up what I said.
“I’ll have the chicken pot pie, and the honey mustard spinach salad Rum tells me is to die for,” I reply with a grin on my face.
“Me as well please, Rory.”
“Okay, coffee?” Rory asks as she looks up from her notepad.
“Yes, please,” Rum responds.
I give her a wink. “No, I’ll have a sparkling water, please.”
I watch as Rory walks away, and I admit openly that I was watching her cute ass in the black pants she wears. Rum clears his throat, getting my attention back.
“Are you ready for tomorrow, Truck?”
“I am ready, and relieved that we have gotten it done. We’ve been lucky to get Xero, Collins, and Mitchell on board. They’ve been a massive help.”
Rum nods, and as Rory brings our drinks, we pause speaking. “Here you go, gentlemen.” We both thank her and watch her walk away again before we return to our conversation.
“We have everything ready to go. The gas pumps are at maximum capacity, they won’t run out of gas soon.
We have the store area fully stocked, and a stockroom at the ready to refill any shelving that needs it.
We have the security running smoothly. We also have Bull at the rear of the gas station working on the vehicle recovery setup.
They are close to being ready to open the operation from the office, and the area for their vehicles to be ready for their next call or fixed is fully operational.
All-in-all, the way that the vehicle recovery runs, there will always be someone on site behind the gas station.
It’s all good for security, and can you see any of the brothers being an easy target if some shit comes along thinking he can break in?
” Rum is sitting back in his seat with all signs of having thought things through.
A plate is placed in front of me, taking me by surprise. I’d been so busy concentrating on what Rum had been saying I’d stopped watching Rory.
“Two pot pies with a side order. Enjoy the meal.” Rory walks away quickly as she clears away dishes from a table that had been vacated.
We continue discussing this and that, not all about the gas station. Rum talks about his late wife, and I think having someone to talk to about her helps him remember some of the things he loved about her.
The meal is damn good and Rum is right, the spinach salad is something I will have again. I’ll make sure Rory knows how to make it and then we can have it at home. Holy shit, I’m already thinking we are going to be together!
The door opens to the diner, and Pres walks in, with Ayla in a front carrier strapped to his body. She is looking outward and not toward him, and she’s kicking her legs and baby-talking with excitement. Of course, Cap, Finger, and Rides are with him.
We are able to overhear Finger speaking. “You know Cilla is going to set the ‘boys’ on you, Pres. She said you weren’t to fuck off with Ayla again without her permission.”
“She’ll be fine. She knows Ayla is safe with me, and you are here, so what is her problem? I’m her Godfather…” Pres says the father part with a lot of force.
Finger rolls his eyes, “Yeah, yeah, we know, God and Father…” which he follows with a snort.
Once they are settled at a table close to us Rory quickly gets their drinks and takes their order. Ayla is pointing to things we are not seeing. She is definitely Cilla’s daughter. She keeps giggling at something we can’t see, but we all presume it’s Bono as she gabbles, Ono every now and again.
Now, I’m not sure how shocked we should be, but Cilla storms into the diner, points her finger at Pres and snarls.
“This is the last time. I’m setting my ghosts on you until you learn to ASK!
I don’t care that you take her Tracker, but you need to tell me and not just disappear with her.
Finger, you and I are having a discussion tonight! ”
Taking Ayla from Pres, who looks like he wants to laugh his ass off at her indignation, we watch her storm out with Ayla giggling all the way.
What we didn’t expect next was the salt shaker on the table to move towards Tracker. He is the only one at the table who doesn’t jump. He reaches out and places a finger on the top of the shaker and states in his deep, and president voice. “Don’t fuck with me!”
I look at Rum when he laughs loudly. “Wow, that was cool. Take your finger off and let's see if it moves again.”
Tracker looks at Rum and smirks. Slowly moving his hand away, and you know? That fuckin’ salt shaker doesn’t move again.
“Only Pres could order a fuckin’ ghost around. Do you reckon it’s Bono? Or some other spook we don’t know about?” Rides asks as he’s still staring at the shaker.
“Who cares?” Finger responds. “If it gets lively, I’ll sweet-talk Cilla into telling it to fuck off.”
Now we all know what sweet talk Finger is thinking about, and as he’s been speaking about having another kid, we are all waiting for the inevitable screech from Cilla about it. I would not be surprised if Finger gets what he wants.
After eating, I grab Rory around the waist and lift her off her feet. I wink at Shelby who shakes her head at me as I walk into the staff area. I lean into Rory and kiss her soundly, I do it before she can complain I’ve walked away with her.
“In the morning, come to the gas station. We are filling some vehicles free of charge as a promotional stunt. I’ll make sure your vehicle is one of them,” I don’t wait for her reply.
I kiss her again and make sure her toes will curl and her lady parts start to sing.
“Night, Rory.” I kiss the tip of her nose and walk away, smiling at the flushed cheeks and not quite clear-eyed Rory I’ve left behind me.
Rum walks out alongside me and shoves me with his shoulder. “I reckon you and Rory will make a good couple, Truck. Treat her like she’s the best treasure you ever found and you’ll not go far wrong.”
“Yeah, I reckon you are right, Rum. I think she is my woman, and I’ll treat her well.
She’s had enough bad in her life with losing her husband as she has.
Life sometimes kicks those of us who don’t deserve it, while we see assholes seeming to walk through life with nothing bad ever happening.
I’m hoping that Rory will feel the same about me as I’m thinking about her,” I reply, and I mean it with all honesty.
“I’m sure she will, Truck. I’m sure she will,” Rum replies as he slaps my shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning. I reckon it’s going to be a long, busy day.”