Chapter 22
RORY
Parking my vehicle in the parking area in front of the gas station, I walk inside and cannot help thinking, wow.
The store is amazing at first glance. The main counter is easily reached as it’s only a few steps from the door.
The glass partition is impressive, and I’m seeing how much forethought has gone into the counter.
They are protecting anyone on the registers, while preventing anyone from thinking of robbing the place.
Xero is behind the counter and hearing my name I turn and smile at Collins. “Hello both.” I give a bright smile. “Have you been busy this morning?”
“I like the electronic billboard. It will be easy to keep your customers informed of any changes to prices. If you have any convenience store specials, make sure you put them on the billboard too,” I suggest as I look down one of the aisles.
“That’s a good idea, Rory. If you have any more throw them our way,” Xero replies as he steps out from behind the counter and stands next to Collins. “Off the top of your head can you think of anything else?”
“Leave her alone. Rory is here to take a look, not to work,” Truck says as he appears from down one of the aisles.
I laugh because honestly, he’s being a bit of a caveman at this point. But when he throws an arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side, right before he kisses the top of my head I will admit I melt against him.
Collins chuckles, “Oh, it’s like that is it?”
“Yep, sure is,” Truck says as he leads me away from the pair of them and to what I find is the office.
Rum is sitting at a desk, watching a monitor and looking up as we enter. Rum gives me a bright smile. “Morning, Rory. This is a pleasant surprise.”
“Morning, Rum. I’ve come over to support the team, and the opening of the gas station,” I respond as I wiggle my way out of Truck's arms. Stepping closer to Rum, I can see he’s working on a program that controls the billboard.
“Oh, that’s interesting. I’ve just told Collins and Xero they should put any special offers for the convenience store on the billboard too.
Maybe have the price of gas and any specials scrolling so customers get all the information. ”
“That’s a good idea, Rory. We can also run a mention about the vehicle recovery business,” Rum mumbles more to himself than to me.
Looking at Rum, I continue, “You could advertise local businesses, but they pay you a monthly fee for doing it. That would bring in another small income for the gas station without really putting in much effort.”
My eye catches movement, and I stare for a moment. As I thought I was seeing things, I see the movement again. Gasping in shock, I point at Rum’s desk. “Rum, that pen has moved by itself.”
“Yeah, it’s been doing that on and off. I’ve seen other things move too. Very odd, I can tell you, but Cilla said it’s just my wife letting me know she’s watching what I’m getting up to.”
Now, Rum says this with such conviction that I am not sure if he’s taking the piss or believes what he’s saying!
“Cilla will tell you if anyone is trying to contact you, Rory. I’m not sure if your husband has reached out and you’ve missed it? Maybe we should ask Cilla?” Truck is looking at me seriously, but you know what? If they don’t shut up, I’m outta here and I’m not coming back.
“Okay, I’ve gotta go. See you later.” I’m out of the office, through the store, wave at Xero behind the counter and am quickly at my vehicle before Truck knows what’s hit him.
Collins appears at the side of me. “Are you okay, Rory? You look as if you'd seen a ghost.”
That does it for me. I’m in my vehicle, and out of the gas station before anybody can stop me. Looking in my rearview mirror, I see Truck and Collins are standing where I’d parked my vehicle, both watching me leave.
“Not sure about dating Truck if he’s batshit crazy…” I mumble to myself as I head home.
I don’t even get inside the house before I get a phone call.
“Hello, Rory. It’s Coin speaking. I hope you don’t mind me giving you a call, but I wondered if you’d pop over to the clubhouse and look at the financials for the gas station.
It would give you an idea of what we have set up, and us an idea if you could help us with this business and the others. ”
“Did you speak to your President, Coin?”
“I did, and he is the one who suggested you come and take a full look at what we have going on.”
“Okay, is now good? I’m free for four hours at this point. But I have Grady to pick up, so cannot stay longer than that.”
Coin quickly replies, “That is great and I don’t think it will take that long?”
“I’ll come over now.”
“Okay, great, thanks Rory, see you in a while.”
Coin is waiting outside the clubhouse when I arrive, and he rushes me through to his office. I take a seat and turn to him. “You know it’s a little early to give you full financial management, don’t you? I would usually only look after the business has been operational for six months.”
“I realize it only opened today, but we want the business to run correctly from the get-go and not be a failing business because we didn’t do all we could to make it successful.” Coin leans back in his seat and waits for me to speak.
“I made some suggestions today and I think Rum will follow through with those.”
Coin cuts me off from saying more. “What suggestions?”
“It was suggestions about using the billboard to get maximum value out of it.” I can see Coin is listening to what I’m saying, so I continue.
“If they have the billboard scrolling, they can place the gas prices, store specials, advertise the vehicle recovery, and take business advertisements for a monthly cost. It will recover the price of the billboard and give a profit margin.”
“That is a good idea, and I’m sure some of the businesses in town would be interested.
I think the gas station is going to be popular.
It has been suggested we keep the convenience store stock at competitive prices so people will use the store on a regular basis and not just as a quick buy one thing because they can’t be bothered to go somewhere else. ”
“That is exactly what I mean. Think ahead, and it will bring in customers and profits. I will look at cash flow, liquidity, profit margins, any form of cushion you need as a float, and if there is a possibility of growth. But I cannot do that until you have at least two months of business. The first month will be initial interest from people in town. They may not come back, so we cannot use the first month. The second month will be the one that shows a more serious level of how the gas station will be used. Six months from now will show all the ways that are detrimental or profitable. That is when my expertise is most needed.” I look at Coin, and he’s nodding as he takes in what I’m saying.
“Okay, Rory. If you can look at what is happening after the first two months and again in six months, would that work for you?” Coin I know is very good at what he does. It is obvious in the spreadsheet that is on the monitor in front of him.
My phone rings and seeing its Jill, I quickly answer. “Jill, are you and Grady okay?” I asked because it is unusual for her to telephone me.
“We are okay, Rory. But I had a call that Momma died two hours ago. Can you keep Grady with you while I see what happened and make a few arrangements?” I can hear Jill crying, and it’s what you would expect.
“Of course I’ll keep Grady with me. He can stay with me until you have things sorted, and you want him back home. I’ll make sure he is okay, Jill. You deal with your mother, and I’m so sorry to hear your sad news.”
Coin is listening to the conversation, and I can see he’s understanding what he’s heard.
“Thank you, Rory. I’ll bring some of Grady’s things to the diner so you can pick them up. It is closer for you to pick up when you come to work. I’ve spoken to Shelby, and she said Grady can stay at the diner, and when the diner quiets down, you can leave early.”
“What about your hours?” I ask, thinking I might step up and do a few extra if Shelby needs me to.
“A woman who applied for a job recently is going to cover my hours for the moment. Shelby had been thinking of taking on someone who could work hours alongside you so she could step back a little, and now is the ideal time. This way she will work alongside Jayne and learn what’s needed.
She seemed nice when I met her a few minutes ago.
” Jill sniffles some more, then continues.
“I’ve got to go, Rory. Thank you so much for having Grady.
Thinking about it, I’ll bring his things to the school and when he leaves, I’ll tell him about Momma and make sure he’s okay. ”
“Okay, I’ll see you at school later. Again, I’m very sorry, Jill.”
“We knew it was coming, so it’s not a shock as such. It’s just happened sooner than we expected.”
Closing the call, I look at Coin, and he gives me an understanding look. “It’s good of you to have her brother, Rory. Few people would do that.”
“Grady chose me as his adopted sister. I’ve never had siblings, so it was exciting that he did that, and I love him. He’s a great little person. He’s eleven going on thirty,” I say this with laughter, but I’m also thinking this is going to be hard.
My phone pings, which tells me a message has been delivered.
Truck: Why did you dash off?
Men, they are such idiots at times. He didn’t realize all that hocus-pocus was spooky?
Rory: I’m not interested in spooks, ghosts, or any other entities. If they are hanging around you and the gas station, I reckon we can call this done.
It only takes a moment for Truck to call. “What the fuck, Rory! What are you talking about? We. Are. Not. Done.”
I’m holding the phone away from my ear because Truck is shouting so loud. Coin chuckles, and I give him a wide-eyed look.
“If you have something following you, I don’t want to get involved.” As I’m responding to Truck, I’m watching Coin send a message to someone.
“I don’t have anyone following me around. Well, your husband has spoken about me being good to you, but I don’t need him to tell me that. I’ll get Bono to move him on if he doesn’t go away easily,” Truck states, and I don’t know who Bono is, so I look at Coin.
Coin swallows, then quietly speaks, doing his best not to be overheard by Truck. “Bono is one of our military brothers, but he’s dead, Rory.”
Cilla walks into the office and stands, taking in what is going on, but I ignore her and speak to Truck again. “If my dead husband is speaking to you, then you can tell him to go be dead quietly because I’m not listening to any dead man.”
Truck huffs, then snarls. “I’ll speak to you later, Rory. We’ll work this out.”
I don’t even wait for more, I cut the call. Then turn to Coin, point and snap. “I’m not into speaking with no dead man, or men.”
Cilla giggles. “Your husband is warning Truck to be good to you. To look after you. He’s here now if you want to speak to him.”
I look where she’s pointing, throw my hands on my hips and snort. “If you are really there, Terrence, you need to move your ass over to where you belong. I’m still learning to live without you in my life. Now buzz off, move along, whatever is needed. Love you always, goodbye.”
Cilla is laughing, Coin is shaking his head, and I stand as tall as I can as I pass Cilla. I pause and look her in the eye, “You are all batshit crazy.”
Cilla continues laughing as I leave the office and hear her shout, “Probably, Rory, probably.”