Page 11 of Bitter Haven

William laughed, shaking his head. "That's hilarious. What a doorknob."

"Yep, but when I said that to Tiffany, that's when she got upset and quit. I thought she'd calm down and come back, but no such luck. I've got to find somebody reliable, preferably somebody who will do the job in exchange for the apartment upstairs."

William sipped his coffee and tipped his chair back. "We may be able to help each other out. Corporate is telling me my payroll is too high. They think I don't need another part-time driver. Technically, they're right. But only until someone gets sick or doesn't show up. Then I need that extra guy. My new guy, Ryan, is reliable, an outstanding worker, and I don't want to lose him, but if I cut his hours too much, he'll find something else." William scowled and shook his head. "He's totally wasted as a driver anyway—he's way too smart, and he's good with the customers, if a little, hmm, quiet."

"So, we can help each other out how?"

"I know Ryan's been looking for someplace to rent. He's living in his mom's basement, and I think it's driving him nuts. It's hard to tell because unlike most of the guys, he doesn't talk much. He's got some issues left over from the Service too, but you'd understand that better than I would." William shrugged. "Anyway, if he takes your job, then I can cut his hours and maybe not lose the guy entirely."

Erin wasn’t so sure. Ryan seemed awfully skittish. "It's a good thought, but I've invited him to come out and talk, and he won't. I don't know if it's me, or him, or both." She shrugged, chuckling. "I'm pretty sure his tips won't be as good as Tiffany's."

William laughed. "Or maybe you'll get an entirely new clientele. The little old ladies love him because he's nice and helpful." William cackled. "Put him in a tight T-shirt and you'll have cougars filling the place."

Erin laughed with him. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a tight T-shirt. Does that make me a cougar? She considered William's proposal for a moment. "I think you should bring it up to Ryan first, and then send him out here." She grimaced. "If he's even willing to talk to me, let alone work for me."

"Sure." He grinned. "I'll tell him corporate's cutting my hours, but I know a great deal that will make it up to him." He looked at her, raising his brows. "You'd want him working, what, six to eleven?"

"If he's taking the apartment, I'd want him to work six to ten for the apartment and preferably ten to eleven for pay. What hours do you need a driver?"

"I'd like one to four." He grinned. "That gives him time for a sandwich, a nap, and the drive to Kelly's. Now, if we can get him to see what a great deal this is, it will work out perfectly."

"We'll have to line up vacation too. I'll be shutting the shop down for a couple of weeks in September and taking a couple of long weekends this summer. Of course, he's free to work for you during those periods or take vacation when I do." She smiled and shrugged. "That's paid vacation, sort of, since he'll still be in the apartment."

"I'm sure we can make that all work out. My other part-timer will take extra shifts occasionally, although he warned me they were taking a long September vacation too." William waved a hand. "It'll work. I'll make it work." He frowned, then added, "But you need to get Ryan to tell you about his issues and limitations before you hire him. Maybe test him out on the espresso machine to make sure he can do it."

Erin frowned, puzzled. "Oh? What issues?"

William shook his head. "I can't share any medical stuff with you. You know that, right?"

"Ah." She shrugged one shoulder. "Okay, we'll do some test drinks and talk. If you can get him to come here at all."

"I'm pretty sure I can sell this deal." William stood and raised his mug to her. "Thanks for the coffee."

"Anytime. Get a fill up whenever you're here. Or passing by." William was one of the good guys. He waved as he left, and Erin locked the door behind him.

She didn’t remember Michael saying much about Ryan, probably because he was a good, hard worker and did his job right—Michael complained about the troublemakers. Although, now that Erin thought about it, Ryan had been over to their house a few times in Alaska. Michael hosted plenty of parties and backyard barbecues in the summer, and there were tons of people at those things—everyone loved him. Erin remembered the drunks she'd driven home better than the rest. She'd never had to drive Ryan home.

Ryan seemed awfully standoffish, though she really wasn't sure whether it was because of Michael, or if it was her, or maybe just the way he was. She couldn't ask about the medical issues, but hopefully he'd open up on his own. He should be an airplane mechanic—Michael would have made sure Ryan was an expert. Even if he couldn’t find a position with an airline, Marcus had plenty of open automobile mechanic positions. Sure, there was a learning curve, but he had the basics; he’d catch up in no time at all. But maybe the medical issues William hinted at were severe enough to keep him from being a mechanic.

Knocking sounded from the door. She called, "We're closed, sorry!" but they kept rapping. She tromped to the door, her boot heels thudding in contrast to the fast, annoying knocking, and opened the door a few inches. "Yes?"

A short, stocky man in beat-up, dirty canvas overalls held up a big manila envelope. He peered up at her from under an equally dirty baseball cap. "Are you Erin Moore?"

Kind of a sketchy looking delivery driver. She didn’t let go of the door and blocked it with her foot. "Yes, I am. What can I do for you?"

He pulled papers out of the envelope and handed them to her. "You're hereby served. You've got copies there of the official filings. I have the original if you'd like to see it."

Erin looked at the paperwork. Sure looked official. "No, that's okay. I'd say thanks, but I'd be lying." Great. She was being sued.

"Just doing my job."

"Yeah." She closed and locked the door, sat down at the nearest table, and started reading. The thing was in legalese, but it seemed Kaylee Adams was suing her for mental distress and some sort of damages, plus attorney's fees. Great. Erin sighed. Good thing she had a brilliant lawyer. This puts the topper on a cake of sucky. Shaking her head, Erin pulled out her phone.

Late the next afternoon, Erin finished her story about Tiffany and Kaylee, sat back, and gazed wistfully at her friend and lawyer, Samantha Kerr. Impeccably dressed as usual, in fitted black slacks, a beautiful ruby-red silk top, chunky silver jewelry, and her long, honey-colored hair wrapped into a tasteful updo. Erin was underdressed and outclassed. Sam was elegance personified. Fortunately, her insides matched the outside.

Sam frowned. "You won't like what I have to say, but I'll say it, anyway." Erin nodded. "It will cost you more to fight this than to settle it. I'd recommend we file an answer with the Court and schedule a settlement conference right away. I think they're trying to punish you for a spoiled brat's tantrum, but since the Adams have money, and Kaylee's their precious youngest child, they might not be willing to settle. I know their lawyer, and I'm guessing he tried to talk them out of this already, but..."

Erin nodded again, glumly. Figures.

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