Page 8 of Truck

“A coffee and a doughnut, if you have one, please.”

Placing them in front of me, I hand her the order amount, and before she can move away, I quickly speak. “I’m looking for a job, and Mrs. Willoughby said you had a vacancy. Are there any interviews being held?”

The woman gives me a look before looking over her shoulder and shouting, “Shelby, you've got a potential employee here!”

A woman steps out of a side door in the corridor behind the counter and gives me a smile before scowling at the woman, “What have I told you, Jayne, about shouting?”

“Sorry, Shelby,” Jayne replies, but you know, she doesn’t look sorry at all.

“Come on through to the office. I’m Shelby, the owner of the diner.”

I follow her through and take a seat when she points for me to do just that. “My name is Aurora Walker, but everyone calls me Rory. I’m new to town and have no experience serving in a diner. But I want to stay away from my usual job for a while at least, hence my looking for something here, or something similar.”

“What was your usual line of work? Why don’t you want to continue with it?” Shelby asks as she relaxes back in her seat behind the desk.

It takes a moment before I respond. “My usual job is as a financial manager, and I left my job because I needed to get away and have a new start. I needed a new start because my husband died last year, and I had to let go. He told me to sell everything, move away, and start fresh. To live my life and live it well.”

“Was it sudden?” Shelby asks, showing concern in her tone.

“He had a defective heart valve, and we were waiting for his surgery date. But the valve ruptured, and he died before anyone could even get him to the hospital. I’m doing as he asked me to do, but to do it I need to stay away from my normal routine. Like the job.”

Nodding, she says, “I understand what you are saying, and I give you my condolences. It has to be hard, as he must have been young.”

“It is, and he was only thirty-seven, it is so unfair.” I feel my eyes tearing up but swallow hard and stop myself from crying here in this interview.

“How old are you, Rory?” Shelby asks as she leans forward, placing her forearms on the desk.

“I’m thirty-two,” I respond.

“Okay, how about I place you on a two-week trial? Let’s see how fast you learn and how well you work out. Would you be agreeable to that?”

“I agree,” I quickly reply, then give the most genuine smile I’ve given anyone in a long time. “Now, when do I start?”

Shelby laughs. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. You will work from 4:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. when we close. The morning and afternoon shifts are covered for now. I’ve already hired two new staff members, one for the morning and one for the afternoon shifts. You’ll work alongside me in the evening.”

“Okay. I’ll be here tomorrow before my shift starts.”

Shelby frowns. “Don’t you want to know what the pay is?”

“Nope. I am good with whatever it is. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I leave the office and the diner and head home. I have to arrange the rental return and find myself a vehicle. I’m not sure I want to walk home that late in the evening by myself. But I feel optimistic about living here and think it has been a good move, and one Terrence would have agreed with.

Chapter 5

TRUCK

It is mid-morning, and I’m covered in dust, paint and sweat. Between the prospects and I, after two days, we finished painting the interior of the convenience store and where the new checkout counter will be located. It’s looking good I must admit, but the building of the new shelving is killing us. It’s heavy and clumsy, and even with work gloves we are sporting some cuts and blisters.

Rum shouts from the entrance to the office, “Truck!”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“I’ve found a company to replace the old pumps. They can do that next week. Is that okay with you?”

I shout back again, “Yeah, that’s fine, the sooner the better.”

Ian grins as he comments. “Once the new pumps are in, you can get the tanks filled, and we’ll be ready to roll.”

I reckon Ian has taken a liking to the gas station, and I may ask Tracker if I can keep him here with me. For now, I give him a nod and take my end of another long piece of shelving. “Come on, let’s get this done. We have the orders coming tomorrow, and that’ll mean we stock the shelves.”