“Not taking Beau into account, what do you want?”
“I want to help out wherever and however you need me to.” While it’s true, I don’t think office work is what I would be doingat the shop, I’m grateful Jack’s giving me the opportunity. Truth be told, I’m not sure how many people in Lilly Leaf Falls would take the same chance on me. While this town is my home, I burned quite a few bridges with the way that I left. That fact isn’t lost on me, so I'm going to keep being as helpful as I can.
Jack thinks for a minute before starting to speak again. “Alright, kid. I get it. How about this? I’ll leave this office in your capable hands. Run it how you see fit. If you want to try to collect the money, go for it.”
“Really?”
“Really. If you can take care of the stuff in here, it would help me free up some time.”
“Thanks, Jack. I won’t let you down.”
He smiles. “I know. And since you have everything under control, I think I am going to get out of here and go spend the afternoon with my girls.”
“Sounds like a plan. Give little Beth kisses for me, and give my sister some hell.”
“I’ll pass along the kisses, but the hell you’ll have to do on your own. I’m not incurring my wife’s wrath.”
I giggle. “Fair enough.”
He quickly puts on his jacket and heads for the door. “Oh, and Jo?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe this goes without saying, but no demanding payment by force…or by threat of force.”
“You’re kind of tying my hands here," I joke. “But I promise to behave.”
***
“No, Mrs. Rooney. You still have a balance of $340 remaining on the invoice from having your alternator replaced. I understandthat, but it’s been over a year. Jack agreed to a payment plan, and you agreed to make payments. You don’t have to pay the whole thing today, but I need you to pay something.”
If it was anyone aside from Mrs. Rooney, maybe I’d have a bit more compassion, but she and I have never seen eye to eye. Back in the day, I dated her son. When she figured out we slept together, she dubbed me the whore of Babylon, telling everyone in town I was a harlot who corrupted her son. She managed to leave out the part about how her son convinced me to climb in the backseat of his truck with him and then moved on the second he got what he wanted from me. She likes to forget that part.
You’d think now, she would realize her son is the problem considering her golden boy has five children with five different women–none of which does he help take care of.
Hell, she probably somehow blames me for that too. Maybe I was the start of all of his problems.
The way she’s talking to me tells me she’s still holding onto a massive grudge.
When we first started the call, she was sweet as can be, but the moment it clicked in her mind who I was, she instantly turned combative.
That’s okay. Two can play at this game, and I’m so much better at it.
While she’s getting out her card to make a payment, she tries being snide.
“So, the only job in town you could get was playing loan shark for your brother-in-law?”
“Yeah, I really wanted to be the town curmudgeon, but you’ve got that job locked down.”
All I get in return is a scoff before she says, “You know, I really don’t want you to keep calling me regarding this matter.”
“Hey, Mrs. Rooney, if you’d like to go ahead and pay off your remaining balance, I won’t have to call you ever again.”
I can practically hear her gritting her teeth as she mumbles. “Fine. Let’s pay the whole damn thing.”
Less than a minute later, I have ran her credit card and am getting off the phone.
Before hanging up, she says, “Tell Jack I may take my automotive business elsewhere.”
