He’d been working on her car all morning until a call had come in to collect a breakdown. Georgia didn’t mind that it was taking Matt days to fix. She enjoyed the lift to and from the garage each day, it was the highlight of her day. The phone rang and Georgina picked up the receiver and answered it like a true professional, as if she’d been working there for years.
‘Good morning, Harris’s Garage, how can I help you?’ She listened intently and then opened the diary while consulting the price list just in case the caller asked for a quote. ‘We can fit you in on Friday morning at 11 AM... Perfect. That’s all booked for you Mrs Smith.’
She looked back outside to where she’d last seen Matt and was surprised to see Francis and Francesca talking to him. Matt bent down, his hands on his thighs and spoke to her niece. She watched Francesca pull at the hem of her skirt, a sign she was feeling shy, which was a rarity for her niece who was usually a very talkative and inquisitive girl. She saw Matt straighten and point to where she was sitting in the office. Georgina waved, butshe was unsure whether her sister had seen her. A moment later, Francis led Francesca by the hand her way.
The door opened and little Francesca came skipping in, her eyes widening with delight when she saw her auntie sitting behind the desk. ‘Auntie Gee-Gee!’ she squealed with delight. ‘I just talked to your boss.’
Georgina laughed. ‘Gee-Gee? Is this my new nickname?’
Francesca pointed outside to where Matt was standing with his hands on his hips and a big grin on his face. ‘Your boss told me to call it you.’
Georgina pointed a finger at Matt and wagged it, he threw his head back and laughed before turning his attention back to the car he’d just brought in.
‘Hmmm. There seems to be more to this boss-employee relationship that meets the eye.’ Francis had crossed her arms in front of her chest and had dipped her head to one side with her eyes squinted as she regarded her sister.
Georgina’s eyes went wide, and she pursed her lips. Her sister was so astute—she never missed a trick. ‘I’m sure I don't know what you mean.’ She was glad their little phone spat had been instantly squished and forgotten the moment they saw each other again.
Francesca skipped over to a model car on a coffee table and began playing with it. Francis took a step closer to her sister and lowered her voice. ‘Uh-uh. Spill the beans.’ Francis hiked her thumb over her shoulder. ‘There’s definitely something going on between you and Mr Motor-mechanic-Adonis over there.’
A giggle erupted from Georgina’s mouth, and she gestured for her sister to sit down in the chair opposite her. ‘Matt took me with him to collect a car part from the city the other day (YESTERDAY?). Then, when we were there, he confessed he’d closed the garage down for the day so he could spend quality time getting to know me—he took me for brunch.’
‘OMG! And what was the outcome of it, because he certainly has a very high opinion of you—and I established that after talking to him for just aminute or so, just then.’
Georgina went doe eyed as she looked past Francis, through the glass wall outside. ‘He does?’ She was ecstatic.
‘Yes, he does... Are you two an item or something? Because you have barely known each other two minutes.’
Georgina chewed on her bottom lip. ‘Not exactly. We are establishing avery close friendshipat the moment. However, we have both agreed we’d like things to progress naturally.’
Francis’s brow drew together. ‘Do you think that is wise while you are working here? Maybe you should wait until your car is fixed and you’ve paid off your debt.’
Georgina shook her head. ‘No-no-no. It’s fine. We both agreed we would remain professional if our friendship didn’t progress romantically, like we hoped it would.’
Francis nodded slowly, but the rut between her brows remained. ‘Okay. I suppose it’s okay if that’s what you’ve already discussed. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again, or, for things to get any harder for you at the moment. I know you are already stretched physically, what with working here, the petrol station and now at Ruff to Regal, not to mention having to organise the sunset picnics event... I just don’t want to see you get stretched emotionally too. I really wished I had time to help you Sis.’
‘Don’t worry about me Francis. I’m young and fit. I can cope with it all. And thankfully, it’s only for a couple of weeks. After that, I’ll only have my two parttime jobs to contend with.’ She winked at her sister. ‘And hopefully a boyfriend too, if everything goes well between Matt and me.’
Francis nodded, a thin smile tugging up the corners of her mouth. ‘When are you going to go out collecting volunteers again?’
‘This evening after my shift at Ruff to Regal.’
‘Okay. If Dan finishes work early, I’ll come out with you.’
Georgina’s face brightened. ’Oh would you? That would be a big help.’
‘I'll text you later and let you know.’
Francesca walked back over to Francis and dug her head into her mother’s shoulder. ‘I’m hungry mummy.’
Francis stroked Francesca’s hair. ‘Okay honey. Let’s go and get those pancakes I promised you.’
‘Yippee!’
Matt came into the office five minutes after Francis and Francesca had driven away. ‘Your sister is nice and friendly, and your niece is a little cutie.’
‘Awww, thank you. That’s what Francis said about you.’
Matt winked. ‘What? That I’m a little cutie?’
