Taking Charge (5 page)

Tanya drove to the back of the restaurant
and opened the door. She walked through and ran up the stairs and
stared at Jordan and Joy. She joined in with the song and danced in
the middle of the lounge. Jordan grinned as the end of the song
came. He turned down the volume.
“And how did you get in?”
“You forgot to lock the back door but I locked it.” Joy
smiled.
“And how is Tanya?”
“Salivating. Are there any more?” Jordan grinned.
“In the kitchen.” Tanya giggled as she took a plate and dished up a
few crumpets.
“So who cooked?” Joy nodded.
“Guilty. Now I believe you are the little sister.” Tanya nodded and
took a seat with her crumpets.
“Now Tanya. You never saw me here. I am Olga a travelling wine
sales representative.” Tanya grinned.
“Right.” Joy smiled.
“I came over for breakfast.”
“Yes. And he made you cook it too.”
“Yes well. I was starved.” Tanya smiled. She looked at the boots on
the floor.
“Can I please try those?”
“Have you got nice smelling feet?” Tanya grinned.
“I just got out of the shower.” Joy nodded.
“Don’t fall in love.” Tanya grinned as she put the boots on.
“I think I have just found my first love.” Joy grinned.
“What are you wearing?”
“Sandals.”
“I don’t do white and I certainly don’t do flowers.”
“No they are very blingy.”
“Deal.” Tanya stared. Joy smiled.
“Those are my newest. I can’t get used to them. I have another
pair. Good idea if I give them a polish. My mother bought me those.
So you can keep them. I actually have a few pairs.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!” Tanya grinned.
“These are Harleys.” Joy nodded.
“I have a few. Really.” Tanya smiled.
“They are lovely.” Joy smiled.
“I need sandals for tomorrow.” Tanya smiled.

“
So are you staying in town then?” Joy
nodded.
“I am. I am not settled yet. Well. I am very settled on this couch
of mine. But I will have to get settled. Eventually.” Jordan
smiled. He held her foot in his hand under the duvet cover. Joy
smiled.
“So what is it that you do then?” Tanya nodded.
“I am a teacher at the high school. English is my subject. But they
have got me teaching Biology.” Joy nodded.
“And what would you change?”
“I would be teaching English. But they just don’t listen.” Joy
nodded.
“So who teaches English?” Tanya nodded.
“It is a shambles. All the teachers are teaching other subjects.
You get put into a class and told to teach. Well that was when
Mister Anderson was the Principal. So now we wait for our new
Principal. We don’t know what to expect. This time it is a woman.
And I hope she is good and that she is here to stay.”

Jordan kept quiet. Tanya got up and took
their cups and made more coffee. She looked in the fridge as she
took the milk out.
“How come there are two meals and a bowl of macaroni in the
fridge?” Jordan smiled. She looked in the fridge.
“Alfredo!” Jordan roared with laughter.
“You can come for supper. We are having a lovely Salmon salad. With
Feta.” Tanya nodded.
“Now that sounds divine!” Joy chuckled and looked at Jordan. She
sat down with her coffee.
“So what did you do last night?” Jordan smiled.
“I took a van out for a test drive. Moved my business furniture to
my flat. Entertained for the first time ever. Had a divine meal.
And listened to some music. You?” Tanya chuckled.
“You took a van for a test drive? That awesome four by four
downstairs?” Jordan smiled and nodded. Tanya smiled.
“I noticed your new table. Which looks quite nice. Saw the meal.
And you entertained for the first time ever. The travelling wine
sales representative called Olga. Impressive. And I heard the
music. Oh right and those nice meals. So Olga did you get a nice
order?” Joy roared with laughter.
“I did. I got a gift yesterday. But it is all gone.”
“Tiny bit left.”
“Really? We didn’t kill the bottle?” Jordan roared with
laughter.
“We moved on.”
“Good thing too! Oh that was nice!”

Jordan nodded.
“I am going to order a few of those in. Totally different. I think
the women might like that.” Joy nodded.
“You could make three hundred percent on a bottle. Seriously!”
Jordan chuckled and nodded.
“I made a list of a few different things that I like. Well, I went
by the bottle and the description.” Joy nodded.
“I think you should. Get those little glasses. Not a tot glass. But
something with a little stem. You know. If the woman picks up the
glass she already feels all coochy coo and she hasn’t even had a
sip yet.” Tanya roared with laughter. Jordan grinned.
“I have a few coochy coo glasses.” Joy nodded.
“That could work.” Tanya nodded.
“Oh the women will sip for sure.” Jordan nodded and smiled.
“So I better order them.” Joy nodded.
“Where is that list?” Jordan smiled.
“Tanya run down. On the bar counter. There is a list with the
brochure.” Tanya ran down the stairs.”

Joy smiled.
“Sorry I am sitting here. Not a good impression.” Jordan smiled and
hugged her foot.
“Joy I like this. I want. I want you to feel at home. I don’t want
you there at the motel. Stay here for a few days. Until you are
settled.” Joy smiled.
“But I can’t let anyone know.”
“I will pay for the motel. Keep up the appearances.”
“I couldn’t let you do that.”
“Stay.” Joy nodded.
“But I will have to sneak in.” Jordan nodded.
“I have the spare rooms.” Joy nodded.
“As long as you know.” Jordan nodded.
“I know.” Joy nodded.
“Thank you.” Jordan smiled and nodded.

Tanya ran
up the stairs.
“Must I open up? Craig has arrived. And some of the kitchen staff.”
Jordan nodded.
“If you could.” Tanya ran downstairs. Joy smiled.
“Are you sure?” Jordan nodded.
“Yes I am sure. I want you here. You are going to need someone to
bounce off the ideas.” Joy chuckled.
“A sounding board. I might need a punch bag.” Jordan smiled and
nodded.
“I will be both.” Joy smiled.
“You might regret it. I can be such a pain.” Jordan chuckled.
“I am sure you can be.” Joy giggled.
“Yeah right!” Jordan chuckled.

Tanya ran up the stairs.
“Right. The kitchen staff are all in. Craig is sorting out the
tables. He seems to think there is a table missing.” Jordan
chuckled and nodded.
“And my boots are out of this world. The perfect size and the
perfect fit!” Joy smiled.
“Good. Now Tanya. You never saw me.”
“Olga the travelling wine sales representative.” Joy nodded.
“Now don’t go giving him a reputation.” Tanya chuckled.
“Now let us have a look at that list.” Joy smiled as she took the
brochure and the list.
“Oh yes. Kahlua coffee. Ouch you are going to have to
charge.”
“Yes but I get a good discount.”
“Percentage?”
“Thirty.” Joy smiled.
“Good. Now I think this list is good. Can I add one little thing?”
Jordan nodded. Joy added one thing to the list and handed it to
Jordan. He smiled and nodded. He handed the list to Tanya. Tanya
nodded.
“Can I add one thing?” Joy giggled.
“The bottle with the fancy material covering it?” Tanya shook her
head and showed them the brochure.
“This new stuff. Vodka Caramel.” Jordan nodded and smiled. Tanya
shook her head.
“Did you see the price?” Tanya nodded.
“Steep.” They all nodded as she added it to the list.

“
So what are you doing here so
early?”
“Breakfast run.” Jordan roared with laughter.
“Well if that was breakfast you have had it.” Tanya nodded and got
up.
“And now home to the boot droolers.” Joy chuckled and
grinned.
“Nice meeting you for the second breakfast in a row.” Tanya
smiled.
“See you for the Salmon salad.” Joy smiled and nodded.
“See you later.” Jordan smiled.
“See you later.” Tanya got up and took the cups to the
kitchen.
“Refill?” Joy nodded. Tanya poured their coffee and handed it to
them.
“Later.” Jordan and Joy smiled.
“Later.”

They both sipped at their coffee.
“So you think I should go in there guns blazing.” Jordan
nodded.
“Do all the changes at once. They will get used to the changes.
Otherwise they are going to get their back up and then you have a
problem.” Joy nodded.
“I think so. I need to go through my files today.”
“Go and fetch them.” Joy nodded.
“Can I?”
“Spend the day holed up here? Yes. I would prefer that than you
over there on your own.” Joy smiled.
“Are the shops open on a Sunday?” Jordan nodded.
“Only till one.” Joy nodded. She smiled as she finished her
coffee.
“I will go out the way that I arrived. And I will see you later.”
Jordan smiled and nodded. Joy got up and leaned over Jordan. She
kissed him and smiled as she leaned over him.
“See you later.” He smiled as he looked up.
“See you later sweetheart.” Joy smiled as he kissed her. He lifted
his hands and held her hips.
“I could get very used to this.” Joy smiled.
“But very slow.”
“Very slow.” He kissed Joy and she smiled as she moved away. She
took her socks off and slipped her feet in to the sandals.
“Need boot polish.” Jordan chuckled.
“But they do look nice.” Joy winked and smiled.
“Later.”
“Later.”

Joy ran down the stairs.
“What is going on down here! Where is my breakfast that I ordered!
Craig! I want soft eggs! Did I not specify!” Craig grinned.
“And where did you come from Ma’am?” Joy rolled her eyes.
“You didn’t see me sitting in that cubicle?”
“No Ma’am.”
“You don’t remember taking my order?”
“No Ma’am.” She grinned.
“Changed my mind. Not so hungry after all. Thanks for the coffee.”
She walked out the back door. Jordan howled with laughter as he
listened from the top of the stairs. He shook his head and laughed.
Jordan stepped in to the shower and smiled. He grinned from ear to
ear.

Jordan ran down the stairs.
“What was that noise Craig?” Craig shook his head.
“That lady. The one who left her card here.”
“Yes?”
“Well. I didn’t even see her sitting there.” Jordan grinned. Craig
shook his head and whispered.
“Back door. Harley. She never was sitting there was she?” Jordan
looked at Craig.
“If you say so.” Craig shook his head.
“No Sir. She wasn’t. She appeared in front of me.”
“Really?”
“Uhu! Never saw her.” Jordan smiled as he walked through with the
list and brochure in his hand. He walked through to the kitchen and
greeted everyone. They all smiled as he greeted. He walked back to
his office and went on his PC. He opened the internet site and
ordered all the different liqueurs that he wanted. He doubled up on
the numbers that he had written down. If Joy and Tanya approved of
the list they would not sit on the shelf. He smiled to himself. He
had enjoyed his evening immensely. And Joy would be staying with
him until she got settled. He smiled to himself.
“I hope you don’t want to leave. Because I don’t want you to go
anywhere. I have fallen in love with you.” Jordan suddenly stopped
what he was doing. He sat back in his chair and smiled. He spoke to
himself.
“I have you know. I have fallen in love with the most beautiful
woman in the world. And we get on. We like the same music. We love
the same kind of food. And I am in love. Yes Sir! I am in love with
you!” He smiled as he confirmed his order and shut the site
down.

He looked up as there was a tap on the
door.
“Come in Mum.” Zeba walked in and smiled.
“Who were you talking to?”
“Myself for a change. With no chit chat or back chat.” Zeba
grinned.
“Tanya arrived home this morning. After her so called breakfast
run.”
“Really?” Zeba grinned.
“And she had crumpets for breakfast. With honey.”
“No! Where did she get those?”
“Funny I was going to ask the same thing. And I did not see that on
your menu!”
“No!” Zeba grinned.
“And there is more.”
“Oh I am very interested in this.” Zeba took a seat.
“A pair of boots was polished and buffed this morning.”
“Tanya?” Zeba nodded.
“I noticed the brand name. Harley. Now isn’t that strange. A young
lady rode through here yesterday with a pair of Harley
boots.”
“Are you saying we should find her and see if Tanya stole her
boots? Maybe we should get Dalton to go and take a ride in the
desert and see if there is a body. Or see if there is a missing
persons report out for her. Mum you have got me worried!” Zeba
roared with laughter.

Jordan grinned.
“Olga. A travelling wine sales representative?” Zeba shook her
head.
“Now I have believed many things in my life. But that is
far-fetched!” Jordan smiled.
“And where is this Olga woman?” Zeba shook her head.
“I haven’t the foggiest!” Zeba got up.
“I am watching you Jordan. Very close.” Jordan chuckled as Zeba
walked out. She joined Lloyd, Dalton and Anne for their
breakfast.

Jordan walked through. He put the list on
the counter.
“Frank. Can you go through this list and see if any of these need a
special mix. And see how they are mixed.” Frank walked over and
looked at the list.
“None of them need a mix. Kahlua we know. No. We will be
fine.”
“Can you work out a tot price. But we are going to use those snazzy
glasses. The little ones with a long stem. See how many we have. I
have a feeling we might need quite a few.” Frank smiled.
“Those little glasses are just over a tot. I will work out a
price.” Jordan nodded.
“Same mark up?” Jordan nodded.
“Same. Cinnamon. We need Cinnamon for the Kahlua Coffees.” Frank
smiled and nodded.
“I think they have some in the kitchen.”
“Beg, steal and borrow.” Frank grinned and nodded.

Jordan walked up and down. He greeted his
patrons. An hour went by and he still hadn’t heard Joy come back.
He went outside and checked. Her
van was parked in her parking bay next to his. He
walked back inside. Craig smiled.
“The Professor asked me to put a few things in your office.”
“And did you?”
“I did. And then she seemed to vanish into thin air. Probably
left.” Jordan nodded.
“Thanks.” He walked into his office and smiled. His office was
clear. He walked upstairs. He heard the humming.
“Now you are a humming bird?” Joy chuckled.
“I am busy. Like a bee. I already fetched all my things. I have an
empty room. I put my things in one of the spare rooms. Okay?”
Jordan smiled and nodded.
“And what are you doing?”
“Found a few things in the shop down the road. So I am busy
baking.”
“At eleven in the morning?” Joy nodded.
“For after lunch.” Jordan smiled.
“What would you like for lunch?”
“I will make a sandwich.” Jordan smiled and nodded.