Calling All Customers (Calling All... Book 3)

by Tara Ford

  Jenny nodded.

  “Ok, think we had better go.” Aaron put his hand up to his mouth. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” Bending down, he briefly kissed her on the cheek. Then he left.

  Absent-mindedly, Jenny went through the shop, turning switches off. She set the alarm and walked out of the door. J’s convenience Store had been revamped today and Jenny’s faith in ‘All good things come to those who wait’, had been renewed.

  At 7.55pm, Jenny waited nervously. Pacing up and down the hallway, she willed the buzzer to sound. A queasy sensation filled her throat. Dressed in a knee length black skirt, a tight fitting, red polo-neck jumper and black high heels, Jenny’s attire was conservative, yet attractive. She had relived the kiss, constantly, on her way home, while she was showering, while she was dressing, while she was waiting. She couldn’t get it out of her head. It had been amazing. It had been magical. It had been the clichéd best kiss she’d ever had.

  The buzzer rang at 8.03pm. Jenny flew down the stairs, as quick as her heels would allow –which wasn’t fast at all. Breathless, she reached the main door and opened it. “Hi – I’m just about done.”

  “Come on then. I know just the place to go… and you look stunning, I have to say.”

  Pulling into the Shipmakers carpark, Aaron parked up and they both climbed out of the car. “Have you been here before?” asked Aaron.

  “No, I haven’t – looks nice.”

  “Good food.” Aaron offered his arm, as support, and led her in.

  “So,” said Jenny, as they sat at the table, waiting for their meal to arrive, “tell me a bit more about you.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Err… let’s start with inside leg measurement and move through to age, height etc. You know, the usual kind of stuff.” Jenny giggled.

  “Not sure about the inside leg, maybe you could measure that for me sometime,” said Aaron, jokingly. “I’m joking. I’m 29, over 6ft tall and very hungry.”

  “Me too… well, hungry I mean.” Jenny giggled again. “I’m nowhere near 6ft, I don’t have a clue about my inside leg measurement either, I’m guessing it’s not as long as yours, I’m 28 and I own a shop and have some rather unusual customers and neighbours.”

  “I can vouch for that.” Aaron laughed. “Ok, sorted. That’s the getting to know each other bit, out of the way.” Aaron laughed again. “So when am I moving in?”

  Jenny knew that the comedic nature of their light conversation masked a desire in both of them. How could she ever have time for this though? Apart from Sundays, there was no other time that she’d be free to enjoy a relationship with him… unless she gave up sleeping at night.

  “So where do you live?” asked Jenny, eating her meal gracefully, although she wanted to shovel it down as quickly as possible, she was so hungry.

  “I live at home with my parents still.” Aaron held a piece of steak on his fork. “Yep – I know, it sounds weird at my age. I’m waiting for the right house to come along.”

  “The right house? What are you looking for?”

  “Maybe a four bed, in a small village somewhere. I would like a fair bit of ground around it too.”

  “Blimey – you’re talking big money then.”

  “Possibly. I’ve looked at a couple of places already.”

  “Oh and dare I ask how much they were?” Jenny was intrigued.

  “Around the four mark.”

  “Four? Do you mean four hundred thousand?”

  “Yeah – can’t really go any more than four fifty though. And five would be really pushing it.” Aaron smiled.

  Jenny managed to hold her jaw closed but her eyes were as wide as saucers. “That would be some mortgage,” she laughed.

  “Well, I’d put down a substantial deposit. Maybe a hundred grand.”

  Just as the involuntary action of her jaw fell open, Jenny snapped it back and proceeded to shove a fork full of chips into her mouth. “Mmm… a lot of money… mmm… this meal…” mumbled Jenny, covering her mouth with a hand, “…is so good.”

  Aaron smiled, warmly. “I come here quite often.”

  “Oh, do you,” she replied, trying to swallow the last lump of chip, which seemed to be getting stuck in her throat. “It’s a lovely… place… very posh.” Managing to refrain from choking on the chip, Jenny continued. “So… what about girlfriends? Please, tell me if I’m being too nosey, Aaron.”

  “No, it’s cool. I’ve had a few, in my time. Nothing serious though.” Aaron shuffled in his seat. “My mum always says that my problem is that I only have a relationship with business. She thinks that I don’t have time for any other relationships.”

  “And is she right?”

  “Yeah, I think so. Up until now…”

  “What’s changed now?” This time Jenny shuffled in her seat, trying to brace herself for anymore shocks.

  “Getting older. Time to move into my own place. The businesses are going well so I don’t need to spend so much time on them.” Aaron placed his knife and fork neatly on his plate and stretched back in the chair.

  “Businesses? How many have you got?”

  “Three.”

  Jenny stared, wide-eyed, and tried to swallow the last few peas in her mouth. She placed the cutlery neatly on her plate and gulped awkwardly as the little peas slid down her throat. “So… err… what else do you do?” Aaron was becoming more intriguing by the second.

  I’ve got a team of lorry drivers, who transport antique furniture around the UK and we’ve recently gone into Europe.”

  “Wow – I would never have guessed that there was so much to you, Aaron.”

  Aaron laughed the comment off. “I also own several gaming sites and servers around the world.”

  Jenny didn’t really get that bit but it didn’t matter. There was so much more to Aaron, than what met the eye. “Gosh, I’m speechless. You’re a real entrepreneur then?”

  Aaron laughed. “Yes, suppose you could call me that.”

  Suddenly, Jenny understood why Aaron had been so generous in giving her the EPOS system to try out for a year. He possibly had so much money that he didn’t know what to do with it.

  “So, apart from buying yourself a mansion…” Jenny giggled, “…what other plans do you have for the future?”

  Aaron smiled. “Settle down, buy the house and live happily ever after.”

  “Four bedrooms? Take it you want a house full of kids too.”

  “Absolutely – the more the merrier.”

  “Wow – big ambitions,” replied Jenny.

  “Yep… a bit like you really.”

  “Sorry?”

  “You’re ambitious too. Look at the big shop you have.”

  “Yes, I know,” said Jenny, feeling miserable, all of a sudden. “It’s a real struggle at the moment though… in all sorts of ways.

  “It will be at first. Things will change.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope you’re right.”

  Winking an eye, Aaron picked up the menu and looked at it. “I’m usually right. Fancy a dessert?”

  “Yes – let’s do it.”

  On the way back to Jenny’s flat, she mulled over the idea of inviting Aaron in for the proverbial ‘coffee’. It’s was almost ten o’clock –she had to be up at five. To hell with it, she was going to invite him in and put the word ‘quick’ before the ‘coffee’. And the flat was pretty tidy as she was hardly ever there, so her decision was final.

  “Do you want to come up for a quick coffee?” asked Jenny, shyly. “It’ll have to be a quick one as I’m up at five.”

  Aaron turned the car’s engine off. “A quick one – why not.” He looked at Jenny and smirked.

  “Not that sort of quick one.” Jenny laughed and flicked her hand at his arm. “Come on then.”

  The coffee was the longest drink that Jenny had ever had. An hour had passed and she had noted the time. Then another half an hour passed and Jenny noted the time again.

  After
almost two hours of talking about everything from Aaron’s mum, Alex Frey, the ‘Independent’s Giant’ to Calvin, who was in fact, Jenny’s x-boyfriend, Jenny breathed a sigh and looked at her watch again. “Have you seen the time? I’ve got to get up in five hours.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing.” Aaron stood up. “I’m going now. I’ll come and get you at 12… in fact…” Aaron looked at his watch too, “…in 12 hours’ time, precisely.”

  Jenny rose to her feet. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” said Aaron and stepped closer. “I’m very sure.” Sweeping his arm around her waist, he pulled her towards him. “Couldn’t be surer…”

  They kissed. Passionately. Jenny’s pulse rate could have burst her veins. They stood in an embrace for a long time.

  “I’m going,” breathed Aaron, pulling away. Holding her hands in his, he gazed into Jenny’s eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.”

  He left swiftly and silently, disappearing into the darkness.

  Jenny climbed into bed, untouched, except for her lips, wanting and wishing to be touched again. To be taken.

  Chapter 23

  Jenny turned the key three times, just as Aaron had said. Bleep went the till and after a few more sounds, a blue light glowed from the small screen. Following the ceiling thumps back down to the end of the shop, Jenny turned the computer on, which she hoped would automatically activate the EPOS program – 7.06am Monday 2nd November. J’s Convenience Store – Active. Just as Aaron had told her, the system kicked in to action immediately. A small icon of a building flickered in the taskbar. Jumping up, Jenny went to the bundles of newspapers on the floor, and began to sort them on to the shelves and make a separate pile for Jordan to deliver.

  The early sun, just peeping above the rooftops, lit up Millen Road with an orange glow. It was a beautiful autumn morning. Jordan had collected his papers and disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived. Unlocking the front door earlier than normal, Jenny turned the door sign to ‘open’ and went down to the staffroom to collect her mug of coffee, with a spring in her step.

  She had no Monday morning blues and the thumping noise hadn’t bothered her in the slightest. The only thing that had dampened Jenny’s morning was the thought that it was Tasha’s shift first on Mondays. She would have to wait until the afternoon to have a good old natter with her dear friend, and right now, she needed it. She couldn’t wait to tell Dayna what had happened. She couldn’t wait to shock the life out of her. But it would have to wait. Until she got back from lunch. Lunch with an amazingly gorgeous, kind and generous, entrepreneurial, rich man. Jenny shook her head and tutted – the ‘rich’ bit had nothing to do with it. She did not want Dayna getting the wrong idea. Jenny decided she would leave that bit out. It could come later. As a bonus.

  Tasha arrived promptly, signed a ‘T’ shape with two fingers to Jenny, who was serving a customer, and then went down to the staffroom.

  “That Aaron fella is nice, isn’t he?” said Tasha, carefully placing two mugs of tea under the counter. “He’s quite funny.”

  “Err… yes, he is. Talking of which, I need to show you how to use this. Dead simple really,” said Jenny, placing a hand on the main till. “That one,” she added, pointing to the till next to Tasha, “will be for newspaper delivery payments only. Just for now, anyway.”

  “Ok,” replied Tasha, with interest.

  Jenny ran through the operation of the two tills and stood and watched Tasha serve a customer with ease. “Told you it was easy,” said Jenny, smiling at just how much easier these tills were. “If you get an item that doesn’t scan, just ring it through in the old way using these keys here.” Jenny pointed out the six, categorised keys on the far right. “And if you’re not sure – use the ‘miscellaneous’ key. I’m in the process of getting every single item in this shop put on the system. It’ll take some time though, so bear with me.”

  Tasha nodded her head and grinned. “Think I’ve got it now. They’re nice aren’t they,” she said, wiping her hand across the top of the till, admiringly.

  “Yes, they’re fab. Going to make my life a lot easier with the cashing up, stock-taking and accounts.”

  “Cool – you’ll soon have more staff working for you, Jenny. Then you can use both tills.”

  “Tills don’t make money on their own – I need more customers before more staff.” Jenny laughed.

  “Well, when you’ve got more customers… I know someone… well, my friend is looking for a part-time job. She’s at college.” Tasha’s cheeks flushed bright red. “That’s if you’ll be interested.” Tasha shrugged her shoulders and looked down at the floor, bashfully.

  “I’ll bear that in mind, Tasha, thank-you.” There was a moment of awkwardness before Jenny added, “What’s her name? I’ll jot it in my diary for later.”

  Tasha looked up in amazement. “Really?”

  “I’m not promising anything, but who knows what the future holds.”

  “Her name is Jane – Jane Thornton. She’s a really nice girl. You’d like her.” Tasha’s dark eyes stared, hopefully.

  “Ok, well like I said, there’s nothing at the moment.”

  Nodding her head, Tasha smiled and then moved away from the counter. “Thanks Jenny. I’ll go and do the nursery order now.”

  “Great and could you serve in between. I need to get as many items scanned on to the system as possible.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  One hundred and thirty six products later, Jenny stretched back in her office chair and yawned. It was mind-numbing work, collecting a basket of items, carrying them through to the office, scanning each one, inputting the related data and then putting the products back on the shelves.

  Tasha poked her head around the office door. “The nursery haven’t picked up their order yet.”

  “Really?” said Jenny, looking at her watch. “They’ve normally got it by now.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “I’ll nip along there – see if they’re going to pick it up soon, otherwise we’ll have to put the milk back in the fridge. Will you be ok for five minutes on your own?”

  “We’ve got their phone number,” Tasha replied, holding the address book from the counter in her hand. “Shall I call them?”

  “Oh, ok. Do that and I’ll man the till.” Jenny levered herself out of the cosy chair. “I could do with a break from this, before I end up with permanent goggle-eyes – too much computer work.”

  “Which phone shall I use?” asked Tasha, looking into the office.

  “Use this one.” Jenny pointed to the phone on her desk, “You can sit there – it’s not a sacred seat, you know. Look, I’ve kept it warm for you.”

  Tasha giggled and sat down.

  Jenny went off to the front of the shop and peered out of the windows. It looked like a summer’s day out there. If the weather stayed the same, she would try out the awning for the afternoon.

  Watching a shabby looking woman walk past the window, Jenny noticed her dirty, long blonde hair, tied up in a ponytail, flicking from side to side as she stomped past. She looked up at what Jenny assumed was the shop’s sign and then paused at the door. Tapping her wellington boots on the side of the building, she first peered up and down the road and then she opened the door. She wafted in, literarily. In fact, the smell wafted in first, before she’d stepped over the threshold.

  The foul smell of a farmyard, baking in the hot sun, filled the front of the shop instantly. The middle-aged woman stood, legs astride, with her hands tucked into two breast pockets in her khaki green, wax jacket. Her knee-high boots were encrusted in varying colours of orangey, brown mud. She looked down the shop and then turned her weather-hardened face towards Jenny.

  “Would it be possible to speak to the manager please?”

  Surprised by the unexpected tone of the woman’s voice, which did not match her appearance at all, Jenny replied. “Can I ask why?”

  “I would just like to have a confidential cha
t with the manager, please.” The woman approached the counter with a wide stride and looked pleadingly at Jenny.

  “Well, I am the owner. How can I help you?”

  The woman scanned the shop and then stared out of the window. “Oh, ok. Well… it’s my mum…”

  “Sorry?”

  “My mum – you know her.”

  “Do I?” Jenny held a hand up to her nose and mouth in a vain attempt to get a moment’s respite from the putrid stink.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  The front door opened and in walked two elderly women. They smiled at Jenny and then continued down the first aisle, nattering amongst themselves, oblivious to the stench emanating from the woman’s clothing.

  Tasha appeared at the counter, looking jittery.

  The smelly woman coughed. “Could I talk to you privately?”

  “Of course, that’s no problem.” Jenny looked across at Tasha’s worried expression. “Will you be ok for a minute? I’m going to take this lady to the office.” Jenny frowned. “Everything ok?”

  Tasha shook her head. “You go – I’ll tell you in a minute.”

  Puzzled by Tasha’s fretful appearance and the filthy woman’s request, Jenny led the way to her office.

  “Come in,” said Jenny, knowing full well that if she shut the office door, she would be overcome by the fumes exuding from the woman’s boots.

  The woman closed the office door and sat down on the small fold-up chair offered to her.

  “Right,” gulped Jenny, “your mum…”

  “Yes, Marjorie.”

  “Oh – Marj.” Jenny’s eyes widened. “Yes, I know Marj. Quite a character.”

  “Yes, she is… that’s why I’m here.”

  “Ok,” said Jenny, intrigued by the woman’s appearance and the over-powering smell.

  “You’ll have to excuse me,” said the woman, “I’ve been mucking out my horses this morning.”

  “Oh… I see,” said Jenny. “I have to say – I did wonder what you did for a living. I mean, dressed like you are.” Jenny smiled and diverted her gaze away from the woman’s fetid boots. “Looks like you’ve been rolling in it…” Jenny smacked a hand to her mouth as soon as the words had left. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that – just not used to seeing people that work with horses.”