Flotilla_The Temp
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Flotilla: The Temp
By Erik Schubach
Copyright © 2017 by Erik Schubach
Self publishing
P.O. Box 523
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026
Cover Photo © 2017 Veremeev / DepositPhotos.com license
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, blog, or broadcast.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Manufactured in the United States of America
FIRST EDITION
ISBN 978-0-9985110-8-5
Prologue
I was ready to start pulling my hair out. With Speedy gone off on her honeymoon with McGrath in Ireland, and Angie doing her best to manage the renovation of our latest building acquisition while they are gone for three weeks, I can't seem to keep up.
It was fine when all I had to solo manage was the Flotilla ships and the Slingshot Program's housing placements. I thrived in the process and the satisfaction of knowing I helped people, who had fallen upon hard times, to get their feet back under them and give them a place they could call their own.
But the Flotilla Project has grown to such a scale, that even with Mrs. Smythe managing our various housing structures, our management team has been spread way too thin. Maybe Tabby was right, and I needed to hire more people to take up the slack when one of us was taking personal time.
I can hear her now, with that amused tone she has when teasing, “I told you so, Paya.”
I grinned at that, because, yes, she told me so. The little stinker.
I'd be ok, barely, if I didn't have to spend half my day doing all the running that Speedy could do in half the time. I had no clue how she was so efficient... well other than her driving, which endangered everyone in the greater London area that is. I giggled at that. The poor girl was perhaps the worst driver I have ever met, yet somehow she has never been pulled over or received a citation. I think she may be magic or something, like when you find the last pastry in the market and it happens to be your favorite.
Well never let it be said that Paya Doshi can't swallow her pride and ask for help. No really, never say that or I will hunt you down. The two proper responses here are either, yes ma'am, or yes Paya.
Just great, I'm chastising thin air now. I just need a runner for the duration and... Ah-ha! I grinned and grabbed my mobile and sifted through the contacts. I stuck my tongue out at speed dial one, my best mate, Tabitha Romanov and found the number I wanted.
I was all for keeping it in the family and smiled when Speedy's sister, Christine answered with a smile in her voice, “Paya? This is a pleasant surprise.”
I grinned and asked in a small and pathetic voice, “Help?”
She chuckled out with amusement in her tone, “What can I do for you today?”
I explained, “You know that traitorous sister of yours? The evil one who ran off with that sexy muscular leprechaun with a tool belt, leaving us runnerless?”
She replied with a thoughtful tone, hamming it up, “I believe I may know the Lenore of which you speak. About this tall? Hair like this?"
I could imagine her hand movements and had to stop from giggling. Lenny's sister was a whole lot of fun and had her sister's sardonic sense of humor with a more than a dash of McGrath thrown in.
I nodded and then pointed out, “I know your brother is in school still, so I was wondering who else I knew that might be able to do Speedy's job while she is off galavanting in the land of Ire. And you were the first on my list. Willing to help a poor woman out and make a tidy sum on the side? I'd owe you one.”
She sounded apologetic as she explained, “I really wish I could. And having everyone’s favorite Indian-Brit owe me one is like money in the bank, but I've full-time employment now, and haven't been there long enough to request a holiday.”
I sighed, rather pathetically and overacted mind you. But then she added brightly, “My umm... friend, Reid, is doing temp jobs. I'm positive Reid would fit right in there and knows the city inside and out. Deliveries would be a snap.”
I mulled that over a second as I murmured, “Hmmm, a temp? That might work..." I paused then smiled, my eyes widening bit as I prompted, “Wait... Reid? Is this the person you've been secretly dating? The one you won't tell Speedy or McGrath about?”
I could almost hear her blushing over the phone, and it was soooo cute. She squeaked out, “Maybe.”
Ahhhh! To be the first of the group to meet this mysterious bloke... or... hmm, Reid was a pretty gender neutral name. Did our Christine prefer the fairer sex like her sister did? Ok, I was doubly intrigued now. We all saw Christine as our own little sister here. And I would be the first to solve the mystery of the person who made her blush like a schoolgirl with her first crush. I'd be the envy of the Flotilla.
I went fishing, leaving the hook dangling on the line. “That sounds brill Tina, just have her? Him? Come on down to the Persephone and meet with me.”
She sounded excited as she rushed out, “Great! I'll bring Reid to meet you there within the hour!”
Grrr... she didn't take the bait, but, I did soooo love surprises. And I loved that we would still, by extension, be keeping this all in the family. That was sort of important to me, which may be one reason I am always so reticent about hiring help. Tabby Cat teases me about it to no end, but I did hire Angie, sort of, we had more adopted her than hired her.
I rang off with Christina, then leaned back in my chair, arms behind my head, feeling quite smug. I'd get to solve a months long mystery here at the Flotilla as to who she was dating, while at the same time getting some pressure relief so that I can manage the bloody hell out of this place!
Chapter 1 – Pronouns
I grinned when someone opened the door of the Persephone's pilot house and stepped in, calling out, “Hiya, Paya!" It was Tabby's favorite greeting for me and has sort of caught on with the rest of our unorthodox Flotilla family. Ooo... an alliteration of the first letter, like Brady Bunch.
I turned from the paperwork which I could do in my sleep, and sometimes found myself doing. I lived and breathed the Flotilla Project, and will be forever grateful to Tabitha for putting me in charge of her brain child.
I smiled hugely at Christina. She reminded me so much of a younger Speedy. She and Lenore both had their signature curls, but hers were more relaxed, graceful, and well behaved than her older sister's. Not the frizzy mess that looked so endearing on Lenore.
Another person stepped into the cabin behind her, looking extremely shy. But holy cuteness Batman. I blinked as I realized I didn't quite know if they were a boy or girl. I was leaning toward boy since he was wearing boy's dress slacks, a white dress shirt, which could have been for a man or woman, and a black tie.
But looking at his big feminine doe eyes, which were a dazzling crystalline blue, his bright red hair, pulled back in a ponytail, and his fine boned features... I was questioning my assessment.
He sort of moved slightly behind Tina bashfully, as if she were his protector. His androgynous look did nothing to take away from the cute feminine features that made me sure I was in error. She was simply adorable.
Christine pulled my focus back by making introductions. “Paya, this is Reid Masterson. Reid, this is the head of
the Flotilla Project, the lovely Miss Paya Doshi.”
I held a hand out as I offered up my best, I don't bite much, smile. Reid stepped up beside Tina and shook my hand with a very firm grip I didn't expect out of the bashful person, then said to me in a low alto that was just as ambiguous as everything about him... her? “I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Doshi, I really admire what the Flotilla does for the people of London. You should be proud of your work here.”
Reid looked down almost timidly, and I noticed their lower lip and left ear piercing. It gave them an individualistic flair. Nothing over the top, but enough to say that they were their own person.
I said with confidence, “I am. And thank you. Please come over and have a seat, I've some questions and..." I paused.
Then I dramatically swung my body to look at Tina, with one eyebrow cocked. She chuckled, so much like her big sister, and said, “Message received, oh subtle one. I'll let you two get to it then. I have to catch the tube to get to work. I can't be late." Then she said emphatically, “I just know Reid will be a good fit here.”
Then she turned into a bashful lump of melting butter as she faced her friend and said hopefully, her hands wringing behind her back, “See you tonight?”
Reid looked so much more confident while looking at Tina and just nodded and said, “Wouldn't miss it for all the stars in the sky."
Ok, Reid was good. It was sigh worthy. Sigh.
They shared a quick peck on the lips, then Christine almost skipped to the door and said, “Bye you two." As an afterthought, she chastised, “And be good, Trouble.”
I rolled my eyes, then took a chance on pronouns as I assured her, “She'll do just fine, now shoo.”
The little stinker said as she slipped out the door, “I wasn't talking to Reid." Why that little... Reid's bubbling giggle brought me back to the task at hand.
I was quite pleased with myself since nobody corrected my wild arsed guess as to her gender. One mystery solved and now on to another.
I moved to the small conference table in the pilot's house and motioned for her to sit. She did, looking overly nervous as she started wringing her hands. I wasn't scary was I? It was time for some important questions, so I started with the basics, “How long have you and Christine been dating?”
She scrunched up her face then asked with a touch of awe in her tone as she blinked, “Is that what we're doing?" Then she shrugged and asked like I had the answer, “Maybe a few months? She's sneaky, that one.”
I agreed, it was in the Elgin DNA. “Yes she is. It wasn't until I realized she had become my pseudo little sister that I realized she had weaseled herself into the position." It was true, just like June and Vanessa's little sis, Fran had done, Christine had become one of everyone's favorite little sisters in our group. I just loved how my family was growing.
Reid nodded sagely as she said fondly, “She has a way of doing that.”
I nodded back and then asked protectively, “You're not the type to break her heart now, are you. Because if you are..." I gave her my fiercest look.
She didn't look impressed.
Wait, what? Was I not intimidating? Well, I guess if I weren't a little shorter than her. And had a handshake as firm as hers I'd... She knocked me out of my thoughts, fierce thoughts, by asking, “Umm... aren't you going to ask me about my job qualifications?" Fierce I say.
Right. I get wrapped up in being over protective of my family and friends too easily. I nodded and asked, “Can you drive without causing thirteen near accidents, throwing out twenty derisive profanities at other drivers, flipping seven other drivers off, and being honked at at least twelve times to your destination?”
She blinked at that, confusion knitting her brow, then she asked slowly, “Umm... yes?”
I grinned widely and said, “Brilliant. That's better than our full-time runner, Lenore.”
She looked mildly amused and then her face morphed into one of concern as she added, “I do have my license, but I don't have a vehicle that can carry anything of any consequence, nor in a timely manner. Christine didn't say this was a delivery position.”
Then she furrowed her brow again like she was remembering. Then provided with an edge of suspicion in her voice, “Come to think of it, she didn't say anything at all except, 'get your lazy arse over here, you've an interview in an hour,' I just sort of... well...”
I nodded and finished for her. “...Just did what she said. Yeahhh the Elgin girls have a way of doin' that without you noticing. I think it is in their genes." We shared a knowing grin at that.
I absently wondered where Christine and her brother Bobby were staying while Lenore and McGrath took the Deidre, the barge they all lived on, to Ireland for the honeymoon. A familiar panic started to rise in my gut.
I had an irrational fear of my friends living rough after watching Tabitha go through it. I felt helpless about that, and I swore I'd never let it happen again to anyone if I had anything to say about it. I offered the Persephone when it first came up, but the kids refused with excited looks in their eyes.
I had to ask, I know I should be keeping the conversation to business matters, but, “And where are Tina and Robert staying while the girls are out doing the newlywed thing?”
Reid smiled broadly and said with the same excitement I had seen in Tina's eyes, “The Duchess of Gloucester.”
I blinked and understood the kid's refusal now. I'd be clamoring for a bed in the Duchess of Gloucester too. It was the restored streamliner steam locomotive owned by a couple friends of ours, Bea and Melinda. It was a steampunk aficionado's wet dream.
I had the pleasure of staying overnight in one of the berths in the sleeper car when they, along with Speedy and McGrath, had a double wedding on the train as it conducted its maiden voyage, steaming up to Scotland and then around the island. So now I know why the little brats refused my hospitality.
I grinned at Reid, flashing teeth, then assured her, “The Foundation has its own fleet. I'll just have to add you to the insurance policy for the duration.”
Reid just stared dumbly at me and chanced asking, “What? Just like that, I have the job? You didn't have any other questions? I've a resume and recommendations from the temp agency." She dug out a resume from her shoulder knapsack.
I held up a hand as I shook my head and said with all seriousness, “If Christine has faith in your ability to do the job, that is all the recommendation I need. I could give it to someone else if you want...”
She was in panic mode as she scrabbled with words, “No. I mean yes. I mean I'll take the job." Then she furrowed her brow cutely again and leaned in a little and asked, “Umm... just what is the job anyway?”
I had to chuckle, this androgynous looking girl was far too cute, and I could see Tina's being drawn to her. I explained, “We just need a driver. Mostly for pickups and deliveries, but also to ferry around Flotilla staff and participants in our programs from time to time. We'd need you full time for at least two weeks. Pay is in cash every Friday, advances are available if you need one.”
She blinked and asked incredulously, “Full time?"
I understood. I've had plenty of people enrolled in our programs here who worked the various temp agencies in the city, they were usually filling two or three part time positions a day just to make ends meet.
I slid a napkin, mostly crumb free which I wrote the pay scale on, across the table to her. She looked at it and tried not to look too excited, but I could see it in her eyes.
She asked, “Weekly?”
I shook my head and clarified, “Daily. Interested?”
She virtually vibrated in her chair. We paid our people well, I wouldn't have anyone under my wing wanting for anything. I cocked an eyebrow expectantly and supplied for the poor girl. “The two proper responses here are either, yes ma'am, or yes Paya.”
She looked between the napkin and me then blurted, “Yes Miss Do..."
My eyebrow winged up higher, and she paused and offered, “Yes Paya?”
I said, “Now off with you. I need to crack down on some manage-y stuff here. Captain McCray has a package to be delivered to one of our properties, some belongings a tenant left behind by accident. He's the second barge over, the Tennessee. He'll be in the pilot's house there. Then I'll need you to run past London Harmony and grab a donation check from June Harris-West there. Keep the mobile on you at all times, people will ring you when needed.”
Then I added with an evil half smile and manic wide eyes, “Your life is about to get a lot more hectic.”
I looked down to my own work as she looked to still be processing everything. She gulped and then asked, “June Harris-West... as in J8?"
I had to bite back a smile. I knew June simply as a snappy dresser and a close friend who had an uncanny knack for doing the impossible. The rest of the world knew her as the singing sensation J8 who owned the London Harmony recording studio. Oh, and the little fact that she happened to be the daughter of none other than Mandy Fay Harris.
I said, “The one and only," as I shuffled papers, looking for the zoning request for our latest housing acquisition. It had to be signed and received today. I stopped, grinning as I realized she hadn't moved. Without looking up, I asked, “Yeeees?”
She responded in an embarrassed and apologetic tone, “Umm... what vehicle am I driving and where do I find it?”
Oops! I looked up, showing a lot of teeth in my embarrassed grin. “Ah, that would be a good piece of information to have, now wouldn't it?”
Then she surprised me and was able to break out of her bashfulness for a moment to be funny, “I could wander around London trying the key in various random vehicles, but I hear that such conduct is frowned upon in many circles.”