Page 48 of Cannon

When I go to pay, her papa interrupts. “Abigail, put this cash towards the sale price. This good man has saved us more than this and shown us that we could be open to having lost much more. He is a good man and deserves this, at the very least.”

I am about to argue, but the look from them both has me holding my hands up in surrender and graciously accepting their kind gesture.

Chapter 30

*~* Barbara *~*

Today has been a long and interesting day. After the initial rush of the first appointments, I was called into the office where I found both Molly and Jamie waiting for me. Although I wasn’t worried by them both being present, it did raise my curiosity level somewhat.

Jamie asked if I would like a coffee while we talked, another thing that piqued my curiosity. That should have been my job as the lowest - ranked person in the room, so to speak. Accepting the offer, I squinted at Molly, who tried to give me a non-committal type of look, but failed, and failed miserably.

Jamie returned with three coffees and a plate of pastries. Pastries. Now I know they’re up to something and they want me involved. Pastries are nothing more than bribery in this place. Occasionally a reward, but more often than not, out-and-out bribery. I know I have done nothing out of the ordinary to warrant a reward, so bribery it is.

“How are things in Barbara’s world?” Jamie asks, smiling like a freakin’ tiger before it bites your jugular.

“Everything is good in my world, thank you, Jamie. How about yours and Molly’s worlds? What needs my attention, you pair of sneaky, sly dogs? Don’t try the innocent look on me. I have worked with you two long enough to know when I’m being set up. I’m not touching one of your Xanax-laced pastries, either.” They give each other a look that speaks volumes. They were so trying to butter me up for something. “You pair of suck-ups will have to get up earlier than this to catch me out.”

Molly drops her pastry onto a napkin on her desk. “Yes, okay, we’re guilty, but it’s all good. We are thinking of opening a second practice across town. We have more than enough business for this building and feel that we could comfortably manage a second building.”

“We would need someone that we trust one hundred percent to run it, so we wondered…” Jamie lets her voice trail off.

“I don’t know anyone who could do that, so you’re wasting your time if that’s what you’re asking me.” How on God’s green earth would I know anyone with those kind of qualifications?

“What?” They look at each other totally confused. “No. That’s definitely not what we are asking, Barbara. We are asking you to manage that building. We want to know if you’ll take it on. We’ll supply the doctors, nurses and pharmacists. We need someone to oversee everything and everybody, though. You would be the practice manager. Everyone would ultimately answer to you on a daily basis. We think you’d be perfect for it.” They look at each other and nod, as though this is already a done deal.

“Whoa. Hold on. What about Marie? She’s been your assistant, shouldn’t she be your first choice?” I watch for Molly’s reaction.

“Yeah, no, you’d think so, but no. I still wouldn’t trust her walking my pet rock. She’s good at what she does. She just isn’t what a new location would need. It would overwhelm her in days, and that wouldn’t be fair to her. We need someone who won’t get flustered at every hurdle. Won’t start second-guessing decisions and choices. Someone who can think ahead and on their feet. Someone who is you, basically.” Molly raises her eyebrows. “It would be a promotion.”

Jamie adds, “With a good salary and benefits.”

We discuss things for an hour, and I agree to think it over. It’s all very exciting, and I’m leaning towards accepting, but they haven’t found a building or even land to build a purpose-built practice on yet. I think talking things over with Cannon will help me put things in perspective and may throw up stuff that I haven’t even considered.

It’s the end of the day and I’m rushing back to the clubhouse. I need to get there before Cannon, as I have a couple of secret missions of my own to accomplish. Abandoning my Toyota by the clubhouse, I dash down the compound to speak to Guardrail. Finding him alone is a miracle.

“How is the house coming along? Is it on schedule, behind? Any issues that need dealing with?”

“Wow, slow down there, Barbara. I didn’t know you were so keen to get Cannon all alone, although I can understand your need for privacy. You two have got to be the loudest lovers I have ever heard.” Guardrail grins at me and I blush furiously.

“That’s not it at all. I just want to know that everything is running smoothly. I have a lot of things to buy for the place and want to know that my buying schedule matches the build schedule.”

“Oh. OH! Congratulations. Cannon must be over the moon.” Guardrail has a massive smile on his face.

“What? SHUSH! What are you saying?” Oh my God…

“Barbara, since you’ve been here the last few seconds, you’ve put your hand on your belly three times. I may not be Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, or even Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but I can read the signs that tell me a woman is having a baby.” Guardrail looks around and then gestures to a spot on the construction site. “Come over here. We’ll be out of sight of prying eyes.”

“I can’t believe I’ve been so obvious. Everyone will know before I get to tell Cannon at this rate.” I feel like bursting into tears, but I’m suddenly wrapped in a pair of arms.

“He won’t hear it from me, Barbara, but your actions certainly speak louder than words. When did you know?”

“Only today. I just had a feeling, so I did two tests at work today. No one knows anything. I can’t believe I’ve fallen so quickly.” I see the way he looks at me with his head tilted to one side. “Oh, fuck off. I haven’t been with a man in years. There is no one else in the running if that’s what that look is for.”

“Well, you must be incredibly fertile, or his swimmers are exceptionally good at their job. Either way, I’m happy for you both. He will be a pain in the ass, you know that don’t you? He’s going to be so protective of you from the day you tell him until, well, forever.” Guardrail laughs at this, but it makes me frown.

“He better not start any of that shit with me. I’ll be hormonal enough without him adding to it,” I growl.

“Well, Barbara, I’ll be sure to push on and get everything done as timely as possible. Will five bedrooms be enough? Although there will be enough room at the back to extend if you need to.” He grins as he pats my belly.