AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Aria looked away from the monitor and gave Gareth a quick smile. “Morning.”
“Did you have a good weekend?” Gareth asked. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to you yesterday.”
“I had a great weekend. Yesterday was very relaxing, which was nice.”
“I hear you did some manicures. Layla was quite proud of her pretty nails.”
She smiled at his words. “Yep. I put my mediocre skill to work.”
“Mediocre?” Janessa scoffed. “You did a great job. I’m not one to go for manicures very often because I never seem to have the time. Having it done in my own home was a treat.”
Gareth enjoyed seeing the flush of joy on Aria’s face. “Kayleigh said she’d like you to do her nails too. You should start charging.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Aria said with a shake of her head.
“You’re using up your nail polish on us, and I checked last night and that polish you used isn’t as cheap as the normal stuff,” Janessa said. “I think we should each buy a set of colors we like for you to use on us.”
“If you want,” Aria agreed amiably. “The colors I have were ones my mom picked out, so fresh colors might be good.”
Gareth never in a million years would have thought that he’d enjoy a conversation about nail polish, but he was talking with Aria. He would happily talk with her about anything her heart desired.
“Maybe tonight we can look online for some colors for me and Charli,” Janessa suggested.
“You need to talk about this later,” Nora said from the hallway, where she stood with her arms crossed. “I don’t think this is the right time or place for conversations about frivolous things like manicures.”
Gareth was glad to see that Aria didn’t cower under Nora’s derisive comments. She didn’t say anything, but she sat with her chin up and shoulders squared.
“Good grief, Nora,” Janessa said. “It’s not even time for the first patient yet. And it may be frivolous, but no more so than people who put on makeup.”
“But I’m not talking about it in my workplace.”
Gareth sighed. “This is not a big deal, Nora. We’re ready for the day and were just chatting about our weekends.”
He was so, so tired of the pettiness he was seeing in Nora. So far as he knew, she hadn’t been that way with any patients, so that was good. If only she’d back off with Aria so that things in the clinic would settle down. That would be the best solution for all concerned.
“I’m going to unlock the door,” Aria said, getting to her feet.
Though Gareth stepped aside so that she could move past him, her arm brushed against his. He wanted to watch her, but that would likely draw Nora’s ire. When he saw his sister glaring at Nora, and that Nora was glaring back, he wanted to sigh.
This was going to be agreatMonday. It was too bad that he couldn’t have been the one to take his parents to the airport. Maybe then they would have all had a better start to the week.
“I’ll be in my office, Janessa,” Gareth said. “Let me know when my first patient is here.”
“Gareth,” Nora called after him as he strode down the hall back to his office.
He did sigh then as he turned to face the woman. “What’s up?”
“Maybe we could talk for a moment,” she suggested before sweeping past him, headed for his office.
Left with no choice but to follow, Gareth trailed her into his office, skirting around his desk to reach his seat while she settled into one of the chairs opposite him. He grabbed a pen from his pocket and leaned back in his chair, clicking it as he regarded Nora.
“What did you need to talk about?”
“I would like to once again address the possibility of bringing in a new receptionist.” She sat with her back straight, hands folded in her lap, looking for all the world like she’d just made a reasonable request.
“No.” Gareth clicked his pen again.
Nora’s brows drew together as she frowned. “You haven’t even heard my reasoning.”
