Chapter 2

Sterling - Chapter 2

Marty hated the woman that she was training. Well, maybe not hate, but she really disliked her. There was something so...she wasn't sure what it was about her that just set her anger off, but it could have been any number of things. The way that she kept referring to her as Mabel, Mary, or any other name other than her own. Or it might have been the way she kept fussing with her makeup and clothing that made her want to spill water down the front of her, but what truly irritated her the most was how she kept referring to herself in the third person. "Bethany is going to be so good at this job." Or her favorite so far was, "Bethany doesn't need this job, but Daddy said that she must work to earn her keep."

Waitressing wasn't a job for the meek, Marty thought. And she would bet that Bethany would tell herself after the first few hours on her own that Bethany didn't need to earn her keep that badly. As they were headed to the table to take an order, she heard her telling herself that she must get some nicer pens. She'd soon learn that was a total waste of money.

"Howdy. Can I get you guys anything to drink before you order?" The man nodded and smiled at her. The woman was looking over the menu. "We have iced tea and pop. Coffee if you've a mind, too."

"My wife would like a large iced tea, no lemon or sugar, and I'd like a glass of water. No lemon for me either."

Just as Marty was walking away, Bethany started talking to them. "Bethany thinks that you should drink lemon in your water. I'll make sure that you have plenty of it. No water should ever be without some sort of citrus taste it in." She smiled at the big man and then looked at her. "He wants lemon at Bethany's recommendation."

"No, he doesn't. Do you?" The man shook his head no. "See? No lemon. In either drink. Now, we'll go and get them—"

"Bethany thinks it would taste better. You should listen to me. That's the way I like it." Marty just walked away to get the drinks, and when she was putting ice in the glass to take to the couple, Bethany huffed at her. "Men are just so stubborn. Why do they not listen to Bethany when she's correct in this? At least put some lemons on a plate for them. He'll thank you for it."

"No, he will not. He said, twice now, that he doesn't want lemons. Don't try and add things to people's orders when they specifically said no to them. Not only will you tick them off, but you're going to make it so that they don't tip you. And I don't know if anyone told you this or not, but tips are what we strive for in this business." Bethany started to fuss about how she liked lemons and the man just didn't know what he was missing. "I'm sure that he's a grown man and knows what a lemon tastes like in water. Don't do it."

Marty had to back away from Bethany when she started to put a handful of lemons in the glass of water. Just as she was trying to scoot around her, her boss came out of the back room. Bethany told him that Marty was messing up the order.

"Are you?" Marty told Wilmer what had been said and what Bethany wanted her to do. He looked over at the other woman. "We don't add to people's drinks or orders, Bethany, unless they want it. It doesn't sound as if he wanted it."

"That's because he's dumb when it comes to knowing what is good for him. Bethany drinks water all the time with lemon in it, and it's the only way to drink it. If Margie would just listen, he'd thank her for it."

Marty left them there and headed for the table. The man was laughing when she handed him his glass of water. It was a nice sound, hearty and strong. The woman was laughing as well, and she smiled at them both. Then she asked them if they were ready to order.

"Yes. Thanks." She wrote down their order. She wasn't surprised by the fact that the man wanted three burgers and only a single order of fries. He was a big man. The woman wanted onion rings instead of the fries with her burger, and didn't care that it was going to be fifty cents more. "Also, could you bring us some of the pie now? My wife has been wanting rhubarb pie for a week now."

"Of course. Ice cream too?" The woman moaned and Marty smiled. It was good pie and she liked it herself. "I'll bring it right out. Oh, and I'm training the other woman. Please let me know if you have any problems."

"She's never going to make it."

Marty thought he was correct but said nothing. She didn't understand why Bethany thought she could make it work.

The woman had been on the job since seven-thirty. She'd been told to be there at five-thirty, but Bethany didn't like coming in that early so they'd have to make sure that they didn't start until then. Maybe she thought breakfast was an afternoon meal, but Wilmer had only told her to be on time tomorrow.

Marty went to put their order in just as Bethany was told, again, to listen to her if she wanted to be any good at her job. Wilmer told Marty he was sorry for this, but as she was the best, there was no hope for anyone else trying to train Bethany. If it could even be done. Marty told him she was fine, so long as Bethany didn't try to sabotage her customers.

Just as she was cutting a large piece of the pie for the woman, Bethany came to stand near her again and started asking questions. And as usual she had a reason for why things should be done her way.

"You gonna eat that while you're working?" She told her no, that it was for the couple. "Bethany doesn't think that's right. Dessert before eating your meal? Let me have it and I'll make sure they get it when they're done."

"No. Damn it, Bethany. They want it now and I'm going to take it to them. Just watch and learn. These people, or any of the customers, do not need for you to make comments or judgments on what they're doing." Bethany huffed at her and told her she was doing it all wrong. "Whatever."

She'd had enough, and was almost willing to let her finish waiting on these people so she could fuck it up. But Marty liked her job a great deal, and didn't want to give poor service to anyone. As she took the pie to the table again with a large scoop of ice cream on it, Marty prayed that Bethany would keep her mouth shut. No such luck.

"She insisted on bringing you this now, and Bethany is going to take it back." The woman said nothing, but looked at her when the pie was placed on the table. Just as Bethany reached for it, the woman slapped her hand down on Bethany's. "You can have it later, but not before your meal. Bethany thinks that you'll enjoy it better if you—"

"Bethany, is it?" She nodded at the woman. "Bethany, if you try and take my pie I will get up and kick your ass all over this room. Now, back away before one of us gets hurt. I asked for it now and I'm going to enjoy it now. Go back to the kitchen and mind your own business."

"I don't think you understand what Bethany is trying to do for you. You can't have your dessert first. It's not the way that things go." Bethany reached for the plate again, and the low growl coming from the woman had Marty backing up. She knew the sound all too well because she knew quite a few shifters. "You're being very rude right now, and Bethany just doesn't appreciate it. I'm taking this pie."

Marty put her fingers in her mouth and blew out a shrill sound. Not only did the entire restaurant quiet down, but Wilmer came out to see what had happened. The big man stood up and the woman stayed where she was, enjoying her pie. Mr. Calhoun, as the man said was his name, told Wilmer what had happened.

"My wife and I came in to have an enjoyable lunch, and we were going to have pie. You see, my wife wanted some because it brought her fond memories. The first waitress, Marty, did a great job, but then this other woman just came barging in, telling us what was going to happen and how we were going to do things her way. I don't think you're going to stay in business long if you keep hiring people like her." Marty was surprised by the man's tone as well as his words. It was soft yet firm, like his word was the only one, and he was telling it in such a way she thought he was used to having people listen to his every word and taking it as gospel. "I'm not telling you what to do, sir, but I'd think about how she's made us feel, and we've only been here for a few minutes. I can't imagine that she'd make anyone coming in for an entire meal feel any better than we do about her service."

"I'm so very sorry, Mr. Calhoun. I'll get on your order right away, and it's on us today." Mr. Calhoun said that wasn't necessary. "But it is. As I said, I'm very sorry for this misunderstanding, and I'll take care that it's made right."

Marty waited on the couple, even had a good time talking to them about nothing at all. And as Bethany was nowhere to be seen, she also got to take them what they ordered without any judgment from the other woman.

When they were finished, she was glad for the large tip that they left her despite them not paying for their meal. Walking away with the hundred dollars, Marty knew she was going to be able to pay her rent and have money left over for a movie on her birthday in two days. Going to night school was taking all her extra time and cash right now.

Bethany was gone by the time she was ready to finish her shift, going home because she had things to do. Marty worked both breakfast and lunch for the tips so didn't miss her at all. Wilmer was standing by the clock when she went to punch out. He asked if he could talk to her. When they were in the office, she noticed that he wasn't his usual happy self and asked him what was wrong.

"Mr. Dolan wants me to fire you." Marty sat back in her chair and asked why the owner would want that. "I had no idea, but Bethany Flynn is his girlfriend. She came in here telling me that her daddy wanted her to have a job, but it wasn't her daddy but her sugar daddy. He's pissed that I had the nerve to fire her after she'd done such a good job. I'm guessing her version of what happened today is much different than what really happened."

"I would certainly think so. Damn it all to hell and back, Wilmer. What am I going to do now? Does he have any idea how fucked up that is?" He nodded, then shook his head. "I'm assuming that you told him how things went down today, didn't you?"

"Yes, but as I said, my version and hers differ too much for him to believe me. She must have told him a whopper of a story. I'm so sorry, Marty. I wouldn't have hired her at all had.... Well, I might have because he would have made sure. But this is wrong, so wrong."

Nodding, she sat there. What was she going to do now? Where would she work that would allow her to go to school at night and make money daily to pay for food and rent? As she sat there, thinking about what she had just lost, Wilmer came around to the other side of his desk and sat in the chair next to her. He asked her if she was going to be all right.

"I don't think so." He nodded and handed her an envelope, telling her that it was two weeks of pay and a little more. "You know that you can't do this. He'll fire you next."

"I don't care. If I have to hire Bethany again, I'm going to quit anyway. You're the only reason that a great many of our regulars come in here. Without you, I don't think we're going to last that long." Marty took the envelope and stood up. "You go on home and try not to think about what has happened. Maybe in a couple of days, when a few more people are pissed off about her, he'll see reason."

For some reason, she didn't think she'd be so lucky. Not to mention, she wasn't sure that she wanted to work for a man that didn't care to find out facts before making such a call. Marty gathered her coat and things, cleaning out her locker while she was at it, and headed for the back door. Tyler, the cook, stopped her and handed her a large take out bag.

"You go on now and take it. Wilmer said you'd be skipping meals to pay your bills. Besides, they'll not miss a thing." She nodded and took the bag, as well as a sandwich that she'd planned to take home tonight. "That girl, I heard she was coming to work here for good. Can't think that's going to go over very well. She's a few slices short of a full loaf if you ask me. Where do them kinda girls come from, I ask you?"

"She's the boss's girlfriend, so I'd watch myself." He just shook his head. "Thank you for this, Tyler. Just don't get yourself in trouble over it."

"I won't. Like I said, they won't miss it a bit. And Wilmer, he helped me pack things in it. Not much, honey, but it'll keep you going for a bit." He hugged her and she left in tears. "I'll be calling you. You take care now, child."

Marty cried all the way home. She'd just gotten the biggest tip of her life and lost her job in one hour. What the fuck was she going to do now? she wondered.

~*~

Trent was sitting in his office not really doing much of anything when his grandda came in. He had been in and out of the house for the last couple of days, asking questions about this and that. Trent asked him what he was up to now and he laughed.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing. Got a call today, not an hour ago, from a man by the name of Wilmer Mackey. Know him?" Trent said that the name sounded familiar, but no, he didn't know who he was. "I think you might remember him after I tell you about what he said. You and Joe had a nice meal at his diner yesterday. Just out of town."

"Oh yes. I remember him. Why is he calling you?" Grandda told him that he thought he was calling him. "I don't understand. Why was he calling anyone? He picked up our tab and that was the end of it. Is that Bethany person saying I did something to her?"

"Bethany Flynn." Trent nodded. "She is the girlfriend of the man who owns the place. You know him too. Roger Dolan. There was another waitress, you remember what her name was?"

"Yes, Marty. What's going on, Grandda? Did something happen that I should be aware of?" Grandda nodded and Trent noticed that he was upset about something. "What happened?"

"He fired her." Trent said good. "Not the bimbo—his words, not mine—but the waitress. Apparently, he had to do it because this Bethany person got her underwear all tightened up and wanted her gone. So, Dolan had Wilmer fire her."

"Why would he call you to tell you that?" Grandda got up and went to the window. "What are you not telling me about this? I have a feeling that you want to do something about it. Or to Dolan. Tell me so I can talk you out of it."

"What a way to talk to your own flesh and blood." He didn't come back to sit and Trent was worried. There was more going on than he understood right now. "Her grandmomma, Sofie Hamilton, was a friend of mine and your grandma's. I knew her a long time ago, before you boys started coming along. Sophie raised Marty like her own daughter when her momma ran out on her. Then a few months ago, I heard that Sofie was gone and left her granddaughter with more bills than money."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Grandda nodded. "Have you been watching over them all this time? Sending them money and such?"

"In a way. I honestly never thought of them in the last few years. Oh, I'd have a thought to check up on them, but something else would come along and I'd be off again. But I did call in a few favors when I found out that she'd passed on to have her funeral paid up. I also had an attorney go by and talk to Marty, but she said she was doing just fine and didn't need any handouts. Going to college to become something more, she told him." Grandda wiped at his face with his white handkerchief and continued talking. "Wilmer, like I said, he was calling you when he got me. I think he just messed up the names is all. Anyway, he was calling you to see if you and I were related. Like I said, her grandmomma was a good friend of ours."

"So, he has to fire Marty and calls you to tell you. Does he want us to hire her? I mean, I can if that will help you out. We could always use a few hands around the clinic and such. Even helping out around here if you want." He shook his head. "Grandda, I want to help her too."

"I'm going to go and see her in the morning. I would have gone out there today, but she's not answering her phone. I guess she took it kind of hard, like I would have, to have lost her job to a woman like this Bethany person is." Trent told him what had happened at the restaurant. "Yeah, Wilmer told me about the same thing. Can you imagine talking about yourself like that? I'd have to hit her. Anyway, I'd like for you to go with me. Or one of you guys. I might need some help convincing her that I'm not out to hurt her."

"I'll go." Then he remembered an appointment with Joe at the new plant and told him about it. "Take Elijah or Scott. They're not doing much this afternoon, and you can call and ask them. Or Sterl. I think he's supposed to be back with Grandma tonight."

"She said she would be. They got that thing going on." Trent started to ask what they were doing but his grandda spoke first. "Don't know, if that was what you were going to ask me. She's been plotting and planning and I tend to stay out of that when I can. Your grandma can find me work faster than anyone can when she thinks I'm being idle and all. Also, she's a little on the intense side when she's in that mood."

He knew that for a fact. "This woman, Marty, she's good at what she does waiting tables. You said she was going to college…you know what for?" Grandda said he didn't. "Well, whatever it is, perhaps we can help her out with that as well. We have that fund set up for the pack. I don't see any reason for us not to help out a friend too."

"That'd be nice of you, Trent. I worry about her. I don't know her that well. Only met her the one time, and she was a child then. Pretty little thing." Trent told him she'd grown into a beautiful woman too. "Her grandmomma, she was a pistol and a beauty too. Like a bear with claws when it came to something she'd set her teeth into. And that girl, I'm betting she's no different."

"I'd say that she isn't. Joe liked her as well." Grandda nodded but still looked upset. He told him that he was going to go and talk to one of the boys, his brothers, and he'd talk to him when he returned. "Let me know if you don't find someone. I can reschedule with Joe and I'll go with you."

Trent worked then. He'd been putting things off long enough and needed to make some more calls on businesses. He had to smile when he thought of Doug Coulier, the owner of the plastics manufacturing plant, and his romance. Anastasia, a very powerful fae, and he had been out of touch for the last week and a half. Being mates was exhausting those first few months, which made him think of his own wife.

Joe. He loved her with every fiber of his being. She was smart, powerful as well, and the best thing that had ever happened to him. They were set to go to the cabin this weekend, and he was getting excited about that. It was one of the reasons he was so far behind today, thinking of the fun they were going to have while there. He might even go ice fishing if the pond was frozen enough.

There were three e-mails from different manufacturing plants. Doug had told him a week ago that he'd refer a few of the people he knew wanted to relocate to him. Trent had been inundated with not just e-mails, but calls as well. If things worked out the way they appeared to be, they'd have every person who wanted a job working by the end of next year. They were already showing signs of better times with the two new shops opening, as well as a larger department store wanting to come in and the grocery store enlarging.

Things were looking up. More than he could have imagined several months ago when he'd taken over the pack. There were times when he wished that someone else was doing it. It was time consuming as well as stressful with the mess that had been left to him when he'd had to kill the previous alpha. Casey O'Neil had been ready to kill his mate, and Trent had leapt to her defense.

Joe came into his office just as he was finishing an e-mail and sending it off. She sat down in the big chair across from him and looked upset. He asked her if things were going all right on her end.

"Yes, I suppose. Did you know that there is only one doctor in this pack? The way we're growing…oh, before I forget, two families will be calling you today to interview for the pack. But we have only the one doctor. That's too much for one person." He agreed and asked her what she'd done about it. "You're so positive that I did something?"

"Yes. You're the type that sees a problem and fixes it. It's not like you don't know that I'd okay whatever you wanted to do." She nodded. "How did you fix it?"

"I called in a few favors, and we now have a total of four health professionals coming to see if they'd like to take some of the load off Todd. He's excited that someone will be helping. And so you know, one of the buildings in the downtown area is being reequipped for a hospital of sorts. For now, just as an emergency room. Mostly for pack, but for anyone."

"Good idea. And these other doctors, when they get here, are we going to have any say in it, or have you assigned someone to take care that they have what they need?" She asked him what he meant. "I'm assuming that they've all specialized in things. Will someone be getting them housing? Equipment? Meds? Or will you be doing that as well?"

"Oh. That is going to be your brother, Tanner. He said that he has a couple of friends on some hospital boards that will guide him on contracts and such. And Noah is going to help as well. I'm not sure in what capacity at this point, but he said that he's on a few boards as well and will help out." Trent figured it was in good hands if they were going to be working on it. "I have set up a fund too, so that the pack doesn't have to pay out for everything. It won't be much, but I think it will be a good way for the community to get involved. Also, I've an appointment to speak to Doug about some investing when he comes up for air."

"Have you spoken to Anastasia?" She said that she hadn't but wasn't worried about her. "Me either. It's Doug that I worry about a little. Having a mate is the best, but it's also draining. And I would imagine more so with one of them being a fae."

"She's going to change him, I'm thinking. And with her age, there are some things that she can do that would keep them both safe. Noah can go out in daylight as well, but she can practically live out in the sun now." Trent nodded and looked at his computer when it sounded. "I'll let you get to work. I just wanted to let you know what I've been able to figure out."

Trent read over the e-mail three times before he got up and danced around the room laughing. It was from Sterl. Picking up his phone, he called his brother to congratulate him on his success.