My forever Mate

Chapter 5

Mildred (Mrs Alfred) couldn’t control her laughter any longer, outraged at being the object of her amusement, Derrick bellowed… “what’s so funny?”

“You, my dear”, said Mildred…… “you actually think you can forbid me for anything, specifically regarding my retirement.”

He stared at her with his most frightening look, which made her laugh even harder…… “Keep your stares for others boy, I’ve changed your nappies and reddened your hide more times than I can count….… so this look of yours won’t work on me, never has…… never will…….” said Mildred.

“Now, here’s what I will do, tomorrow I will call my niece Jackie, the one who owns that fancy hiring agency in Boston. I’ll ask her to send one of her people’s here. She’s no fool, my Jackie….. takes after my side of the family, not that bumbling fool, dad of hers. She knows her business…… has only the best working for her. I’ll stay on for a week to train and supervise my replacement but if you scare this one away then you are on own.”

He started to object again but she cut him off right away…… “uh…. uh…. no arguments now, leave everything to me and go scare someone else.”

Mildred called Jackie, who had just finished talking to Cassie, that same night instead of waiting for the next morning. She explained the situation at work, her desire to retire and what had her boss in a tizzy. Jackie thought about what her aunt had told her about Derrick over the years and for some strange reason she couldn’t help but think back to Cassie’s call, a few minutes before. The image of sweet and responsible Cassie and the adorable, angelic Leah against the big bad Derrick made her shiver with excitement, instead of the dread she should’ve been feeling.

Going with her gut, she started telling Mildred about Cassie and Leah……. “I think Cassie would be a perfect candidate for this job but with Leah still so young and their loss so fresh, she won’t be able to leave her sister with a sitter, while she goes to work….… if Derrick agrees, then Cassie can work as a virtual assistant, coming to the office only if it was absolutely necessary.” said Jackie.

The more Jackie told her about this girl, the more Mildred liked her….. making up her mind quickly she asked Jackie for Cassie’s address, to her surprise and Jackie’s amusement, she lived very close to Mildred’s cottage……… “why didn’t you tell me about them before?”

Sighing, Jackie said, “they’ve been through a lot, specially Cassie and moved there just about a week ago auntie. I wanted to let those poor dears settle in before throwing them to the wolves…..”

“Ha ha ha, you think you’re very funny missy?, don’t you forget that I can still take you over my knees and paddle your backside……..” said Mildred teasingly.

“No no, please auntie, I didn’t mean anything by it…… just jesting a bit with my favourite aunt in the world”

“……huh”, she scoffed…… “you mean, your only aunt in the whole wide world?”

“That’s beside the point auntie…. you’d be my favourite, even if I had 10 other aunt’s…….”

They talked (gossiped) for about another 15 minutes sharing whatever news (gossip) they had access to, trying to out do each other with their ‘news’ network. After hanging up, they were both thinking about the same people, each for different reasons though……

Jackie called Cassie the next day and told her about the job opportunity with “The Crescent Moon”. Before Cassie could raise any objections about working for such a big business, Jackie was ready with all the necessary rebuttals to dispel her doubts.

“Cassie, I know that this is a very big company and working directly for the CEO is no small task but believe me, if I didn’t think you were capable, I would’ve never referred you for this position. It’s tailor made for you….. you can work from home, I’ve already trained you on all the programs they use, your typing speed and accuracy is superior, your working hours will neither clash with the time you spend with Leah nor will it have any impact on your evening classes and best of all aunt Mildred lives very close to you, so if you need any help at all, she’ll be there in a jiffy.”

Seeing her melt a bit, Jackie decided to play the emotional card to gain her full compliance. (Sorry aunt Mildred for what I’m about to do but it’s for a higher purpose…….)

“What I’m going to tell you is very private to me and my family………. you see my aunt Mildred, the poor dear has been looking forward to retiring for the longest time so she can finally get some rest and peace in her final years (final years….. huh….. she’d probably be singing and dancing at all our funerals) but the company won’t release her from her post till she finds a suitable replacement and train her……”

(Fake crying) “I’m very close to her, have been since I was Leah’s age and I can’t see her so stressed so I thought maybe you could help me. I mean after you join the company, maybe you and Leah can look in on her once in a while…… to check on her health……. she’s so lonely (fingers crossed, for my blatant lies).” Jackie continued…

“Maybe if you pretend to need her help sometimes then she will feel useful again (cringing, she thought, you’ll burn in hell Jackie, there’s a limit to lying) and if you don’t like working for that company then you can resign, after my aunt is free from their clutches (oh Cassie, I hope you never repeat any of this in front of aunt Mildred or I’d be in serious trouble).”

“Please Cassie……. I don’t want to force you but you’re my only hope and it’s a great opportunity for you too……. The pay and benefits are unbelievable as well……. please dear, think about it but don’t take too long…… God knows how much time my poor aunt has left (more fake crying)……. I’m sorry, I can’t talk anymore…….. I feel so useless, not being able to help my poor auntie…………..” Jackie kept the phone down feeling happy with her performance.