Page 48 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Over the next two weeks, Sara neither saw nor spoke to Josh. But with Will causing problem after problem in every department, Josh was never far from her thoughts. Why wouldn’t he return her phone calls? Was she too easy? Maybe he hadn’t gotten the same kind of drowning-in-pleasure thrill she’d gotten from their kiss.
The idea was ridiculous. Every time she saw him, she wound up with his hands all over her. Maybe she should be grateful that he’d answer every voicemail message with a terse text that he’d talk with Will and apply consequences at home. That statement was usually followed with a suggestion that she move Will to another department.
She would love to, but she was running out of departments, and several managers had threatened to quit. The prep and body shop was her last resort. Will started there tomorrow, over Steve’s strongly worded protests.
Sara prayed for a miracle. She got a phone call.
“Ms. Carson, this is K.C.” Not a miracle, but a respite. Dad still complained about everything, but K.C.’s infinite patience allowed her to reduce some of the backlog of work. She normally left the dealership about 8:00 p.m. nowadays instead of midnight or later.
“What’s up, K.C.?”
“You’d better come home, Ms. Carson.” The nurse’s voice strained over the line.
Dear God, Dad’s had another attack.Fear chased the thought down her spine. She shot to her feet. “What’s happened?” As she said the words, Sara realized that K.C. had said “home” not “hospital.” If Dad was still at home, he was all right.
“I’ve had it. I’ve already called an Uber.”
“What?” Surely, she hadn’t heard correctly. What happened to infinite patience?
“I’m sorry, Ms. Carson, but I’m quitting. Your father is just too much for me to handle.”
“But that can’t be; you’re the agency’s best nurse.”
“I’m delighted to know they regard me so highly. But you wouldn’t expect an employee at your company to put up with verbal and physical abuse. You can’t expect that of employees in your home either.”
“Did he hit you?”
“No. But I don’t appreciate having a bedpan thrown at me when it’s empty, let alone when it’s full.”
“He didn’t.”
“He most certainly did. I’ll ask the agency to add my cleaning charges to your last bill. I expect they’ll be closing your account.”
“Yes, I’m sure they will. K.C., please, I won’t try to change your mind, but I cannot possibly get home until late tonight. I have a business meeting.”
“I’m sorry for your inconvenience, Ms. Carson, but I must insist. I’m leaving within the hour, whether your father has someone to care for him or not.”
She had no choice; she’d have to go home. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. If your Uber driver gets there first, please ask him to wait so I can talk to you before you leave. I’ll be happy to pay him for his time.”
“I’ll do that. And thank you, Ms. Carson. I was sure you’d understand.”
Sara placed the handset back in the cradle.I understand all right. Dad, whether he intends to or not, is doing his best to undermine my efforts to bring Carson’s into the black.What she couldn’t understand was why. Was he so obsessed with the power of running Carson’s that he couldn’t see the stress was killing him, just as it killed his marriage and permanently warped all their lives?
His twisted logic forced Donny to run away. And look at what Dad’s demands did to her. She knew Josh thought her just as materialistic and power hungry as her old man. Could Josh be right? Did she risk becoming an old, bitter, angry woman chained to a bed by stress-related illness? Sara didn’t know. She did know she wouldn’t let it happen without a fight.
She’d find someone to stay with Dad tonight. She’d go out with Marty, take care of business, and then enjoy the rest of the evening. She’d intended to make a firm stand against any “fun” with Marty. But now the idea of a little “fun” appealed. She’d accept whatever invitation he offered, within reason of course. She picked up the phone and dialed Gene Reynard’s extension.
Hours later, Sara heard a low whistle as she handed her umbrella and wrap to the coat check girl, then walked into the restaurant. She smiled at Marty and spun in a circle for him.
“I hoped you’d want to go dancing after we finished talking business,” he said as her skirt belled out.
Sara smiled. “I decided that all work makes Sara a very dull girl. Besides, Gene is with Dad tonight, so I don’t have to worry about a nurse quitting.”
“The old man giving you a rough time?”
“Not directly, but he’s hell on nurses. We’ve lost four in the month that I’ve been home. The agency won’t send anyone else, and I’m at my wit’s end.”
