Page 20 of The Most Dearest
I hadn't even had the chance to pull out of my drive when my phone chimed again.
Brian: See me as soon as you arrive.
What? With a heavy sense of dread, I checked my last message.
Me: Punch me in my tiny pea-sized balls when you see me. I love teen boobies. Will chat when I get there.
Shit. Obviously, the words “autocorrect” and “sorry” had been changed in my phone. What other words had she changed? I must have left my phone unattended somewhere. Maybe when Cam got in my face in the kitchen. But no, she wouldn’t have had time, would she? Either way, she’d gone too far by fucking with my job.
Brian was not happy when I arrived. He was angry to see me show up with Emma and motioned me into his office with a furious glare. This was not my fault.
I sat down on the other side of his desk. I had to fix this.
“Brian, I am so sorry. My former sis... my girlfriend’s former sister, I mean my former girlfriend’s sister messed with my phone and my messages this morning—"
“Your messages this morning were just the icing on top of the shit cake that has been your performance over the last few months, Harrison,” he interrupted. I knew when to shut up.
“I don't care if someone is messing with your phone. These petty issues should not affect your work. You are dispensing medication that has serious side effects. You spend your time flirting with Emma and your lunch breaks are becoming excessive. Maria saw you behind Walmart, so I know all about that. You're making a joke of this pharmacy. Pharmacists have serious responsibilities. I believe in workplace flexibility,Harrison, but you're really testing my limits.” He looked so angry.
“I am very sorry, and I promise you, there will be no further issues. I take my responsibilities very seriously and I admit that I've been a little distracted lately. I apologize and am grateful for the opportunity you've given me,” I said solemnly. Fucking Maria. She was Brian’s busybody wife.
“Harrison, I am withdrawing that opportunity. Your sexually suggestive texts today that referenced teen girls are a valid reason for instant dismissal, so don't even think about challenging me on this. We have two 16-year-old girls working here and I am not willing to have you on the premises.”
I opened my mouth to tell him about the texts, that it was Miranda, but he held his hand up.
“I don't want to hear about pranks or listen to you shift the blame. From my standpoint, you are in a relationship with a teenager under my employ, so it would be negligent of me to ignore any red flags at this point. I am well within my rights in this state to dismiss you, and that is what I am doing. Even before this morning, I was seriously reconsidering your future here. My advice to you at this point would be to pull yourself together. You were once a good and steady employee, Harrison. I don't know what happened, and I don't want to know but for your sake, I hope you find your balance again. Please clear out your belongings and leave. I will not be providing any references.”
He rose and left, shutting the door behind me. I'd just lost my job because of Miranda. Because of Cordelia.
I quickly shuffled to the back of the pharmacy where my locker was, moving past Emma without a word. She was restocking a Nicorette display and held out her hand to stop me. Ikept walking. I had to maintain a professional appearance. I felt humiliated. There was only one other pharmacy in town, and they’d just hired someone, so my options were limited. I wasn’t going to leave the house, so I’d have to find something temporary, something to get me through until Cordelia left and I could sell the house and move Emma and I somewhere I could work as a pharmacist. No way would I try the hospital pharmacy. Seeing Juliet every day would be a nightmare. The fucking Bard sisters seemed to be everywhere with their scowling, disapproving faces.
I entered the empty house. I’d texted Emma with the news but promised I’d pick her up after work. This was fucked up. I'd been home a few hours when there was a soft knock at the door. Juliet. Another psycho Bard sister.
“Juliet,” I greeted her.
“Hey Harrison, do you mind if I talk to you quickly? Just five minutes?”
“Sure,” I said but I didn't invite her in.
“Look, I was in the pharmacy earlier and I found out ... well, you know. I just want to apologize for Miranda's ... Actually, no. I'm not apologizing because you have been such as asshole to Cordy. I'm making amends for any damage Miranda may have inflicted. You know she's spirited. Mom and Dad spoke to her yesterday, and well, we wanted to give you this.”
She handed over a voucher for my favorite spa place, Pure & Fresh. I checked out the back. Shit, $400! That would get me a deep pore cleanse, massage, hot stone treatment, and ball wax. Maybe even more. I looked at her suspiciously, assessing her gaze. She was uncomfortable and nervous. Juliet was on the level. She was a responsible nurse who understood the seriousness of Miranda messing with the career of a healthworker. While she had voiced her disapproval to me, she was not a participant in this ridiculous war.
“Who bought this?” I asked.
"I chipped in, Mom and Dad chipped in, and they're going to make Miranda kick in too,” she said. “Miranda will be really angry about having to do this, so I'm asking you nicely to not gloat to her. It isn't easy eating humble pie.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said. She turned to leave.
“Oh, and Harrison? Don't think this means we're on your side. You need to offer Cordelia fair compensation or let her pay you out. Mom and Dad have offered her the money, so don’t think she doesn’t have support. I won't pretend to like you. This must end. Neither of you can continue like this. That card is the last peace offering you'll ever get from my family. And if you see my dad, you better run the other way.”
Chapter 21: Harrison – The coven
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
All’s Well That Ends Well, William Shakespeare
She left before I could answer. The gift card was a decent gesture from them, but I could feel the hostility they had for me in my bones. It wasn’t forgiveness. It was recognition that Miranda had breached the boundaries of decency. Given I was now unemployed, my schedule was wide open. I booked an appointment for the afternoon. They must have had a cancellation that day because it was relatively free.
