As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lori Wick
Bobbie smiled kindly and held out her hand. Marcail must have instantly liked what she saw because she shook Bobbie's hand with enthusiasm.
"My sister's going to have a baby," Marcarl informed Bobbie seriously.
'a'd you'll be Aunt Marcail," Bobbie replied with a smile. ''i think that's wonderful. I have a niece and a nephew and they're so much fun. I know you'll love being an aunt." The little girl beamed at her newfound friend before May claimed Bobbie once again and began showing her the desk where she would do the majority of her work.
The shipping company was located in a spacious building on a corner lot. The office had a sectioned-off corner for a private office for Bill, whose window overlooked the side street. Bobbie's desk, formerly May's, sat in the opposite corner with a complete view of the entire room as well as the large windows that looked out over the loading area and the street.
As Time Goes By 63
May sensed immediately that Bobbie had a complete knowledge of the job. She knew everyone had his own way of doing things and wanted to leave Bobbie to her task as soon as possible. Ten minutes later May left so Marcail would not be late for school, telling Bobbie if she needed anything to knock on Bill's door.
May was not gone ten seconds when a woman came in wanting to send a package to San Francisco. Upon meeting Bobbie, the woman wanted complete details as to the whereabouts of May. Bobbie, with her kind attitude and ready smile, explained to her who she was and why May was not there. At the desk Bobbie recorded all the information for the package before accompanying the woman out to her buggy, where she gave Bobble the large parcel she wanted sent.
The package wasn't so much heavy as it was awkward, and Bobbie walked back inside, peeking over the top of it as she moved. After closing the door she turned without looking and ran into someone whose arms came out and lifted the burden from her. Bobbie's head tipped back to see who was before her. Jeff Taylor stood regarding her with serious, almost hesitant eyes.
Bobbie grinned into those eyes, her own filled with friendship and something that might have been defined as tenderness. She had already given much thought as to how hard this might be for him.
"Hello, Jeff," she said softly. Jeff's relief was so great he sighed audibly.
"Hello, Bobbie." He smiled, his whole body losing its former tenseness. "I see Mom didn't waste any time in putting you to work."
Bobbie, trying not to laugh at the sigh and look of relief that had come over her co-worker's face, continued to grin at him.
67 As Time Goes By 65
"I don't mind. It's pretty routine and I have a tendency to get antsy if I don't have something to do."
They smiled at each other again, and Jeff mentally shook his head over the way he had tortured himself all through the night and that morning over how uncom fortable it was going to be working with Bobbie.
He had deliberately come into the office late, putting off what he was sure would be awkward: to find Bobbie handling a customer like a pro. He had watched her, unnoticed, from the doorway of the storeroom. Jeff was fascinated. Cheerful and efficient, she was not at all as he expected.
The only problem he could see was her obvious ten dency to overdo. His mother would never have lifted a package as heavy as the one Bobbie had. May would have called to one of the men in the family for assistance. Jeff placed the package against the wall, taking note as he did that it was already wrapped for travel, and turned
back to Santa Rosa's newest shipping clerk. "Bobbie, in the future be sure to call one of us to help you with packages that heavy."
Bobbie was surprised. What was she there for if not to work? There was absolutely no way she was going to go running for help every time a large package came in. Why, the very thought of it!
Jeff was still staring at her, so Bobbie decided to re assure him. "I wouldn't lift something that I couldn't handle,
"My sister's going to have a baby," Marcarl informed Bobbie seriously.
'a'd you'll be Aunt Marcail," Bobbie replied with a smile. ''i think that's wonderful. I have a niece and a nephew and they're so much fun. I know you'll love being an aunt." The little girl beamed at her newfound friend before May claimed Bobbie once again and began showing her the desk where she would do the majority of her work.
The shipping company was located in a spacious building on a corner lot. The office had a sectioned-off corner for a private office for Bill, whose window overlooked the side street. Bobbie's desk, formerly May's, sat in the opposite corner with a complete view of the entire room as well as the large windows that looked out over the loading area and the street.
As Time Goes By 63
May sensed immediately that Bobbie had a complete knowledge of the job. She knew everyone had his own way of doing things and wanted to leave Bobbie to her task as soon as possible. Ten minutes later May left so Marcail would not be late for school, telling Bobbie if she needed anything to knock on Bill's door.
May was not gone ten seconds when a woman came in wanting to send a package to San Francisco. Upon meeting Bobbie, the woman wanted complete details as to the whereabouts of May. Bobbie, with her kind attitude and ready smile, explained to her who she was and why May was not there. At the desk Bobbie recorded all the information for the package before accompanying the woman out to her buggy, where she gave Bobble the large parcel she wanted sent.
The package wasn't so much heavy as it was awkward, and Bobbie walked back inside, peeking over the top of it as she moved. After closing the door she turned without looking and ran into someone whose arms came out and lifted the burden from her. Bobbie's head tipped back to see who was before her. Jeff Taylor stood regarding her with serious, almost hesitant eyes.
Bobbie grinned into those eyes, her own filled with friendship and something that might have been defined as tenderness. She had already given much thought as to how hard this might be for him.
"Hello, Jeff," she said softly. Jeff's relief was so great he sighed audibly.
"Hello, Bobbie." He smiled, his whole body losing its former tenseness. "I see Mom didn't waste any time in putting you to work."
Bobbie, trying not to laugh at the sigh and look of relief that had come over her co-worker's face, continued to grin at him.
67 As Time Goes By 65
"I don't mind. It's pretty routine and I have a tendency to get antsy if I don't have something to do."
They smiled at each other again, and Jeff mentally shook his head over the way he had tortured himself all through the night and that morning over how uncom fortable it was going to be working with Bobbie.
He had deliberately come into the office late, putting off what he was sure would be awkward: to find Bobbie handling a customer like a pro. He had watched her, unnoticed, from the doorway of the storeroom. Jeff was fascinated. Cheerful and efficient, she was not at all as he expected.
The only problem he could see was her obvious ten dency to overdo. His mother would never have lifted a package as heavy as the one Bobbie had. May would have called to one of the men in the family for assistance. Jeff placed the package against the wall, taking note as he did that it was already wrapped for travel, and turned
back to Santa Rosa's newest shipping clerk. "Bobbie, in the future be sure to call one of us to help you with packages that heavy."
Bobbie was surprised. What was she there for if not to work? There was absolutely no way she was going to go running for help every time a large package came in. Why, the very thought of it!
Jeff was still staring at her, so Bobbie decided to re assure him. "I wouldn't lift something that I couldn't handle,
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