Darcy
I just knew when I put a foot out of bed this morning it was going to be a bad day. First, I didn’t sleep well. My Dad had a bad night, then I have to get up because I hate to see him in pain, he thinks I don’t hear him cry in the night; but I do. When I did get up eventually, there was no milk in the fridge which means no coffee… could the day get any worse.
It’s Monday, of course it can; and it has… as soon as that cocky arsehole walked into my garage.
He drives his big truck around so I can put it on the computer and test the electrics. Ugh, why do men have big trucks, does it do something for their egos - in fact scratch that, I know it does. He stands there with his hands in his pockets watching me. Obviously, because I’m a woman I can’t do my job – well I’ve got news for him, I’m better than both of those dicks that work here! I’ve never liked being made out to be the fairer sex.
I’ve been in and out of this garage since I was eight years old, my Dad used to bring me in, show me around and taught me the basics of a car. He always said, ‘whether you’re male or female, you should know your spark plug from your headlamp, my lass,’ in his northern accent. By the time I’d reached fifteen, I could do most things, change spark plugs, do an oil change, and pretty much anything that centred around an engine. Of course, now they’re mainly electrical. Give me an old car to work on any day.
I lift my head to see him staring at me, he’s got that cocky grin plastered all over his face again and I want to hit him. I couldn’t believe what he said… ‘little darlin’, sweet thing, I’ll fucking show him sweet thing.
“Soooo, what’s your name sweetheart?” I watch as he rocks back on his heels as he gives me that smirk again, like I’m going to fall for that!
“Why do you want to know?” Looking at him, I raise an eyebrow, sigh then turn my attention back towards the computer. The reading says there’s nothing electrically wrong. “Look, there’s nothing showing up, I’m going to have to keep it for a while and take a proper look.”
“Okay, so are you going to tell me your name or not?” He asks as I watch him pull his phone from his pocket. He types out a message as he asks the question. I study his profile, he’s really good looking… it’s a shame he ruins it when he speaks, now if he could keep his mouth shut.
He’s got light brown hair with a light stubble on his chin, which looks like he hasn’t shaved for a couple of days maybe, he seems fit, a lot taller than me though – although that’s not hard when you’re five feet four.
“How do I know who to ask for if you don’t tell me?” he says with that cheeky grin, he thinks he’s got me.
“You just don’t give up do ya? Well seeing as I’m the only female that works here… I’d say you have no problems. Ring in a couple of hours, I should know whether it’s ready then.”
I pass him a card with the garage name and number on then turn away from him, dismissing him. I go back to his truck and climb up into it – I do mean climb, it’s huge! If he’s still there he’s just had a full view of my arse getting in this stupid oversized monstrosity.
Looking through the rear-view mirror I watch him walk from the garage with a laptop bag, he’s got a very nice view from behind I’ll admit that. ‘No Darcy – stop it! I’ve got enough on my plate.’ He gets into an Audi A5 as I turn back towards the front and turn on the engine.
I work on his truck change his brake pads, filters and give it a once over to make sure there wasn’t anything else wrong.
* * * * * * * *
“Hey Darcy, you got a call!” Steve, one of the mechanics, shouts to me with the phone still in his hand as he holds it out to me.
“Fucks sake, don’t say my name!” I whisper loudly to him. “Idiot.” I put the phone to my ear and act professional. “Hello, Ambrose Mechanics.”
“Hello, Darcy.”
“Yes, can I help you?” I answer sighing heavily.
“I was wondering if my truck was ready?”
“You can pick up your truck whenever you’re ready.”
“Will you be there when I get there?” I can hear the amusement in his tone, ignoring him I carry on.
“It’s £120 that’s for everything including labour.”
“Okay thanks, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Putting the phone down, I narrow my eyes at Steve. “Dickhead.” I walk back to my work area, clean up where I’ve been working and drive his truck out the front. As I’m turning off the engine, I see him pull up in the same Audi A5 but with a blonde driving.
She’s gorgeous too – hang on was he flirting with me when he has a girlfriend? What a wanker! Jumping out of the truck, I walk into the office, grab his invoice and walk out front to meet him.
“There’s your invoice, your keys and a list of things I’ve changed. It was in pretty poor condition considering its age but if you have any problems with it then bring it back. Cash or card?”
He’s staring at me as if I’ve just spoken in a foreign language. Looking into his very pretty, blue eyes, that are like an ocean, way to pretty to be on a man, they’re finished off with long eyelashes… no, he has a girlfriend! I shake myself from my hypnotic state and pretend I wasn’t mesmerised by him. “Hello, did you hear me?” Today has been such a shitty day, maybe I should go home.
“Um, sorry yeah and I’m paying by card.”
Walking away to the office I can feel his eyes on me. Once I’ve set up the card machine I ask him to pay and send him on his way.
“So, do I get your number then or what? My name’s Adam by the way.”
I raise my eyebrows at him.
“Thanks for using us… Adam. Like I said, if you have any problems at all bring it back. You get a six-month warranty on any work we do.”
I try to explain everything but he still has that stupid grin on his face like the cat who’s got the cream or something, other women might fall for it but not me. He takes the card from my fingers as I hold it out, then he smiles – not a grin or a smirk; it was a smile. And it’s a gorgeous one… bastard.
“Thank you… Darcy.” He turns to walk away, on his way out of the garage he shouts back, “Nice name by the way!”
Shaking my head at his nerve I put away the card reader and decide I’ve had enough for one day. I head out to the lads and tell them to lock up, jump into my white Ford Focus and head home.
Walking into the house, Dad is sitting in his chair, looking empty, vacant.
“Hey, Dad.”
Sitting on the arm of the chair next to him, I lean down to him and kiss him on his cheek. He turns his face towards me and smiles, I know he’s hiding his pain though. Today’s a not so good day. I start to tell him about my day, how busy we’ve been but I don’t think it really registers to him. He never takes his eyes off the telly so I get up and go to the kitchen. Mum’s in there preparing dinner for us.
“Hi Mum.”
“Hello angel, you okay? How was work?”
“Busy.”
I pop the kettle on to make a brew and get three cups prepared. Standing with my back against the counter, I face my Mum.
“Dad doesn’t look too good today,” I say to her gently.
Mum gave up work to look after my Dad when his depression got worse, but he says he doesn’t need looking after, he does.
Dad suffers with depression. He had an accident at the garage a couple of years back and slipped the discs in his back, he had an operation to replace them but it’s not really worked. He still has a lot of pain and hasn’t regained his full mobility, yeah, he can get about, but he can’t work in the garage - well he could, he could take over the admin; but he doesn’t. Ever since the accident, he’s been on medication. Some days he barely speaks or gets out of out of bed, others, he’s not too bad. Just lately though - there’s been more bad days than good but we just take every day as it comes now.
He also feels guilty that Mum had to give up full time work to look after him and now she works part time instead, mainly weekends, just in the local supermarket. She hates it but she said one of them needs to work and no matter how many times she tells him that she prefers being at home with him more – he doesn’t believe her. It’s so hard to be happy when he’s stuck at home; he should be at the garage with me, running it like the old days.
I kiss my Mum’s cheek and hug her. Slipping a packet of biscuits under my arm, I grab mine and Dad’s cup and head towards the door. Before walking through the door, I turn back to face her…
“Love you, Mum.” She turns from the counter and smiles.
“Love you too, angel.”
Smiling back at her, I turn away and go to the lounge and take Dad his cuppa. I put it down on the table at the side of him as he says thank you, but doesn’t look at me.
Leaving him to his car program, I head upstairs and sit on my bed. I look through my notifications on my phone while I drink my tea and eat my biscuits. It’s not long before I’m laying down though and dropping off to sleep, maybe I’ll just have an hour. It’s been one of those ‘same shit, different day’ days.