My Fair Ladies

Awkward Day at the Office

Marjorie woke to her alarm and grumbled. She was comfortable, and with Autumn in her arms she really didn't want to go. Autumn roused. "Come on, Sunshine, I don't want you to go either, but we both know how the paperwork will pile up."

She grumbled once more while extracting herself from Autumn. "I have that meeting with Siobhan, so I have to go in, but I don't have to like it." Marjorie grabbed her bag and entered the en-suite. She emerged from the en-suite in a rush. Gathering all her things quickly and sitting to put on her flats. "I have to rush off, beautiful, I have nearly made myself late."

Autumn leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Will I see you tonight?" Marjorie looked at her. "Do you want to?" Autumn looked up and shot her a crooked smile. "Yes, I do" Marjorie leaned down and gave her her one last kiss. "God, I want to stay, but I've got to go."

She rushed down the stairs and outside before realising her car wasn't there. Before she could even turn around, she heard Autumn. "You forgot me. Come on I will take you to yours to pick it up."

They exchanged one more kiss in the drive before Marjorie disappeared into her own car and took off to the nursery. Autumn sat in the drive watching her pull out. She put her fingers to her lips and thought, "she loves me too."

Marjorie watched through the window as Siobhan's champagne Mercedes GLE pulled into the car park. She had no idea what the meeting was about, but Marjorie knew it had to be something serious to warrant Siobhan coming into the nursery to discuss it rather than sending an email. Marjorie turned her attention back to her computer as she heard a knock at the office door. "Come in." Marjorie looked up and saw Charlotte slowly walking in. "Marjorie I.... I" Marjorie shook her head. "Not here. Siobhan will be in any second, we will go out for lunch and talk." Charlotte left the paperwork she was intending to leave and headed back out of the office just as Siobhan walked through the door.

"Marjorie?" "Siobhan to what do I owe the pleasure?" "Put the claws away Marjorie. I don't intend to talk on anything to do with Autumn and Winter." Marjorie only just managed to keep a straight face. "What about them?" What did she know, had winter said anything to anyone? "I'm sorry for what they've been through." Marjorie was shocked at Siobhan's statement. What did she know? Siobhan was showing compassion. It was not something she was really known for giving to anyone. Marjorie gestured for Siobhan to take a seat, as the blonde sat, she spoke. "Anyway, down to business." "hmm?" "Jodie." Marjorie looked back at the blonde and shrugged her shoulders. "What about her?" "I'm inundated with complaints about her."

Marjorie was confused how could she have complaints about Jodie? "What? How is that even possible? She doesn't even interact with the parents anymore." "They're not coming from the parents; they're coming from chef." "Oh." Marjorie didn't know what to say. "Clearly kitchen life is not for her, and since she can't be trusted in the rooms either. It might be time to let her go." 

Marjorie was going to fight this. She wasn't about to throw someone to the curb just for not fitting in. "But if we let her go where else is she gonna work? Okay who's gonna hire her?" Siobhan looked at Marjorie with a blank expression on her face. "And exactly how is that my problem?" "It says very clearly on your website that this is a family business, and we take care of everyone. Okay, you can't just kick her to the curb." "Marjorie, we can't have her in the rooms, and she's eating through our profits in the kitchen. What, would you have me do?" Marjorie huffed in frustration just as Eric walked past the window to head out and litter pick the car park. "I've got it." Siobhan looked at Marjorie like she had lost her mind. "Care to enlighten me about your plan?" "Why don't we let her work with Eric in the garden? She's not in the rooms, and she can't eat through the profits or get under chef's feet. She still has a job here. What danger could she possibly pose?" Siobhan thought for a few moments. "Fine but this is on you, nobody else."  "Fine." Siobhan stood and left the office heading back out to her car. Both women were frustrated by the other, Marjorie carried on tapping away at her computer trying to get all the paperwork up to date.

As lunch time arrived, she heard a knock at the door again. "Come in." "Marjorie are you still okay to go out and grab lunch?" Charlotte walked into the office struggling to meet Marjorie's eyes. "Yes, my love, I'll be with you in a few minutes I just need to grab my things." Marjorie moved around the office collecting her handbag and jacket before heading out to the car.

They went to a local pub for lunch and to talk away from everyone at the nursery. Once they were seated at a table, Charlotte was the first to speak. "Marjorie, I'm so so sorry. I don't know how it happened; we were talking and then I .... We, we kissed." "Char you don't have to explain to me. I'm not angry with you. I kissed someone as well; I was coming home to break it off with Reece that night." Charlotte looked back up at Marjorie. She was surprised, "Marjorie why aren't you angry? Or screaming and shouting at me?" "Is it really worth loosing my best friend over a kiss when I'm guilty of doing the same thing? Besides, I promised Reece I'd keep his secret and that means keeping your secret as well." Both women ate and chatted like nothing had happened.

Marjorie had a question she needed to ask, "Char, where do you see things going? Do you want to be with Mia, or do you want to be with Reece?" Charlotte looked back at Marjorie with tears in her eyes. "I don't know Marjorie. I don't know what I want. I feel so confused about it all." Marjorie stood and walked around the table before lowering herself level with Charlotte. "Whatever you decide I'm here, and I'll support you through it." Charlotte pulled Marjorie into a hug. "Thank you, Marjorie, I was so scared I was going to lose you this time."

Marjorie placed her hand on Charlotte's face wiping her tears. "Not this time my love. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." Charlotte pulled her back into the hug sniffling. "I better go and wash my face before we head back." Charlotte headed to the bathroom to wash her face, while Marjorie headed to the bar to pay the cheque before heading back to the nursery.

As the day came to an end, she realised she hadn't had much time to think. She did, however, manage to get all the paperwork back up to date. She gathered her things to go and locked up the office. She and Charlotte walked out together without a word. Before they went their own way, Marjorie turned and hugged her. "It will be okay."

She pulled out of the car park and headed towards Autumn's wondering if Charlotte would question the direction she turned. She shook the thought from her mind. She was going home ... to Autumn.