Lacey had brought a lot of me out. While Fran and I were good friends, Fran didn't hold anything back verbally. Lacey was like a hurricane. She did what she wanted when she wanted, and she didn't care about how people felt about her or what she did. She always said it was their problem to deal with and not hers.
The way she approached life made me think twice about mine. I had always done things for other people, first my brothers and family, then my friends and husband.
When Lacey came over to my house, it was like she had met Jeff, which had never happened. There was nothing in the house that screamed or even voiced my thoughts.
"What are you doing?" Ray asked as I had called for a large dumpster to come to the house.
"What does it look like?" I said as I started throwing things into it.
"Jeff's stuff?" Ray said as he saw me throwing away most of the things that belonged to Jeff.
"Yup," I said.
"Hi," Lacey said as she was helping me throw things away.
"Hi," Ray said.
"Down girl," I said as I saw Lacey's eyes flash as Ray appeared. "I will get the cold-water bucket, if I have to," I threatened.
"That could be fun," Lacey said as she stood close to Ray. "Wet T shirt, big boobs, a little imagination or a lot, whatever piques your interest."
"You must be Lacey," Ray said.
"Guilty," Lacey flirted.
"I will help you, but not in that way," Ray said as he looked at Lacey.
"Too bad," Lacey shrugged.
We tore through the house like a tornado. When we finished, it felt like there was not much left. But I finally felt the house was mine and only mine. When everyone left, I packed the items Jeff's mum had wanted me to send her. It felt odd talking to her, but she knew her son and never pressed the issue of why I didn't show to his funeral. She had told me about Doug's accident. Supposedly he had drunk too much coming from the bar and went off the side of the mountain. I knew better, but I didn't want to tell her about it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"So, great news," Hank said as I was called to his office.
I sat down and smiled, waiting for the good news.
"Oliver has given his one-month report, and it speaks volumes about what you have done for him," Hank said. "I have to admit when you were hired, I had my doubts, not coming from a credited source and not having any experience."
"I felt the same way," I nodded. "But I feel at home here, if I can say that?"
"Definitely, so I have to ask, can you take on another client?" Hank asked.
Managing Oliver had been a full-time task, but I knew if I wanted to be taken seriously, I had to be able to do more. Some of the others had four or five clients.
"Sure," I nodded.
"Good," Hank said as he handed me over the information.
I put all the work down on my table in my small cubicle like office. Susan was a college student who was graduating this year and wanted to be an Olympic swimmer; the only problem was that other facilities had turned her down because of an injury.
"Huh?" I said as I looked over all the information given to me.
I needed more information, so I had to go to our resource room. Looking up all the things I could and couldn't do with Susan due to her injury and what I could do to help her recover.
"Hey," a voice said from behind me as I looked through some of the books.
"Hey," I replied, not looking up.
"Charles," a hand came into view.
I tried not to sigh, but I knew what was coming. "Robin," I said as I looked up at a tall man.
"So, you're the new trainer," Charles said.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Look if you ever need...." Charles started to say.
"I think I got this, but if I ever do, then I am sure I can lean on many of the resources," I said as I looked around.
Hank had warned me about many of the male trainers. He was right about the last two that I had met. While they were professional with their clients, they were a bit too assertive with the female trainers.
Charles nodded as he took the hint.
The meeting with Susan went well. She was all I thought she would be. A complete fireball ready to prove people wrong. She agreed with everything I had planned for her and was dead set on getting started immediately.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I haven't seen that look on your face ever!" Lacey said as we met at the nightclub.
"What face?" I asked as we entered.
"You look happy," Lacey said as she waved at the bartender.
"Hello ladies," he said as he handed over our drinks.
"Uh huh," I said as I looked away from him.
"Don't mind her," Lacey said as we walked away.
"I am happy," I said.
I truly felt happier than I had in years. I was doing something I loved, even though the house was somewhat empty now. When I came home, it truly felt like my house. The best thing was that the next time I bought anything, I didn't have to ask myself if Jeff or anybody else would like it.
The usual suspects came out to play as we danced together. Except for one, I spotted him standing over there by himself and told myself to go for it.
"Be right back," I said as I walked off the dance floor.
"Hey," Marcus said as I got close to him.
"Hey," I replied. "So, what does it take for you to join us on the dance floor?"
"I can't," Marcus said as he looked around.
"Can't go because of work, or can't because you can't dance?" I asked. I was flirting, and I knew it.
If someone told me last year that I would be flirting with a black man at a nightclub just after midnight, I would have laughed at them, but here I was, staring up at him.
"The first, and if you can wait for another hour or more, I will show you," Marcus said.
"I will hold you to that," I smiled as I turned around.
I knew he was staring at my ass as I walked away. I was glad I was wearing a short purple dress and high heels.
I went to get another drink and watched as two men danced with Lacey.
"So, what do I have to do to get you to like me?" the bartender asked.
"Rob, is it?" I said as I turned to face him.
"Yeah," he said as he leaned forward.
"Don't take this personal, but," I smiled as I leaned forward and stared at his crotch. "I like things to last longer than a television commercial."
Rob stood at me speechless. "Like I said nothing personal," I said as I took my drink.
"Bitch," Rob said as he walked away.
"I'll take that," I nodded.