, Come through the office and I'll issue you a pair of safety glasses while you're here, sign your job in and prioritize it and then buzz my dad to come and see you at the counter... Sound good?"
I nodded. Again. Seemed to be doing a lot of that today
. "Okay then... lets go get your job underway."
We made for minnie's office, "I get it. Your rules make good sense. It wasn't a disrespect thing and I apologise."
"Thanks. It's been a daily thing since we opened. My father refuses to be shut away without some natural light and fresh air coming in so guys just wander in and now I tend to go off the deep end. Being a female a lot of them think they can run rough-shod over me... Anyway, let me get my wash gear off and get your job signed in. S
he disappeared into a small room shrugging out of her jacket as she went
. Anyways, my name's Nikki. Nikki Martin. Didn't catch your name."
"Oh yeah, names Tony Carli, or Rav. Most call me Rav. I work for Jim Jones Motors, Diane Phillip's brother. She and her husband Matt Phillip's put us onto you. Thought we might use your services."
Nikki walked back in the room and I turned in her direction. Whatever it was that was next to leave my mouth disappeared. 'Minnie' had gone. Even in her baggy work garb, work boots, she was beautiful. Stunningly beautiful.
We stood looking at each other, well in my case it was staring. She critically casting her eyes up and down my body. We looked to be within an inch or so of each other in height, I'm five-foot-seven, "Ahah! So. You're Rav."
She never looked up just wrote the details for the job in her diary. She was all business but her smile came and went like she was thinking about a private little joke she was keeping to herself.
When she did look back I noticed a casual, cute little smile. One raised eyebrow but there was a bit of mischief too, "Diane and I have chatted about you. Well actually Diane was doing a bit of the hard sell, I got the feeling she was just spinning me a bit of a yarn. But now... Hmm... I'm not so sure."
Nikki moved closer, smile still there. Those blue eyes fixed on mine, almost daring me to look away, "So. What time are you picking me up for the prize-giving Rav?"
_ _ _
I know I talked to Nikki, very easy to talk to, but right now... Ah, the subject we talked about escapes me. I had told her all the important points though; I'd pick her up at seven-thirty on Saturday night, there really wasn't a dress code but for a bunch of bogans we tended to dress up a bit for that night.
She told me it was all good, Diane and Mary had given her some ideas and she told me her address was twenty-two Riddiford street, "Ah you'll have to bring your dancing shoes."
"You dance too Rav! That, is totally awesome. I can't wait."
I smiled at her and told her the same, I didn't want to but I needed to get back to work, at the last moment decided to make one more stop. I'd drop in and see Diane Bloody Phillips. Why did I get the feeling I'd been setup by everybody. It even had the smell of my boss being involved.
Diane's face was expressionless, she knew something, just wasn't saying what - I'd guess it was a call from Nikki.
I didn't beat about the bush, "Just met Nikki Martin. She'll be my date for Saturday but YOU and others already knew that. So I don't trip up and make a fool of myself do I need a heads-up of some kind?"
"So it went good then, eh?"
I wasn't going over what happened first up between Nikki and me, it wasn't important anymore. I gave Diane a look that I hoped she'd be smart enough to interpret, given her involvement so far. She could help answer some questions I had. The small eye roll she gave told me she knew exactly what I was after.
"Rav, let me make one thing clear. I'm not telling you her whole story. You will have to ask her, it's her story. We met Alan and Nikki through the Palmer's, LC and Alan worked together in the service. Nikki's mother did a runner while Alan was overseas with the United Nations. Nikki was at boarding school. She arrived home at the weekend to find an empty house. The bitch sold everything, fortunately they stopped her selling the house. Of course it did a long-lasting head job on Alan and Nikki. I mean who even does that kinda shit on people they're meant to love. On her OWN daughter Rav. Anyway you'll find Nikki is very protective of Alan and they have a great relationship. Since then Nikki and Alan have concentrated on just supporting and being there for each other."
"There was a dipshit dropkick boyfriend that got fresh with his fist's and beat her up. Now she's trying to get back to being able to trust other people. She has had a pretty tough life up to now Rav.
When it came to her meeting and making friends she said she's ready to move forward. Me and Mary both thought of you which is why we told Nikki a bit about you. And a little about your life. You know, your dad leaving, your mum passing and what Jayne did to you. Again, no details...
Rav, I hope we didn't overstep the mark. Nikki called after you left and I feel a bit guilty now. I thought I may've pissed you off."
"No. Like I said, just a bit of a heads up so I don't stuff it up or put my foot in it asking the wrong questions. So thanks. I really like her Di."
"I'm pleased Rav, we all reckon you'll be good for each other... So you taking her out for a meal first?"
('Shit!')
"Ah crap Di, didn't even think about it."
_ _ _
Nikki said yes about a meal so at six I arrived on her doorstep. I was pretty much dumbstruck when Nikki slowly and cautiously opened the door. I think she was hoping to stay concealed but she ran out of door and finally stood in front of me. She was trying to smooth the front of her dress down with her hands, frown on her face she nervously looked at me, "Do I look alright Rav."
I paused for a second before moving quickly to grab her hands, "Nikki, you're bloody beautiful."
She reached both hands out so I grabbed a hold. Needy? Me! Nah, not a chance.
"Thank you, I'm so nervous. It's four years since I've dated and when I did it wasn't often so I'll be learning again as I go and I'm afraid you may have to put up with me asking inappropriate questions or making a few... mistakes."
We still had hold of each others hands but I couldn't help laughing
. "I'm waffling aren't I Rav?"
"Look at us. We're both nervous, prob'ly because of our pasts. I've never dated, with my 'previous' we met at a party and fell into a relationship. Its new for both of us. If I'd made special time for her who knows. But I wouldn't have met you and that would've been tragic. For me."
Nikki had a mile-wide smile that threatened to light up the whole world as we continued to study each other, "I think we maybe two of a kind Rav."
She released our hands.
"I'll get my clutch and we'll go."
We sat to dine and fell into a comfortable space we both wanted to share. Nerves, awkward moments weren't there. We were willing to share our stories and a couple from both of us were pretty ugly but because they were on familiar ground for both of us there wasn't hesitation about sharing the nasty details.
Soon though we'd moved our conversations in an upbeat direction. I asked Nikki her career choices, "I'm completing my cert-four engineering drafting certificate, you know Rav, CAD and 3D modeling and programing. It was always what I wanted to do and I'm kinda passionate about. I know I waffle on a lot about it when I get going so I apologise about that. Anyway, most of my work is based around it and it adds to the service we provide, kinda not having to rely on design out-work. I want to expand, dad knows we're going to need more trained staff."
I know she could tell I was impressed, but she veered away from anymore about herself, asking me the same question. I explained I was a qualified mechanic, had picked up a cert course in welding and wasn't totally sure what direction I wanted to go. I told her I live in my mum's original family home which I'm restoring and updating slowly, "My mum use to say,
'Anthony, take it one step at a time. Roma wasn't built in a day.'
Other than that I guess my story is in progress."
Nikki didn't say a thing, she reached across and wrapped her hand around mine. We left the restaurant at a bit shy of eight o'clock, a tad late but a while before the bullshit started.
_ _ _
Man, it was crowded. Nikki stunned everybody. Her dress wasn't short, it tapered down from just above one knee. Neither did it show a lot of her cleavage but what it did show was subtle and lovely. And the dress was a burgundy with a bit of sparkle. On her feet she wore heels I knew she'd be comfortable dancing in. Elegant.
With Nikki's natural tan completing her look, her audience spent a lot of time just staring at her. To say I was very proud to have Nikki and I arm in arm holding hands would be an understatement.
Everybody came to us, well her really. The males came just to gawk and flirt. The wives and partners came to meet the woman that had unintentionally raised the bar on the event.
A few of the wives 'bristling a bit' came to confront her but it took five minutes before smiles and laughs replaced their critical looks. I took a bit of ribbing about being way out of my pay grade with Nikki.
She spent time chatting with everybody who wanted to talk to her. I watched: she talked easily, warmly and listened intently to whoever she talked to.
I smiled as I heard a conversation between her, Gerry Aitchison and Matt Phillips about setting caster and camber on wishbone suspensions. Nikki shared some fabrication ideas she had. That drew more to the conversations.
They all wanted details. Dinner napkins became working drawings as well as makeshift business cards for L&N engineering. I was starting to wonder if Nikki would end up part of club folklore,
'Hey granddad tell us the one about the women in the sparkly dress that made ya racecar work on a paper napkin.'
Even Vic Janssen and his mechanic were listening in on the conversation, without being obvious. Not his strong suit. He was wary but interested. His mechanic, Dutch, went to ask Nikki a question and Vic glared at him and dragged him away.
