alarm.â
Moaning sleepily as someone shook her shoulder, Holly turned onto her back and peered blearily up at the fair-Âhaired man bent over her. âJames?â
âYeah. Get up, girl. Youâll be late for work,â he warned and turned to walk out of the room.
Holly stared after him with confusion and then glanced at the clock on the bedside table. 8:11. She had slept through the night andâÂ
âCrap!â she muttered and tossed the sheets aside to get up, realizing only then that it was actually the towel sheâd fallen asleep in. Catching it up again, she stood and wrapped it around herself, then moved to the closet. She had to dress andâÂ
Holly paused in front of the closet but rather than search for clothes, she merely shifted her feet as she thought. She wasnât even sure she had a job anymore. Sheâd missed two days and might be fired. She really needed to call and find out and . . . she was starved. Turning, Holly headed out of the room. She would eat first, and then call, and then dress. At least that way she would know what she was dressing for . . . work, or groveling at the temp agency for a new position.
A grimace claimed her lips at the very thought. Holly hate, hate, hated working for the temp agency, but appreciated the job at the same time because they were willing to work around her class schedule.
Holly had worked full-Âtime to support them while James had got his applied sciences degree at the local college. Heâd worked too, part-Âtime, like she was doing now. The degree had got him a job with a low starting wage, but a lot of promise for the future. Now it was her turn. So, James had his full-Âtime position and she had her part-time gig with the temp agency while finishing her degree. They were presently between spring and summer courses, so she had been working full-Âtime the last week and was supposed to this week . . . but sheâd missed two days. The temp agency may already have put someone else in her position.
Holly walked down to the kitchen and peered into the refrigerator, examining the contents. Sheâd gone shopping the night before her unfortunate trip to the cemetery and had bought loads of fruits and vegetables. Most of them were now gone and what remained didnât look very appealing.
Sighing, she closed the door and glanced to the cupboards. There should be cereal. James didnât eat cereal . . . and she had spotted a milk carton in the refrigerator. Whether there was any actual milk in it was another question. James had the annoying tendency to put empty cartons, or nearly empty cartons, back in the refrigerator. She started toward the cupboard where the cereal should be, but then changed her mind. Cereal just didnât seem appealing to her at the moment either.
Holly turned in a circle and then moved to the phone. She may as well get the call done. If she did have to go to work, she had to get moving and then she could grab something to eat on the way.
Holly knew the temp agency number by heart and quickly dialed it, then waited patiently for Gladys to answer. The woman took her business very seriously and showed up as early as 7:00 A.M. or even before that when things needed doing.
âGood morning, Temps for Hire.â
Holly forced a smile into her voice and said, âGood morning, Gladys.â
âHolly! Good morning, sweetie. Iâm glad you called,â Gladys said sounding happy. âI have to tell you, youâre really making points for us at Sunnyside. They love you there.â
Holly stilled, her eyebrows rising. Finally she asked in cautious tones, âThey do?â
âOh, my, yes. Every time I call they give me nothing but compliments on you and your work.â
Holly hesitated, but then asked, âAnd when did you last talk to them?â
âYesterday. I called for my weekly checkup,â she answered promptly. âAnd they
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