I should hope so, it’s taken me days to get to this point, but I’m not about to say that to the guy who signs my paycheck.
Instead, I take a few minutes to show him exactly how I organized everything.
When I’m done, he says, “This is wonderful, Jo. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I promise never to let Jamie do the filing again.”
I laugh. “I appreciate that.”
Walking over to his desk, I pick up a folder from the stack I left there.
“What are those?” He questions.
I chew on the inside of my cheek, wondering if I should even broach this subject with him.
“Well, I was going through all of the files, and I see that all of the ones in this stack have unpaid invoices.”
Before he can say anything, I keep going. When I’m nervous, I feel the need to fill the silence.
“I didn’t mean to pry, but it looks like you let them do some type of payment plan, but then, they just stopped paying. Please forgive me if I’m overstepping the line here, but I just wasn’t sure if you were aware of it or not. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of your generosity.”
He crosses his arms over his chest before using one hand to rub over his thick beard. “Yeah, I knew there were a few who hadn’t paid, but I didn’t realize the stack was quite this high.”
“Look, Jack, I don’t have a business, so please feel free to tell me to fuck off, but I’ve watched my parents run Andre’s for years. While both of them are pretty generous, they also know that it’s a business and they need to turn a profit to keep the doors open.”
Jack’s eyes find mine, and I snap my mouth shut, thinking for sure I’ve offended him.
The silence between us seems to last forever, and my mind immediately starts thinking about what I’m going to do for a job when my brother-in-law tells me to fuck off.
Finally, he speaks, “Yeah, you’re right.”
I exhale a deep breath of relief.
He goes on. “I never mind doing a payment plan, and honestly, I’m not good at following up with people. The shop has been so busy that I haven’t paid much attention. I just don’t have a lot of extra time.”
My mouth once again starts talking before my brain has a chance to catch up.
“I have the time. I mean I could follow up with these people and remind them that they still have money owed.”
Jack takes a seat on the edge of his desk. “Jo, is everything okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m super grateful to have help with the office business, but it doesn’t really seem like your style. I figured you’d be chomping at the bit to be out in the bay getting your hands dirty.”
“I already told you that I’m just here to help–in whatever way you need me to.”
“Jo, I realize you and I haven’t spent an abundance of time together, but in the time we have spent together, I didn’t think you were quite so…”
“Pleasant?”
He laughs. “I was going to say accommodating.”
He has a point. Usually, I’m quite a bit more stubborn.
“Look,” I begin. “Right now, I just want to work as much as possible. Keeping busy keeps me out of my own head until I figure out my next move. Right now, you seem to need more help in here than out in the bay, and I know Beau would prefer it if I stayed in here.”
