“Just a sec, hun.” He took a breath before sending one more pleading look toward Duke. “As the owner of a company, you can’t spend your time making five dollar decisions. That’s someone else's job. It’s your job to make the million dollar decisions. Or else this isn’t going anywhere. You have people working under you that depend on you to make this company a success. You might make a living, but if you keep things up this way, you’re never going to make a life.”
Elaine sighed, as though she’d heard this same argument many times between these two men she loved. Duke had remained rigid by my side, his arms folded and almost pulling off a passive air, if not for the twitch of his jaw. But he didn’t say anything. He looked beaten down by his father’s words and seeing it made my blood begin to heat.
I had many emotions when they suddenly showed up here. At first, I was embarrassed to be caught hugging their son. When their eyes took in my dirt-stained clothes and my cleaning cart, I wanted to hide. I didn’t want to make Duke look bad in front of his parents. That thought shamed me now. Duke hadn’t looked or acted embarrassed by me, so why should I be? My cleaning job wasn’t something to be embarrassed about. I was suddenly so proud of working. Of this job. Of making sure this office was spotless each night. Even when I could hardly keep my eyes open and my limbs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, I came here, I did my job, and then I came back to do it again the next day. There was something satisfying in that. There was something satisfying about getting my hands dirty and the lessons I learned every time I did. And while I appreciated Roger’s insight about million dollar decisions, there was a place for both. Because both were necessary.
There were so many things to be proud of in Duke. If his own father didn’t see that, then someone would have to tell him.
“I’ve got something to say.” My voice sounded stronger than it did in my head and for that, I was grateful. I put my cleaning supplies back in my cart and turned to face them.
His mom watched me curiously, his dad in disbelief.
Here goes nothing.
“You guys should feel so proud of your son. He and his friends made this company from nothing. In three years they outgrew their garage, hired over fifteen employees, and just tonight won a huge client. Duke was bouncing off the walls before you walked in and ruined that.” I reached over to clutch Duke’s arm but I didn’t look at him. I was scared he’d tell me to stop, but I was just getting started.
“Duke is here working hard every day. He’s laughing with all his employees, he’s making this office a fun, comfortable space where peoplewantto be here. Everyone loves him. But you know what he also does? He pays attention to the little things. If he finds me still here cleaning, he picks up a brush and helps. Even when I beg him to stop, he still does it. Because he appreciates every aspect of every job that runs a business.”
Roger snorted, “With all due respect, Nora, I don’t think that’s why he’s—”
“It is,” I said, arms folded, blocking hits and taking down names. “Because he’s got the best heart of anybody I’ve ever known.”
I couldn’t believe I’d interrupted Duke’s father, but I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to, the words were spilling out of me. I could feel Duke looking at me.
“I have no doubt that you’re a brilliant businessman. There are probably lots of things Duke would love to learn from you, but if he told you he doesn’t want your money, you need to respect that.”
“There aren’t too many people in this world who would refuse free money to help grow their business,” Roger said slowly, exasperation rimmed on every word he spat.
“I don’t want it, Dad,” Duke said quietly, his hands disappearing into his pockets. “I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I want to do this my own way.”
Roger stared at his son in disbelief. Elaine bounced back and forth from me to Duke and then to Roger. He blew a heated blast of air from his nose and let out a dry laugh and held his hand out toward his wife. “Well, Elaine, I guess we’d better go. We can’t fix crazy.”
Duke ran a hand through his hair and made a noise as though he’d heard that phrase a hundred times.
One time was enough for me.
“Maybe you could learn a few things from him? Did you ever think of that?” Roger’s annoyed eyes landed on mine like I was a bug he’d like to squash. My stomach clenched inside, but on the outside I was a force to be reckoned with. “There are so many things you miss in life when you pass off everything you deem not worth your time. Things too small for you. But the five dollar decisions are where the people are. Where humanity is. That’s where the real lessons are learned. Even you had to start somewhere, and shame on you if you’ve forgotten that. You were mad that he wasted a whole Saturday to come work on a five dollar business. But if you could have seen the look on Bart and Birdie’s faces when he showed up, I don’t think anyone would have called that a waste. They broke down his truck so he wouldn’t leave. That’s the kind of stuff that fuels the world. He’s got an office of employees he genuinely cares about and is creating a company they’d want to spend a lifetime working for. So yeah, this business could probably explode with your help, but I’d say he’s doing just fine growing it on his own.”
The well of words building inside of me had finally run dry, leaving me a panting, sweaty ball of rapidly diminishing fire. I braved a glance at Duke. I would have laughed if it wasn’t so sweet. He was looking at me with a stunned expression, his eyebrows furrowed as though he was trying to compute everything that just happened. But there was another expression on his face, one that made it all worth it. Relief. After a moment, he smiled at me.
I turned back to his parents. Elaine looked the most approachable. Roger had his arms folded and looked like he had more to say, but his wife’s hand on his arms seemed enough to keep him from speaking.
Clearing my throat, I said, “I apologize if I overstepped, but—”
“No apology necessary.” Elaine said, smiling at me ever so slightly. “I think you made some excellent points. We’re going to get out of your hair, but Nora, I hope we see you again.”
I knew Roger had more to say, but Elaine coaxed him out the door, with a promise to come visit another day. And then they were gone.
After a long moment of standing together in a sort of shocked silence, Duke looked over at me.
“What. Was. That?” Duke spoke the words slowly, incredulously.
My hands covered my face. I didn’t regret the words, but I’d hate myself if Duke regretted me saying them. Maybe I should have asked. Maybe yelling at his dad made him feel less like a man. Oh my gosh, I yelled at his dad. His big business, high profile dad. I didn’t just yell at him, I gave himadvice. I assumed so many things about him, I—
I slowly felt myself being pulled into Duke’s arms. His touch released a sigh and a smile from me at the same time. My head fell against his chest.
“I don’t think I would have ever had the guts to say all of those things to his face like that.”
“I don’t know what came over me. I hated the way he spoke to you and I couldn't help it. I’m sorry if I shouldn’t have—”
