“First of all, we both know that I’m not the only one who could use a hand keeping up. Anyway, she really needed full-time hours, and we almost lost her to a company in Meadow Creek, which was offering her that. So, I gave them to her. If you don’t want her to do your assistant stuff, I can have her support Holden, maybe even Hayden.”
“That’s fine. Give her to the twins.”
“We’ll see. Just don’t be a dick to her.”
“I’mnota dick.” Irritation rises in me.
“I didn’t say youareone, I said don’t be one. Did you not hear Layla at the wedding? If you wear your grumpy face, I’m telling her.”
“Oh my God, Henry. Let me work. I won’t scare off your new Ruthie.”
“She’s nothing like Ruthie.” He chuckles.
“I assume you mean she doesn’t have Ruthie’s eccentricities. No one does. But the old bat has grown on me.”
“Yeah, me too,” Henry says. “And she’s protective of Tillie and the girls. She doesn’t hesitate to give me hell, but she’s part of the family now.”
A deep sigh escapes Henry.
“Anyway, back to our temp. You still need to be nice to her, Harrison. Maybe try to be more… approachable. Relax a little.”
“I’mrelaxed,” I object. I’m really not. “I’m not an asshole or rude to people. I’m just busy and don’t usually have time for idle small talk with someone who doesn’t affect my work or isn’t someone I love from our inner circle.”
Henry sits, leans back, and crosses his legs. Great, he’s planning to stay a while.
“You’renotrelaxed. Hell, we built this company because it’s what we wanted, so you should be happy when you’re here. You’re like a grumpy hermit in here all day with these stacks of contracts and a never-ending to-do list. I wish you loved coming to work and being here. Instead?—”
“Hey! I love my work.” I lean forward against the desk. “I love this company and pour my blood, sweat, and tears into it.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like?—”
“No. Let me finish. I know we all work hard, but I also know that it’s easy for you guys to say I need to change. But you know what?Ido the unpleasant shit so you all can be yourselves. So you don’t have to. Do the three of you think it’s because the world is all sunshine and rainbows that you rarely have to discipline an employee? Do any ofyouforgo your end-of-year bonus to give a larger amount at the holidays to our staff?”
Henry’s eyes widen. “You do what with your bonus?”
“That’s not the point. This company is my lifeblood, Henry. It not only supports the four of us and our families, but it’s a livelihood for many people in this community. Do you even know how many employees we have?” I don’t give him a chance to guess. “Forty-six. Peopledependon us thriving and being in business for a long time. So, forgive me if I’m being too serious while trying to ensure I don’t let everyone down.”
What I don’t say is that this is for Dad, too. For him, building something like this company was a dream, a vision. I think, inour own way, we all feel like this is a way to honor our dad and the craft that he loved.
“We. Not ‘I,’ Harrison. You don’t have to do it all.”
Now Iamgrumpy and pissed off. I stand and repack my work necessities into my bag.
“I’m working remotely today.”
“Aw, come on, Harrison. I didn’t mean all this like it came out.”
“It’s fine.” I look up at him. “Oh, and since I won’t be here, Ellie in HR comes in at eleven on some Thursdays for medical reasons, today included. She’s exhausted on these days, so don’t overload her. And Jill in payroll will only be in for half a day so that she can be present for her two-year-old son’s cardiology appointment. But since I’m the sour-faced dickhead that ignores our employees, you already know all that, right?” It’s a rhetorical question, and I walk toward my door without giving him a chance to respond.
I’m being a prick to get my point across, but I’m on edge. Betty has consumed nearly every thought since I saw her at the wedding, and she ran from me—again. I thought she and I had connected, that she liked hanging out with me as much as I enjoyed the time with her. But then she ran a second time, andthatfrustrates the hell out of me. I’ve been irritable for weeks. Now, I’m straight-out pissed off.
I’ve finished packing my bag, so I grab it and walk toward the exit.
Henry stands.
“C’mon, Harrison...”
I’m almost at my door when Ruthie’s laughter—the one that’s really more of a cackle—fills the air, followed by a soft, amused, female voice that causes me to freeze in place.
