“Wow, you must have terrible news if you brought me chocolate.” I narrow my eyes at him.
He grabs a to-go cup from the coffee table in front of him and offers it up along with the candy. I side-eye him for a second before I take them both, grateful but wary. Not one to turn down free coffee or my favorite treat, I take a sip and brace myself against the onslaught that’s surely coming my way.
“Ahhh, I’m feeling more hospitable already. I find your bribe acceptable.” I pause to savor another caffeine-filled sip. “So, what new disaster are we facing today?”
“It’s going to be a fun one, so buckle up. The police will arrive in an hour with some questions for you regarding the entire Bill matter. Goodjob on that, by the way. Two more accountants quit this morning, and I’ve got an interview with an HR director candidate scheduled for two this afternoon. I think we both should be there for that since this is an executive position.”
I sink into the chair next to him and take a big drink of my coffee. Yup, I’m going to need all the caffeine to get through today. I stare because I’m already tired, and it’s only nine.
“I’m not sure that I handled the whole Bill issue well. Thank God, Damon was there. For a minute, I thought he was going to get physical, but Damon handled him like a pro. Please remind me to discuss hiring a corporate attorney with you later. We should have had one there for that meeting. I know. It’s one more thing.”
I’ve been so concerned that he would be disappointed with how I handled Bill. He might be my nephew, but in this, I’m the one who needs guidance. He’s had significantly more management experience.
“Hey, I think you did a great job. I wouldn’t have done anything differently. It will get easier, Aunt Jos. I promise.” He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I can’t help but give him a grateful smile.
He smiles cheerfully before adding, “I do have some good news.”
“Well, there’s got to be something redeeming about today, even if it’s just more coffee. Let me have it.”
“The good news is that Matilda’s shadow started today and is already fitting in incredibly well. I also spoke with the auditors, and one of their managers is looking for a job with a better work-life balance. Jason River says she’s a terrific employee, and he hates to lose her, but insists she’d fit right in here. Says she’s got a track record for hiring solid, dependable staff. Lord knows, we could use that here. I told him we’d give her a call today to set up an interview. Maybe for tomorrow?”
“Oh, that man is a saint. If she’s as talented as he says, maybe we can get the accounting back on track before the season starts. I’ll make myselfavailable anytime you need me tomorrow, but could the new assistant give her a call and set something up?” I respond with a hopeful look.
He nods and adds more notes on his phone before looking at me with his sly smile. I know that smile. I brace myself for the personal questions that I know are coming. This morning is not the time for his nosiness.
“So, how are things with you? Anything new you’d like to share?” he asks, trying for nonchalance.
My eyes narrow, and I study his face. What does he know?
“What do you mean by that, Jacob?”
He gives me a mysterious smile. I’m not fooled. I give him the ‘mom side-eye.’ It’s one of my most effective parenting tools. Unfortunately, he’s no longer intimidated by it.
“Exactly what I asked. How are things with you? What? I can’t ask my aunt how her life is going?”
The innocent look he’s trying to pull off doesn’t work with me. Jacob’s never been good at subterfuge. Whenever he and Basty got into trouble as kids, I could always tell when he was lying. Jacob pulls on his little finger anytime he feels uncomfortable, and lying makes him uncomfortable. It always has. As he’d gotten older, he’d lost that tell, but today, I catch his little finger twitching, giving him away.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I know you, Jacob. You’re up to something. I’m on to you, kiddo.” Pretty sure I’m the only one to call him kiddo at thirty-one years old. His laugh surprises me, and I grin back at him.
“Alright, my sources have informed me that you left with Damon last week after the infamous Bill confrontation, and your car remained in the parking lot all night.” His grin is positively gleeful.
I groan inwardly. “Eddie’s been tattling to you, I see.” I should have known someone would say something. It’s a relief to know it was only Eddie. At least I know there’s no malice behind his gossiping. Eddie’s like family, so I know Jacob’s the only person he’s telling.
“Well, Mr. Nosy, if you must know, the meeting was challenging for me. I had a panic attack, and then Damon drove me home. It wasn’t a big deal. It’s just never happened before, so it threw me. I’m fine now, though, so don’t worry.” Nothing to see here, folks, because I am absolutely not sharing anything close to what happened after dinner with him.
Jacob’s eyes widen. “Are you okay now? Do you need anything? Damn it. I’m sorry I wasn’t here, Aunt Jos.”
“This is exactly why I didn’t tell you. Don’t you dare take this on, Jacob. This is not your fault.” I say sternly because I know him. He’s going to be stewing in guilt about this, and I don’t want that for him. This is my issue to work through, not his to fix. I wish he wouldn’t blame himself for everything. It hurts my heart.
“I’m so sor-”
“Nope. I’m not going to let you do that, honey. This is my issue, not yours. I will handle it.” I give him my mom face that says ‘I mean it.’ “You can’t fix everything for everyone. Some things aren’t yours to fix.” I pull him in for a hug because I love this kid like I love my own, and I hate to see him doing this to himself. He hugs me back with fierceness that I know means he loves me back. We stand there for a moment just letting the love flow until he pulls away with a sigh.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes, honey, I really am. Now, shoo with you. I have work to do,” I say, lightly adding a wink to take any sting out of that dismissal. He gives me one last penetrating look before heading out to his first meeting. I’m feeling smug about my ability to keep my relationship with Damon private, until I look down at my desk and see a copy of the current HR manual with a sticky note attached. It reads, “Just in Case.” My face flames. Damn, not as private as I’d hoped. I might be embarrassed, but I still immediately look through it for the section on fraternization.
The good news is there isn’t one. The bad news is there isn’t one. This manual is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and the new HR director we’re hiring is going to hate it because it needs to be completely redone. I hope whoever they are, they’ll be up for a challenge. I grimace because that’s not going to be a fun conversation. Maybe I can get Jacob to do it?
