“That’s the other reason I’m here,” Everett says, stepping into the living room. “I came to tell you that I’m quitting IES.” He looks at Graham. “Both of you. I’m stepping down as CFO. I’m opening my own consulting company. And your mom hired me this afternoon.”
“You don’t have to step down, Everett,” I tell him. “We’re fine. I promise. And I’m taking this new job, but not because of us. We can be together no matter what.”
He comes toward me, stopping right in front of me. He doesn’t touch me, but his eyes scan over my face, seemingly taking in every detail.
“I know. I’m starting this new company because of me. I want to do something else. And I’m thrilled about your new job if that’s what you really want.”
I nod. “It is.”
“But you ruined my proposal, Ginger,” he says.
My heartbeat skips. “I did?”
“Yep. I was going to ask you tonight.”
Oh. I feel my smile start. “You can still ask.”
“You’rebothgoing to leave me?” Graham asks, loudly, getting up from the couch. “What? You can’t do that!”
“You’ll be fine,” my mom says. “You don’t need them.”
Everett and I turn toward her.
“I mean, of course you’re both great, and he’d be lucky to have you,” she says quickly. “But he’s also very capable of running IES on his own.”
“No,” Graham says, shaking his head emphatically. “I’m really not.”
“I’ll still be here for you,” Everett says. “I’m starting a consulting business. Doing exactly what I do for IES, but for others, too. I’ll still be here for whatever you need.”
“He’s going to help me start up my online business,andI’m going to approach a couple of restaurants in Lincoln about supplying their baked goods,” my mom says.
I look at her with wide eyes. “That’s what I’m going to help Athena Acres with! Getting their produce into stores, restaurants, and bakeries. We should talk, Mom. I’d love to help you, too.”
Her face lights up. “I wouldlovethat, Ginny! It would be so fun to work together that way!”
“Hello!” Graham yells. “Can we go back to the part where you’rebothleaving me? I once ran a company with my best friend and my sister, and now I’ve got no one?”
Margot grabs his hand and pulls him back down onto the couch. “You’re going to be just fine. Sofia will be there to help you, and we’ll hire Ginny and Everett to consult, and you can hire whoever else you need. But…you need to move back here permanently.”
He studies her face. Then he nods. “I really do.”
She grins. “Soon.”
“Very soon,” he agrees.
She snuggles into his side again.
“So, Margot,” he says. “How about I hireyou? You could be my executive assistant.”
She laughs. “Oh, no. Absolutely not. We’renotgoing to work together.”
He sighs.
“But I’ll be there for anything you need,” she promises, squeezing his leg. “Just like everyone else.”
We all nod.
My mom looks at my dad. “What do you think of all of this?”
