“Wait, what?” I said. “We don’t both have to go to Kirby’s. That’s a one-person job.”
“It’s Ambrose’s first day. He’s shadowing you, learning the ropes.”
The pen squeaked again. I couldn’t help myself: I looked.
4.I’M A SHADOW!
“I don’t need help.” I pointed to the board. “Look, it says right there that programs need to be folded and place cards organized. That’s all inside work you guys can oversee from your meetings.”
“I think it’s better if he goes along for the flowers,” she said. “You can’t be sure when you’ll need an extra hand.”
“Never,” I said. “That’s when. I never have. Ever.”
William, fingers tented beneath his chin, looked amused. Ambrose said, “You guys, Louna’s not my number one fan. Although I thought that might have changed, after last night.”
William raised his eyebrows. I heard my mom’s chair creak as she turned to look at me, saying, “Last night?”
“Well,thissounds interesting,” William said.
“It’s not,” I assured him. “And it has nothing to do with work, which is what I thought we were supposed to be talking about.”
“This girl, she’s all business,” Ambrose said. “That’s what I love about her. Short version is I saved her from a jugheaded groper.”
“A grouper?” William asked. “Like the fish?”
“Groper. As in, one who gropes. Was groping. Has groped.” Ambrose clicked his pen open, then shut, punctuating this conjugation. “It was on the dance floor, at this party.”
“You were dancing?” William asked. From his expression, you would have thought Ambrose had said I’d stripped naked as well. “At a party?”
“Why is that so shocking?” I demanded.
He looked at my mom, and they both burst out laughing. Ambrose clicked his pen open again.
5. LOUNA DOESN’T GET OUT MUCH.
“I’m going to Kirby’s,” I announced, pushing out my chair with a bit too much force; now I had to grab the table to keep from rolling away. “I’ll call on my way back for the lunch order.”
With this, I collected my purse and walked out of the conference room, making it clear decisions Had Been Made. And I really did feel that way, all the way to the front door of the office. Then my mother called my name.
I turned back to see her standing by the reception area. Her voice was low, confidential, as she came closer, then said, “I need you to take Ambrose with you.”
“Why?”
“Because we have a very high-strung bride coming in here in five minutes, followed by a potential client whose wedding could make us a lot of money. We won’t be able to supervise and can’t risk another tape explosion.”
“I don’t understand why you hired him,” I said.
“Because his mother asked me to and swore he could actually be a good worker if directed appropriately.” I made a face, conveying my doubt about this. “Other than me and William, you’re the best director I know.”
“Don’t kiss up to me. It’s embarrassing.”
She smiled. “You know, you might find you actually enjoy having company.”
“I don’t dislike people,” I said. “I’m just not fond ofhim.”
This was an important distinction, I felt. But she barely seemed to hear me, already turning to call his name as she gestured for him to join us. He brought the pen and pad with him. Of course.
“They’re expecting you by ten sharp,” she told me, handing over her copy of the invoice. “Make sure you get everything.”
