Laura's Big Win (27 page)

Laura snapped herself back into
reality. “No, Leslie, you’re fine. Sorry. I just sort of got caught
up in my own thoughts for a minute there. I apologize for the
lapse; my fault. Now, you were talking about the EMT
program?”

“Yes. I was taking the basic courses I
needed before actually entering the program itself. I thought if I
got all prepared, and saved up a little money, I’d be able to go
full time and still work enough to keep things together. Then I got
pregnant and here I am: no job, no school, no home, one hungry
baby. I can do the work you need done; I’ve done all the different
jobs, even carpet extraction, and I’m not afraid to get sweaty, or
dirty, or whatever it takes. I just want to be on my feet again,
and take care of my baby. I need to work out the childcare but will
do whatever hours you need. Something I’d like to do is go back and
do the EMT training, but I know I have to get things together
first. So, that’s about it. I sure need the job, and I know I can
do a good one for you. What else can I say?”

“I think you’ve explained yourself
quite well, and I think we can work something out here. I
understand we will have a full time day opening starting next week,
and we would want you to actually start tomorrow to work with that
person and learn her routine in the time she has left. Take a look
at this rundown on the pay scale and benefits program while I make
a phone call, then we’ll see if we can come to an agreement. That
will show you what we believe the job should pay starting out, and
the increases that come with experience. I had the time this
morning to work it all out ahead of time. It also details child
care and how all that works out. We do not presently have
accommodations that would allow you to live here; I’m sure Angie
will take good care of you for the moment, and we are willing to
help make arrangements to get you out of the shelter as soon as we
can. Now, you read while I make the call; I apologize for the
interruption but this call is really necessary just
now.”

Laura paused for a moment to look up
the number, then called Cindy Jefferson at home in the hope it was
her day off from the fire house. Cindy’s bright cheerful voice soon
answered, and Laura leaped into the conversation. “Hi, Cindy, it’s
Laura from Windmere. Remember me from the softball
game?”

“Remember? How could I forget, slugger.
How’s that big boy out there coming along; making any
progress?”

“Maybe a little, maybe more than a
little, but that’s not why I called. Can you talk to me about the
EMT program at the JC? I have a former candidate I’d like to help
out but I don’t know where to start. She’s had a tough time of
things, but I think she’s a good kid and needs a hand up. I can
explain if you have a couple of minutes.”

“How about I come out there? It’s my
day off and I’ve sort of been looking for anything to do but clean
this place. Sounds like an excuse to me. Work for you?”

“It works for me. Tell you what: how
about I buy lunch in our kitchen while we chit chat and give you a
chance to see this girl before you get any farther involved. If you
take a walk, I’ll understand that was in your best judgment. But
I’d like to see her at least get a chance. Deal?”

“Deal! Be there in about half an hour.
I’d at least like to be somewhat presentable. See you then. Say
‘Hi’ to the Big Guy from us girls!!”

Laura turned her attention back to
Leslie to see if there were any questions about what Windmere was
offering. “Anything more I can tell you? Any questions?”

“No, not really…..That’s not true; I
don’t have any work clothes. I had to give them back to the company
I was working for and I don’t have much besides jeans and
pullovers. I’m still carrying a little more weight than I normally
do, and the jeans don’t fit too good right now. Maybe I can borrow
something.”

“Hang on a minute; let’s see what we
can do.” Laura intercomed Cal’s office with her question. “Cal, I
have a potential housekeeper interviewing here to take Susan’s
place next week. Do we have any of that special fund left; you
know, the one you used a few months back when I showed up here? I’m
looking for a couple c-notes at the most to tide things
over.”

Leslie couldn’t hear the response from
Cal on the other end, or she would have head him laughing and
referring to Laura as a hopeless do-gooder, but two minutes later a
hand came through the door with a white envelope for
Laura.

“If we finalize things here today, and
I think we will, we can advance you some cash for something a
little closer to what we prefer our staff wear. Susan can tell you
about that when we met her. Here’s the name of the store to buy
from; we have an account there and I can assure you a more than
fair price. One other thing: buy yourself something pretty,
something you want but would feel guilty buying just now. Buy it
anyway and enjoy it; words from someone who knows, who got that
advice from someone else who knows. So, it looks like someone has
finished lunch and gone fast asleep. Shall we adjourn to the
kitchen for lunch, and to meet some people?”

“You don’t have to feed me too, after
all you’ve done. I don’t know what to say except that....I sure
don’t want you to take this the wrong way because I know we aren’t
really very far apart in age.....it’s like getting a mother back,”
and the huge tears started down the cheeks unabated.

“This place can to that to you now and
then. All we ask is that you do the job we hire you to do; if you
need help with it, see me or one of the other managers here. We
aren’t perfect by any means, but we do intend to do our best. Now,
dry your eyes before people think I’ve been beating you; we save
the beatings for regular employees. For now let’s go see what Doris
has in store today. By the way, eating in the kitchen is one of the
benefits of working here, only it’s pretty tough on the thighs and
rear end. Trust me, saying no to Doris is nearly
impossible.”

Laura never ceased to wonder how things
worked out at Windmere, and how the timing always seemed to be
right on cue. As she and Leslie entered the kitchen, Susan came in
from one of the cottages and Cindy popped in through the side door.
The ensuing conversation among the four of them opened several
other doors for Leslie, not the least of which was being
semi-adopted by the ever ebullient Cindy. But if there was a true
highlight of the day, it happened when Dennis asked to see the
soundly sleeping baby, and ended up with the child in his powerful
arms; it was a whole new experience for him, something he had never
done in his life, and the wonder lit up his face. The effect was
not lost on the other staff members in the kitchen when the
behemoth of a man held the tiny baby, and it clearly drove home the
point of just how gentle this big man could be.

The rest of the day was spent on more
mundane matters, but Laura felt good about having handled her first
interview, although she also realized it was on a pretty basic
position. Others might be much more difficult and time consuming,
but she was learning. She also realized she had referred to herself
as “management”, something that had not occurred to her previously.
Taking the baton handed her by Alice was much more than a token
showing; it meant Alice believed in her and trusted her. It also
meant she was in closer proximity to the man she was sure she was
growing to love more each day. If only she knew where she stood
with him; he seemed so interested, and certainly when they were
together the passion seemed evident, but still he seemed to be
holding back, As frustrating as it might be to her, she also knew
this man did not do things on the spur of a moment, at least not
things that really mattered long term, and the admonitions to be
patient echoed in her ears. She would wait, certain that the prize
was worth the wait.

Tuesday morning, about mid-morning,
Leslie stopped by Laura’s office for a brief moment to thank her
again. Dressed in her new work clothes she was very much
presentable, and seemed downright happy to be alive. “I still can’t
believe all this has happened to me. And, get this: Cindy made me
come home with her. She said the shelter is no place to raise a
baby and she had extra room and besides she told me she loves to
take care of babies and wants someone in her house when she’s on 24
hour duty. We had such a good time last night, but even better, her
younger brother Jason was there doing some wiring for her in the
afternoon; I know I just had a really bad time with a man and all,
but Jase is my age and he’s not afraid of the baby like some
guys.”

“The question is this: did you buy
something for yourself yesterday?”

“Yes, I did as instructed, and I know
this sounds crazy, but it’s a front carrier I really wanted but
couldn’t afford. They’re kind of expensive but I know they’re much
more comfortable for babies to be in. That way I can take him with
me to class; Cindy called somebody and I’m going to night school
all of a sudden, and on some scholarship program she knew about.
So, anyway, I just really wanted to say thank you
again…..mom.”

Laura laughed at the suggestion, but
realized how serious the title was to this woman-child. “Okay, but
only when we’re alone. My own kids will wonder if they’re being
replaced. Now, get your tail back out there and earn your
keep.”

“Yes, ma’am. Oh, that Alice I met? She
told me who your boyfriend is and pointed him out while we were in
the kitchen. Wow, what a hunk. No wonder you smile a lot. Gotta go
now. Thanks again. See you….mom.” And she was off in a flash before
Laura could even explain the boyfriend part of her life. It was
enough, she thought, that others knew that she and Ryan were slowly
drawing together.

The rest of the week turned out to be
routine for the most part, with the usual small problems to be
ironed out. There were the kids minor problems to deal with at home
in the cottage, new clients to bring on line, the standard Ryan
neck massage every morning followed by some close clinches that
were growing in intensity, plus a little studying to learn enough
about the upcoming merger meeting so she would have a reasonable
grasp on what they were doing. The Friday meeting was fairly
routine in nature, and Laura had been through both mergers and
dissolutions before, so Ryan was right in his estimation she would
be little more than a baby sitter. Her primary task was to
represent Windmere in case the clients needed some special services
they had not anticipated. The morning session had gone well, and
Doris had done her usual magic for the buffet luncheon, but the
afternoon was starting out with little bumps here and there. The
two company lawyers were doing most of the negotiating, flanked by
their respective CEO’s, and there were frequent pauses while hushed
asides between the men took place. Laura had pretty much dreamed
through the morning and did busy work on her laptop, but picked up
her attention a bit as things seemed to deteriorate.

The problem, it seemed, was that
neither side was willing to concede a sale to the other. The
sticking point was when one chain did not have a part which was
available at the other chain. Rather than make the referral, the
initiating store would order out the part, or maybe even lose the
sale. The discussion continued for a couple of hours, with the
lawyers trying to find a way around the impasse. Most of the
problem was that both CEO’s had come up through the ranks and had
worked hard to achieve their present success. It seemed purely
unreasonable to them to refer a sale to someone else, although they
both knew they needed the merger to compete with other even larger
chains in the cities they served. Laura was starting to see that
the entire deal was in jeopardy as the discussion became more
heated. The crazy thing, she realized, was that each of them would
lose a sale rather than act for the good of the joint venture. Why,
she wondered, couldn’t they see a way for both of them to gain
rather than for both of them to lose. Someone had to do something;
it was not good for Windmere to allow failure of any sort on their
own grounds, even if it was not their fault. Working her phone
discretely, Laura called Doris in the kitchen for a little help,
and was assured it could be delivered in fifteen minutes or less.
Ten minutes later, Doris sent a short text message “Cavalry is
mounted and riding”, and which point Laura stood up and broke into
the heated debate.

“Excuse me, gentlemen. Could I have a
moment of your time please?” She timed the interruption for a
moment when the two lawyers were doing asides with their clients,
catching both sides unprepared to respond. And, the tone and
authority in her voice clearly implied she did not need their
agreement to continue; she was only being polite before doing so.
“Thank you, I hear by your silence that it is all right to
continue. There seems to be a mounting problem here that I believe
I can be of some assistance in resolving. But first, the amenities.
Mrs. Cook , who you see coming in the door and who provided you
with that most excellent luncheon buffet, is bringing in a batch of
cinnamon sticky buns fresh from the oven. There will not be coffee
this afternoon gentlemen; coffee is a morning drink. There will be
instead, hot tea, from a rather large and somewhat exotic
collection we have made available this afternoon. You will find all
the proper instruments and ingredients for a delicious repast. In
return, I want the services of the top IT person from each
organization, for, say, thirty minutes, in my office. Thank you for
your cooperation. Gentlemen, please follow me; I’m sure Ms Cook
will reserve some refreshments for you since you will be missing
that opportunity.”