Page 10 of February

Bridgette leaned forward in the chair and said, “You’re talking about selling the company?”

“Yes, we are.”

“I’m supposed to take over the company when you and Dad retire.”

“I know. Honey, we’re hoping the money we make will be enough to help you later, and we can ask if they can keep you on, if you want. We can include it in the deal.” Her mom looked around the room. “I’m not sure what they’ll do with this office, but we can ask to keep you local, if you want to stay.”

“Stay?”

“Well, their headquarters is in New York.”

“New York?”

“Yes.”

“Mom, you’re selling to some massive organization in New York? Why would they even want us? We’re small and local.”

“It’s a favor. Your father is trying to deal with his pride, but they’d be doing us a favor. We’ve been struggling for a while now, and they’d mainly be interested in the card lines we own.”

“They’d tear us apart?”

“I don’t know, honey. We’ll have to talk to the person they’re sending down to talk about the possibilities.”

“Someone’s coming here?”

“Their head of acquisitions. It’s actually his daughter. Her name is Monica, I think. She should be here tomorrow. It was supposed to be today, but something came up.”

“So, they’re late trying to buy our family’s business?” Bridgette asked.

“I know this is hard to think about, but it might be the best decision for us. Your dad and I can retire, or we can start thinking about something else we want to do, and you can make a little money and decide what you want to do, too.”

“I wanted to dothis.”

“Honey, it’s the family business. You were supposed to take it over, and we’ve been telling you that for years, so you’ve never really thought about doing anything else.”

“Yes, I have,” Bridgette replied. “Mom, if I wanted to do something else, I would’ve told you and Dad that years ago. I love my job.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” her mom joked.

“Because I think we need to make changes. And I don’t hesitate to tell you and Dad my ideas. If it’s going to be my company one day, anyway, why not just listen and let me try them? If they’re bad ideas, I’d have to deal with the consequences.”

“The whole company would.”

“But we’re already struggling anyway. So much so that you’re planning on selling the whole thing. What about the employees?”

“We’d give them a severance,” her mom replied. “We can talk to Monica about them maybe being given an opportunity to interview for jobs at Good Day Greeting.”

“Which is in New York.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t speak for them, but I do work with them all every day, and I can’t see any of them wanting to move to New York.”

“Well, that would be their decision.”

“Assuming this Monica woman would even be interested in keeping them on.”

“I don’t like this any more than you do, Bridgette, but your father and I have made up our minds to at least see what happens with this possibility. Monica might say no or might not give us a deal we want. That’s why your father is talking to the attorney about our best options right now.”

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