Page 10 of Up All Night
As I’m speaking, Bowie is shaking her head slowly.
“As you can imagine, there were a few unlawful dismissal cases that came from that.But daddy said it was worth the legal fees over having to pay toxic staff members who were doing absolutely nothing for production.And, in fact, a year after, when we had a whole new set of staff, production had doubled.It proved to us all that having a healthy work environment is paramount.Ever since then, daddy only does business with the best.Which is why he’s so upset over this."
Bowie sips her water through the straw.“I would’ve done the same.Plus, having such a toxic work environment like that, it only costs.Your dad did the right thing."
I scoff nervously.“I’m not saying that it was an easy transition, you know, replacing all your office staff in one fell swoop.If Halen had been around at that time, daddy would’ve struck gold."
“It sounds like he did, anyway."
I agree with her.“And that’s why this is so difficult.The staff that we have now are the original staff from that first turnover.Plus the rest that have joined us since, of course.”
Finally, more than a half hour later, our food is finally delivered to the table.I watch Bowie dive into hers, while I pick away at mine, realizing after a few minutes that I’m breathing through my nose.“Does the cheese taste okay?"I ask her.We’ve both ordered a plate of grilled cheese and French fries.
She finishes chewing and then answers me."Yes, it’s delicious, in fact.Is something wrong?"
I sit back in my chair and fold my arms over my chest.Jetlag doesn’t usually affect me like this.But I have been travelling an awful lot lately.“The cheese just smells off to me.I must be jetlagged or something.”
“I’ve never heard of that before.Are you okay?Do you want to go back to the hotel?”
I wave her off.“It’s fine.I’ll see if they have some ginger ale or some ginger tea.”
“You said yourself that your dad being so angry was upsetting to you.Is it possible it’s your nerves?”
I breathe in deeply and exhale.“I suppose anything is possible.It has been a whirlwind week.A whirlwind couple of months, as a matter of fact.First, my near a proposal with Chas, then the breakup, the merger, and I only just had my gallbladder removed two months ago.I’ve been travelling like a mad woman.Something is bound to give.”
“You should take some time off, Izzy.Things have a way of catching up to you without you noticing it until it’s too late.”
“I figured that was what happened with my gallbladder.Evidently not.”
Bowie gestures for the server."Do you have ginger ale or tea?"
"We have both."
She looks at me.
"Ale, please."
When the server leaves, Bowie looks at me."Honestly, I don't know how you do it.When I was in my twenties, I used to travel a lot for Boston, when I worked with him, but I slowed down on the travel after that.It was much more fulfilling to stay on site and work with the people at the plant."
"Well, my job is very staggered.I'm all over the place.Even when I was convalescing, I worked remotely.The tasks I have vary by the day, but I'm mostly out of town, collecting valuable input from all the sites, from all conglomerates, everywhere.I am where daddy and mummy aren't, essentially."I touch her hand."But I'm not complaining by any means.I love what I do.Every minute of it."
"It's very evident, Izzy.But sometimes you have to slow down and listen to your body.It can take months to heal from surgery, and you said yourself that it's only been a couple of months."
The restaurant isn't terribly busy, but I notice a girl sitting alone, and she's been sitting alone this whole time.She looks enamored with her food, and then a server walks by and brushes the table with a cart, and her napkin is accidentally dropped on the floor.Instantly, I rise and pick it up for her."Oh, thanks."She smiles.
"You're quite welcome."I smile back.It comes out before I can stop it."Are you alone?"
Her English is perfect.She must be American."I am."She seems friendly enough."I took my first vacation in five years, and nobody could venture out here with me, so I came alone.Best decision ever."She accentuates the last part, spacing out her words.
"I travel alone often myself.It's the best."I look over at Bowie, and she's smiling."I'm just with my friend here.Would you like to sit with us?"
"Oh, no.I couldn't impose."
Bowie gestures with her hand."It's not an imposition.Come on over.Bring your plate with you."
I love how she's so friendly.Always.Girl power.
"Okay.Thanks."She brings her plate, and I take her water for her, and her wine, while Bowie grabs her chair and we scooch on the table to make room for her.
