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He was a nice, looking kid who worked hard and took care of his family. His wife Marcy was younger than him by three years. Josh took an interest in people and what was going on in their lives. He and Sophie had a summer picnic at their home and invited everyone over to ensure they felt like more than just an employee. Josh wanted his people to feel they could come to him if they needed help.
“Miguel, I’m hiring a manager to take over some day to day for me…” Josh got no further in his explanation.
“What?” The younger man seemed surprised. His voice gruff and hurt.
“Nothing will change about what you do for me,” Josh explained. He wanted Miguel to understand that he needed him now more than ever.
The young man jumped to his feet. He went from surprised to angry. “Everything will change. I’ve been working my ass off for you, man. Why didn’t you consider me for this manager’s job?”
Maybe Josh should have explained it better. Started off like he did with Sam but his call with Ally had thrown him. He was now worried about her too. “Let me explain…”
“No, I quit, man,” Miguel snapped. “I’ve worked for you for ten years Josh. Ten years, I did exactly what you asked. Stayed late when you asked. Carried the load when you asked, and this is how you repay me? You’re bringing in a manager from the outside?”
Miguel’s one fault was he was a hot head. His temper always got the best of him and Josh was at the end of his rope. His own anger was getting the best of him too.
“There’s the door,” he told the younger man.
“Fine,” he dropped his keys on the desk. “Thanks for nothing, Josh.”
He watched the young man walk out the door. Then he slammed his fist on the desk knowing it never should have come to this. Josh was exhausted. He hadn’t slept well since Sophie’s diagnosis. He should have started with that and proceeded to how good of a job Miguel did and how much he needed him before telling him that he was hiring someone to manage the business not minimize Miguel or Sam’s role.
He walked to the main, office and peered out the window. Miguel was gone. He would try him later to see if he could talk some sense into him and explain about Sophie and what this man or woman would do and how he still very much needed Miguel because he knew that Miguel needed this job.
Walking back to his office, he plopped in his chair. The office was almost too quiet. Josh leaned back and swiveled around towards the window that faced the woods. The sky was getting dark. He should just go home but he had a few more things to do before he could do that but, concentrating had been an impossibility since the diagnostic mammogram, even worse since the biopsy. The waiting was like going through the motions of life without really living. Waiting was a killer.
There was no purpose anymore because planning anything could be for nothing. Everything they were doing or wanted to do depended on Sophie’s cancer. What they needed to do to cure her. That’s why he put out the ad out over a week ago. That’s why he weeded out people to find what he was looking for, somebody like him to manage his business when he couldn’t be here.
Miguel would see that if he had given him a chance. Out of all the people he had spoken to, so far, he only asked Jagger Crosby to come in and interview. He talked to him on the phone for an hour and a half. Tomorrow, after Sophie’s appointment with the oncologist he was meeting the man in person.
Jagger could start right away if necessary. That was a bonus. Josh liked their connection on the phone. That was important. He wanted this manager to handle his business and his people the way that he did, like family. He thought Jagger was that person to do the job.
He heard the front door open and hopped it was Miguel. He got up and went to the front. He was surprised by Marcy, Miguel’s wife. She was in tears.
“Marcy, honey. I guess Miguel told you he quit.”
She nodded. “Josh, I don’t understand.”
“Sit down with me,” he said. “I don’t want him to quit. I need Miguel more than ever.” They both sat in the reception area of the main, office.
Light colored walls made the room bright. A mixture of real and fake plants gave it warmth. A few, inspirational prints adorned the walls. There was the solid, oak desk where Sophie sat with a comfortable, leather chair. She hadn’t sat in it for over a week now and he didn’t realize until that very moment, how much he missed her being here by his side.
“Sophie is sick, Marcy.?
? Josh leaned on his knees, hands clasped between them. He didn’t want to cry in front of this young woman and he thought he might when her hand laid flat on his back.
“What is it, Josh?” Her voice was soft and concerned. He knew that Sophie loved this girl. She had been to see her several times after their son was born.
“Breast cancer,” he said. He turned his head towards her when she gasped. “We find out tomorrow just how bad and what the treatment is going to be. I just wanted Miguel to know that I’ll need him more than ever. This manager will take over my position while I take care of Sophie.”
She sighed. “So, he reacted as he always did with this mouth instead of his sense?”
Josh laughed at her. “I guess if you want to put it that way.”
Marcy rolled her eyes at Josh. Her long black hair hung over her shoulder in a straight, ponytail. Her big, brown eyes stared at him with hope. “If he apologizes will you let him come back?”
Josh laughed again. “Of course. Marcy, I need him.”
“He needs this job, Josh. We’re young. Rent isn’t cheap even in Cooper. He wants another baby. We can’t afford the one we have. We have plenty of time. I wish he would see that. He and Martin were close in age and he wants that for Markus.”
