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When Claraand Nash arrive back in New York from their chalet, Clara and I commandeer an empty meeting room in Heartly's office.
“This is very professional,” Clara says when I pull out my laptop and set it on the table.
“I did ask if you could give me business advice.”
“I know. And I’m flattered.” She splays her hands out in front of her, palms up. “Welcome to Clara’s Consulting and Coaching. How may I assist you?”
“I was hoping you could help me figure out how to pivot my business.”
Clara claps her hands together. “Would this have anything to do with our favorite Heartly introvert?”
My cheeks heat. “Maybe.”
“Ugh. I’m so happy for you.” Clara squeezes me in a hug and then gets down to business by making grabby hands. “Okay, gimmie numbers, gimmie spreadsheets. Let’s figure this out.”
We spend hours going over the data, mostly because it takes that long to pull the information together and present it to Clara’s satisfaction. What we finally get is a far cry from the hodge-podge of invoices and receipts that I usually panic bundle on April 1stand send to my accountant for tax purposes.
It takes so much time that Bea comes in after Nash has gone home and brings us cans of sparkling wine. All three of us look at how much business I bring in virtually and how much I do in person. Clara gives me some advice about driving more traffic to my website, some tips which have been helpful to her runningWorth Going,and Bea suggests I reach out to my existing client base and ask them for virtual referrals. I’ve always asked my clients to pass my contact information along, but mostly, it was to people they knew through work or charity events locally.
Virtual clients are a bigger percentage of my revenue than I thought—look at me, using words like revenue—but they’re still less than half my business. But having the numbers gives me a good idea of where I’ll be if I drop all my in-person events.
Which I don’thaveto do, as Bea pointed out.
I walk out of Heartly’s office more confident that I can figure something out and, also, glad to count some business-savvy, organized women as my best friends.
My euphoria builds even more when I see a text from my sister. I open it while heading toward the subway.
Daria
Okay, please don’t hate me, but could you watch the kids at Mom and Dad’s on the 3rd? I swear I have a good reason: we’re interviewing nannies. Not someone full-time, but someone who can come in and help in the mornings, especially to make it easier to get out of the house every day.
We decided that would be the best way to get some help and stop our entire days from being so stressful.
And I know that you probably have important work things to do, and I wouldn’t ask, but Mom has her book club, and Dad is going to Poughkeepsie that weekend.
So I’m a little desperate. Again.
I check my calendar and message her back.
Kara
I can move an appointment.
I’m glad you’ve found a long-term solution.
Daria
Thanks. You are the best.
I twist my lips to the side. Hearing my sister say I’m the best is nice. Not as great as hearing from Peter that I’m wonderful, but I’ll take it.
I put a smutty audiobook on and navigate my way home. When I walk through the front door, I nearly run into Nevena and my dad.
“Hey,” Nevena says. “I’m leaving.”
“Hi,” I respond. “Did you come over for dinner?” I hang up my coat and tuck my gloves in the pockets. It’s late enough that I’ve missed Mom’s strict six p.m. meal time.
They exchange a glance and suppress a smile, which sets off an alarm bell in my head. I’m still a little mad at my parents and the rest of my sisters. Daria hiring a nanny is a big step. So far, all my dad’s done is gone quiet, as if he has nothing to say to me that’s not harassing me about finishing my degree.
