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“Thanks, Paul.” Stan had a faintly rough-hewn presence, successful in an operations-guy way. His short-sleeve shirt and khakis lacked the corporate polish favored by my father and John, who were more at home in a conference room than on a plant floor.
My father gestured to me. “TJ wanted to come to pay his respects.”
“Stan, I’m so sorry,” I said, cued.
Stan nodded sadly. “Good to see you, TJ. Thanks for coming.” He gestured to John. “Looks like I got the whole family, huh?”
“Absolutely.” John nodded. “We’re here for you.”
“Allof us.” My father forced a smile. “I would’ve come earlier, but I stopped for pastry. Marie sends her sympathy, too.”
“Give her my love.” Stan smiled back, completely unaware that World War III was erupting between my father and brother.
Stan’s face fell. “Poor Neil. I knew something was wrong when he didn’t come into work yesterday. He was really a sweetheart, wasn’t he, gang?”
“He sure was,” answered a young woman sitting in one of the reception chairs. “It’s so sad.”
“Sosad,” chimed in an older woman, and the rest added, “I feel awful.” “I wish he had called me.” “He seemed fine, like he was doing better.” “He called in sick yesterday, but he never got sick.”
I realized they thought Lemaire died by suicide. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know the police had an official cause of death.”
“They don’t.” Stan shook his head. “They’re going to investigate and come talk to us tomorrow.”
“I worried it was murder,” I said, fishing. “There’s so much violent crime these days.”
“I doubt it,” Stan said somberly. “We all knew Neil was down, emotionally. He broke up with his boyfriend before he came here.”
“Did he have family?” I glanced out the window, but still had no view of the Hyundai.
“Not here. His mom lives in North Dakota, and his dad passed away. Our bookkeeper, Lillian, was his emergency contact. They worked together, thick as thieves. She’s in his office now, packing his things.” Stan gestured behind to a hall beyond the cubicles. “Anyhow, TJ, you look good. Say hi to the gang. These folks are the best.” He motioned to the employees. “I’d introduce you, but you’d forget the names.”
“I’m sure. Hi, everybody, I’m sorry about your loss.”
“Thank you,” said a young woman, then they all chimed in. “Nice to meet you.” “You look just like your father.” “Exactly, father-and-son.”
Stan pointed at a skinny, older Black man with a lined face, rising from a chair on the end. “TJ, remember Mike Dedham? He worked here when you used to come with your father.”
“Yes, hi, Mike.” I called to him, remembering.
“Hey.” Mike wagged a knobby finger. “You used to yap about cars.”
“I still do,” I glanced out the window. No luck.
My father clapped me on the back. “TJ and I were just talking about the good old days, Stan. I was telling TJ how I named the company.”
John interjected, “But the company’s grown so much since then. Stan, you’ve done an incredible job.”
Stan beamed. “Thanks. We started with one plant and now we have three. In this office, it used to be me and my ex. Now we have an admindepartment.”
“You sure do!” my brother and father said in unfortunate unison.
A young woman sniffled. “But without Neil.”
Stan let the awkward moment pass. “I’m sorry he won’t be here for the acquisition. I couldn’t have done it without him and you, John.”
My father interjected. “Don’t forget me and Mike. We’re pioneers.”
Stan chuckled. “ ‘Pioneers,’ I like that. Right, Mike?”
