Chapter Six
Un-freaking-believable.“Can you believe this guy, Clara?” I mute the phone button after letting her hear what the idiot had to say. I look over to where Clara is sitting, and we both take one look at each other and bust up laughing. Clara’s legs are kicking in the air, and the little piggy snorts coming from her have me doubled over in laughter.
“He totally admitted that he thought I was crazy. Who does that?” I start laughing again, and both of us forget that he is still on the phone. “I have to say something back to the guy. What do I say, Clara? Clara… Clara! What should I say?” Clara covers her mouth and motions toward the phone with her hand, telling me without words to unmute the phone. I clear my throat and start to answer when Clara’s laughter rings through the room, snorts and all. I hurriedly hit the mute button again, and we both start giggling like a bunch of silly kids. We do this a few more times before I calmly stand from the couch and head outside to the balcony, where Clara can’t distract me again. Her laughter is contagious.
“Mr. Heyes? I am so sorry about that. I must have a bad connection or something.” I clear my throat again, hoping he hadn’t heard our laughter from before. “Thank you for being honest with me, that was… um… a very… interesting way to inform me of your concerns.” I say the words slowly, as though I am speaking to a chimpanzee and not a grown man. Perhaps he will pick up on my sarcasm, and if not, maybe he will understand my next words more clearly, “But I very much appreciate your willingness to admit the error of your ways and accept my offer.” I hear a rustling noise and some muffled words as a different man’s voice comes over the speaker of my phone.
“Hello, Miss Thatcher? This is Cooper”s father, Mr. Heyes. As the previous owner, I would just like to apologize for my son’s behavior and would like to offer you our special discounted rate for your excursion, as well as Cooper”s services. He would be more than happy to help with your equipment while you are here. I will make sure his calendar is cleared, and that you have everything that you need.”
“That is so nice of you, Mr. Heyes. That would be very much appreciated, as it will just be little old me trying to heft all of that stuff around while I am there. You are such a sweetheart for offering me those services and the lower rates.” I lay it on as thick as I can.
“Oh, that is so kind of you to say, Miss Thatcher.” He clears his throat, a shyness to his voice.
“If only some people were as kind as yourself. Your son, though I am sure his intentions are well and good, really needs some lessons in gentlemanly manners. Such a shame he didn’t inherit those from you. I will send over everything via email, and will be in further contact with your son.” The cheese factor gets ‘em every time. And this guy really likes the cheese, so I add an extra layer just to ensure he doesn’t back out from his offer.
“Yes, I do agree. I wish that, too. I will let him know, and I will personally ensure that everything runs smoothly for your visit.”
“Bye, Mr. Heyes. It has been a pleasure doing business with you, sir.”
“Goodbye, Miss Thatcher, and thank you.” I hit the end button and jump in the air, pumping my fist by my side. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.” I dance around the balcony, singing my ‘yes’ song as Clara watches me from inside, motioning for me to come back in.
“So… I saw the happy dance. Tell me all the things.” I tell her about the older guy, Mr. Dum Dum’s father, and the lower rates he offered, as well as his offer for me to have a personal escort while I am there.
“This is going to be so much better than I thought, except for the fact that I will now have to work with this guy while I am there. But at least I have another person to help me with the equipment, and the lower rates will save me some moolah.” I high-five Clara, and we dig into the pizza that we had been ready to eat before ‘dumdum’ called.
“I bet that guy is just some spoiled little rich kid who got handed the business by his daddy when he retired.” I point my pizza at Clara, forgetting to chew my food before talking.
“Gross, Molls. Can you at least swallow your food before you start talking? It’s like you don’t have manners.” I cover my mouth and swallow my pizza down whole. I realize too late that in doing so, I have now clogged myself, and I run to the kitchen with frantic movements, stick my head under the faucet, and gulp down the water, forcing the pizza down my throat.
“Ugh, sorry, Clara. You know I was raised by a man. But you have to admit, I am much better than when we first moved in together.” I grab a napkin and wipe the water from my face before sitting back down on the floor. “See, I even used a napkin. These weren’t even a thing in the Thatcher household. I’m not even sure my pops knew what a napkin was, let alone silverware.” I grab another slice and chew it slowly, trying not to repeat the clogging incident from before.
“Yeah. I remember. It has taken me years to train all of the bad habits out of you, but you have come a long way.” She chuckles, and I ball up my napkin and throw it at her from across the coffee table.
“How is your pops doing anyways? Have you heard from him lately?” Clara’s voice is quiet and hesitant, like she isn’t sure this is a question she should be asking.
“It’s fine Clara. It’s not like I am going to break down and cry every time you bring up my pops. He called last week. He and Lindsay,” (with an ay and not an ey, because for some reason she had to make that clear when I met her), “should be in Yellowstone right now. Not like he ever took me to Yellowstone, or anywhere… ever. Meet a pretty woman, and all of a sudden, he has turned into Christopher Colombus, all travelly and stuff.” My voice is now whiney, and Clara’s eyes are a bit crossed as I continue my rampage. “But it’s okay. Everything is okay. I’m okay.” I sniff, and wipe the back of my hand under my nose, pushing away the feelings that have begun to surface.
“Sorry, Molls. I know you miss your dad. It’s okay to be upset. But also, maybe you should be a teensy weensy bit happy for him? He finally found someone who makes him want to live his life fully.” Her fingers are up by her face and she squints at the little pinch of a centimeter she makes with them, wincing as the words leave her mouth. But it’s true. He is living his life instead of sitting around, taking care of a kid who wasn’t totally wanted but who he continually showed up for when my mom decided to leave. Such is life. Right?
I shake my head, shrugging off the melancholy feelings and change the subject instead. “So, have you figured out who you want on your team yet, Clara? I know we have a couple of months before I leave, but the sooner we have everyone picked, the better off we will be. It will give us time to learn to work together while all in the same location, instead of having to try to do it virtually. Ya know?” We move to the patio, grabbing our computers as we settle into our chairs, starting the little propane fire pit to ward off the gloomy chill of the evening drizzle.
“Okay, I have Dusty listed as my second in command. He will help me lead the team, and we will live in the lab while you are gone. I already have a couch in mind with that extra money we are saving from our float plane pilot to stick in there so we can take shifts.” She looks up to me, eyebrows raised in question.
“Sure, Clara, you can grab the couch, and I think Dusty is a good choice. He has great focus and gets things done.”
“Yes! Thank you, Mr. Heyes, for the comfy couch, or should we call him ‘Captain’?” She pumps her fist by her side, doing a little dance as her laptop teeters on her lap, giggling to herself at the nickname.
“I don’t care what you call him. I just have to remember to call him Mr. Heyes and not something else. Okay, what else have you got?”
We continue to go through names on Clara’s list as I work on my budget for the trip. So far, so good. Now I just need time to warp about seven weeks into the future.