43. Go in Peace
43
Go in Peace
A few days later, Victor and I went to the theater before it opened to pay our final respects to the widow. He’d worked something out with insurance and the mall owners, but Zero wouldn’t be able to hang our eight-legged friend from the balcony again. The widow was going home. To the basement.
She slumped against the far wall, roped off and ready to be taken away. People still stopped for selfies with her impressive personage, so we waited until she was alone to approach.
I patted her faux-fur leg. “May she rest in peace.”
Victor furrowed his brow, his voice low. “I’m sorry.”
Was he talking to her or to me?
I wrapped my arm around his waist. “Why are you sorry?”
“I kept trying to make the widow work. She was acting strangely, I knew my sister wouldn’t want to fix her, but I still…I thought she was lucky or something.” He huffed and ran his trembling fingers through his hair. “You could’ve gotten hurt. Badly.”
“You could’ve too.” I rubbed his back, avoiding the tenderest bruises.
“Yeah.” He waved at the theater. “I could’ve lost my job, gotten sued, and ruined my sister’s career—”
“But you didn’t.” I hugged him and smiled at our widow. “Maybe she is lucky.”
In fact, she was kind of how we met. I’d always be grateful to her for drawing us together. If we had the space, I’d adopt her in Hot Contra. Put her above the dressing room and pin a sign that says, ‘She eats shoplifters’ underneath. If only they could do something like that here.
“You know what? If you can get her on a table, I think I might know how to resuscitate her through the season.” I squeezed his waist, then ran upstairs to my store. We had tons of spooky spider shit: LED candles, cobwebs, fishnets, and pins.
I jogged through the aisles and pulled two bags-worth of stuff. “AJ, ring me up.”
He pushed his glasses up and grinned. “What’s this for? Another party?”
“No, it’s marketing.” Also, a love letter: to Victor, the widow, and all lovely dark, little things that made us happy.
Hopefully, corporate would see my genius strategy and reimburse me, but for now, my employee discount would help me cover it. “Oh, and AJ, HR will be here today for evaluations, so could you hold down the fort until Willow and Bree come in?”
He saluted me. “You’ve got it, boss.”
I smiled and twirled my cross. For once, I wasn’t going to look behind me for a boss. It was me.
I grabbed my decorations and ran to the theater.
Victor eyed my bags. “What have you got there?”
“All the ingredients to build a killer display worthy of the widow.” I beamed, shaking the bags like they were rattling, black plastic pom-poms.
He raised his eyebrows. “Did you keep the receipts? Because I can’t hang her here again. She’s a liability.”
“She’s immobile, right? Too heavy to move, too high to trip over on this table.” I set the bags down and gestured to the theater. “Your guests will love it. They were taking selfies when she was on the floor, for goodness sakes. Imagine if she had her own stage.”
In the reflection of Victor’s eyes, the halogen lights on the wall created a halo behind me. “It would be an enticing opportunity.” He ran his thumb across the edge of his phone. “Give me a moment.”
Two minutes later, we had the go-ahead to send mall management a demo for our marketing campaign. We assembled the stage together.
I fluffed out fake cobwebs and grinned over my shoulder at him. “Is this cinematic enough?”
He eyed the back of my legs and sauntered closer, his fingers outstretched. “I’d show a bit more skin.”
I laughed and twisted around to protect the back of my knees from any potential tickling—and to point out my next suggestion. “Now, just imagine a little placard saying do not touch, and you can buy this stuff at Hot Contra.” I held my cross. “What do you think?”
“I think…it’s genius. She’s more magnificent than ever,” he said, but he was looking at me. “You’re a brilliant businesswoman, Miss Silver.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sterling.” I beamed.
We took pictures of the display, then snagged a few of us posing with the widow and each other. We had normal snuggle pics and ones we pretended to attack each other or run from the widow. Half of our pics were blurry with laughter. Guests would have a blast. This was a certified fresh idea to liven up business, so I had no doubt management would approve.
“I’ve got to get back to work, but good luck,” I told Victor.
He squeezed the back of my neck. “Good luck to you today, too. You’ve got this.”
I did. I’d arranged the appointment with corporate. I’d managed the schedules. Now, it was time to follow through.
I strode into the store and scanned the sales floor. “Corporate’s here today, so let’s remember to greet the customers, keep the desk clear of clothes and butts, and only check our phones in the office, okay? Best behavior.”
Willow tugged her hair, then hooked it behind her ear. “Okay.”
“You’ve got it, boss.” AJ slipped his phone into his pocket.
The corporate Human Resources manager, Cathy, arrived shortly after me. “Are we ready?”
I nodded. “Let’s start with AJ.”
We went into the office together.
The HR rep propped a clipboard on her lap. “Kat suggested you may be a candidate for management down the road. Would you be interested in supplementary training for that?”
“Bet.” He bobbed his head and flashed me a grin.
The HR lady arched her eyebrow. “Bet on what?”
“’Bet’ means yes,” I told her. I doubted they used that kind of lingo in corporate.
AJ beamed at me. “Thanks.”
I hoped I was leading, inspiring, and creating opportunities for my team.
Months ago, I’d clutched Bree’s hands and shrieked when they’d offered management training to me. We’d been sure she’d be offered it in her next meeting. But then she wasn’t. Nor the time after that. Today wouldn’t be any different.
Once we finished AJ’s evaluation, he bounded to the door. “You want me to grab the next person?”
“That’d have to be Willow,” I said.
The HR rep studied our agenda. “Bree’s not here yet?”
“She’s probably stuck in traffic,” AJ said.
She flattened her brow. “That happens a lot?”
“Uh…” He swiveled to me, his eyes wide with the silent plea to help him.
I handed him a box from my desk. “We got a new shipment of bat and cat jewelry. Can you sort it out front?”
“You’ve got it, boss.” He saluted, then scurried off.
The HR rep frowned and scribbled something down on her clipboard. “I guess this gives us a stronger case against Bree. Not that we need it. Do you think AJ could discipline a friend?”
My throat clenched. “Maybe with practice.”
Wasn’t that how everyone learned? Or they avoided working with friends altogether.
Bree burst through the back door, two pieces of hair on either side of her face in stiff curls as she peered into the office. “Hi. I—traffic.”
The HR rep offered her a thin smile. “Sure. Come on in, we’d love to do your evaluation.”
Bree slammed her drink from the mall’s coffee shop on my desk and hissed under her breath. “Why didn’t you warn me HR was coming today?”
I raised my shoulder. “I sent an email. I’ve warned you about other stuff.”
“Like falling spiders? Thanks.” She rolled her eyes and turned to the HR rep, pouring out a voice sweeter than candy. “Hiii, so nice to meet you.”
“Let’s get started, shall we?” The rep closed the door and glanced at me. “We’ve done your evaluation, not only for this period, but over the course of your employment with the company.”
I steeled myself. It took significant effort to peel my tongue off the roof my mouth, even if she did have this coming. I looked her in the eyes and recited the neutral script HR had provided me: “Bree, we are letting you go, effective immediately.”
She reeled back with her mouth ajar, but I kept going before she could say anything or take a swing at me.
“Thank you for all your hard work. I genuinely appreciate—”
The HR rep cleared her throat. Shit, that was off-script.
I folded my hands in my lap and resumed my lines. “We have some logistics to go over with you. We’ll also need your store keys. After that, we can answer any questions.”
The HR rep nodded, then handed Bree a clipboard with the paperwork she’d need to sign.
I couldn’t hear the explanations over my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Bree didn’t look at me. She gaped at the termination forms like they required her blood instead of her signature.
What she didn’t understand was, now she’d be free. Whether her beef was with Hot Contra or me, the bottom line was she wasn’t happy. She wasn’t growing, either. Now, she had a reason to find her calling. Or at least something that fit her personality.
At the end of it all, she gave me her keys, and I gave her the drink, the condensation slipping down my fingers and splatting on the floor. My voice rasped, and I tried to smile. “Goodbye, Bree. Good luck with everything.”
She eyed me, her dark eyes hard, then nodded. Her lower lip trembled, but she left with her head held high and her platforms stomping to the beat.
It was probably the last time I’d see her: my first work buddy, and my first firing. I hoped wherever she went, she did go in peace.
A few giggling teens whispered near the window. They gestured animatedly to Willow, who talked to them without the stiffness of a zombie.
I strolled over and re-folded a stray T-shirt.
They all fell silent and glanced at me. I almost laughed. Did they think they were subtle or something?
I smiled. “Hi. Can I help you?”
“Yes.” Willow drew her hair across her cheeks and glanced at the window. “Are we hiring for Halloween?”
“And beyond.” I wagged my brows.
“These kids go to my school.” She gestured behind her, and the teens waved. “Do you think… Could we work some of the same shifts?”
“We’ll see. Why don’t they fill out their availability?” I got them the forms, then led Willow to her evaluation.
“I think it’d be really cool to work with a friend,” she confessed.
“It can be.” My heart ached, but the excitement on the teens’ faces reassured me of one thing: Hot Contra was full of possibility. So many people discovered themselves here. I’d been lucky enough to find my confidence—and my love—at this mall. Now, I’d carry it with me forever.