Page 69 of The Write Choice

“Did you see Marianne or Orlando in the office at all today?” It’s a rhetorical question. Neither of them bothered to show up or notify anyone they were using a personal day. Hence the formal email to HR.

Thalia chuckles. “Can I speak frankly?”

“Of course.” I lean forward and fold my arms on top of the desk.

She pauses for a moment, considering how she wants to proceed. “Do you remember doing group projects in high school? Where, inevitably, at least one person would let everyone else carry the project for them?”

I nod. “You’re telling me those two haven’t been pulling their weight.”

“I’ve been gone on my maternity leave, as you know, but they’ve been like this since before I had the baby. I’m not surprised to see they haven’t changed.”

“Why have my parents kept them on?” I say, more to myself than to her.

She barks a laugh. “Your parents haven’t had a great read on this place for a year, at least.” Her eyes go wide, and she claps a hand over her mouth as if she didn’t mean to let that out.

“You’re not going to offend me,” I assure her. “I had no idea.”

She lowers her hand back to her lap. “Don’t get me wrong. This is an amazing firm to work for. They’re just…”

“Ready to retire?” I fill in. She nods, conceding.

“The cookies should have been a dead giveaway,” I mutter.

“Excuse me?”

I shake my head. “Never mind. So, you’re saying they don’t know Marianne and Orlando aren’t working as hard as everyone else?”

“Probably not. I think we all figured they were young. That they’d step up eventually. We covered for them more than we should have. No one wanted to be the one who got the kids in trouble, so to speak.”

I smirk. “Except for you.”

She shrugs, but there’s a gleam in her eyes. “I wanted you to know their bad behavior is well-established. You looked like you were beating yourself up in here. Whatever else you do with that information is up to you.”

“Ah. Well, thank you, Thalia.” I mean for it to be her cue to leave, but she stays right where she is. “Was there something else?”

“You should go home.”

I busy myself shuffling some papers on my desk. “I just have a few things to wrap up—”

“Is any of it necessary for tomorrow?” She cuts me off.

“Excuse me?”

“Does any of it have to be done before, say, ten tomorrow morning?” Her expression is smug, as if her question is also rhetorical.

“No.”

“What is it about it that can’t wait, then?”

I smooth down some hairs on the top of my head. “I don’t know. Nothing, I suppose.”

She slaps her hands on her thighs and makes as if to stand. “Well, I’m leaving. And, today aside, I’ve been taking your earlier advice to get home to my baby, which has been great. Maybe you should practice what you preach.” She’s teasing, but she’s looking at me in that piercing way like Katie does when she’s waiting for me to come to the same conclusion.

I snap my laptop shut. “Understood. Thank you, Thalia.” She smiles and leaves. I check my watch. If I hurry, I can probably make it just in time for the tail end of dinner.

So, I hurry.

Chapter 20