“I’m sure it would be. So get your notebook out and start writing. Number one. I expect that most of the business will be concluded in six weeks, tops, other than the sale of the company. There will be audits and all kinds of things I don’t even know about that will take a while.”
“Whoa!” He threw up both hands defensively. “Selling the company? This quick? That’s a really rash decision, Jennifer.”
“Didn’t I just sign papers saying all of this belongs to me?” she asked.
“Yes, but you need some time to grieve and to think about what you are about to do,” he answered.
She folded her arms over her chest. “I can always get another lawyer if you don’t want to take care of my business.”
He took out a yellow legal pad and poised a pen above it. “Go on.”
“My house is for sale. I’m asking Mabel and Frank to stay on for one month. That’s how long I’m giving myself to clear out what I want. Then your job is to hire an auction company to take out the rest of the stuff or to offer the property as is. I really don’t care how that part is taken care of.”
“I’ve heard that millennials are sizing down from what their parents and grandparents thought were heirlooms.” He talked as he wrote notes.
“I’m of the same opinion. It’s all just stuff. I will be living a simpler life. The next item is that I want to give Frank and Mabel a really good severance package that includes insurance and a paycheck to equal four times what they make in a month, plus Frank can have Daddy’s new truck,” she said. “Set up a fund for that, however you do it.”
Justin nodded. “Next?”
“Daddy told me two years ago that Texas Red had approached him more than once with an offer to buy the company. Mama wouldn’t have any part of it, and since she basically held the purse strings, he couldn’t do it. But he was ready to retire. So contact them and sell them the company at a fair price. If they make noises like they want it for a fraction of what it’s worth, then put it on the market.”
“Okay, but please, please, wait at least six months before you do this.” The color faded from Justin’s face, and he looked like he might faint right there in the conference room.
“I have thought about it, and this is what I want. You can advise me through the process, and when it’s done, I will want your input along with my CPA’s to help me decide where and how to invest the money. Next, I want whoever buys the company to either retain the employees that are here or else give them at least six months’ salary and benefits to last until they can find something else—that includes Lawrence, even though he’s a son of a bitch.”
Justin laughed loudly. “That he is, but he’s a smart businessman. What next?”
“Are the savings accounts and checking accounts available to me at this time?” she asked.
“Yes, they are,” Justin said.
“Okay, that’s enough for me to buy the bookstore.”
“Why would you do that?” he gasped.
“I like to work there,” she answered. “Oh, and I want you to hire a carpenter to go over to Lettie’s place and measure that little lending-library box beside her mailbox. Then I want an ad put in the Bloom Weekly News saying that all a person has to do to get one like that in the color of their choice is to come into my bookstore and fill out a form. As I get the completed papers, the carpenter can build and install them.”
“Again, why?”
“Because that’s a dream of Rick’s, and he is my friend,” Jennie Sue answered.
“What else?” Justin asked.
“That’s enough for today. If I think of anything else—I need your card. I don’t have you on speed dial like Daddy did. His office isn’t to be touched by anyone. I’ll be cleaning that out before I do anything else.” Her confidence was building with every single argument. “I don’t want anyone to go through his computer or his other things, understood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Justin said. “Is that all?”
“For today. I’m sure I’ll think of smaller things along the way. When I do, I’ll call, or when you have news about the sales, then let me know. No doubt about it, we’ll be in close touch. You can call them in here and relay what I’m doing now. Cricket and I won’t be stayin’. We’re having milkshakes at the Main Street Café. You will let me know about Texas Red as soon as you get in touch with them, right?”
“I’ll talk to them tomorrow morning. Until the papers are all signed, it will be business as usual, right?” Justin said.
“That’s right, with Lawrence running things. He’s a good vice president, and I’m sure he’ll manage things fine,” she said.
Cricket got to her feet and picked up her crutches. Jennie Sue followed her to the elevator and pushed the “Down” button. The doors opened immediately, and Jennie Sue let Cricket go inside before her.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” Cricket said.
Jennie Sue leaned against the elevator wall and sucked in big lungfuls of breath. “I couldn’t have gotten through it without you, Cricket. Every time Justin argued, I just thought, What would Cricket do?”
“Hey, don’t fool yourself. I would’ve folded if he’d glared at me like he did you.” Cricket shivered.
The doors opened, and they stepped out of the elevator and headed toward the door. “I’m glad it’s done,” Jennie Sue said.
“Do you realize what you are giving up? You could be the head of this company. You could live in that house and never have to worry about pickin’ beans again. And what if the new company brings in a whole new crew? Bloom depends on the jobs that this place offers.”
Jennie Sue helped Cricket into the car and then got into the driver’s seat. “Pickin’ beans is exactly why I made those decisions. I want a simple life. And I hope that the new company will recognize good help when they see it and keep most of them on. Now, do you want to go back to the café when the doctor releases you, or will you come to work for me at the bookstore?”
“You are offering me a job?” Cricket’s voice shot up several octaves.
“I was going to ask Amos about a story hour two days a week through the summer for the little kids. But now that I will own the store, I realize I’ll need help.” Jennie Sue made plans as she drove toward the café.
“I can’t believe you’d be willin’ to work with me every day.”
“Why?” Jennie Sue snagged a parking place in front of the café. “We’re both up-front and honest, and that makes for good business partners.”
“You’ll own it. I’ll be an employee, not a partner,” Cricket said.
“I’ll make you a full partner if you agree to help me.”
“I’ll think on it until I get a doctor’s release and you actually buy the store,” Cricket said.
Jennie Sue got out and held Cricket’s crutches until she hopped up on the curb and got them situated. When they entered the café, the silence that greeted them was almost as deafening as the company conference room’s had been an hour before.
Then Amos waved from the back of the place and headed their way. Cricket chose the booth closest to the door as chatter started up again and set her crutches against the wall. Jennie Sue took the other side from her, and Amos pulled up a chair to the end.
“So how did it go?”
“My lawyer will be calling you in the next day or so to ask about buying the bookstore,” she said. “I hope you were serious.”
“Well, hot damn!” Amos yelled. “Iris is smilin’ down from heaven. I know she is. I’ll make you a real good deal.” His face went from smiling to serious. “You’re not doin’ this and then hirin’ someone to run it, are you?”
“No, sir. I intend to be there most of the time, but I have asked Cricket to work with me and buy into the store as my partner. One or both of us will be there all the time. I might leave a little early every now and then during the summer to pick a few beans.” She winked.
“Then tell that lawyer I’m ready to deal.” He pushed up out of the chair and headed back to the table of elderly men.
Jennie Sue leaned over and whispered, “That’s one bit of news that Amos gets to spread before the caterers do.”
“Pinch me. I think I’m in a dream right now,” Cricket said.
Jennie Sue reached across the table and pinched her on the arm.