Rhea had a small contracting company doing small remodels and hired mostly women carpenters, plumbers and electricians. It made it so much easier that I didn’t have to worry about plumbing issues at the space, because Rhea and her ladies could fix anything. I was counting on some grant money for having such a large female staff and hoped I could award the buildout to them. Rhea could also do material takeoffs faster than anyone I’d ever met since she knew how to read plans.
“I’m not abandoning the project. I can’t battle everything at once, guys. I’ve made a promise. It isn’t going back on my word. I have to do this strategically.”
She didn’t like it, but she seemed to accept it. I caught her eyeing Shannon several times and knew I’d have to make a private, formal introduction or there would be gossiping going on all over the place.
One of the new hires I didn’t recognize, who was wheelchair bound, added, “We do appreciate the extra, but I gotta get a job. I can’t wait around to find out if I got a permanent job.”
Rhea pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. “He’s reception.”
“I may not have legs, but I’ll bet I can climb a ladder faster than you!”
The group laughed and I was grateful for the lightheartedness.
“Look guys, I got it.” I was truly sorry for having brought them together, gotten them so excited about what we could do, even with the divorce raging, that it hadn’t occurred to me that my personal life would affect theirs. I fully intended to make it up to them and told them so. I asked for their patience and to trust me.
Almost no one believed me. The groans and whispered swear words were frequent and disturbing.
“I thought you had the financing all set up, Marco,” someone asked.
“It got pulled. I had a note called, part of my divorce attorney battle, and it caught me completely off guard. But I’ve secured the replacement, so all will be good.”
“Except she’s going around town telling everyone she’s in charge. So what are we?” someone else commented.
“We’re the barnyard animals,” countered Rhea.
It bothered me that these people, who had so little, had shown their loyalty to me and I was in danger of letting them down. Somehow, I’d get this thing back on track and turn it into the flagship I knew it could be.
“And that’s the problem. I can’t stop that as fast as I can make sure you get paid,” I added.
“For how long?” one of the big guys asked. I knew he’d also been a Marine. “I got a kid and a wife. I gotta get a job, Marco. Unlike you, this isn’t a hobby.”
I did understand, but they obviously felt like the little guys, the ones who always got the shaft. I was going to make sure that didn’t happen.
“I’ll promise you’ll get paid for at least two months, maybe three. We still have work to do. We collected a pretty sizeable list of possible donors. Those people have to be contacted. And we have the suggested recipients. Rhea, you said you wanted to work on the standards. Everybody’s needs will be different, depending on their situation. Most of the project will be guys, but we had a family unit set up. I don’t know what she’s doing about that, since she’s having some changes done. But our work isn’t done.”
More groans erupted from my group.
“Someone is going to have to go over to the Design Review office and find out what changes they are proposing. I understand they aren’t approved yet, and I guess I’ll be forced to speak with Rebecca, through her attorney, of course.”
I didn’t see much hope in their eyes.
“Why doesn’t she ask her?” Kevin, a twenty something with full sleeves said, pointing to Shannon. “They’re buddy buddy. She’s the weather girl, Shannon Marr.”
“Not really,” corrected Shannon. “It was just an interview, and probably a one-off at that.”
“But you could ask,” suggested Rhea, giving her a respectful wink. I could see Shannon wasn’t entirely comfortable with her.
Shannon looked at me and I gently shook my head. It was a bad idea.
“I’m not sure she’s still in town, anyway,” she answered. “But I’d be willing to try, if you think it would help, Marco.”
God dammit. This is the last thing I need.
“I don’t want you anywhere around her.” I stopped all the crosstalk that had erupted with my voice rising over their chattering. “The checks will be couriered here tomorrow—for all of you. You’ll get checks every Monday for at least two months. You can count on that.”
I asked Rhea and her partner to meet me in the back, out of earshot of the rest of the group. Shannon joined us.
Rhea looked her up and down. “Hey boss, do I have to train my replacement?”
“I couldn’t replace you, Rhea.” I pulled Shannon over to my side, wrapping my arm around her waist. “This is personal. Very personal. And none of your goddamned business, either.”
Rhea chuckled and Dax looked relieved. “Nice to meet you, Shannon,” she said.
“You ladies are in a perfect position to try to get yourselves hired over on Rebecca’s crew. If you do, and you report back to me, you’ll still get your salary here, too. But I want just the two of you to go first. I need to know if she’s really serious about the buildout.”
“Boss, I don’t understand why you don’t just talk to her. Work something out,” said Rhea.
“So she can screw me again? I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. I’m going to be gone for about two weeks. During that period of time, divide everyone who’s staying into groups and put someone in charge of each one. One group can contact donors. Another can interview the vets who responded to the interest post card. I want the team leader of that one to interview every single one of them. Go to their houses. Get a sense of what they
