“You’re firing me?” Al rocked backward in the chair.
The human resources manager folded her hands and rested them on top of the papers scattered across the surface of her desk. “We’re not firing you, Mr. Richardson. We’re offering you an early retirement package.”
“But I’m not supposed to retire for another year and a half.” One year, five months, and nineteen days to be exact. He had a countdown going on his computer.
From the chair beside him, Al’s boss reached over and slapped him on the back. “So you get out a year and a half early, dude. Congratulations!”
Though Al always attempted to hide his dislike for the young man who’d been hired to take the management position when his former boss resigned, today he did not feel up to the task. How could he treat a manager who referred to his employees as “dude” with anything but disdain?
“I’m not serving a prison sentence,” he informed Josh Lewis in a chilly tone. “I enjoy my job at J&J Services. I’m not ready to leave it yet.”
The young man cast a pained glance toward the HR lady.
She tapped a manicured fingernail on the stack of papers. “I assure you, this is a very generous offer. Two weeks’ severance for each year of service, and we’re extending your termination date until your actual retirement would have taken place. At that time you’ll be fully vested in your pension plan. You’ll continue to receive employee benefits until that date, including medical and life insurance for you and”—she glanced down—“Mildred.”
Millie. The mention of his wife’s name served as a sobering reminder. They had plans. He had responsibilities. If he lost his job, their timeline would be ruined.
She’d insist on opening that blasted B&B early!
The HR lady continued. “Since you will have been here thirty years on your retirement date, that’s sixty weeks of severance. You can opt to continue to receive it as a biweekly paycheck or in a lump sum.”
Lewis gave a low whistle. “Dude, that’s a boatload of money. You’ll be rich.”
Al did a quick mental calculation. “I have more than seventy-five weeks until retirement. If I take this package, I’ll lose money.”
The HR lady’s eyes flickered sideways to exchange another glance with Lewis before looking back at him. “That’s a valid concern, and a point we’re prepared to negotiate. I’ll need to get the vice president’s approval, but I think he’ll agree to increase your severance package to cover any loss of income.”
Dumfounded, Al could only stare at the woman. Did they want to be rid of him that badly?
He twisted in his chair to face his boss. “But why? I’m a good programmer. Nobody knows that system like I do. I installed the thing. I know every line of code in every program. I’ve kept it purring like a cat for the past decade.”
“That dinosaur?” The young man crossed one leg over the other and wrapped his hands around his knee, his foot swinging in the air. “The technology is antiquated. We’re ripping it out and installing new software. You know. Out with the old, in with the new.”
“Uh…” Alarm colored the HR lady’s features. “He’s referring to the computer system, of course. This decision is based on our need for a different skill set. We must bring people onboard who have experience with the new software. I assure you, Mr. Richardson, that your age is not a consideration.”
Right. Al almost snorted. She had to say that to protect the company against an age discrimination lawsuit. Since Lewis’s arrival three months ago, he’d buddied up with the younger programmers, including them in meetings Al was not invited to, taking them out to lunch while Al sat at his desk and ate his daily sandwich. Lewis had even included the annoying Franklin Thacker in his—
He stiffened. Narrowing his eyes, he allowed suspicion to creep into his voice. “Who else are you firing?”
“Nobody,” Lewis replied at the same time the HR lady said, “That’s confidential information.” She turned a disgusted look on the young man.
Al ignored her and fixed a stare on his boss. “You’re keeping everyone except me? Even Thacker?”
With an exaggerated sigh, Lewis uncrossed his legs and swiveled his chair until he faced Al directly. “Look, dude, it’s nothing personal. The fact is, you’ve been here so long you’re the highest-paid employee on the team. I can hire two top-notch programmers who have the skills we need for less than we’re paying you.”
“Mr. Richardson.” The human resource manager forced him to look at her. “We want you to know we value the contribution you’ve made to J&J over the years. This action has nothing to do with your performance, which has been exemplary. It’s strictly a business decision. We’ve examined every alternative, and we believe this solution is fair to everyone involved.”
Fair? How could being let go five weeks before Christmas, destroying a man’s future, possibly be considered fair?
He folded his arms across his chest. “What if I refuse?”
Judging by the glance the two exchanged, they’d discussed the possibility.
She leaned back in her chair. “That is your decision, of course. We can’t force you to agree. But I feel it only fair to advise you that if you turn down this offer, the company will consider other means to fund the new software project we’re committed to, including a mandatory reduction in force.”
A layoff. And from the look on her face, Al would probably be the only one laid off.
“I assure you, Mr. Richardson, this offer”—she rested her hand on the papers in front of her—“is far more generous than our traditional severance package.”
The inevitable loomed like a cloud over his head. He was being ousted, and there was nothing he could do about it.
The stiffness in his spine collapsed, and he slumped forward. “How long do I have?”
He pretended not to see the grin of triumph that split Lewis’s face.
At least the lady spoke with a note of compassion in her voice. “In cases like this, when an employee has access to classified information, the separation occurs immediately. I’ll escort you to your cubicle and remain with you while you clean out your belongings.” She paused. “It’s not personal, I promise. It’s company policy.”
Through a fog of misery, Al understood the reasoning. If he were the vindictive sort, he could sign on to his computer and do real damage to J&J’s systems while they weren’t looking. Surely they didn’t think him capable of that.
“Not only that, but we’re gonna throw you a retirement party. The whole team will be there.” Lewis sounded positively cheerful as he gave Al a chummy slap on the shoulder. “You pick the time and place. Any day next week except Tuesday works for me.”
For a moment Al battled to hold his tongue in check. How he’d love to tell this young jerk a thing or two. Instead, he pointedly ignored the offer of a party and held the gaze of the HR lady. With as much dignity as he could muster, he asked, “Where do I sign?”
“We always put the decorations up the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition.” Millie picked up her coffee mug and, with a delicate pinkie extended, took a tiny sip while watching Lulu over the rim.
They sat at Millie’s kitchen table enjoying their usual Friday morning ritual of coffee and muffins. For Thursday afternoon tea, Millie and her best friend, Violet, occupied the Victorian-era house’s opulently decorated dining room with gleaming silver trays and bone china teacups. Friday mornings were different. The elegance would be lost on Lulu, who was more of a kitchen sort of friend.
Lulu dismissed Millie’s explanation by blowing a raspberry between her large, orange-tinted lips. “That’s not a good reason. Frankie and I put up our tree at the beginning of November. Walmart started puttin’ out their Christmas stuff before Halloween, and the radio’s been playing festive songs for weeks.”
Millie indulged in an expansive shudder. “Which I switch off immediately. It’s ridiculous to rush the holiday like that. Thanksgiving gets lost in the shuffle, buried beneath a mountain of blinking lights and glittering garland.”
“If we start this weekend, that’s less than a week early. Nobody’s gonna get upset over a few days.”
Millie set her mug on the table and caught Lulu’s eye in a direct gaze. “When you became Goose Creek’s Main Street Manager you asked me to guide you in the town’s expectations, remember? Trust me on this. If you try to decorate Main Street before Thanksgiving, you’ll alienate people.” She paused to give her next argument the emphasis it deserved. “Frieda will be furious.”
At the mention of the formidable owner of the Freckled Frog Consignment Shop, Lulu visibly cowed. She sank back in her chair, eyes wide. The two had already battled over the placement of the mum planters for the Fall Festival, and Lulu had been forced to concede defeat when Frieda threatened to circulate a petition among the town’s business owners. Tradition held then, as Millie had no doubt it would in the matter of the Christmas decorations.
Lulu pawed through the basket of muffins and selected one on the bottom. Suppressing another shudder, Millie sipped again from her coffee mug as her friend split open the steaming pastry and slathered butter on both sides.
“I guess I can wait till next week.” She popped half a muffin in her mouth at once. Talking around it, she said, “But those mums are starting to look bad. I hate having our town looking scruffy with dead flowers all up and down Main Street.”
Millie averted her eyes from the view of masticated muffin in her friend’s mouth. Lulu had asked her to advise on matters regarding Goose Creek. Table manners were not part of the arrangement, though at times Millie was forced to clamp her teeth to refrain from delivering a gentle reminder, such as she would give her grandchildren.
At the thought of grandchildren, a familiar prickle stung her eyes. Christmas was her favorite time of year, and this year’s celebration would be extra special, because now they had a grand home with enough bedrooms for everyone. But she was having trouble mustering her normal enthusiasm. How could they celebrate a Richardson family Christmas without the whole family being present? Alison and her husband, Nick, who was stationed in Italy, had informed them that they would not be able to make the trip this year. Worse, their baby, Melody, would have her two-month checkup next week. How was it possible that Millie had a granddaughter she’d never met? It was a tragedy, that’s what it was.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Millie looked up from her plate to find Lulu peering at her beneath a heavily creased brow.
“Nothing.” She forced a brave smile and banished the tears.
“Doesn’t look like nothing from here.” Her friend’s eyelids, to which a thick coat of bright blue color had been applied, narrowed. “Nothing doesn’t make people cry, and you have the looks of a gal who’s getting ready to blubber.”
“I was just thinking of little Melody.” Millie could not hold back a sniffle. “She’s growing up without me.”
Compassion settled on the narrow face across the table, an expression that did not often appear on Lulu Thacker’s horse-like features. “I don’t understand why you don’t hop on a plane and zip over there. If I was lucky enough to have a grandkid, nothing would keep me away.”
The idea had definitely occurred to Millie, and she’d gone so far as to investigate airfare. Albert had flushed purple when she told him the price.
“We don’t have that kind of money lying around,” he’d said. “We’ve already decimated our savings remodeling this house.”
The reminder stung, especially because he never missed the opportunity to bring up the escalating cost of the B&B’s renovations. Besides, Millie suspected the primary reason for his refusal lay in an unreasonable fear of flying, which he refused to admit. She had almost suggested that she go alone, but somehow could not muster the courage. Albert would have been offended at the suggestion that she visit his darling daughter without him.
Millie picked up her napkin and dabbed at a drop of coffee on the vinyl placemat. “It isn’t feasible right now. Besides, Nick’s overseas tour ends next summer, and we’re hoping he’ll get stationed in Kentucky—at Fort Campbell or Fort Knox. Then they’ll be as close as our other children.”
“At least you’ll see that young’un before her first birthday.” The second half of the muffin disappeared behind Lulu’s oversized front teeth, and she washed it down with a loud slurp of coffee. “Now, about the decorations. I think we need something new this year. Those lighted wreaths are old fashioned, and the bows are so faded they’re closer to pink than red.”
Millie allowed herself to be distracted from her gloomy thoughts. “I like the vintage Christmas look. It says something about Goose Creek’s long history.” When Lulu would have interrupted, she rushed on. “You’re right about the bows, though. They probably are showing their age. I’m sure it won’t cost much to make new ones.”
“Why waste good money trying to spiff up something that’ll probably fall apart in another year or two anyway? What we need is a different look.”
“What did you have in mind?” Millie asked the question almost fearfully. She’d been inside Lulu’s house often enough to know decorating was not the woman’s strong point. The Thackers had purchased the house from Millie and Al and then proceeded to change practically everything. Their right, of course, but the alterations were painful to see. The family room, which paid tribute to the Louisville Cardinals, bore bright red walls, a red sofa, matching recliners, and crimson curtains. Somewhere she’d found a carpet the exact same hue as the walls, which gave the odd impression of being inside an upside-down scarlet tunnel. The room left Millie feeling like Alice in Wonderland every time she visited. She half expected to be served tea on the ceiling.
Albert, a die-hard Kentucky Wildcat fan, refused to visit Franklin and Lulu’s home. He claimed he couldn’t bear to see the house where he’d built and raised his family being infested—his word—by Thackers, but Millie wondered if he’d taken offense at her description of his favorite room paying constant tribute to a rival team. Anyone who knew Albert knew one did not mess with his two sports passions—Purdue out of school loyalty, and the University of Kentucky because he’d caught the local fanaticism when they moved to Goose Creek several decades before. Not to say there weren’t Louisville fans in Goose Creek, but they kept a low profile, especially during basketball season.
All except Franklin, of course, who did not understand the meaning of subtlety.
Lulu took a final slurp of coffee, set her mug down, and leaned over it. “I’ve been searching on the Internet. Instead of those old wreaths on the streetlights, what do you think about geese made out of green and red tinsel? I found a place that’ll make ’em for us cheap, and they’ll even put blinking lights all over ’em. I figure we could hang them so they look like they’re flying up the east side of the railroad tracks toward the big Christmas tree, and down the west side like they just left there.”
Try though she might, Millie could not envision anything remotely festive about red and green blinking geese flying from the light posts up and down Main Street.
Lulu cocked her head sideways. “Don’t grab ya, huh? Then what about some of those blinking light sculptures like they have over at the Kentucky Horse Park? You know, the kind that look as if they’re moving, only it’s lights turning off and on? There’s all kinds to choose from. I saw one that had Santa sitting on a motorcycle, and it looked like his wheels were really turning.” Her eyes lit, and she waved a hand across the table. “Oh! Oh! And there’s one that’s a big frog all made up of green lights, and there’s a fly above his head, and suddenly pink lights that look like a tongue shoot out of the frog’s mouth and snatch that fly, and then the frog chews it up.” Grinning, she leaned back. “I know Frieda would love that one mounted up on the roof of the Freckled Frog.”
Millie could not fathom Frieda’s reaction to such a suggestion. “Aren’t those lighted sculptures expensive?”
Lulu dismissed the question with a shrug. “You’d be surprised the bargains you can find on the Internet. I’ve bookmarked several folks who’re selling them. Why, there was this guy down in South Carolina who set up a ton of the things in his yard every year, and he died. His kids want to get rid of them, and they’re going cheap. They even have one that’s a flock of ducks taking off flying, and all of a sudden a man in camouflage hops up and blasts ’em out of the air.”
While Lulu indulged in one of her loud guffaws, Millie clenched her teeth. Dead ducks up and down Goose Creek’s Main Street were even worse than tinsel geese. It would give the children nightmares. In fact, it would give her nightmares.
Her coffee mug empty, she stood and gathered her dishes. “You may receive some pushback from the more traditional residents and business owners. They prefer the quaint, subdued seasonal trimmings. Gold and silver wreaths with white lights, and of course the Christmas tree at the south end of Main. All the stores put up gold and silver with white lights in their front windows. It gives Goose Creek a charming, small-town appearance. Besides, it’s a little late to buy new decorations now, isn’t it?”
“Nope. My honey bun and I can zip down to South Carolina and get ’em tomorrow.”
Millie swallowed an exasperated sigh. “If you replace the bows on the wreaths, everyone will be happy.”
Judging by the scowl on Lulu’s face, she did not agree. Orange lips tightened and twisted, while her brows drew together in thought. “Somebody’s gonna snap those babies up quick. I think Frankie and I will go get ’em tomorrow, just so nobody else does.”
“But you don’t have a budget for something like that.” Millie adopted a stern tone. “The city council will probably pay for new bows, but they certainly won’t pay for light sculptures.”
“I told you, they’re selling for cheap. I’ll pay for them. Frankie won’t mind. Then I’ll show ’em around so’s folks can get an idea of what I’m talking about.”
The business owners along Main Street would put Lulu straight in no time. Lucy Cardwell would certainly not relish the idea of looking out the drugstore’s front window to see a fly-munching frog atop Frieda’s store across the street. And what Tuesday Love, nature-lover that she was, would say about dead ducks falling from the sky, Millie could only guess.
“I’m afraid you’ll be wasting your money.”
Lulu dismissed the comment with a wave. “If people don’t like ’em, we’ll put ’em up in our yard. My honey bun’s been saying he wants to dress the place up for Christmas.”
Poor Violet, who lived next door to the Thackers, would not appreciate the display any more than Goose Creek’s business owners. Millie set the dishes in the sink and then retrieved the muffins.
Lulu stretched her long neck to eye the basket as it left the table. “Mind if I take a couple home? Frankie loves apple cinnamon.”
The memory of Lulu digging through the basket, touching every muffin in her effort to retrieve a hot one from the bottom, came to mind. Though Lulu was certainly a cleaner housekeeper than Violet, Millie had spied a bit of dirt beneath two of those chewed fingernails. She smiled at her guest. “You may take them all. Albert prefers blueberry.”
Albert would devour any muffin she made, but at least the baked goods wouldn’t end up in the garbage bin.
Millie’s Apple Cinnamon Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 cup buttermilk or canned coconut milk
1 T. canola oil
3 T. unsweetened, natural applesauce
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups peeled apples, diced
Topping
½ cup brown sugar
2 T. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
¾ cup old-fashioned oats
3 T. butter, room temperature
½ cup nuts, finely chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°. Spray muffin tins (18 regular size or 12 large size) with cooking spray or line with paper cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a second bowl, stir together the buttermilk or coconut milk, oil, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Do not overmix. Fold in the diced apples.
For the topping, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and oats. Cut in the butter. Add the nuts, if desired, and combine with a fork until crumbly.
Fill each muffin cup three-fourths full with batter and then sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 20 minutes or until muffins are browned and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let muffins cool for 10 minutes before removing from tins. Makes 18 regular size or 1 dozen large muffins.