LIFE Interrupted

“Ah,” Sophie replied. “Josh in the office?”

“Not with you, he’s glued to his desk.”

She frowned at Jagger. “What does he do in there?”

“Not sure,” Jagger replied shrugging his shoulders.

She turned and headed to Josh’s office. He was on the phone. He missed a word when he saw Sophie. She smiled at him. He held up his finger and she nodded towards the kitchen. He smiled at her and continued his conversation.

Sophie headed towards the kitchen. She thought she might grab a Gatorade from the fridge. Her daughter was arguing with Brian on the phone about Thanksgiving. It didn’t sound like she was going with him after all. His plans seemed to have changed. He was staying on campus because their biggest game of the season was on Saturday after Thanksgiving. He had too far to go home to turn around on Friday and be back on campus.

She headed back to the entrance and pulled a chair up to the desk. Jagger glanced up at Sophie when she sat down. “How are you feeling Sophie?”

“Weak. I don’t like feeling weak, Jagger,” she replied being her blunt and usual self.

“You sound like my mother.” She thought about how, Jagger made that statement. He wasn’t judging his mother. He was sad.

He continued to type away on the keyboard. Almost as if he was avoiding Sophie. Maybe he hadn’t meant to tell her that much about his mother’s illness.

“I like the haircut. Better than the surfer cut you had when you interviewed here.”

He leaned on his elbows. “I had lunch and played golf with Max Satterfield.”

Sophie whistled between her teeth. “How’d that go?”

“I have two contracts for new business,” Jagger replied.

“A little Josh, clone.”

Jagger tilted his head to the side and frowned. “Something wrong Sophie?”

“No, I’m mean and grumpy. Just ask my dad.”

Jagger handed her the client sheets about the new opportunities. She took them in hand and re

viewed the information. Two new clients like Satterfield Manufacturing. “Josh is going to have to hire two new crews.” She glanced up at Jagger.

“One,” he said. “For now.”

She frowned at him. “How do you get that? We’re strapped with the business we have.”

“The cleanup that we’re doing is minimal right now. Ally and I have been reviewing the crews, jobs and scheduling with Josh. I’ve shown him with one crew we can handle the new business with Miguel running them both. His efficiencies aren’t being used properly.”

“Really?” She wondered at his audacity. How was Josh taking Jagger’s revamping of his crews?

“Yes. Sam is pleased with the changes I suggested too. He likes the smaller jobs and can handle more of them with less people which frees up more resources for Miguel.”

“Well you have it all worked out. How’s Josh handling all this?”

Jagger frowned. “Sophie, that is why he hired me, so he could be with you. He encourages me to make the operation of his company better, more efficient. I haven’t forgotten who owns it though, if that is what you’re worried about. I respect Josh a lot.”

She sat back in her chair. “Ignore me, I told you I’m grumpy.”

Chuckling at her, he then leaned closer, “What’s wrong, Sophie?”

“What’s right?” She snapped at him.

“When I say this to you, don’t take what I’m saying wrong because I see what you’re going through, and I know how bad it is but you’re going to get well in the end.”