“Poor Mari.” Kerry sighed.
“Who says she's not going on vacation too?” Colleen asked. “Here now I'm hoping you need an accountant one soon fine day.”
Kerry chuckled. “I'm sure we're going to need a lot of things. We've got some pretty ambitious ideas, and some potential clients lined up already.” She glanced at her partner. “Actually, Dar's got an offer to become the national technology czar. I don't think she's going to take it though.”
“Really?” Colleen goggled at the tall, dark haired woman.
Dar half shrugged. “My reputation gets me in the worst trouble.” She admitted. “But yeah, I think I'm going to wiggle out of that one. Way too much politics for me.”
“Me too.” Kerry agreed. “So anyway, it's getting late and we had a late night last night, so..” She looked around at them. “I guess if you're going to take vacation, send Mari a note. Mayte and Maria, I think if we're moving as fast as it looks, we might need you as early as a week from Monday. That be okay?”
Both women beamed at her.
“Can we get everything in place by then?” Kerry asked Dar. “I'd like to before we take off on vacation ourselves.”
“I already sent a note to Richard Edgerton.” Her partner said. “We'll see. Everyone give Kerry your personal cell numbers, so we can keep in touch.”
Hands reached for phones as Kerry took out her new gizmo, opening the contact program on it, and they gathered around her holding out back lit devices that outlined all their faces in a gray blue light.
Dar leaned back and watched, feeling the long day creeping up on her despite the coffee. It was good, though, to sense the energy of the people around her, and see the happiness in their faces as they made their plans. She looked over to find Maria sitting next to her, watching her face. “Maria.”
“Dar.” Her former admin said. “Thank you so much for this.”
Dar smiled briefly. “Let's see if I can run a company before you thank me.” She said. “I could bust out y'know.”
“I do not think so for one moment.” Maria said, confidently. “It will be a great success.”
“With all the help, maybe so.” Dar said. “I'm sorry, by the way. I was trying to get you a early out”
Maria reached over and touched her arm. “Mayte told me so.” She said. “And thank you, Dar, but this is better. It is so exciting to be doing something new, you see?”
“I do.”
“Okay, hon, I got everything.” Kerry patted her knee. “Time to get home. My eyelids are sticking.”
They all walked out to the lot in a group, through a Saturday evening crowd.
“Hey, is that a new ride?” Mark eyed the Sport Trac as they paused by it.
“Yeah, we started out this morning getting Dar a new car, and me a new camera.” Kerry said. “And ended up being fired and having dinner with you all. Long day.”
“Nice!” Mark circled the truck. “That's sweet, Dar. Cooler than that beige battle wagon.”
“In fact.” Kerry opened the passenger door and removed her new camera. “C'mon over and pose. It's an occasion.”
They gathered in front of the truck and Kerry adjusted the settings, then pressed the shutter. “Got it.” She straightened up. “I think a new future started tonight.” She put the device away as everyone said goodbye, then she slid into the seat and closed the door.
Dar got in and closed hers. They both looked at each other. Then Dar laughed and shook her head, starting the truck up as she watched their former and future colleagues part and go off to their own cars. “Y'know? This is going to be fun.”
“Y'know? It is.” Kerry half turned as Chino poked her head between the seats. “You can have a job too, Chi. We can bring her to the office every day, Dar.”
Dar leaned over and gave the dog a kiss on the head. “We can.” She agreed. “There's a nice big yard in the back of it too. You like that Chi? Not be cooped up in the condo all day?”
“Growf!”
“What's that old saying, Dar? An ill wind blows nobody good?” Kerry settled into her seat as they started home. “Or do I mean every dark cloud has a silver lining?”
“I think they mean the same thing.” Dar stifled a yawn. “Remind me to send a note to my parents letting them know what's going on.”
“They'll be pissed.”
“Nah.” Dar said.”My mother thinks the company's a crock, and my dad thinks I work too hard.”
“No, I mean they'll be pissed because you and I were fired.” Kerry clarified. “As in, we were dissed.”
Yeah, that was probably true. Dar got on the causeway and headed for the ferry terminal. It still stung. She was honest enough with herself to admit that. But things were going to be busy enough for her that she hoped that sting would fade, as she left ILS behind and entered this new adventure.
Would she be a good business owner? Dar had to wonder.
“Know what we forgot?” Kerry said, as they pulled into the residents lane. “To transfer the sticker from your car.”
The ferry guard came over to them uncertainly, until Dar rolled the window down and stuck her head out. “Oh, Ms. Roberts.” He said. “New car?”
“New truck.” Dar agreed. “I'll get a sticker for it tomorrow at the office.”
“No problem.” He leaned on the car and glanced inside. “I'd love one of these. My baby SeaDoo would maybe fit crosswise in the bed there.”
“SeaDoo.” Kerry mused. “Hm.”
“Uh oh.” The guard grinned. “You forget that for Christmas?”
“Apparently I did.” Dar drawled. “Have a great night.”
He backed off and she closed the window as they were directed onto the ferry. Dar glanced around and smiled a little. Most of the cars around her were Mercedes and BMWs, and one, in the front, a Mazarati. Her Lexus SUV had been borderline. Her Sport Trac definitely was out of place.
“The Grove is cute.” Kerry commented .”Didn't you used to live down there?”
“I did.” Her partner agreed. “Probably.. ten minutes from Monty's. I liked it. You could walk to places and there are a lot of nice, old trees around.”
Kerry eyed her speculatively. “There's a marina there. You want to look around maybe?”
Dar was silent for a moment. “You mean, move down there?” She pondered the dark waters going past them, as they crossed the channel and headed for the island side dock. “Huh.”
“Just a thought” Kerry said. “Might as well get all our massive life changes over at one time.”
“We'll be down there a lot. Maybe we'll see someplace we like.” Dar allowed. “I don't mind the island.”
“I don't either. It's gorgeous, and we have a beautiful home.” Kerry crossed her ankles. “But some of those places we drove by were pretty cute.”
“And they have unique architecture.”
“Mm.”
“Let's see what we find.” Dar suggested. “But maybe let's wait to look until we've got the company set up and running, our staff hired, and our vacation accomplished.”
Kerry chuckled, then she exhaled. “Oh crap.”
“What?”
“We're going to have someone clean out our offices. I've got a bunch of personal stuff there.” Kerry said. “And everyone I would have thought to ask to do that is either going to be on vacation or helping us start up our new company next week.”
“Mari'll do it.” Dar said. “I don't have much there.”
“And we need to courier those laptops since Marks excuse for meeting us had nothing to do with them.” Kerry scratched Chino behind the ears. “They would probably let us go in there to drop them off and pick our stuff up.”
“I don't want to do that.” Dar answered, in a definite tone.
Kerry looked at her.