He blows me away with his knowledge, insight, and his passion. I never would have thought that he would develop like this. I felt that selling advertising was his limit. I can’t believe how much I underestimated him. It occurs to me, many companies could use this information, and he could teach this full-time.
He, he, no. I don’t want to help my competition. I don’t mind being helped, but we can expand and buy some of those companies with the extra money. I have our executive chef whip up something special for lunch. I am not about to watch him eat another hospital meal.
Cathy is an extraordinary chef. In no time at all, she makes a shrimp stir fry with fried rice. No salt added, but lots of flavor from the seasonings she uses. It’s not dripping with a thick soggy sauce either. The shrimp and vegetables are still crisp even after driving them to the hospital. The fried rice has as much shrimp and vegetables as rice; it’s incredible. I know Bill prefers Crab-Rangoon over egg rolls. She made him an even dozen.
Even before the lids were removed, the smell was amazing and has Bill sitting up to take notice. She made enough for four just in case Connie or Jane stopped by. Since they didn’t, the two nurses ate very well today.
Bill is as alive and engaging as I’ve seen since he was shot. It’s so good to see. I text Connie to let her know how the elite-level food went over. We have a good afternoon discussing work. Bill is back to his old self.
At 5:00, I start packing up to go home. Jane and Connie show up, and they have an amazing Italian dinner of breaded veal cutlet with spaghetti, a salad, Italian wedding ball soup, and garlic bread. They have excellent containers to pack the meal in and make it portable.
As luck would have it, they have four dinners. I am a bit surprised at that. I know they both love him and are intimate together. They could just have easily waited five minutes, and I would have been gone. They don’t really want me around taking his time. Do they? So why get here early enough and invite me to eat with them? Is it because of the food tip I gave Connie? Indeed, she knew about his condition and attitude.
Either way, it was nice discussing what we have done. Jane is out of the loop and has no idea what we’re working on or what Bill did for them. She just knows it is saving them lots of money. I explain to the student, and she is clueless. I explain what Bill did to me with the nails and screws, and her mouth hangs open. She has 100% understanding now. Bill’s not even talking. He’s smiling as I do all the talking, showing that I understand what we’re doing. I see Connie smiling as well. She does know exactly what Bill did, which is why she mentioned it to mom.
Why did Connie mention it to mom? Technically, we are opposing companies. Yet, this will save us boatloads of money. Could it be that Connie …? No, don’t jinx it and think that. Let’s see where this goes.
+++++
Friday, our meeting is interrupted with Physical Therapy. They want his arm to get a full recovery, and that means he needs to fight pain and move in ways that hurt. He’s being a baby and avoiding pushing his body like he should.
I lay out a sly comment, “That’s it? I’ve seen you lift a huge bar of weights. Now you can’t lift your arm? Wow, you’ve turned into a wuss.”
I know he was shot, and the muscles are healing, and it probably hurts like hell. The cute therapist wants him to do more, and my prompting is making him work harder. The pretty girl smiles at me when Bill isn’t looking, and that made my day.
+++++
A week later and Bill goes home. The nurses are unhappy to see him go. Nothing has been said, but I got the distinct impression that they gave him blowjobs at night to help with his healing. I bet there was a long line for that job.
Mom and I are at the hospital for moral support. He was protecting us, so it seems fitting for us to be here. I notice that mom and Connie seem like close friends. With all that happened and that we have been through, I can understand that. They have a lot in common, and let’s face it, everyone loves Bill. He is still a huge scary, and intimidating man who, deep down, is wonderfully nice. I need to get him back. I have no idea how, but I will.
Bill can walk and move around, but he can’t wipe himself yet, and cutting food is hard. There is always plenty of help around.
+++++
Bill’s point of view:
Today is Tuesday, my first day back at Global Advertising. I hear voices at the front door. I dread opening the door. As I open the door, I am expecting a huge shout of surprise or welcome back. There’s only a new girl I don’t know talking to our receptionist. She smiles and waves at me but continues talking. I walk through the room and expect something in the big room of cubicles to pop out at me. Nope.
Everyone is working at their desk. They smile, throw kisses but are otherwise busy on their phones. I relax. I open my door thinking I am safe. Nope, not even close. As I opened my door, 100,000 of those yellow, red, blue, and green children’s balls from playlands were in my office. Notice the word were. With me opening my office, they all come tumbling out. Quickly. I CAN’T CLOSE THE DOOR!
It takes no time for the entire floor of the office to be covered in these bright multi-colored balls. I can only laugh. All the phones hang up, and they shuffle their feet to get near me for a gentle hug.
I look closer, and it gets worse. My walls are covered in sheets of hunting orange wrapping paper. They must have a hundred “No Hunting” signs in my office and cover everything. Every item in my office is wrapped in wrapping paper. You know, like for presents. They couldn’t find hunting paper, so they bought paper with animals on it, the kind of animals for toddlers.
Just when I didn’t think it could get worse, it did. Sandy hands me a set of my fatigues and points at the washrooms. Five minutes later, I am in forest camouflage.
Sandy tells me, “Until you’re healed, I expect to see you in the new company uniform for you. You stick out too much; everyone hits you, and this will make it harder.”
Making their way from the back is Mom, Jane, Sophia, and Vickie.
I look at Vickie, “I know this is your doing; I will get even with you.”
Her mouth hangs open as her mom laughs good and hard.
I inquire, “How did you get the balls in there? Even I couldn’t close the door once it was open.”
Sandy steps forward, “Little David from IT is to thank for that. He took some thick cardboard that’s the width of your door and taped it to the frame by the hinges and the frame by the lock. It was three-foot-tall, so we filled the room three feet tall of balls. He then almost closes your door; it’s just a crack. He cuts the tape by the lock, then adds new tape from the cardboard to your door. We close the door the two inches, and when you opened, the cardboard is taped to your door, and the balls fall out.”
I shake my head, “That is one sneaky guy.”
I can’t sit in my chair until I rip off all the wrapping paper. Now I see what’s obviously my desk, monitors, computer, keyboard, and mouse, all wrapped up. Even the cables are wrapped up. I am handed a few more boxes.