The faintly accented voice is the first thing I hear just as I’m about to pass by Monika’s ajar office door.
The flower shop is empty of employees this early in the morning, and the current temperature inside has me pulling the sleeves of my oversized sweater down my arms. Or maybe it was the tone of my boss’s voice that caused the chill to run past me. I couldn’t ever really tell. Especially with her having her back toward me as she focused on whatever she was writing at her desk.
“Good morning to you too, Monika. Glad you’re back,” I smile, even though she isn’t paying me any visual mind.
That is until, Monika stops her writing, pushes back slightly from her black oak wood desk and swivels her seat around to face me.
“Good morning. And only for a bit.”
Monika’s expression wasn’t exactly decipherable, as usual. But I knew Monika well enough by now to know that the lack of expression in her deep moss-colored eyes and emotionlessness in her voice wasn’t anything to worry about.
“Now, why are you here when you’re in that condition? ” Monika pointed her gaze toward my abdomen. “You can wear all the baggy clothes you’d like. but my memory serves me correctly, you’re due any day now. ”
“And you’re be absolutely right. But I thought I could work a little later? I asked Jenny about it.”
“How much later? Are you waiting until your water breaks?”
Well, I’m not against it.
Besides me actually liking my work, I was pretty restless at home. Work, while it could be physically exhausting, kept me busy from allowing any pessimistic thoughts to creep into my head. Although there were moments where I failed and ended up sulking.
“Don’t do that,” Monika suddenly says. “I get you’re going through a tough time going through this pregnancy on your own with little help from your family, but you shouldn’t push yourself.”
I crack a smile,” why Monika, are you concerned? About me?”
Her stoic demeanor breaks as she grimaces “and there you go ruining the moment.”
“I am not! This is a rare moment right now. Can you blame me for calling you out on it?”
“No, but I can blame you for trying to change the subject.” she says, shaking her disapprovingly. In that moment, she pauses as if lingering in thought before choosing her next wording carefully. “Brielle, I understand I may just be your employer, but i am not a slaver driver. It may seem as if I’m being pushy about your leave but it’s only because i feel it’s needed. You work harder than anyone I’ve ever employed here and yet you’re carrying another human in you. You need to rest.”
My smile faltered as i cast my gaze downward.
I wasn’t entirely insecure about myself to the point where I didn’t realize that I was a hard worker. But, and I never could quite pinpoint why, it always felt odd being outwardly praised and hearing another acknowledge my work. Or hearing someone compliment me generally as a person. Plus over the years I’ve grown accustomed to compliments being followed by something back handed.
“Americans have a term, don’t they? “Give me my flowers, ‘ i believe it’s called. “Said Monika. “If I understand it properly, it means to give someone their credit when it’s due; while they’re still alive to smell them. So, I suppose this would be me giving you your flowers. What you do with them, whether you let them flourish or die, is up to you Brielle.”
Coldness in her tone be damned, there was a truth in Monika when she spoke. It made it hard for me to ignore it. But at the same time hard to listen to.
It wasn’t Monika’s responsibility to take care of me, or play therapist and life coach, but I knew I would be lying if I said Monika didn’t serve as some sort of backbone to me. It went beyond just respecting her as an employer, I genuinely valued Monika’s stature and her word. Even when her words made her fall silent in the deep thorough of thoughts.
A soft rhythmic chime suddenly filled the room, earning a curse from Monika. She reaches for the source of the delicate playing melody, to the smartphone laying on her desk.
“Shit, I need to go pick someone up,” she says as she stands from her seat. “I know we’re a little short staffed today, especially with Hannah calling out. but we’re going to have last minute help for the day.”
“Last minute Help?” My brow arched. This is news to me. It wasn’t like Monika to hire a person rapidly.
“Yes, from the person I’m picking up, my nephew to be specific.”
“Oh,” I blink at the information. Specifically the first part Monika just revealed to her. “I didn’t know you had family here in America.”
Not that I would have known. Monika wasn’t really the type to divulge info unless the moment called for it. Although even then I found she could still reveal nothing even while saying everything.
In the time that I worked at the floral shop I couldn’t really recall my boss even mentioning she had anyone in her life…aside from Jenny. however if I thought back at it, she she didn’t need to tell me. I knew right from when I met the two, that there was something a lot deeper than the usual business partner relationship. but even that, I felt she was selective about who she told it. Which was fine.
Still, I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t curious about my enigmatic boss’s personal life.
For that I didn’t expect Monika to react to my statement. But Monika surprised me with a response.
“I’m surprised you didn’t know about him. His picture is the only one i have in my office.” she replied, nodding toward the picture frame hiding behind a stack of papers atop her desk.
As if I’m ever in here.
Venturing through Monika’s office wasn’t a common occurrence. This moment actually of me standing in her doorway was probably the longest I’ve ever stayed within vicinity. While Monika never explicitly said she didn’t like anyone in her office, I did my best to stay afar until I was given passage.
But in the past I had noticed the picture frame on her desk the few times I had visited her office. But I never got a proper look at who was in the frame.
“And Brielle don’t think I’ve forgotten about our conversation.” Monika shot me a look as she take her jacket off the backseat of her chair. She slides it over her slender shoulders, “You’re more than welcomed to work until you give birth but then you will take your maternity leave and get what rest you can in being a full-time mother. Just because I’m going away for a bit does not mean i won’t be checking in. so don’t think i won’t know if you try to sneak your way back into work.”
I didn’t argue with My boss as she hurriedly slid past me through the doorway.
Monikas word is usually final…wouldn’t be much use anyway.
Just as I’m about to turn to leave, I pause. My eyes falling at the corner picture frame hiding behind the stacks of papers on Monikas desk.
I didn’t particularly like the idea of treking through her office for anything other than business. But I was curious about her family.
Monika didn’t have any pictures in her office of anyone so it had to be someone dear to her if she had them on her desk.