Shoe Strings

could
decipher.   “I’m fine.”   She sat in the straight-backed chair in
front of his desk and crossed her hands over her lap, tried to control her
nerves.   “So, what do you think?”
    “Everything looks good.   It’s pretty straight forward, but thorough.   You’ll relinquish control of importing
textiles including, but not limited to, leathers, fabrics, and exotics to Davi
Barros upon your and Sophie’s signature.”   He sat back in his chair and pulled his tie out with both hands, a
nervous gesture she’d seem him do the only other time their paths had
crossed.   “If you don’t mind my
asking,” he sat up and flashed his capped teeth, “why are you agreeing to give
up this much control over your company?   I know he’s your dad, but, from what Steve told me, you and Sophie built
this thing from the ground up.”
    Lita ground her teeth and wondered how little of the truth
she should sprinkle into the mound of bull she was about to shovel.   “I don’t know if Steve told you, but
Sophie’s expecting.”   His surprised
expression told her he hadn’t known.   “She’ll have less time to devote to the business and, well…” She crossed
her fingers.   “Who better to look
over my needs than family?”
    “Of course.”   He
nodded his head as if her explanation said it all and got to his feet.   Bart walked her to the door, cradling
her elbow as if she were ninety and couldn’t make the six steps without his
assistance.   “Be sure to give Sophie
my congratulations.”
    “I’ll do that, Bart, and thanks for your time.”   She tried to escape before he started on
the inevitable date/drink request she’d seen simmering on his tongue.
    “Say, Lita…” He subtly blocked the door with his body.   “What do you say you and I have a drink
sometime?   The office has opera
season tickets.”
    Wasn’t his exorbitant fee enough payment for his
services?   “Gee, Bart, that’s
tempting, but I don’t think so.   I’m
not much of an opera fan.”
    “We’ve got Braves tickets if you’re more the sports type?”   He leaned in and leered at her, as
though sheer will would make her change her mind.   “I’d really like to see you.”
    I’d really like you to see the man I’ve
given my heart to , she wanted to say.    He’d laugh in
your face and squash you like a bug for looking at me like that.   But since I took off without a backwards
glance, I’ve got nothing more to look forward to than a lifetime of offers like
yours, but thanks anyway .   “You’re sweet to ask, Bart, but I don’t think so.”
    When he looked ready to go for strike number three, she
reached beyond him for the doorknob.   “Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”
    She let out a deep breath as the elevator doors closed and
she retrieved her phone.   She’d
ignored its drumming while fending off Bart’s advances.   No messages, but three missed calls from
the same number.   Hummm.   Probably a wrong number.   She needed to call Sophie, let her know
the contract looked legit, and hash over any last minute concerns before taking
pen to paper and sealing her fate for good.  
    “Sophie,” Lita said when Sophie answered on the second
ring.   “I’m just leaving Bart’s
office.   Can you believe that slime
tried to ask me out again?   Jeez.”   She pulled out of the
parking garage and headed north toward home.   “Anyway, he said the contract is pretty
basic.   We’d be handing over our
rights to buying textiles, blah, blah, blah.   It sucks, but at least now we know he
didn’t throw in any funny stuff, like dibs on your first born.”
    “Lita,” Sophie squeaked.   “Have you talked to Jesse?”
    “Jesse?”   She
braked suddenly to avoid the car stopped in front of her, the car that vanished
from her sight the minute she’d heard Jesse’s name.   “What do you mean?”
    “He came to the store looking for you.   Oh, my friend, have you been keeping
secrets.”
    “I told you I’d met someone, but what is he doing here?   Did he say?”
    “He said y…r   f…..th….ves…b….f…d.”
    “Sophie?” Lita said.   “I can’t hear you, you’re breaking up.   Can you hear me?   Sophie?”   Damn it.   She’d lost her and redial went straight
to voice mail.   Jesse had come to
find her.   Her head went dizzy
with…relief, panic, excitement.   What did this mean?   While
she was desperate to see him again, he was a complication she