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“Christmas,” he said. “She worried you’d be mad at her for having me go with her for Thanksgiving.”
“Never,” his mother said. “I have a brother too. I always knew we’d have to share holidays. Your father’s parents were alive back then and he has a brother too.”
His mother had a brother who had nine kids. It’s like they were made to reproduce in the family. His father’s brother had four kids. Still a lot by today’s standards but not nearly what his mother’s side had. West and he were the oldest of them all and not close with many since they moved so much.
“Good to know,” he said. “I’m not sure what day we’ll arrive. She took the whole week off, she said. But Quinn and Max are going to be close by for Christmas break with the kids too. I offered to get them hockey tickets one day that week. I know Lily will want to at least see them at some point again.”
“I’m glad you found someone with the same family values as we’ve got,” his mother said. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“You’ll love her,” he said.
“I’m sure I will. Laken and Abby had wonderful things to say about her.”
He wasn’t surprised that he’d been talked about while he wasn’t there.
“Good to know. I’ve got to get ready for a meeting with Thomas so he doesn’t come in here and look for me again.”
“When are you going to let your brother know Thomas is controlling like that?”
“Never,” he said. “Thomas is my boss.”
“West is your boss. Thomas has a title higher than yours and you know it, but it’s pretty meaningless when it comes to West on most things.”
“It doesn’t work that way, Mom. I’m sure West is aware. If he wants to do something about it, he will.”
His mother sighed on the other end. “Maybe he’s waiting for you to step up.”
“I’ve proven myself to him. He even told me earlier that Laken and I shouldn’t work so hard. We have nothing to prove.”
“Good for your brother,” his mom said. “I’m glad he sees that. I’ll let you go.”
“Talk to you soon.”
He hung up and got to work so he didn’t have to put up with Thomas’s shit anymore today.
Could he say something to West?
Sure, he could, but he wouldn’t. At least not yet.
22
STAND UP FOR YOURSELF
“Lilian, get into my office now.”
She felt her shoulders slump when she’d answered her phone only to have Stella bark those orders to her.
Since she returned from the Thanksgiving break yesterday, Stella had been on a warpath and she hadn’t known why.
She’d heard whispers that some were questioning Stella’s performance, but since she only worked two days last week and didn’t communicate with coworkers outside of work, she was left in the dark.
She wanted to reply she was coming, but Stella hung up on her before she could get a word in.
Pushing back from her desk, she made her way twenty feet to her boss’s office, knocked on the door and opened it.
Stella was sitting in her chair with her arms crossed, a frown so deep on her flushed face that Lilian worried she might have to call for medical assistance.
There were doctors on their floor. It was an insurance company. Medical insurance. They employed nurses and doctors with medical backgrounds to do telemed and make approvals for coverage.
