Read Little White Lies for Free Online Page B

assume correctly,” he says leaning to the side to look around Martha’s ample figure as she busies herself cleaning up the mess. “The only budget around here, as far as I can tell, is all I’ve got. I agree. It’s something that’s long overdue. Why not make a rough draft and we’ll go over it when you’re ready. But before you make your rounds, I would like you to meet my family. I see you have met Jeff-Jeff here.”
    He rubs the boy’s head with his fingertips as Jeff-Jeff closes his eyes with pleasure.
    “How about Shana… has she come down yet?”
    “No, not yet. Martha said she’s still in the nursery with her nanny. Her name is Mary Stanley, I believe. Actually, other than you, Martha is the only person whom I have formally met. That is, to whom I have introduced myself.”
    A.J. acknowledges my comments and realizes for the first time that I’m still standing. He points to the chair and with a wave of his hand, directs me to sit down. Martha returns to the table and plucks Jeff-Jeff out of his chair. She wipes his face and hands with a moist towel and sends him on his way. This time A.J. and I watch Martha’s efficient ministrations rather than try to talk around her. Just as A.J. is about to speak, an absolutely stunning woman enters the kitchen carrying a little girl in her arms.
    A.J. and I are both on our feet as he extends his hand towards me and says, “Sheri, I would like you to meet our new manager, Phil Richards. Phil, this is my wife, Sheri, and my little girl, Shana.”
    Sheri is wearing the same type of outfit as her husband. only somehow she looks better in sweat clothes. Shana’s red playsuit is covered with Disney characters displaying various gymnastic feats. She, too, is wearing sneakers. Little kids’ shoes always make me smile. Exact replicas of their adult counterparts, the little athletes are ready for world-class competition. A child, barely able to walk, will have traction soles and speed lines painted along the sides of his or her footgear. What an imagination those designers must have.
    Sheri is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. She’s about five feet seven or eight, perfectly contoured, and her smile is absolutely dazzling. Her eyes open wide as she comprehends A.J.’s statement. She seems to be trying to assimilate faulty data. Evidently I am his surprise for the day. She recovers nicely and extends her hand as Shana rides easily on her forearm.
    “Hi, I’m pleased to meet you. I’m sorry if I seem confused, but I didn’t know A.J. had found anyone for the position. I mean. I knew he had hired someone, but I didn’t know you were coming today. Well,actually, I guess I knew you were coming sometime today, but… “
    Her mega-watt smile smoothes any uneasiness I might feel at this point. Sheri is a lovely woman with charm to match her beauty.
    I look over at A.J. who is just beaming at his wife’s verbal gymnastics. No question about it, he set her up and now he’s letting her twist in the wind. Never told her about the new manager… white, no less. I try to ease her off the hook before she hurts herself.
    I’m still holding her hand as I say, “I’ve started. This morning is my grand entrance… such as it is. Anything you need, please do not hesitate to tell me. It will take me a while to get my feet on the ground, but it will make things easier if you tell me the way you want things as we go along.”
    As I release her hand she looks at A.J. and says, “Honey, you should have said something earlier. I could have had a big list all made out for Phil here.” Then with a mischievous grin, “We could have buried him the first day.”
    A.J., now confident his surprise has worked, begins to hold court.
    “That’s what I was afraid of, but I’m not sure how long Phil is going to last. This is a temporary arrangement. He’s sort of on probation… if you know what I mean.”
    Sheri’s reaction is one of pure astonishment.
    “No, I don’t