Because of Audrey. Mary Sullivan

Certain things had to change to save the company, but they could still afford doughnuts.

      He was tired of tension in the company and with Hilary. He’d had to call her to task more than once for her spending of company money without his permission.

      Worse, she’d actually called Dad a couple of times to make sure that what Gray was doing was okay with him. The woman needed to screw her head on right. She was either for or against him.

      In the meantime, she ran the everyday details that Gray didn’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole. He needed more responsibility in his life like he needed a lobotomy.

      What would the company do without Hilary?

      “Thanks,” he said, to appease her. “It was good of you to think of it.”

      Hilary smiled, but reluctantly.

      To satisfy her further, even though he didn’t have a sweet tooth, he bit into a doughnut. Hilary grinned.

      Stifling a sigh, he turned away to socialize, asking about spouses and children.

      When the last of the employees had finally dribbled in, Gray called for their attention.

      He thanked them for their loyalty over the years and their hard work. Then, with Arnie by his side, he unloaded his bombshell.

      “We’re canceling the benefits package my dad gave to all of you a few years ago.”

      The eruption of complaints hit the rafters, the sound level sending the throbbing in Gray’s temples into overdrive.

      “Cripes,” he mumbled to Arnie. “You’d think I was killing a litter of puppies.”

      “Can I say I told you so? Once you’ve given something to people, they take ownership. You try to take it back and they don’t thank you for having given it to them in the first place. Instead, they think they’re being robbed.” Arnie shrugged. “Human nature.”

      Once Gray got the crowd under control again, he got right to the point. “Here’s the alternative. Layoffs.”

      Again, more grumbling, but this time more subdued. Shock, no doubt.

      “I’m fighting tooth and nail to not have that happen. I’ve kept you all on and plan to continue to do so, but you have to work with me. We need to cut corners like crazy. The economy is bad across the country.”

      Mumbling all around. The employees’ fear smelled metallic, like spilled blood.

      “My concern,” Gray continued, “is that once I let any of you go, you won’t get another job. The retail, hotel and restaurant sectors of Accord are doing well because of tourism, but industry is suffering. We need to fight hard to save Turner Lumber.”

      He stalked to his office and slapped a hand against the office wall he’d slid open earlier. “This,” he said, “will be open all day most days. If any of you have ideas on how to cut costs, how to improve service to the customers so they’ll return more often, how to change anything that will help this company stay in business, you come to me and I’ll listen.”

      Tired to the bone, he all but mumbled, “I’m heading out now. I’m sure you all have a lot you want to discuss without the boss hovering, so stay as long as you need to. Everyone still has jobs for now. See you tomorrow morning.”

      He left the office. Where minutes ago, it had been full of noise, now it was silent. Perhaps they finally understood the situation. Despite how he’d tried to make changes recently, they had resisted and hadn’t understood fully how bad things were.

      But Gray had. Maybe now they did, too.