"I know it's not fair, Howard; but that's the way it is," Sarah said calmingly into the speaker phone. She could almost hear Howard's eyes roll at another 'Sarah-ism'. They were notorious around Labrytech, and many employees felt foolish whenever her advice ended up making sense.
Sarah continued, "You will have to try and find some sort of middle ground. The sooner you both compromise, the better."
"No promises, Sarah," grumbled Howard from the other end. "But I'll call you if anything changes."
"Please do that. Thank you Howard." And she pressed her finger down on the end call button with finality. Another human resources disaster averted. Sarah hopped from her seat on top of the conference table and straightened her skirt. It was definitely time for a break. She needed coffee, chocolate, new shoes, or pretty much anything addictive to congratulate her hard work.
Before anyone could say lunch break, Sarah had flown into her corner office like a whirlwind. She lifted her coat and purse from the rack, then made a line for the bright silver doors of the elevator.
Two tantalizing feet away, the voice of Freddy Mercury sang from the depths of her purse about wanting to break free.
Oh, the irony.
Sarah fished her beastly cell phone from her purse before it could jeopardize her image as CFO any longer and opened it to her ear.
"Labrytech, this is Sarah," came her cheery greeting through clenched teeth.
"Hey Sis. Now, don't get mad or…"
"Toby!" Her voice was surprised now, and she didn't even try to hide the annoyance. "Is something wrong with my baby girl?
"Well, not exactly." Toby's voice was still deciding if it wanted to sound like a boy or a man at that moment, no doubt adding to his awkwardness. "It's just that I –erm- lost her."
Sarah waited until the safety of elevator to unleash her vocal fury. "HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU LOSE MY DAUGHTER!!" Then she thought about what she just said, and in spite of herself, burst out laughing.
"I'm moved by your concern," said Toby dryly.
Sarah just sighed. "Toby, I ask so little of you. Babysit, keep track of her, make sure she's out of trouble. Where did we go wrong?"
"Well, what happened was, she asked me to read her a story. I turned around to get the book from the shelf. When I turned back, she was just gone. Why are you still laughing?"
"Because you were just outwitted by a four-year-old girl. If you want to be able to show your face in public again, you might want to find her."
"And no worry for the questionable safety of your youngest child?" Asked Toby skeptically.
"I can't say I'm expressly worried about her. She does know the place like the back of her hand. And…"
"Everyone around here loves her," finished Toby. "I've noticed."
"Wonderful. So now you have plenty of help to find my baby before her father gets home."
Toby's gulp was loud enough to echo in the elevator. You don't think he'll be mad; do you?"
"I think you better seriously consider whether you want a job with your brother-in-law or not before you decide to slack in your determination."
The elevator stopped at the ground floor. Sarah's heels tapped a rushed staccato as she walked through the Labrytech lobby to the parking lot and her patiently waiting Camero.
"We planned on going to dinner and an opera after work tonight. That should give you roughly, twelve and a half hours." Those last words she said with particular relish, and it was then she realized she was enjoying the image of her little brother sweating in fear.
"You're not changing your plans? You're not coming here to help? Not anything? But, but how could you? Why?"
"Think Toby. Think hard."
Toby just groaned.
How accidentally and beautifully she had gotten her revenge. The irony was almost too perfect. Fourteen years Sarah had held that small hunger for retribution, and now her precious daughter was delivering it to her on a platter with peach cobbler.
The elation of it all had Sarah humming along to the radio as she sped to the day camp where her other daughter was determined to learn to be a ballerina. She scrambled into the backseat, looking angelic with her chestnut hair and pink tutu, as well as laughably out of place in the sleek interior of the Camero.
"Did you have fun today Caddie?" Sarah asked, looking at her from the rear view mirror.
Caddie laughed her mischievous little laugh. "Oh yes! I think I'm getting better."
"You will have to show me later." Sarah pulled out of the parking lot. "So now what? Would you like to go home? I think your Uncle Toby needs a little help."
"With what?" asked Caddie abstractly as she fumbled with her seatbelt.
Sarah stopped at a red light. "Oh nothing. He just lost your sister."
Caddie erupted in a new fit of giggles. Sarah turned and looked back at her daughter. Her beaming smile could power a turbine. Her nose was adorably crinkled, and her eyes, mismatched blue and brown, were bright with unbridled joy. Sarah joined in the laughter, glad her girls were enjoying the joke as much as she was.
Because Caddie was there, and Caddie understood. Toby came for dinner with the family last week, and he had said that babysitting his sister's children, like solving his brother-in-law's Labyrinth, was far easier than either were purported to be. A piece of cake, in fact.
How just is revenge when the accused learns a lesson. How wonderful is revenge when your children can laugh with you.