Page 29 of Sweet Spot

He must have a really close relationship with his dad to be this shaken up. Or maybe the conversation was worse than Eli was letting on. I opened the door and asked Eli’s assistant to get Jonathan. Five minutes later he sat beside me nodding and grinning as Eli delivered the good news.

“What are you thinking, contract-wise?”

Jonathan practically rubbed his hands together. “Ideally five-year deals, but if that is too much for you, we can easily negotiate two year deals.”

Since Jonathan wouldn’t let anything go below two years, I stayed out of the conversation. The mood in the room grew lighter and lighter as Eli promised he was done trying to control the team and reiterated that operations were completely in Jonathan’s hands from now on.

I followed Jonathan out. He didn’t say a word until we reached his office. The moment his door was closed he let out a whoop. “Finally! Thank fuck! Pardon my language. Is this you? Did you do this? You’re a miracle worker!”

I held up my hands. “No. Don’t go thanking me. I wasn’t getting through to him any better than you. Just accept that he’s seen the light.”

He dropped ice into two glasses and poured out whiskey. Just a splash in each glass. “No matter how it happened, I’m grateful and we’re celebrating.”

I took the second glass and clinked it against his. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

“But, now we can begin.” He took a sip and rocked back on his heels. “Fuck this is exciting! Rhett and Erik are going to be so happy.”

Not to mention the handsome team manager. I hoped it made him very happy. “I don’t want to ruin the mood, but I really need to get started. The time has been short, but the damage extensive. I think we’re about to get a lot of resignation letters and I’d like to stop that, if possible.”

Jonathan waved me to the door. “Go. Get on it. Let’s do this!”

It was a wild forty-eight hours. My instinct that a large portion of the staff was on the verge of revolt was correct. There were a lot of heated conversations. I took on their wrath knowing they needed somewhere to direct their frustrations. And I understood why they didn’t believe me. Why should they? Their whole work lives had been upended and some new girl walks in telling them everything will be fine? No.

Until the news broke.

The Mantas have extended a five-year contract offer to center fielder Rhett Ryan and a three year deal, with a fourth year option, to second baseman Erik Cassidy.

The relief was palpable. People started smiling again. The stress lines around their eyes began to vanish. I made my way down to the field where the grounds crew was preparing the infield and painting the opening day logo on the grass behind home plate.

“Hey Doc!” Loreen Smith, the head groundskeeper waved to me.

“How’s the mood down here?” I wore jeans, a t-shirt with a blazer over top, and sneakers. My lanyard was annoying but necessary.

“We’re good. Aren’t we Marco?”

One of the men popped up with a grin. “We’re great! Erik Cassidy has a great feel for the infield. Knowing he’ll be around to make my job easier is a relief.”

The man beside him shook his head. “Don’t listen to this moron. We had a fucking party after the news dropped.” He kissed his fingers, held them over his heart and then up at the dome overhead. “The only thing worse than getting heckled by a fan, is having no fans at all. I don’t want to do all this work to make the field perfect for no one to enjoy it.”

Loreen shrugged. “We did have a party.”

This was great news. “So I can safely assume our troubles are over for now?”

She leaned closer. “We’re still going to have to backfill the three we lost last week, but I think our department was more immune to the stress than most. Mr. Stirling didn’t have as much knowledge of artificial turf, infield preparations, or chalk lines as he does marketing or accounting.”

“Fair enough. Do you think you’ll have trouble filling the vacancies?”

“I know John would like to come back, if that’s possible, which would only leave two openings.”

I had already cleared this with Eli. “Yes. Anyone who quit in the last two months can be rehired for the same position and salary, no questions asked. This is good for fourteen days.”

Loreen clapped her hands. “Wonderful. Then no. I won’t have any issues. I think you can scratch us off your list and focus your attention on other parts of the organization.”

“As long as you promise to get in touch with me if things change.” I felt my shoulders lift with relief.

She made an X over her heart. “Promise.”

“Well then I’ll get out of your hair.” I waved at the group on the field. “She’s looking good!”

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