breakthrough with his invention,” Sean said. He pointed out to the table where Danny sat, poring over the papers in his folder. “That little folder contains papers that are worth millions, Christine.”
“He’s going to be rich!” added Adrienne.
Sean nudged Bridget. “I guess our next Friday night dinner out at Big Bobby’s is on you!”
Christine pushed the last crinkly bag of chips into place, and then turned around. “You know,” she said with her strange accent, “your dad should talk to a lawyer before he sells his invention. What if some big company tries to rip him off? Or worse, steal it?”
“I think my dad can handle it,” Bridget said, glancing over to the table where he sat. His nose was buried in one of the books he’d carted over. “He’ll research the legal side of things. Plus, he’s the one holding all the cards, and he knows how valuable his new plastic will be. He’s not going to sell it for any less than it’s worth—and that’s a lot. He’s always said that his new plastic will start up a whole new field of tech that we can only dream of.”
“Wow,” breathed out Adrienne as she stood. “Sounds like a really big deal.”
“It is,” Bridget said. Then, because she was starting to feel like she was bragging, she changed the subject. “How are we shaping up on closing tasks? Adrienne, have you stocked sandwiches yet?”
Adrienne shook her head. “Still working on milk,” she said.
“I’ll get sandwiches,” Bridget offered.
She was still smiling as she bustled over to the freezer where the pre-made Glitter Cup Café sandwiches were stored. As she counted out what was available and made note of which ones to grab from the bigger freezer chest in the back, she thought over her day. It had started out pretty terribly, thanks to the surprise of learning about her new staff member. Sebastian was aloof, unsociable, and had a poor attitude. But her concern over him had faded to the background thanks to her father’s exciting news.
I’m so happy for my dad, she thought, as she grabbed a frozen ham and Swiss sandwich on a brioche bun. All of his hard work is finally paying off.
At 6:15, she let her staff members go for the evening. She finished up the remaining few tasks on her own. It was 6:25 when she gathered her light spring coat and purse, and headed to where her father sat. “Ready for dinner?” she asked.
“Am I ever!” he said with a happy smile.
4
Beauty
The next morning, Bridget was walking down Klinger Boulevard when her cell rang. She was just a block from Glitter Cup, but she almost wished she was farther away. The spring air was delightfully warm for a change, though it was still only 8:30 in the morning. Alongside the boulevard in big cerulean blue planters, cheerful bouquets of blossoms greeted her as she walked. She answered her phone happily. “Morning, Dad!”
“Good morning, Pumpkin,” he said. As usual, he sounded distracted, like his mind was on a million things at once. “Are you at the café?”
“Not yet,” Bridget said. “But I’ll be there in a few minutes. What’s up?”
“I think I left my folder there. The one with all the details about my new plastic. I must have—can’t seem to find it anywhere around here.”
“That’s because your place is such a mess,” Bridget chided. “Did you look through your lab?” She knew her father’s habits. He often worked in his lab until one or two in the morning.
“Thoroughly,” her father said. “It’s not there. I must have left it on the table...”
“At Big Bobby’s?” Bridget asked.
“No, no... at your café.... I was sitting there reading with that nice juice you brought me. I had a stack of books about patents. I think I forgot to put the books back, too. The folder must be there with the books. Must be there. I’m sure that’s where I left it. I’ll pop by and get it in a few. I’ll need it before two... that’s when the meeting is. Mind putting it in your back office for me?”
“Sure thing, Dad,” Bridget said. She turned onto 4th Street, and Glassman Park came into view. Across the street from it was a towering new hotel which had opened up earlier in the year. And just past the monstrous luxury resort was Glitter Cup, though she couldn’t see it yet.
She always liked walking by the park, and sometimes she took a loop around Glassman Pond if time allowed for