The Reunion Read Online Free PDF

I’m not qualified and fire my ass!”  Ham stopped her pacing by grabbing her by the shoulders and bending down to look her square in the eyes.
    “You're exaggerating.  Get it together and do it now Emily.”  He knew she was scared.  He knew she had just squeaked through in high school and only taken a few college courses.  She’d done everything the hard way.  Even moving away when she found out she was pregnant and making a go of it on her own.  Then Curtis had found her under her grandmother’s maiden name working in the mailroom at Brockton Petroleum in Texas.  OH, was Curtis pissed.  She had proved herself again and again, then came back to California and did it all again in a different division.  “This isn’t about qualification, its skill.  It’s recognition for a job well done.”
    “Ham, you and Curtis went out on a limb for me and I don’t want any freakin' recognition.  I don’t want any attention at all.  I want corporate as far from my ass as I can get.”
    “Deep breaths.  You panicked, that's all.”  He shook her lightly.  “Go clean up your eyes and straighten your make up and get your ass back in there or I’ll tan your hide.”  She laughed and hugged him.
    “Sorry Ham…and don’t call me Emily.”
    “I forgot.”  He let her precede him out the door and she almost walked straight into Brockton.  He looked to be concentrating on some papers, talking to Marshall and as they walked into the conference room again.  She shook her head and went down the hall to the women’s room.  She’d done a number on herself.  Her eyes were bloodshot and awful looking.  She splashed cold water on her face and finished removing the rest of her makeup.  She didn’t carry makeup on her and her purse was in her office, on the other side of the building.  She put her glasses on.  Maybe they wouldn't notice her red eyes if she had her glasses on.  She took several deep breaths and went back to the conference room.  Hamilton and Brockton were talking at the far end and Marshall and Cummins a few feet from them.  Someone entered behind her and patted her on the back.  It was Curtis Sanchez.  She went deathly pale again.  Curtis wouldn’t come to California on a bet.  She was in deep shit.  He greeted the two men at the head of the table and indicated that Em had just come back in and asked for a minute before they started again.  He took Em by the arm and as he turned her she saw Marshall smile and wink at her.
    “Sanchez, what the fuck…”  Her hands flew up to cover her mouth. “I need go to home.”  She shook her head apologetically.  He pulled her into a hug.
    “Em.  Em.  Look at me.”  Curtis held her by her shoulders at arms length and was smiling his “let the devil take ‘em” smile.  She loved that smile.  “You’re not in trouble.  Mary says hi and can’t wait to see you and Mike Friday.”  Em slapped him in the arm then walked away.  “You’re ok.  Stop worrying.”
    “Worrying.  WORRYING.  Do I looked worried?”
    “You look like shit girl.”
    “Thanks, just what I need more comedians in my life.”  After taking three deep breaths, she put her hands on either side of his face and kissed Curtis.  “Let’s go cowboy.”  They went back to the conference room. 
    In all the years Hamilton’s secretary Janice had known him and all the years she’d known and worked with Em, she had never seen the woman so befuddled.  She was always better with machinery than people but that they had called in both Ham and Sanchez.  She wondered if there was something to worry about.  Janice tried to concentrate on the paperwork in front of her and ignore the open com line to the conference room. 
    Seating positions changed.  Brockton was at the head of the table and was taking control of the meeting.  The boys, Marshall and Cummins were on one side and Sanchez and Hamilton with Em between them on the other.
    “Apparently Ms. Connally got