Kerry blinked. “You going to keep a running list for a year?” She inquired. “Or can you talk the board into not putting a non compete on you?”
“Me?” Dar eyed her. “That clause doesn't say anything about you.” Her eyes twinkled. “You can be my front. After all, if they want to split hairs, we're not legally married.”
“Ahhhh.” Kerry started laughing. “No that's true. “ She sighed. “I could do the startup work. But you know what, Dar? The non competes not going to be their problem.”
“No?”
“Half the company wanting to come work for us is going to be their problem.”
Chino trotted back over and tossed the soggy frog onto Dar's chest. “That's not illegal unless we solicit them.” Dar tossed the frog again, this time onto the love seat. Chino obligingly hopped up next to Kerry and burrowed for it. “Get it, girl.”
“Chino! Ow!” Kerry grabbed her pet's digging paws. “You have claws!”
The dog looked at her in astonishment. “Growf!”
“Here.” Kerry tossed the frog onto her laughing partner's chest. “Is that ethical, Dar?”
“Is what ethical? It's a right to work state, Kerry. People have the right to apply and be hired by whatever company they want. So as long as we don't solicit them, or initiate contact, why couldn't they come work for us?” Dar asked, reasonably. 'Besides, don't you think whoever takes our jobs is going to bring in their own people?”
Kerry picked up her tea and sipped it. “Well.” She said. “I think there are a lot of people who are actually loyal to us, not the company.”
Dar nodded, tossing the frog at the sliding glass doors, watching it bounce off. “Listen, the benefits ILS pays are good. We won't be able to match that for a long time, so in the end, people will balance what they need, with wanting to come with us. Don't worry about it.”
“Mm.”
A knock on the door surprised them both, and sent Chino gal lumping towards it almost bowling Kerry over as she inadvertently got in the way. “oowho!”
Dar got up from the couch and skirted the table, getting to the door before her partner could recover from her impact with their pet. She opened it to find her parents there. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Ceci had her hands in the pockets of a patchwork leather jacket of many colors. “Can we come in?”
“Sure.” Dar stepped back to let them enter. “What's up?”
“We all are going to haul up out of here, wanted to give you a heads up.” Andrew said. “Them people at the Navy will not stop bothering with me.”
“What?” Kerry evaded the circling Chino. “What do they want from you, Dad? You're retired.”
Andrew and Ceci took a seat on the couch. “Ah do know that, kumquat. But them folks are working hard to get ever'body to sign back up to go mess around ovah there.”
“That makes no sense.” Dar said.
“As if the government ever does make sense?” Ceci said. “Anyway, we're going to take the boat and go cruise around the islands for a couple of months. Let them go bug someone else.”
“Good idea.” Dar said. “I might have to join you if I can't shake off the feds when I fly out there on Thursday.” She crossed her arms. “When you get back, want to come work for me?”
“I thought you weren't supposed to solicit existing ILS employees, Dar.” Kerry head butted her in the back.
“My father and you don't count.”
“You two going to finally set up your own shingle?” Ceci said. “Hey. I could be your receptionist.”
Andrew started laughing.
“Hey!” His wife elbowed him.
“Can they make you go back in the Navy, Dad?” Kerry perched on the arm of the love seat.
Andrew stopped laughing and frowned. “Jackass.” He said. “Ain't got sense to go pull some farm boys in do a better job than me now.”
Ceci also looked serious. “Actually, Kerry, they can. Now, technically because of his record they shouldn't, but that hasn't stopped them from calling, and we'd rather just avoid the question. If they can't find him, they can't twist his arm either.” She said.
“That kinda sucks. I'm going to miss you guys.” Kerry responded. “But if the government tries to draft Dar, maybe we'll join you.”
Both sets of parental eyes swung from her to their daughter. “They really bothering you, Dardar?” Andrew asked, mildly.
Dar shrugged. “Same guy wants to talk to me, has some thing he wants to ask. I said I'd go up there and talk to him, and swing by Gerry Easton's.”
“That does not sound good.” Andrew frowned. “That was some big old mess they got into.”
“Doesn't much matter. I can take notes to pass on to my successor.” Dar said. “Because I”m going to make it clear to both of them that they'll need to deal with them if they want something done. Kerry and I will be busy relaxing and planning the startup of our new gig.”
“Roberts Automation.” Kerry supplied, a moment later. “We were just talking about it before you got here. Got a nice ring, doesn't it?” She got up. “Can I get you guys some tea? Or a soda?”
“Sure.” Ceci also got up. “Let's both go.” They headed off into the kitchen, leaving Dar and Andy behind.
“Yeah.” Ceci said, as she removed a couple of cups from the cabinet. “The last straw was Andy's old commander leaving a message on the boat voice mail.” She said. “He was filing a float plan before I stopped sputtering.” She leaned against the counter. “We're parked in your backyard there, we're going to stay overnight then leave in the morning. Didn't even want to overnight at South Pointe.”
“Wow.” Kerry pushed her hair behind her ear, as she waited for the water to boil. “I can't believe they'd do that to him.”
“Oh, I can.” Her mother in law responded. “I don't have any illusions about the service. I never grudged Andy his love for it, but I never shared it. Bottom line, you're a number.”
Kerry measured some tea leaves into a strainer and set it into a pot. “Am I really going to be giving tea to dad, or would he rather have chocolate milk?”
Ceci chuckled. “He actually likes iced green tea as long as I dump enough honey in it. But yeah, he'd probably do better with milk. This whole thing's got him ticked off.” She went to the refrigerator and opened it, studying the interior. “That milk dispenser cracks me up every time.”
Kerry smiled. “The first time I saw it, I was like, what the heck is this?” She poured the water over the leaves. “Now I can't understand why everyone doesn't have one.”
Ceci came back with the milk, stirring some chocolate syrup into it. “So I hear you''re considering a name change?” She eyed Kerry.
“I filed my papers today.” Kerry said, with a smile. “I really didn't think it would be as easy as it was, but apparently as long as you're not doing it to avoid the law it's pretty simple.”
“Well, I never regretted it.” Ceci said, firmly. “I don't think this is something you had to do, but y'know, kid, I”m glad you are.”
Kerry's smile broadened. “Me too.” She admitted. “It's change time, you know? I can just feel it. I'm glad Dar's jazzed bout starting up the new company – I know she feels a lot of responsibility for ILS.”
“I'll tell her the same thing I told Andy. Don't waste time being loyal to corporations or government. They'll never return it.” Ceci said. “The only thing that's due loyalty is people.”
Kerry handed her a cup. “Two peas in a pod.” She indicated the living room. “And to be honest, if I wasn't leaving, I'd be on my knees begging her to stay so I can't say I blame the board.”