She was a bouquetof pleasantness throughout the afternoon. When Marcia tapped on her door just before quitting time, with a brand new replacement for the mug she’d copped for herself, Grace apologized if she’d implied that an in-kind gift was warranted. Marcia wouldn’t take no for an answer, offering to wash and hide the mug away where it would be available whenever her boss needed a caffeine fix. Since it wasn’t worth arguing over, Grace decided not to. She nodded thank you, as Marcia stood across the desk studying Grace’s expression.Once feeling comfortable that she had properly made amends, she smiled, then cheerfully bound out of the office like a child whose world was perfect again. The sun still shone brightly on Grace’s world, too, as she harnessed the seatbelt on her way out of the company parkinggarage. During the drive home, she traveled along the freeway, humming a few bars from one of the hits as India Arie’s Acoustic Soul CD played on her car stereo. Another man had affectionately told Grace how wonderful she was.
