For what it's worth, in 17 years of working with founders, the ones who figure out they're a person first tend to build better companies in the second half. She was quiet for a moment. That's the most human thing you've ever said to me, Richard. I have my moments Tuesday. He hung up.
She put her phone down. She looked at Gerald's tank. She'd brought it to the office when Ava mentioned in passing that Gerald would probably like more light. And now Gerald lived on her credenza. and she talked to him more than she'd like to admit. And she said to a fish named Gerald, "We're staying."
Gerald did not respond, but he moved with what she chose to interpret as approval. She didn't tell Caleb what she'd done right away, not because she was hiding it, because she wanted to sit with it herself first, to let it be a decision she'd made for herself before it became part of a conversation that involved someone else's feelings and someone else's hope. and all the complicated weight of mattering to other people. She'd made the decision for herself. She needed to know that clearly before anything else. She sat with it for 2 days.
On Wednesday evening, he texted her just checking in. Ava had her first session with Dr. Patricia Owens that afternoon, and he wanted her to know it had gone well. Ava had declared Patricia acceptable and had explained the Gerald political situation in full detail within the first 15 minutes. Patricia had apparently listened with complete seriousness and asked three follow-up questions.
Natalie read the text standing in her kitchen, her D C, the one she'd been in for 2 years and had mostly used to make coffee and felt something loosen in her chest that had been tight since Monday morning. She called him. She accepted Patricia. She accepted Patricia with conditions. She wants to bring a drawing to the next session to help Patricia understand the fish dynamics visually.
That's that's actually therapeutically sound. Visual anchoring helps establish trust. I'm going to tell her you said that and she will be insufferably pleased. Tell her a pause. How are you?
His voice carried something careful. Something that had been waiting. I sent the email Monday. She said he was quiet. Which email?
To the board. She could feel him holding still on the other end. I declined the relocation. I'm staying. I'm building the division from here with an on-site manager.
She said it evenly, clearly without any of the ornamentation that might make it sound like she was waiting to be talked into or out of it. It's done. A long pause. Natalie, I did it for me. I need you to know that.
I know that. I need you to actually know it, not just say it. I know it, he said. And the way he said it made clear he meant it. No performance in it.