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She fell asleep on the maybe, then woke early to lie in bed and go over it all again.
When she went down for coffee, her mother sat at the counter with her laptop. She’d braided her sun-kissed hair back this morning and wore a candy-pink robe.
“Good morning. I’m researching how to produce coffee-table books. It’s a lot!”
“I guess it is.”
“It’s such a good idea. Now it’s in here.” Audrey tapped her temple. “I can’t let it go. I want to get as much calculated and organized before I hit your gram with it. That way works best with her.”
Morgan started to reach for a mug and saw the Crafty Arts box beside the coffee machine, and the card with her name on it.
“What’s this?”
“Just a little something from Gram and me, for good luck today. If you hate them… pretend you don’t. I put it there since I wasn’t sure if you’d be up and around before we left for work.”
Prepared to lie if necessary, Morgan opened the box. The diamond etching on the silver, cuff-style earrings made them sparkle.
She didn’t have to pretend.
“They’re beautiful.”
“We thought they’d go well with what you picked out to wear today.”
“I think you picked that out.”
“Well, I helped. But the outfit was in your closet, after all. Do you really like them?”
“I love them.” She put them on to prove it. “How do they look?”
“Like you. Smart, just a little sleek, and very well-crafted. How about some breakfast?”
“Can’t.” Morgan pressed a hand to her belly. “I’m nervous.”
“Of course you are. Who wouldn’t be? But all you have to do is be Morgan. The resort will be lucky to have you, and I’m saying that as a business manager—something I never thought I’d be in my life. I watched you yesterday, baby, and you know just what you’re doing.”
“I used to think so. And I’m not going into this with a negative attitude. I need a boost, I can’t pretend I don’t. I need someone who isn’t my mother or grandmother to tell me I’m good enough.”
“That bastard did a number on you.”
Morgan’s eyebrows lifted. “Listen to the mouth on my mother.”
“Oh, I’ve always had that. You just didn’t hear it. Maybe that was a mistake, me always putting on the everything’s-fine face for you. But I can’t go back and change that now. You go in there today, and you be Morgan. If they don’t give you that boost, they’re idiots.”
Audrey closed her laptop, rose. “I’ve got to get dressed. We’ll probably be gone before you have to leave.” Eyes on her daughter’s, she lifted a hand to Morgan’s cheek. “Will you let us know how the interview goes? Text, even drop by the shop?”
“I will. Thanks for the earrings. I can feel the luck pumping off them.”
She put on the mother-approved outfit. The sage-green shirt, the slim black pants, the tall black boots. Added the butter-soft leather blazer. And had to admit, as usual when it came to fashion, Audrey hit the mark.
She looked professional, confident, and like herself.
Now, she just had to remember to act that way.
Downstairs, she gave herself a pep talk while she donned her outdoor gear.
You know what you’re doing.
Your résumé’s solid.
