Guess all he cared about was her appearance.
“If you say so. Of course Dad had to comment on me looking for a job and Mitchell Bond asked what I did or was looking for. Next thing I know, they say Ethan Bond needs an assistant.”
“That’s wonderful... or isn’t it?”
And this was where it got tricky.
She could be honest with her mother. The one who encouraged her through her transformation. Had been in her corner rooting her on rather than guilting her. Rather than telling her she was a failure when she got tired of counting calories or getting up at the crack of dawn to go for a walk. Because she had to walk before she could run.
Nope, her mother gently told her that everyone needs a break, then a reset. That was the communication and support she’d needed in her life. Telling her it was okay to make a mistake and just try again.
Not beating her over the head with every little failure. Every little misstep or decision that didn’t agree with someone else.
“There are a couple of reasons it’s not so wonderful. First, Ethan is kind of Dad’s boss though Dad won’t admit it.”
“He never would or could. It’d drive him nuts that someone who could be his child’s age was now telling him what to do.”
“He needs to get over that. He’s probably going to retire in a few years, at least I think so. Most are younger than him.”
“You wouldn’t have any exposure to your father, right? Working for him or taking orders? Nothing like that, because if that was the case, I’d definitely tell you to not take it. You’re there to work on your relationship, not set it up for more strife.”
“Exactly. And no, I wouldn’t have anything to do with Dad. Would I have to talk to his assistant now and again? Sure, that could come up. Is everyone going to know I’m Norris Jones’s daughter? It will make the rounds at some point even with the common last name.”
“And that is bothering you I’m sure. I’m willing to lay money down that your father isn’t so well liked.”
She snorted. “I doubt he is. And will people think the same of me? Will they gossip about him to me? I don’t want any of that. I just want to be treated as a new employee with no ties to someone else.”
“Make that clear. It might be hard for you. I understand that more than most.”
“I can do it,” she said firmly. “I’ve done it before at my other jobs. I’m very skilled at telling people I’m there for a job and nothing else. After a few times they walk away.”
She might get a reputation of being a bitch or uptight, but she’d learned to ignore that.
“I’m glad you’ve got a thick skin there. It will come in handy.”
“I wish I had been born with a thick skin. Then I wouldn’t have been bothered so much when I was younger. But learning later is better than never.”
Her mother sighed. “I’m sorry you have to deal with it at all. I should have protected you more.”
“Mom, you did everything you could. You left him, I can’t.”
Which didn’t explain why she had come here.
Because her father had never taken a step like this with her in the past.
He never reached out to see how she was doing. To ask if she was lonely. To offer a chance for them to reconnect on another level.
She felt it was sincere and what was holding her in Vermont? A job she didn’t like? Close friends that had moved on with theirlives? A boyfriend that didn’t exist and there were slim pickings around?
Yeah, this was just another step in recreating Nora Jones in her mind.
“You can,” her mother said. “Or you can limit your interactions, but I know deep down there is a part of you that wished things had been different.”
“Who wouldn’t think that with their parents? It’s not as if he was absent completely. We might not have seen each other in years, but we texted or talked a few times a month.”
Was she the one who reached out first? Mostly.
Did her father frustrate her with at least half the calls? A big old yes there too.
