My cousin gave me a funny look but nodded and said he’d add me to the schedule.
It felt like a step in the right direction.
Another opportunity arose the following day when Will called a staff meeting. It wasn’t unusual to have everyone get together, but it didn’t happen very often. Typically, only at the beginning of apple season when we were inundated withseasonal and part-time employees who needed information and training. But we were well into December now, and it was mostly family present along with some of our regular full-time employees who knew the lay of the land.
Will shifted uneasily in front of us. We were gathered at the picnic tables by the Bake Shop prior to opening. The outdoor heaters lined the perimeter, but it was still cold.
I rubbed my hands together and gave Larry a look, but she seemed just as confused as I was about the reason behind the meeting.
Finally, Will stood and cleared his throat before the small crowd. “I’ll keep this short. I’ve already spoken with some of you, but I’ve decided to take a step back from the farm.”
I nearly toppled off the bench seat in surprise.
“We’ll be hiring a general manager for Grandpappy’s to handle the day-to-day tasks I’ve absorbed over the years. Someone to run point, make the schedule, and handle issues that crop up. I’ll mainly stay on in a support role and to manage the accounting.”
“And,” Aunt Maggie added loudly from the front, “he’ll be working remotely for the most part.”
Larry elbowed me sharply in the side, and we shared aholy shitlook. Will had been miserable since Becca left. I didn’t know precisely what had gone down between them, but I knew they weren’t talking. Larry and I had kept in touch with Becca, texting often. She was our friend, after all. I definitely hoped this change—Will stepping back—meant good things for them in the future. It was long past time they figured their shit out and Becca made her move to North Carolina official.
When I glanced back to Will, I could tell he wanted to roll his eyes at his mother, but he knew better. “Right. So that’s it. We’ll post the new position and begin interviewing in a few weeks so that we can have someone in place by January first.”
Will was so fucking stubborn. It ran in the family. I never thought I’d see the day he recognized his own happiness and put himself first.
Maybe thingscouldchange.
The meeting dispersed, and I could tell Larry wanted to break down everything that had just happened, but my heart pounded in my throat as I watched Will make his way back to his office.
I stood quickly. “Sorry, Larry. I’ll catch up with you. I need to talk to him.”
By the time I opened the door to Will’s office, he was just settling down at his desk. His dog, Carl, ignored me in favor of his heated pet bed and a stuffed avocado squeaky toy he rested his head on.
Will’s dark eyebrows jumped high on his forehead when he saw me. I might have actually slammed the office door behind me in my exuberance.
“I want the job,” I blurted.
“Really?” My cousin frowned. It was a good frown, severe and effective. He’d practiced it a lot.
I swallowed my nerves and explained, “I want the manager position.” Will still looked unconvinced, so I went on, “I’m ready for more responsibility here on the farm. And this would be a ... different kind of challenge.”
I felt like I was already interviewing, trying to throw around big words and make my weaknesses sound like strengths. I wished I was wearing a blazer or something instead of nervously sweating inside my winter coat.
Will regarded me skeptically. “A challenge?”
I nodded. “Yep. I mean, yes. One I’m ready to take on.”
Will crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “But you hate the tourists.”
“So do you,” I accused on instinct. “But I wouldn’t be dealing with them the same way, right?”
“I suppose,” he agreed. “You’d be handling the complainers and the troublemakers, though. But you wouldn’t have to see them every second of your shift like you do now. Do you still want to handle social media?”
“Yes!” I practically shouted. “I like that part.”
“What brought all this on, Mac? I thought you didn’t want to be here.”
Shame felt like a knot in my chest, twisting me up and making it hard to breathe. I knew why Will assumed that, the way my actions had supported it.
I didn’t want to tell him about the conversation with Brady. How I’d felt like a disgraceful chicken and criticized my neighbors and this town when I was really unhappy with myself.
