AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes,” Mila agreed. “But you know what, Scarlet? You deserve it.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, feeling slightly teary-eyed.
“Well, you know as soon as you get settled in, I have to come visit you in the city,” Mila said. “And you know the rest of the crew is going to want to come too. Everyone’s dying to meet Tobias.”
“I can imagine,” I said. “Yeah, we’ll have to get together soon.”
“Well, I know you must be busy, so I don’t want to take up too much more of your time,” Mila said. “I’ll talk to you later, all right?”
“Okay. I’ll call you once I’ve made it to Chicago and have gotten settled in.”
“Okay. Love you, girl.”
“Love you too.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and looked around my room, seeing how much more I needed to pack. I saw that I was almost finished, just as I was almost finished with this chapter of my life. It was a bittersweet feeling as I glanced around my apartment. I’d been there for a long time, and it was the first and only place I’d lived since being on my own.
And now it was time to leave it behind. Closing my suitcase, I rubbed my stomach, feeling the babies kick, perhaps in response to my own nerves and excitement.
“Everything’s about to change,” I said, looking down at my stomach. “Everything’s about to change for the better, because of you two.”
I felt two kicks in my stomach and smiled before flipping off the light switch and exiting the room.
* * *
“You’re in.”
I blinked. “Th-thank you,” I stammered, staring at my future boss, stunned that the interview had gone so well and was over so quickly. After getting settled into Tobias’s place, I had wasted no time in searching for job opportunities so that I could have work lined-up for me after the twins were born. Early in my search, I had come across a non-profit organization aimed at helping at-risk youth around the city that I’d been interested in checking out.
“Go for it,” Tobias had encouraged me.
“But should I wait until after the babies are born?” I had asked skeptically.
“There’s nothing wrong with getting your foot in the door early,” he had said.
I had decided to take his advice, and now that I was sitting in the office, already being offered a position after my maternity leave ended, I couldn’t have been more grateful.
My future boss stood from her desk, smiling warmly with her hand extended out to me. I stood, albeit with some difficulty, and shook her hand. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this,” I said.
“No, thank you! I appreciate you choosing us. You have an excellent work history, and I know you’re going to be great for this organization. The kids are going to love you.”
“I’m sorry I won’t be able to get started right away,” I said, nervously biting my bottom lip.
She waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. Trust me, I know how the work-force can be. I was in your position before. Pregnant, trying to ensure work, but had employers left and right turning me down, thinking it was too much of an inconvenience to hire a pregnant woman and have to wait for maternity leave to be over. When I started this organization, I made a vow that I would never treat any woman so unfairly. Having to choose between career and family shouldn’t have to be two mutually exclusive categories.”
I smiled, already able to tell that we were going to get along wonderfully. “Well, it’s been a pleasure to meet you, and I can’t wait to start working with you!”
“Same here,” she said, escorting me to the door. “And congratulations to you with your new bundle of joy on the way.”
“Bundles,” I said and smiled at the way her eyes widened. “Twins.”
“Oh my goodness. Be sure to let us meet them when they get here!”
“Will do.”
