AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look at it again. “Mom, this says you’ll be gone for six weeks.”
“It does.” She pushes more sheets of paper toward me. “Don’t worry, darling. I’m not leaving you in a lurch. I’ve interviewed a few doctors already. We need to bring at least one or two more on board if I’m going to cut my hours back.”
“What?” I ask, utterly confused. “You’re cutting your hours? Permanently? Do you think maybe you might have wanted to talk to me about this?” My skin breaks out in a cold sweat. “Or is keeping things from me going to become a regular thing?”
Mom rolls her eyes, looking less than thrilled at my concern. “We’re talking now, Wren. Your father and I are getting older. He’s finally agreed to retire, and I’d like to enjoy some time with him.”
I can’t help but wonder, if this is something she’s been planning, why she didn’t discuss it with me earlier. It’s like all those years of hero-worshipping my parents was destroyed with one phone call.
“Please don’t worry about this. It’s not like I’m saying we need to bring on another partner. Just a few associates, so you don’t run yourself ragged the way I have for years. I want more for you, sweet girl. I want you to have a life where you don’t have to miss all the holidays with your children. I want you to be able to go on vacations with your husband. I want you to have a life.”
“I don’t even have a boyfriend, let alone a husband,Mother. And I promise you, I’m in no rush for kids.” I glance over the resume sitting on the top of the pile before looking back at her. “Mom, are you telling me you’re going on vacation, or are you telling me you’re retiring?”
My head feels like it might explode, depending on which answer I get.
Hell, it might detonate either way.
“I’m not retiring yet, Wren. But I am going to be cutting back my hours.”
When my eyes triple in size, she reaches across the desk and takes my hand. “Listen to me. I want you to have more of a work-life balance than I did. So I won’t be doing anything until I have the infrastructure in place to support it. I’m not throwing you to the wolves.”
Could have fooled me.
“Have you hired anyone yet?” I ask indignantly, unsure how I feel about all of this.
She taps a pen against her desk. “No. I want you to look over these resumes. These are the three I’ve narrowed it down to. I’d like you to meet with all of them, then give me your opinions on each. They’re coming in this afternoon. Why don’t you stop by the house on your way home, and we can discuss it then.”
I guess tonight is the night all sorts of things will be discussed.
I pick up the papers and stand. “I feel like you just ripped the rug out from under me, Mom.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way. That’s not what I’m trying to do.”
I nod and walk out of her office.
This is not at all how I imagined my day going when I got out of bed today.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I silence it without looking.
I’m nowhere near ready to deal with another person yet.
Instead, I paste a smile on my face and deal with the rest of the day.
Fake it till you make it, and all that shit.
SAWYER
Since it’s the middle of February and we’re knee deep in hockey season, my siblings and I are meeting at the Revolution offices today because Max is slammed this week. His assistant, Quinn, greets me when I step off the elevator to escort me to the conference room. “They’re all waiting for you,” she tells me with a knowing look on her face.
“Thanks. You really don’t have to walk me to the meeting. I know where I’m going.”
Quinn turns to face me and blocks me from moving past her. “I like you, Sawyer. I always have. I like the way you make Wren forget to stress out, but if you hurt her...” Both of her eyebrows raise, and she tilts her head.
I hold back my laughter. Pretty sure this tiny woman is threatening me.
She’s five foot nothing and maybe a hundred pounds, but she’s going to bat for her friend, and I like that.
“I gotcha, Quinn.” Then the idea hits me. Winning over Wren’s best friend might help me with my newfound mission in life. “I’m not going to hurt her, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m really trying here. Have you talked to her this week?”
