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“It says she realized she made a mistake, that the board is not happy with her and that she is willing to hire me back along with my entire team.”
Rosie was quiet for a moment or two. I knew she needed the job even more than I did, but she wouldn’t want to influence my decision.
“Rosie, I– I don’t know what to say about this. It seems unlike her, but if what she is saying is true about the board not approving …”
“Well her reasons for firing us did not seem rational or appear very well thought-out, but that’s Hilda for you. I’m not too surprised she’s eating her words now.”
My stomach twisted and turned. I wasn’t going to throw up, but I didn’t feel good. Nothing about Hilda’s email made me feel good. The idea of stepping back into that office filled me with dread. Losing my job had scared the shit out of me, and I knew that I had to figure something out, but going back there was one of the last things I wanted to do.
But it wasn’t about just me anymore, I had a baby to care for.
“What are you thinking?” Rosie asked at last.
“I mean, beggars can’t be choosers, right? Being pregnant, I don’t have the luxury of turning down a job, and I know you definitely need one—"
“Don’t worry about me,” Rosie said.
“I can’t do that, Rosie. I am going to worry about you, I can’t help it.”
“I know, but please don’t. You have enough on your plate as it is. You are right though—being pregnant and unemployed isn’t the best position to be in.”
“And it is easier to get a job when you already have one, or so I’m told,” I said.
“Right,” Rosie agreed. She sounded about as eager as I did to go back there. But it wasn’t like either of us were drowning in job offers either.
“I need to think about this, Rosie. She asked for a meeting on Wednesday, said we could discuss the details and that the board suggested she offer me a bonus for the trouble.”
As much as I wished I wouldn’t have to deal with Hilda ever again, I knew I had to seriously consider the offer. I knew it wasn’t Hilda’s choice—she would never admit she had made a mistake or that she was wrong. If things were left up to her, the email I was staring at would never have existed.
I wasn’t as familiar with the board, but my dad had been close with them, maybe I had some folks on my side over there. One could hope, after all the years of serving under my father.
“I guess I’ll be back in town on Wednesday,” I told Rosie. “Worst case scenario, I can always head back here afterward—I have to anyway to talk to the guys about the pregnancy. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
38
Reed
“Mornin’,” I said as I greeted the guys for the regular morning meeting. Gage scowled at me as Sean was struggling to stay awake in his seat, nothing out of the ordinary. “Just want to give a quick update—Snow had to run back home for a bit, though we are keeping her cottage open in case she is able to return in a few days.”
“Wait, she left?” Doc asked.
“Yeah, her stepmom contacted her and offered her job back, and while there’s no guarantee she’s going to take it, she wanted to at least meet with her and hear her out.”
“So she may not come back?” Doc’s voice rose higher than usual. He muttered under his breath as he reached for his phone. “Unbelievable.”
“What’s the problem?” I asked him. I had wanted Snow to stay as much as anyone else, but Doc’s behavior was strange. He was normally pretty calm and put together, but after I shared the news, he was frantically trying to call Snow as the rest of the room just stared at him.
“No answer,” he said. “I’ll try again in a few minutes.”
“She may be on the road still,” I said. “But again, I have to ask, what is the problem? She doesn’t live here, she’s allowed to return home, and I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll see of her, she’s still working with us on Hunter’s case, for one thing.”
I hoped she would want to visit regardless, though I felt uncomfortable thinking that. My feelings for her scared me, and while I wanted to spend time with her, I was terrified that the more I got to know her, the more I cared for her. Things could become complicated, and fast.
Doc didn’t answer, he just stared down at his phone as if trying to force it into ringing.
Anthony cleared his throat. “Speaking of Hunter…”
We shared a look.
