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‘Oh God,’ breathed Hannah.
‘So if you’re looking for a new life, now would be a good time to quit.’
Hannah laughed. ‘That all sounds great, Sam, but I don’t know what the new life looks like yet. I can’t just quit my job.’
‘Why not? You might not know what you want yet, but you clearly know what you DON’T want. So deal with that, and work the rest out another day.’
‘Really?’ said Hannah. ‘Even if that meant I abandoned you to Sophia Carmichael and her handsy husband?’
‘Even if,’ said Sam. ‘That’s how much I love you.’
Hannah smiled, feeling suddenly calm and focussed. ‘OK, I’m going in.’
‘Don’t be afraid to throw caution to the wind,’ said Sam, flourishing a hand in the air. ‘I’ve always got your back.’
‘Thanks, Sam. You’re the best.’
‘So, I guess you’ll be leaving us,’ said Janice.
‘Sorry?’ said Hannah, feeling like all the breath had been sucked from her lungs. ‘Are you firing me?’
Janice smiled. ‘Of course not. But I’ve known you for a long time, Hannah, and it’s very obvious to me and everyone else that you’re not happy.’
‘No,’ said Hannah, lowering herself into one of the office chairs. ‘I’m not.’
‘Also I’m about to ask you to coach kids’ tennis this summer, including the evil Carmichael boys, and I figured that might be the final straw.’
Hannah laughed. ‘It is. I’m sorry. I promised before I went away that I wouldn’t do this, and I feel terrible.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ said Janice, waving her arm dismissively. ‘Life happens, and I know you wouldn’t leave me without a good reason.’
‘I do have a good reason,’ said Hannah. ‘At least, I think it’s a good reason.’
‘Hmm,’ said Janice. ‘You don’t have to tell me, obviously. I just need to know that nothing bad happened here, or we did something wrong.’
‘It’s nothing to do with you,’ said Hannah. ‘I’ve loved working here. But it’s been ten years, and I think I need a change.’
Janice nodded. ‘So. When do you want to go?’
‘What are my options?’ Hannah felt like things were suddenly moving incredibly fast, although if she was honest this decision had only been one obnoxious customer away from being made since the day she got back from Spain.
‘How about you finish your shift today, then don’t come back?’
‘Really?’
‘If you like. My daughter loved covering your job while you were away, and she definitely doesn’t want to go back to working in hotels. We can offer Sam a promotion to your role, he’s earned it. And then Steph can join the team full-time, if you think that would work. We’ll find another casual coach to make up the shortfall, and then we’re all good.’
‘I’m sure it would work,’ said Hannah. ‘Steph did a great job while I was away, and that’s brilliant news for Sam.’
‘I expect he’ll miss you,’ said Janice kindly. ‘I know I will.’
‘I’ll miss all of you,’ said Hannah. ‘But I definitely need a change.’
‘Yes, I think you do. Where are you going to go?’
‘I’m not sure. It depends.’
‘On what?’ Janice smiled knowingly. ‘Or is it a who?’
