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“I’ll talk to Brayleigh’s father and see how flexible he can be.”
“I can tell you right now, you’ll be traveling every other week. Sometimes it’s just an overnight, other times you could be gone between three and fourteen days.”
“Fourteen?” I exclaimed.
“Fourteen. That was the longest I was away. Usually the longest is eight days, and the average five or six.”
She slid a folded piece of paper across the table toward me. “The top number is what I currently make. The second number is what my male counterpart here in the company makes. The bottom number is what they are planning to offer you.” Her mouth twisted with disgust. “I strongly suggest you request something between my salary and his. He was hired two years ago but his starting salary was not that much lower.”
“No, but my starting salary would be quite a bit lower.”
“Indeed. Factor that into your decision. If they don’t budge on the offer, do you want to upend your life so that they can take advantage of you?”
I nodded slowly, taking it all in. It was a massive jump from where I was now, but nowhere near his salary, or what his starting salary would have been. The thought occurred to me that I still didn’t know where Maeve was going.
My head snapped up. “Where are you going?”
She smiled, genuine happiness staining her cheeks a pretty pink. My wide eyes remained glued to her face.
“I met a man.”
“A man,” I repeated stupidly.
She sighed deeply. “A real man. A gentleman.” Her cheeks pinkened further. “He’s a few years younger than me but has spent the past year assuring me it’s not a problem for him.”
“How old is he?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“He’s 55 and before you ask, you rude thing, I’m 58.”
I opened my hands, somewhat bewildered. “I’m happy for you but what will you do with your time?”
She swallowed hard, and I realized with a start that I might be the first person to receive the gift of this information. I needed to strip off my mother’s critical skin and respond positively.
“He owns a coffee shop out in Bonny Cove. I’m going to work there with him until I find something that suits me. He has assured me I do not need to work at all and must at this point in my life do only as I wish.”
She ducked her head for a moment. “He met my daughter. They got on like a house on fire and he’s invited her out to stay with us in the summer. She accepted.” Her eyes when they met mine were awash with pain and hope. “Perhaps it will give me a second chance to have a real relationship with my daughter.”
I wiped my tears away. No banishment of Maureen’s psyche necessary. “I’m so very happy for you, Maeve! I think you’re making an excellent decision.”
“I think so, too.” Her voice hardened. “Now. You make sure you do the same. I support you 100% whether you take this job or not, but I’m counting on your promise to come to me when it becomes too much.”
When not if.
“You have it.” I paused, embarrassed to ask my next question. “Perhaps I could come see you in Bonny Cove?” I quickly waved my hands around to stop her from speaking. “I’d of course stay in a hotel. With Brayleigh. She’s quite loud. Even screechy at times. My mom says she gets it from me. I could even invite Lucky and Minty.” I stopped talking abruptly to hold up my hands. “They wouldn’t be staying with you either. I mean, of course they wouldn’t. They’d stay with me. Not in the same room. It’s not like that.” What? My face flamed at what I’d implied. I rushed on, hoping to distract her. “But they’ve talked about Bonny Cove in the past, and I know they’d love to visit. The place, not you. Not that they wouldn’t want to meet you. In fact, I’m thinking you and Minty would be besties. You’re both,” I waved my hand to encompass her entire body, “uber classy. Anyway, it would be like a family vacation. Not that we’re your family. But they’re mine. Almost all of them. Okay, Minty is family by proxy.” I looked at her earnestly. “Either way, we wouldn’t impose but I’d love to visit you and see how you’re doing.” I dipped my forehead, mortified at the heat spreading across my chest. “And meet your man.” I peeked up at her. “And try the coffeeshop and maybe meet your daughter…” I petered off on a whisper, only at that moment realizing how much she’d come to mean to me.
And the fact that I had not a single other friend at work. Could Maeve really be considered a friend if she was my boss? Didn’t she have to spend time with me?
Maeve stared back at me, her painted lips parted, eyes wide. “Well, you do run on, don’t you.” She stood up with a chuckle and rounded the table. Looping her arms around me she gave me a brief, gentle squeeze. “I would love to have you. All of you. It’s a beautiful place. Almost magical.” She laughed. “I don’t know what’s in the water but the men there are huge.” She shook her head in amazement, then continued, “Go home. Take the weekend to think about it.”
Without conscious thought, I headed straight to Lucky’s. He was always the first person I called when I needed to talk things out.
On autopilot, I picked up coffee and timbits, then pulled onto the main road. I remembered the barefoot jogger as I passed the park and wondered where he was today. Life had changed a lot since I’d seen him last.
Turning onto Lucky’s street, I spied Minty’s car in the driveway with a jolt of surprise. I eased my foot off the gas. Glancing down I noted only two coffees. How could I have forgotten about Minty? So focussed on my need to hash things out with Lucky, I forgot an important truth. Lucky was no longer available to me at the drop of a hat.
I passed the house, cringing at the thought that they might see me, and headed home.
Inexplicably saddened and unwilling to open that Pandora’s box to find out why.
