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“Right?” He had a nice smile, but I could tell he was a no-nonsense type of guy. “So tell me a little about yourself.”
“I…well, I’ve been cutting hair at different places since I graduated from high school.”
“I see that.” He looked down at the paper. “Why this barbershop?”
“It felt right? Okay, that sounds stupid.” I huffed out a breath. “I’ve had a rough year and haven’t worked in a while.”
Well, shit, was I really admitting this? But somehow it seemed the obvious thing to do.
“I see.” He tossed the résumé aside. “That explains the gap.”
“I…was in a toxic relationship with a man who didn’t treat me well, and when I left, I ran out of resources and ended up on the street for a while.” There, I said it. It was hard to look at him, though, so I stared at a poster just over his shoulder. “But I’m getting myself together and looking for a job. The place where I’m staying is within walking distance. I’m a hard worker and just need someone to give me a chance again.”
When I finally looked at him, Carlos’s gaze was fixed on my hands, which were resting on my knees. “Looks like you were banged up pretty good. Sorry that you fell on hard times. I’ve had my share too, even thought I’d lose this place once.”
I swallowed roughly as relief flooded my stomach. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“No need to be sorry. The point is, I can understand adversity.” He motioned to the open door. “Probably all those men out there can too.”
That was likely why I’d felt comfortable. There didn’t seem to be any judgment, just genuine conversation and cordiality.
“I have a couple more candidates to interview, but I definitely like what I see so far. Sometimes chemistry is more important than an impressive résumé.”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Agreed.”
He tipped his chin. “How are your hands holding up?”
“I’ve been cutting hair again, helping those experiencing homelessness. Isn’t too bad at all.” Sure, they’d ached at first, but the more I did it, the better it got.
“Yeah? I’ve always wanted to do something like that. To give back. Good for you!”
“Thanks.”
Carlos seemed like a good guy, and as he walked me to the door, I felt more confident than I had in a long time. Even if I didn’t get the job, I wanted to thank him for making me feel valued. That was worth its weight in gold.
28
FOSTER
I smiled at the photo that came through by text. It was of Lachlan and Oscar at the waterfront by the Rock Hall. It filled me with such a sense of contentment, something I couldn’t easily explain.
It was the last full day of my conference—I was flying home in the morning—and if I wasn’t expected to participate in a panel discussion that afternoon, I might’ve changed my flight to get to them earlier.
I missed Lachlan, but I also liked having him in my space when I was gone. I had texted him as many times as he’d sent photos of Oscar, so I thought maybe it was mutual. Plus, he was sleeping in my bed even with me gone.
The workshops were boring, but it was nice catching up over lunch and dinner with people I hadn’t seen in a while. Still, it was almost too much socializing, and though I was coming out of the woods mental health-wise, I needed to head back to my room often enough to recharge my batteries. The hotel sheets weren’t nearly as soft or comforting as my own, but I made do.
The panel topic was focused on getting university students to read more fiction. It was difficult when their studies were filled with deadlines and research papers to write. Another librarian had some success instituting a monthly book club, and for some reason my thoughts drifted to the classics I’d donated to Lachlan’s shelter. It’d felt good to do so, to know the books would bring them joy.
When it was my turn to talk, I emphasized making areas available for students who loved fiction to gather in the library, by holding events and making popular novels easy to find with enticing displays like they had in bookstores. It was an idea I’d floated to my supervisor, and it was going to be written in the budget next year. Again, my mind drifted to the houseless, wondering if the shelter provided such a space for them.
My flight the next morning was on time, and after landing, I couldn’t get in my car fast enough to drive home. I parked in the underground garage, and as I made my way to the elevator, a moment of doubt overwhelmed me. One day Lachlan wouldn’t be there to greet me. He would move on with his life. He wasn’t beholden to me in the least, but sometimes I wished we’d met under different circumstances.
