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"Of course you can," April said, smiling. She let out a deep sigh.
After a short pause, Georgia said, "What's wrong, mom?"
"What do you mean?" she tried to say, though she knew her daughter would catch on. It was hard to hide things from her, especially feelings as strong as these ones.
"I can tell something's bothering you, so dish."
Georgia had opened the flood gates and April couldn't hold it all in anymore. She told her about almost everything that was troubling her.
She kept the tuition close to her heart as a guarded secret she hoped Georgia would ever know.
And she decided that talking about Nigel too much wasn't the best idea either. After all, it'd been less than a year since she'd divorced Carl. Georgia needed time to process. She didn't need to hear about the details of her mother's new love life.
But April told her about everything else. Isaac, the villain running for mayor that was trying to take her down. Richard, her father, who was asking for everything under the sun to be perfectly made for him. And Millie, her new hire, who was stealing from everyone at the bed and breakfast.
Then she told her daughter about the job offer she'd just received.
"Maxwell called you? That jerk?"
April nodded even though she knew Georgia couldn't see her. "Yes, I was surprised too," she said.
Georgia scoffed. "I hate that guy. You have to tell him no. Tell me you turned it down."
April was quiet for a moment. She thought about the money and how badly she wanted it to help her family.
But she also thought about how much she had invested in the bed and breakfast and how much she would leave behind if she took this job.
"Well... I didn't tell him no. But I didn't accept the job. I asked for time to consider the offer. It's for way more money. I can't just turn it down right away," April tried to explain.
Georgia let out a sigh. "Mom. You can't. There's no way you're going back to that miserable job with that miserable man."
April didn't know what to say. Stumbling on her words, she replied, "I know. I'm just trying to do the right thing. And this job offer is a lot of money. It could really help us. I just don't want to make the wrong decision."
"Mom, I think you should stay. You worked so hard to create this life here, and it's something special. If you go back to that old job, you'll just end up regretting it. I don't think you should give up on something that's been so important to you," Georgia said.
Silence filled the line. April was taken by how passionate her daughter was. It was so refreshing to talk to someone who cared so much. It reminded April of how much she missed her.
When April didn't respond, Georgia got even more firm, "Mom, you cannot take that job. You're a strong, independent woman. There is nothing you can't do. If you want this bed and breakfast and the horse ranch to work out, you have to fight for it."
April felt a sense of pride and comfort wash over her as she listened to her daughter's words. Georgia had always been strong-willed and determined, and it was clear that those qualities had only grown stronger since leaving home.
Georgia was right. She had worked too hard to give up on her dreams now. And she couldn't let the fear of financial struggles hold her back.
She renovated this house all on her own. It was just like learning to swing a hammer. April needed the tools and might to come up with the solutions.
She couldn't just give up on everything she had worked so hard to build.
"You're right, honey. I won't take the job. I'll stay here and fight for what I believe in," April said, determination filling her voice.
"Good," she replied, matter-of-factly. Then softly, she added, "I'm proud of you, mom."
That's all April needed to push forward. Now she was going to grit her teeth and finish what she started.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
All it took for April to get the courage to make it through the challenges she faced was her daughter's voice. She needed the support of someone else who cared.
April realized she wasn't alone in this fight. She had other people who would help her along the way.
