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“Hey sweetie.” Her dad leaned on her bedroom door frame. “Did we get all your stuff in?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“So, Kylie.” He put on his dad voice. “What’s your plan?”
“My plan?”
“Yeah, your plan. What’s next? How are you going to get things back on track?”
“Well, I have one idea,” she said. “I called Brad to see if he had any job openings at his company.”
“What did your brother have to say?”
“Well, he never picks up. I’ve only been able to leave messages, and he hasn’t gotten back to me.”
“Okay, it’s a start. What else?”
“It’s a bit difficult to search for work in Toronto when I’m hours away.” She shrugged.
“What about getting a job here in Camden?” he asked. “Or Hampton even? If what you need right now is money, then you can’t be too choosy about how you get it.”
“I know,” she said, because she did.
She would need money just for the gas to drive into Toronto for any future job interviews. But thinking about getting a job in Camden made the walls of her room feel closer and the air thinner.
“I’ll start looking tomorrow.”
“Good,” he said, crossing the room to give her a hug. “Good night, Ky-Bear. I’m glad you’re home.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Before she could fall asleep that night, her phone rang. She was dead tired from the buildup of stress and emotions and considered ignoring the call. When she saw who it was from, she sat straight up and cleared her throat before answering.
“Hey Ky,” chirped a voice on the other end of the call.
“Hey, Brad. It’s so good to hear from you.” Relief washed over her tired body. Brad would help her. He understood how important it was to be in Toronto.
“No doubt, I’m a delight. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. I’m in Japan on business this week, and with the time difference it was hard to find a time to call.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize you were overseas,” she said. “I get you’re super busy, and apparently halfway around the world right now. I just didn’t know who else to call.”
“No problem, little sis. Listen, I may have a job opening, but I’m going to be straight with you.”
That didn’t sound promising.
“You screwed up pretty bad,” he said. “You know I never liked those girls you hung out with, and your roommate was a terrible influence, but I never thought you’d let anything compromise your career. You loved that job, Ky.”
“I really did.” She sniffed. Somehow it hurt worse hearing her big brother say it. The guy who had always defended her and supported her no matter what.
“Then you see how ridiculous it was that you risked it for a night out at a club, right?”
“I do now.”
“Good. Here’s my offer. I would love to have you come work for me, but you have to show me some responsibility first. I can’t risk that once you’re back in Toronto you won’t start hanging out with those same women and trying to keep up with that lifestyle again. It’s my company and my reputation at stake if I put a flaky party girl in charge of anything.”
Ouch. Flaky party girl?
Was that really how he saw her?
“For now, stay with Mom and Dad,” he said. “Get the party life out of your system and remember where you came from. Do responsible, grown-up things. And we’ll talk about it when I get home from this trip.”
Kylie clutched her pillow and watched her knuckles turn white. “You have a job you could give me, but you won’t because you think I’m an irresponsible airhead. Instead, you’re forcing me to stay at Mom and Dad’s to what? Teach me a lesson? I’m not a child, Brad. You know I’m good at my job.”
“That may be the case, little sister,” he said. “But this feels to me like a crisis point for you. You need to start thinking about what’s really important. In the meantime, keep busy, go fishing with Dad, whatever. Show me I can trust you in my company.”
“Fine. Thanks, I guess. Bye Brad.”
“Bye Kylie. I know you can do this. I love you.”
