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I never made it, because Banks had stopped me before I could even open my car door. And after that discussion with him, knowing I was going to be at his house the next morning, I drove straight home.
At some point in the middle of the week this past week, I reached out to my best friend and told her I had some shocking news to share with her and that I hoped I could do it this weekend.
Tabitha wanted me to give her the details over the phone.
I refused.
That’s why I was here now, having just left Banks’s house and ready to spill my guts.
Of course, with all that had happened over the last two weeks or so, I was unsure of where to start. To be fair, Tabitha wasn’t lying when she said she’d given me all she had to give me to make this a comfortable space for me to share what I needed to share.
Truth be told, I’d have just settled for Rocky and been ready to share.
Rocky was Tabitha’s Russell terrier, and he’d just curled up beside me on the couch after giving me the world’s most rambunctious greeting when I arrived. Seeing how excited he got when I showed up usually left me feeling abit melancholy. I loved the way Rocky could get me to smile and feel happy without much effort, but seeing him always made me sad about Henry. I missed my dog’s pouty face.
As I stroked my hand over the top of Rocky’s head, I resolved myself to the fact there was a lot to share and no perfect way to do any of it. Unsure I’d make it to the second thing I wanted to share if I started with the news about Graham, I decided to switch things around.
“I got a job,” I blurted.
Tabitha gasped. “What? Are you serious?”
I nodded.
I couldn’t miss how excited she was when she pressed, “Where? When? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tipping my head to the side, I noted, “I’m telling you now. I had what you could call two days of training this past week, and I officially start on Monday.”
My best friend shifted in her seat on the couch to get herself comfortable. “Where are you going to be working? I assume you didn’t go back to your old job, right?”
I shook my head. “No. No, I’m not sure they’d be able to pay me enough to go back there. Doing that would surely make me feel even more depressed.”
Her brow lifted. “So, something exciting then. I don’t even know what you’re doing, and I’ve got to tell you that I’m already so happy for you. I mean, obviously, you know how much I know what you went through was awful, and I hate that you’re even in this position, but I’m thrilled to see you making the effort to get your life back on track. Graham would want that for you.”
I knew Tabitha was just doing what she felt compelled to do as my best friend by bringing up the fact that Graham would want the best for me. Technically, after watchingthat video of him where he’d indicated as much, I didn’t need the encouragement from her.
But since I couldn’t bring that up to her just yet, I simply nodded my head and returned, “Yeah. It’s not easy to think about moving forward without him, but I can’t sit around for the rest of my life not doing anything. Fortunately, I can say that I’m feeling the best I have in a very long time.”
A look of approval washed over her. “I’m so glad for that. Okay, so tell me about the job.”
My lips twitched slightly as I considered how she’d react. “I got a job as a nanny.”
Her chin dipped down, and she narrowed her eyes on me. “What?”
“It was purely by chance that I stumbled into the position, but like I said, I had two days of being around this little boy, and I’m feeling the most content I have in months.”
Nodding her head slowly as she tried to digest the news I’d just shared, Tabitha asked, “So, you’re a nanny for one boy?”
“Yes. His name is Rhys, and he’s just over six months old.”
“Six months old? I thought you were going to tell me you were doing this for a toddler or little kid. Six months old is still a baby.”
Visions of Rhys with his chubby cheeks and chunky arms danced in my head. “He’s the cutest, cuddliest, most adorable baby in the world.”
For several long moments, Tabitha just stared at me in silence. I allowed her to do it, continuing to stroke my hand over Rocky’s head and down his body.
Eventually, she let out a breath, held her hand up overher heart, and advised, “Please understand that there isn’t anything I’d want to do to risk you losing that look on your face, but I don’t think I understand what’s happening here. What’s going on?”
“A little over a week ago, I told myself I couldn’t continue to put off finding a job any longer, so I started doing some research. I found a place I thought I’d like working, and when I went to fill out an application and submit my resume, I learned they weren’t hiring.”
