I patted her knee, feeling more confident than I had since lunch with that snake, Cole. Not only would Denise appreciate my reducing her workload by one sick kid, but I selfishly wanted a companion to help fill my now-vacant hours.
At my condo, Ashlyn snuggled into my squashy sofa under a cozy blanket, and I brought her a cup of ice water with a straw. “The nurse said you needed fluids. If you drink all that water, I think we can consider ice cream a fluid. What do you think?”
She grinned for the first time since I’d picked her up and nodded. Then she grabbed the cup and took a healthy slurp.
Chuckling, I returned to the kitchen. On my way home from being humiliated at the office, I’d put on sunglasses and a face mask to disguise my red, teary eyes and trembling lips. I stopped at the grocery store for breakup supplies: three kinds of ice cream, hot fudge sauce, chocolate bars, and the saltiest potato chips I could find. After all, being fired was like being dumped but worse because they’d not only broken my heart and shredded my pride but also yanked away my source of income.
I’d had time to scan the severance package they’d offered. It was enough for me to take several months off, but I’d start my job search after Christmas, regardless. I’d never get another CEO position, not when people found out I’d been fired after less than two months on the job, but a COO position was a strong possibility if one were available.
Who knew what support my family might need in the upcoming months? Trish needed prenatal care, baby supplies, and a divorce lawyer, not to mention help with her mortgage. If there was another crisis, I’d have to tap my retirement fund. I needed a new job, stat.
My belly clenched as I anticipated confessing to my family what had happened. I hated to disappoint them, especially Ashlyn, who looked at me like I hung the moon.
Well, I hadn’t, and I didn’t deserve her adoration. But I could snuggle with her on the couch, fill her with all the fluids she’d drink, and let her watchFrozenuntil she fell asleep, dreaming of her own ice castle. I’d hoped to build up the courage to confess my failure by stuffing myself with ice cream. Fortunately, now, I didn’t have to do it alone.
When I brought in the bowls of ice cream covered in warm, gooey fudge sauce, she said in a soft voice, “Thanks, Aunt Bridget.”
“Your voice is back! That’s fabulous.” I handed her a bowl.
“The water helped.”
The cup was empty. “I’ll get you another glass.” I set down my bowl and reached for the cup.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, honey.”
“Do you need to go back to work? It’s okay if you do. I can stay here by myself. I promise not to touch the stove or answer the door.”
I stroked her hair. “No, honey, I wouldn’t leave you here alone, certainly not when you’re sick. I, um…I lost my job today.” I jammed a spoonful of mostly fudge into my mouth.
“You lost it?” She scrunched up her nose. “What does that mean?”
It meant a lot of things, mainly that our family’s financial stability teetered on a knife’s edge. But I decided to answer her literally, which was probably what she meant. I swallowed the ice cream and tasted only bitterness. “I got fired. I’m not CEO anymore. I’m notanythinganymore.” I sniffed back tears. I couldn’t cry in front of my niece.
She set her bowl on the side table and took my hand between her two cold ones. “Yes, you are. You’re my aunt, and you’re the smartest person I know. That’s two things.”
Being the smartest person an eight-year-old knew wasn’t a high bar. Still, the heaviness in my stomach lightened a bit. “Thank you.”
She released my hands and picked up her ice cream again. “You’ll find a new job. Remember inToy Story,when Buzz Lightyear stops being an astronaut? He’s sad at first, until he discovers he likes being a toy. It’s like a new job.” She stuck her spoon in her mouth, leaving a glob of chocolate at the corner.
“Being an astronaut is pretty amazing.” I scooped up a more reasonably sized spoonful of ice cream. “Do you think he misses it?”
“No. Space is lonely. In Andy’s room, Buzz has friends.”
Being co-CEO with Cole had been anything but lonely. But that path was closed to me. “I have friends. And family. Like you.” I squeezed her shoulder.
Through a mouthful of ice cream, she said, “You should text your friends later. I bet they’ll help you. Or at least make you feel better.”
“You’re already making me feel better. You know, you’re pretty smart too.”
“I know. I’m gonna be a CEO someday too.”
“I thought you wanted to be a doctor and an astronaut.”
“Yeah.” She took another bite of ice cream. “And a CEO.”
My cheeks felt creaky when I smiled. “I know you’ll achieve whatever you set your mind to.”
