“I know, but I already accepted the job. You still want that prison advocacy role if I can create it?”
“No. I don’t want you to get me a job. I’m happy right where I am. Like I said, I was just giving you hell because I could.”
I shook my head. “Lucy, you are something else, you know that?”
“Yes, I’m aware, honey.” She sauntered away with her coffee in hand.
I took my mug of coffee with me and rapped my knuckles on Donald’s door. It was open.
“Come in. My door is always open, you know that. Please take a seat.”
I closed the door behind me. “I feel like this is a closed-door conversation.”
Donald’s face was peering into his computer screen. He was in his normal position, buried under a mountain of paperwork.
“Okay, hit me with it. Got a tough case we need to work on? Training? What is it?”
I fumbled around for the right words.
“I’m moving in a new direction.”
“I quit.”
“It’s time for me to make a change.”
“I’m getting older and…”
I let a moment pass, and that raised concern as Donald looked up at me. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
“Donald. I think you should give the promotion to someone else. I’m quitting. I want to move in a new direction.”
Donald’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes blinked rapidly. I watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. “You’re leaving us? When and how did this happen? I only just gave you the promotion!” A flabbergasted look crossed his face as he waved his hands in the air.
“Listen. I’m not leaving right away. I’m willing to continue for the next six months. I’ll give you a long lead time. As you know, Donald, this job can take its toll. I want to pursue other things in my thirties, and I feel it’s time.”
Donald’s face started to return to normal. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you? Women always come into my office either for babies or because they’ve met someone.”
I sighed. “Yes, I have met someone. That might be part of it, but I still feel like it’s time for me to go. To move on now.”
“Okay. I will have to find a replacement for you, and that will take some time. Not that you can be replaced.” Donald gave a wry smile. “You are loved in the department, Amber. But I do understand. I have a family of my own, and I sometimes wonder whether I should continue.”
“You do?”
“Yes. It’s a hard slog, and this job can really take its toll on you. But you handle everything in your stride. What will you be doing if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I will be on a ranch, helping out and running horse trail rides for kids. Well, I hope to.”
Donald nodded in appreciation. “That sounds about right. I knew it would have to involve children or something like that.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Hey, you’re welcome. Not much I can do about it. You’ll have a nice little unused vacation pay built up, too, since you never take off.”
“Yes. That will help.”
I smiled and made my way out of the office. I floated out. A new chapter of life was forming for me, and I wanted to run through the office in happiness.
Twenty-Nine
