I gulped, almost swallowing my tongue. “Start date?”
“Yes . . . oh, I’m sorry. I thought you knew that’s why George wanted you to come in. We want to make you an offer. The salary information and vacation time is what he said you both discussed. There are insurance and tax forms in there as well. He wanted to give you a tour of the entire restaurant, even though you’ve seen most of it the three times you’ve been here. You . . . are still interested, right?”
“Yes,” I screeched, wondering what the hell happened to my voice. “I mean, yes, I am very interested and would love to accept the offer. June first would be fine. I have to look for an apartment, but I have a place to stay in Queens in the meantime.”
“Great!” She grinned and relaxed her shoulders. “I think you are going to be perfect. I loved your technique.” She leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs. “I’ve had some bad luck with assistant chefs in the past. You have the experience and drive my kitchen needs.”
“I’ve been in the restaurant industry a long time.” I forced a smile, ignoring the pinch in my gut that equated ‘experience’ with ‘older.’
“No, that’s not it. You have a focus and determination a good chef needs. I think you’re going to excel here.”
“So do I.” I exhaled a long breath and the tension behind it. “Thank you so much.”
I did it.I was an assistant chef or would be on June first. The salary was decent, allowing me to afford one of the apartments I’d been looking at in Josh and Brianna’s neighborhood. My daughter would be taken care of and would still have both of her parents close by. Elation flooded my veins as Aida showed me around, introducing me to the staff and giving me a sneak peek at their new menu.
I left the restaurant in enough time to get to Penn Station with time to spare for the earlier train. I would have loved to see Victoria, but I needed to be back at school for an early morning exam. Taking the train was much less taxing than four hours of driving back and forth, but when I arrived back upstate I would have spent most of my day in a train car. But, I didn’t care. I was relieved and happy and so damn excited. What a difference a year made.
I dialed Drew after I boarded and found a seat by the window. My knee bounced, in excitement—not dread—this time, as I impatiently waited for him to answer.
“How does it feel to be an assistant chef?” I could hear the smile in his voice even with all the distance between us.
“It feels pretty frigging awesome. They gave me the salary and vacation time I’d asked for and I start June first.” I shook my head at the long pause, imagining Drew working on the perfect delivery of ‘I told you so.’
“And I was . . . right?”
“Yes, show off. Just a formality. Hit me with the ‘I told you so’ you’ve been itching to say.” I leaned back in the cushioned seat, my eyes heavy from all the anxiety and travel.
“Maybe later.” I pictured Drew’s arrogant but sexy smile. “I am so fucking proud of you. You’re going to be amazing. I have a surprise for you when you get here.”
“At midnight?” I yawned, already settling into position for my long nap back.
“Don’t get tired on me now, Caldwell. I have plans for you.”
“Do the plans involve a mattress and pillow . . . for sleep?”
“You’ll see. There may be that gelato you like in the freezer for you when you get here.”
“With the salted caramel?” I gasped before another yawn escaped.
“Get some rest. I’ll serve it to you naked.” I chuckled before a heavy silence fell over us.
“I love you, Gorgeous. I knew you could do it.”
“I love you, too. That makes one of us.” I laughed as my eyes fluttered. I was already feeling the sleepy effects of the rocking back and forth of the train.
“You need to learn to trust me, Caldwell,” he whispered, almost on a plea. “Can you do that?”
I’d been so happy for the past hour, there was no time to think of the other significance of June first. I’d be a New York City resident again, far away from the quaint upstate town and the man I loved. The very reason I’d resisted giving in to any kind of feelings for Drew was coming to fruition: the dreaded complication when school stopped, and real life started. I finally had what I’d been working for, but would that cost me the other most important person in my life? I didn’t know what to do or what to say.
The only word I managed to force out, even though I didn’t fully believe it, was “Okay.”
Sara
“I AM SOhappy for you.” Lisa nudged my shoulder as we searched the crowded bar for two empty seats. Even though I came to Night Owls sparingly compared to everyone else, I’d sat on a bar stool more in the past few months than I had in eight years.
“But sad for me. I can’t even get a callback.” She huffed as she motioned to the bartender.
“It’s early. You have a ton of applications out there. Getting an offer this early is a fluke.” I handed her the first beer bottle the bartender slid in our direction.
