“Well, let’s do this,” Chief Hayes says. “David’s upstairs waiting for us.”
“David?” I repeat.
“Captain Goddard. I had another man from the county lined up, but the road to his place washed out in the storm last night, so he’s at home until the water level drops and the county can patch it.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that,” I say, because apparently this is who I am now—a woman of few words.
Oh my gosh! I’m turning into my dad. I’ve got less vocabulary available to me than at any other time in my life.
“Yeah, well. You know how spring showers go,” Chief Hayes says with a warm smile.
“I do.” Heaven help me. It’s like my words are swirling down a drain, leaving me practically mute.
Chief Hayes opens the door to his office. David Goddard is already sitting in one of the chairs in front of a large wooden desk.
“Carli, good to see you.”
“You too,” I say, shaking David’s hand—when I’d normally be giving his wife a hug and his kids piggyback rides around our property.
“Well, you’ve done your prep work,” Chief Hayes says before taking his seat behind the desk. “I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s see here,” he opens a file and pulls out what I recognize as my resume. “Ranch work, animal husbandry, business management, familiar with the community. And volunteer fire department. Good. Good.”
He looks to David, so I say, “I haven’t been on many fires, to be honest. We show up if something happens out on the ranches—as backup.” Great. When my words finally comeback, they come in the form of self-deprecation and enthusiastic underselling.
“Yes. That’s what I’d expect,” Chief Hayes says. Then he looks at David. “Not many volunteers knock out Inspector I and Building Construction coursework pre-hire. Shows commitment and ambition.”
“I wanted to be fully qualified,” I tell them.
“Well, you certainly seem to be,” Chief Hayes says. “I just have one question.”
I stare at him, my nerves humming so loudly just below the surface, I’m surprised the two men can’t hear the vibration.
“Why this job?” Chief Hayes asks me, shutting the folder and leaning back in his chair.
I don’t give him my real reason. I need something that’s just mine, and fire seems the most logical step out from the farm since I know the firefighters so well.
I smile, hopefully appearing far calmer than I feel. “Because I love this town, and I want to serve the people of Waterford with my skills. I am calm under pressure.” With the exception of this interview. “And I have a good eye for details.”
Chief Hayes nods. David smiles.
“Well, that does it for me,” Chief Hayes says. “Anything else, David?”
“I don’t think so,” he says.
The interview ends like the oddest round of county-office speed dating. The lack of further questions either means they already love me for the position—or they’re certain they don’t want me.
On my way out, Susan wishes me luck. I take a detour back to my car. I just made it through my first-ever job interview. I deserve a little something—and if I’m being honest, I need to see my friends.
Sydney whistles like a man who’s had too many cocktails when I walk through the door of Baker From Another Mother. “Look at you, hot stuff!”
The warmth of the bakery envelops me like a cinnamon-sugar hug.
“Stop,” I say, breathing my first full breath in an hour. “I had my interview.”
“We know!” Emberleigh says. She’s all smiles. “So? How’d it go?”
