“You’re welcome. I look forward to seeing your CV.”
Ashley put the phone down and opened her emails. Her mind was working overtime, imagining what a job in Washington, D.C. would mean. She’d have to find an apartment and move her entire life to another city. She’d be a long way from Harry and Bonnie, but the opportunity to really prove herself as a reporter was huge.
The email from Des Malone appeared in her inbox. She opened the first attachment and read through the job description. It was perfect. She’d be working with ten other reporters, as well as a rapid-response team.
“Here’s your sandwich,” Bonnie said from beside her. “The line was out the door, but luckily everyone was in a hurry and didn’t dawdle. How’s the article coming along?”
“Not much further than before you left.” Ashley peered over the partition walls surrounding her desk.
“Everyone’s either at lunch or working away from their desks,” Bonnie whispered. “What’s happened?”
“The investigations editor atThe Washington Postcalled me. They have a position available in his team and he wanted to know if I was interested.”
Bonnie’s mouth dropped open. “The Washington Post?”
“Ssh.” Ashley held her finger to her lips.
“Did he send you the job description?”
Ashley pointed to her screen. “It’s here.”
“That was quick.”
“I know. I can’t believe he called me.”
“You’re a great reporter—he’d be crazy not to contact you.” Bonnie’s smile disappeared. “You’d have to move. What would I do without you?”
Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat. “We could call each other. It wouldn’t be the same, but we could make it work.”
“You’re right. If you got the job, I could visit you. We could send each other lots of pictures and still stay in touch.” She looked at her watch and sighed. “Harry will be here soon. Are you ready to leave?”
“Just about.” Ashley quickly gathered the papers on her desk and placed them in a folder. “I’ll take my laptop. If we’re caught in traffic, I’ll work on my story from the car.”With one last look at her desk, Ashley slipped her laptop into its bag and walked with Bonnie to the elevators.
She pushed the job atThe Washington Postto the back of her mind and thought about the youth center. If the Foundation were selling the building, she hoped they had a clause in the contract about keeping the youth center open. Without it, there was only a slim chance that the new owners would continue the programs.
***
By the time Harry was near the youth center, Ashley was glad she’d brought her laptop. The traffic had been bumper-to-bumper for most of their journey. From the back seat of his car, she’d not only finished her story but edited it as well.
“Finally,” Bonnie sighed. “I wonder what the traffic will be like in Washington, D.C.”
“Are you planning a vacation?” Harry asked.
Bonnie shook her head. “The editor of the investigations team atThe Washington Postcalled Ashley. He asked if she was interested in applying for a job.”
“Wow. That’s an incredible opportunity.” Harry’s gaze connected with Ashley’s in the rearview mirror.
“I have to be offered the position first,” she said. “There’ll probably be a lot of people applying for the job.”
“But not all of them would have received a phone call from the editor.” He turned left and pulled into one of the car parks reserved for the youth center. “Will you take the job if they offer it to you?”
Ashley hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“You’d be crazy not to take it.” Bonnie unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. “There will be lots of stories like this one in Washington, D.C. You might even meet the President.”
“That’s pretty unlikely.”
“You never know. Strangers things have happened.”
