“I’m still thinking about it. I’ve got until next Tuesday to let Mr. Malone know what I’m doing.”
“When you were about ten years old I was offered a job in Dallas. Your mom and I agonized over what we’d do. It would have almost doubled my salary and given us the kind of life we never thought we’d have. But we turned it down.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s more to life than money. We had good friends in Bozeman. Your grandparents enjoyed spending time with you, and you were doing well in school. If we’d moved, all of us would have had to start again. Your mom and I never regretted that decision.”
Ashley tried to imagine her childhood without her grandparents or the friends she’d made at school. “I’m glad you decided to stay in Bozeman.”
“I learned a valuable lesson from that job offer. When you have a big decision to make, follow your heart. Even if everything changes further down the line, you’ll know you made the right decision at the time.”
Ashley pushed a strand of hair off her face. “I saw Logan Allen this morning. He offered me a job at theBozeman Chronicle.”
“Because of your articles about The Reaching High Foundation?”
“Sort of. Logan was the person I most looked up to when I was working at the Chronicle. He taught me a lot about journalism. The job that’s vacant would report directly to him.”
“It sounds like you’ve got a lot of decisions to make. What do your friends think you should do?”
“Bonnie and Harry think I’d be crazy not to accept the job in Washington, D.C. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“Do they know about the position in Bozeman?”
Ashley nodded. “Bonnie does, but I haven’t told Harry.”
“What does Matthew think?”
“He doesn’t know about the job in Bozeman.”
“Will you tell him?”
“I didn’t want him to know about either position until I knew what I was doing. Bonnie told him I was being interviewed in Washington, D.C. I think he was disappointed that I hadn’t told him about it.”
“It’s a big change, especially if he wants to spend more time with you.”
Ashley focused on the lines of chiseled text on her mom’s headstone. “How did you know that mom was the person you wanted to marry?”
“I couldn’t imagine my life without her. She was the kindest person I knew. The hardest part was asking your granddad if I could marry his daughter.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I was a lucky man, and if I ever broke her heart I’d be in trouble.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Ashley’s mouth. Her granddad had been tall, with the broad chest and quick hands of a boxer. “I wouldn’t have wanted to get on the wrong side of granddad, either.”
“Your mom thought it was hilarious,” her dad said dryly.
“She knew granddad wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“I found that out later. I’m looking forward to seeing Matthew again.”
Ashley frowned. “You have to behave yourself. He doesn’t know that I like him.”
Her dad wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “He might know more than you think he does.”
She looked at her dad and sighed. “When did my life become so complicated?”
“About the same time you started breathing.”
