Excitement bubbled up in me. For the first time in forever, it felt like I was heading in a direction I wanted to go instead of being dragged along by everyone else’s wants and needs. My eyes were burning, and my throat was tight. My voice was hoarse when I answered, “I just have to give Jeff my two weeks’ notice on Monday.”
Tommy clapped me on the back. “Excellent.”
I cleared my throat. I always had such a hard time asking for things, especially since he was going to pay for me to go to school, but I had to. I rubbed the back of my neck. “So, what’s the salary? And what about health benefits?”
He steered me back to his office. “I have that paperwork in my desk. I think you’ll be happy with your salary. Benefits start thirty days after you do.” I sat in the chair in front of his desk while he opened a file drawer to get the paperwork.
A man’s voice called from the garage, “Tommy?”
Tommy’s gaze shot to the clock. “Shit. In here, Charlie.”
As soon as Charlie walked through the office door, I rose to attention like I was on springs. Charlie was tall and lanky, with steel-gray hair cut military short. He had an air of authority about him that told me this man had been at least a colonel before he retired.
Tommy rolled his eyes and sighed. “Don’t scare the new employee, Charlie.”
Charlie went around the desk and kissed his husband. “I wasn’t trying to scare him.” He came back around to greet me. “At ease, soldier.” He held out his hand. “Charlie McCaffrey.”
“Zach Kelley, sir.” I rolled my eyes at myself. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine, Zach. You just get out?”
I shook my head. “National Guard, sir. Joint base.”
He nodded his head. “Good unit. I take it you’re in the motor pool.” I nodded. “Have you been in long?” he asked.
“It’ll be twelve years in June.” It was really hard not to tack sir onto everything I said to him.
“So, you’re a sergeant?”
“Staff sergeant.”
Tommy came around and put an arm around Charlie’s shoulders. “Enough interrogation, Colonel. Let the man be.”
“I was getting to know him,” Charlie objected.
Tommy kissed his cheek. “I know you were, love. But his internal officer radar is going nuts. He’s doing his damnedest not to salute you. Ease up.”
Charlie sighed. “Yes, dear.”
Tommy chuckled and handed me the paperwork. “Look this over and let me know what you think.”
I glanced down at the top sheet and saw the starting salary. I looked up at him with wide eyes. “This is a lot more than I’m getting now.”
Tommy smiled. “We want people to stay.”
I nodded. My heart was hammering. This was going to make my life so much easier. “I’ll take it home and look over the rest.” I held out my hand. “I look forward to working for you.”
“I look forward to having you here,” he replied.
I shook Charlie’s hand as well. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
He smiled. “You as well. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other. I have to drag him out of this place three or four times a week.”
“That’s patently false,” Tommy protested.
Charlie looked around the office. “Am I not standing here in your office making sure you’re not late for our dinner engagement?”
“I was hiring a new employee,” Tommy grumbled.
