But there may be something I want. A partner. A friend. Someone I can talk to about my problems, who cares about me not because of blood relation but because he just… loves me.
I crave the intimacy that comes with being in a relationship. It’s something I haven’t had in over four years, and being only twenty-nine, I’m mad at myself that I don’t have that. Even if it isn’t my fault.
“So, how is work going?” our mom asks us both, and I gesture to Hattie to go first. She launches into some talesfrom her job, as she works as a PR rep for the local professional baseball team, the Colorado Cobras. Her hours are wildly sporadic, but the tales from the job are always entertaining.
“Sounds like everything is going well there,” Mom says when Hattie finishes her tales. “How’s that new player they signed?”
Hattie clicks her tongue. “He’s a piece of work. He thinks he’s got everything all figured out, and sitting down to prep him for press sounds like a nightmare I want nothing to do with.”
“Isn’t that part of your job?” Mom asks, a frown curving her eyebrows.
“Sometimes. But when they feared that I was going to kill their new star player, they decided I might not be the right fit for him.”
I laugh at her, wishing I had a little more of her fighting spirit. She was a firecracker, and I love her for it.
“What about you, Birdie? That boss of yours being kind?”
I smile at her and nod my head. “He’s doing okay, at least for now. I made a client happy last week, so he has to be nice for that sake.”
“Any new clients coming your way?” Hattie asks, knowing what kind of game I end up having to play when it comes to this job.
“Not at the moment. Trip is the golden child, even more so now,” I say, wishing I’d never agreed to the date. He asked me for a second one, and I turned him down, stating that I need to focus on my parenting right now.
That’s not a lie, I always need to be focused on my parenting. However, if I had hit it off with Trip, I probably could have made an exception.
“What happened?” Mom asks, reaching into the cooler and doling out sandwiches.
“She went out with him.” Hattie rats me out, and I glare at her, though through our sunglasses I’m sure she can’t actually see my eyes.
“You did? On a date?” Mom’s surprised tone is not shocking, considering I haven’t even thought about dating in years.
“I tried it out. He was persistent.”
“And?”
“And… it was as dull as I expected.”
“Aw, I’m sorry, honey,” she says, shaking her head. “Let me guess, now he’s making work difficult for you because he’s butthurt.”
“Try,moredifficult,” Hattie interjects. “He’s always been a pain.”
“Why not get a new job? That company does not operate the way they should.” Mom walks over and hands Aurora a sandwich before returning.
I pick up from her question. “Because getting a new job that would be at this salary is not easy. I get paid well, and I don’t want to mess that up because I’m picky.”
“It’s not picky to want respect,” Hattie says, biting into her sandwich.
“I know that, but I can’t risk losing my job because the boys’ club is being mean to me. I just have to suck it up, and maybe.” I shrug, thinking it over. “I don’t know. Maybe I can open my own business someday. Or maybe I can work in-house for a private company.”
“Your own business?” Mom asks, surprise lacing her tone. “That’s a lot of work.”
“It can be so worth it though,” Hattie chimes in, backing me like she always does.
“I know it wouldn’t be easy to own my own business, and right now, being a single mom, it doesn’t seem verydoable. But I can’t imagine working for Hanson for the rest of my life.” I sigh, looking up to the sun shining high above me, and wonder if I could actually take on building my own company.
But the thought of that doesn’t sound appealing at all. If anything, I would work a job where I had good people around me and good hours so that I can take care of my daughter and see her as much as possible.
“Well, whatever you decide, you know your father and I are behind you.” Mom looks over to the back of the boat, where my dad and Aurora are standing, Aurora giggling at something my father says. “All we want is for you girls to be happy.”
