Besides, home was a tiny town in Northern Alberta. The whole point ofattending school in Calgary was that’s where a future in finance would be. I’d dreamed of being a success in the financial world for too long.
It was part of the reason a marriage with Barrett wasn’t going to work out. He wasn’t shy about telling me he expected me to play the role of the executive wife and put my career on hold while I worked to help further his. I thought I could change his mind when he saw how excited I was about my future. But that was only one of the many issues there were in our relationship.
Not that it was my problem anymore.
No. The only problem I had now was where I was going to go next.
I pull my knees up and wrap my arms around them, suddenly aware of how quiet the room is and how truly alone I am.
My entire future is in front of me. And I don’t have the slightest idea of what to do with it.
I pick up the remote and click on the television to fill the silence at the same time my phone rings.
An unfamiliar number flashes across the screen. For a moment, I consider ignoring it, but with so many resumes out in the world, I can’t afford to let any calls go to voicemail.
I hit mute on the remote and answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Lilly?”
“Yes,” I say tentatively. “This is Lilly.”
“Lilly! It’s Tessa! Tessa Morgan from?—”
“Finance class. Hi! It’s been…”
“Over six months,” she finishes. “I know. I kind of dropped out of school and disappeared.”
Her warmth and laughter come through the line and make me smile. Tessa and I had been classmates for years, and we’d hit it off. I’d missed her when she left school, but then things got busy with finals and thewedding.
Ugh.
I shudder a little, but I don’t dwell on it.
“How’ve you been?” I refocus the conversation.
“So good.” I can hear the genuine happiness in her voice. “Honestly, I wasn’t in a good place when I left school, but Lilly…I found the man of my dreams and…anyway, life is reallygood right now.”
“I’m so happy to hear that,” I say and I mean it. At least one of us ended up with the fairy tale version. “Where did you end up?”
“It’s funny you should ask because I wasactually calling you about a really amazing job opportunity out here.”
A job?
The words are like a lifeline.
“A job?” I repeat, my voice rough.
“Yeah. You popped into my head because it’s finance-related, and you were always the smartest person in class. You’d be working with a top financial analyst and investor. The experience would be incredible.”
It does sound incredible.
“It’s a little unusual, though,” Tessa continued. “The position is pretty remote, and I know you were supposed to be getting married soon, so I wasn’t sure if?—”
“I’m not.” The words come out sharper than I intend. “I called it off,” I add more quietly. “So now I’m actually looking for a jobanda place to live.”
Another pause. Not awkward this time, just careful.
