“No one,” he says. “I should get back. He’s a he, by the way. He’s awesome. Always wants to play.”
“Not brooding and anti-social like mine,” I say. “What’s his name?”
He runs his fingers through my hair, plays with my curls. “I haven’t come up with one.”
“We should call them Jekyll and Hyde,” I suggest, half-joking.
“Which one is the evil one again?” he asks.
“Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is the good one.”
“Jekyll,” he says. “I like that. Yours is obviously the evil Mr. Hyde.”
I laugh. “Definitely.”
I was joking but he seems to like the idea. “It’s perfect. Jekyll, it is,” he says.
I shake my head. “I should probably go check if Hyde still has food,” I tell him.
He holds me tighter. “I don’t want to let you go.”
A huge smile stretches across my face. I probably have a really goofy expression. “Just for a minute. I’ll check his food, and brush my teeth, and I’m all yours.”
He finally lets me go. “Okay, I’ll brush mine too and then I’m having my way with you again, Miss Gallagher.”
“Oh, are you now, Mr. Taylor?” I tease. “I can’t wait.”
We make love once more,share a quick breakfast, then he’s off to check on Jekyll and go to work. As soon as he’s gone, I feel a little lonely again. It’s been so long since I’ve been on my own like this. I finally decide to clean the apartment, I get my job application papers in order, and I’m just about to start a load of laundry when my phone rings. I’m expecting it to be one of my friends or Momma, but an unfamiliar voice greets me when I say hello.
“Hello, is this Maeve Gallagher.”
My breath hitches. “Yes, this is she.”
“Hello Mrs. Gallagher. This is Rebecca Fry. I’m Charlene Ross’ assistant, head of children’s clothing marketing and promotions at Macy’s. I’m calling about the Buyer position you applied for.”
My heart goes into overdrive. Oh. My. God.
“Hello, Mrs. Gallagher?”
“Yes, sorry.” I catch my breath. “I’m here. I’m so happy you called.”
“Great! Well, we’ve gone through the applications and we were quite impressed with yours. We were wondering if you could make the trip out here for an interview.”
I’ve already Googled Chicago. I know it’s a fifteen hour drive away – too far. I’ll need to fly there and stay at a hotel for a night. And I don’t have much savings. Yet… this could be the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Mrs. Gallagher?”
“Sorry, yes,” I say. “Yes. I’d love to come. I just need to work out my travel plans.”
“Great,” she says. “I have your email, and I can send you Mrs. Ross’ schedule openings. You can work out a good time for you, and get back to me. She will be interviewing for the next two weeks.”
My heart is still beating a mile a minute. “Sounds good.”
We say goodbye and I fire up my laptop. I need to get on this sooner than later. I’m sure they’re not going to sit around and wait for me to make up my mind.
Blake suddenly pops into my head. If I do this, if I get a job in Chicago, I’ll never get to see him, or Momma, my family. Chicago is just too far. Sure, I’ll be able to fly in once in a while, but flights are expensive, and I’ll need to also rent a car to drive to Westbrooke. What a nightmare. I won’t know anyone in Chicago.
But this would be a fresh start. Isn’t that what I’ve been searching for?
