“Yes.”
“Okay, and you’ve had some gaps in employment…”
Taylor smiled as she let out a small, forced laugh; she couldn’t help herself. That was the understatement of the century. “Yes, you could say that. I, um, I was a stay-at-home mom. My son has some medical issues, so it made more sense that I was home with him, and my ex, he didn’t let me…or, um, he, uh, it was just…just better if I was home.”
Remove foot from mouth,Taylor told herself. This was what happened when you’ve been isolated and not able to communicate; you forget how. It’s a use-it-or-lose-it sort ofsituation. Martin had alienated her from everyone. The only people she conversed with were Owen’s doctors.
“So is he doing better now or…” Audrey was clearly attempting to ask about the change in circumstances in the most delicate and respectful way.
“He has multiple chronic issues, so he has good days and bad days. But…” Taylor hadn’t thought for a second she’d be having an interview this morning. If she had, she’d have practiced what she would say. “Our circumstances have changed, and it’s just him and me now. I’m the sole provider, so I need to work.”
“Oh, right.” Audrey nodded, clearly understanding as she looked back down at the iPad. The simplicity of her response carried a depth of empathy, as if to say she completely understood without needing the details. When she lifted her head and looked in Taylor’s eyes again, there was something in them, something tangible, that made her feel seen. “I noticed that you didn’t agree to a background check. Was that intentional, or did you just miss it?”
“It was intentional. My ex is not a good person.” That was the first time Taylor had spoken about Martin to anyone but Owen since she moved there. Even just mentioning him made her feel…uneasy. Like he was Beetlejuice and was going to appear if she said his name.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Taylor could see that Audrey wasn’t just saying that; it wasn’t a platitude. She meant it.
“Oh, it’s fine,” Taylor quickly dismissed.
At this point, Taylor figured it was time to go all in. What did she have to lose? Well, other than a good job.
She squared her shoulders and sat up straight and decided to put everything on the table. "I know that I may not be the best candidate on paper.” Her voice was filled with determination. "I know I don't have a lot of experience, but I am a very hardworker. I promise you that when I’m here, I will be the best employee I can possibly be. I am a fast learner. I never make the same mistake twice.” That was something she’d learned about herself being married to Martin. “And, it might not seem like it from this, but I am actually really good with people. I can multitask and thrive in high-pressure working conditions.” Those were the positives, but she felt she needed to have full transparency; to lay it all out on the table. “But I should tell you, my son, Owen, will always be my priority. There might be, actually, I can almost guarantee, there will be days when Owen will have a medical emergency and I have to leave with little to no notice, or I won’t be able to come in.”
Taylor’s heart was pounding in her throat, where it had lodged itself while she held her breath. What had she just done? Why hadn’t she gotten the jobbeforeshe’d told Audrey that she had a psycho ex and sick child?
She was holding her breath, wondering if she’d just blown her chance, when Audrey tilted her head to the side and a wrinkle appeared between her brows. “Did you say Owen?”
“Yes, Owen. That’s my son.”
Audrey’s entire face brightened. “The Owen who calls bingo at Golden Years?”
“Oh, yeah.” Taylor nodded. “He does. Every Tuesday.”
A wide smile split Audrey’s face. “I’ve heardsomuch about him.”
“You have?”
It was still strange for her to live in a small town. As an extremely private person, it was definitely going to take some getting used to. Not that she even knew if she actually was private or if she’d just become that way out of survival because of her toxic relationship. She’d been so isolated for so long, so controlled, that she felt she had a degree of arrested development, and she was just now getting to know herself.
“Yes, Nonna, or um, Leonora,lovesOwen. She is my husband Josh’s grandmother, and she hasn’t stopped talking about him.”
“Oh, Nonna, yes.” Nonna was one of the more lively residents. She couldn’t be more than ninety pounds soaking wet, but she was a force to be reckoned with. “She’s…” Taylor wasn’t quite sure what to say about her.
“Yep.” A knowing smile tilted on Audrey’s lips as she nodded. “That’s her.”
“She’s great,” Taylor said, not wanting Audrey to mistake her loss for words as a negative. “And she taught Owen how to pop wheelies down the hall in her wheelchair. And she’s always trying to bribe him to break her out, which he thinks is funny because she can leave anytime she wants.”
Taylor suspected that the “bribes” were Nonna’s creative way of giving Owen some spending money.
“That does not surprise me.” Audrey shook her head, obviously amused. “Owen’s diabetic, right?” As soon as she asked the question, it was clear from her expression she wished she could take it back. She immediately apologized. “Sorry, it’s none of my business; I just...Viv, my sister, mentioned it.”
“No, it’s fine,” Taylor assured her.
“Viv and Nonna are very close, and my sister visits her several times a week,” Audrey continued. “Viv met him a few months ago, she was impressed by him. I think she used the term ‘old soul.’”
Taylor grinned. It wasn’t the first time Owen had been called that.
