Then it occurred to me that Mom managed to raise three kids while she had the full-time work of running the inn.
“How did she do it all, Dad?” I asked, even as I got up to pour him a cup of coffee from the pot I’d just made. “The inn, you, us kids. It was like it all ran so smoothly.”
“Well, let’s start with the fact she was an amazing woman,” Dad said. “She was organized, hardworking, efficient, and an excellent decision maker. No dillydallying for your mom. She looked at a problem, weighed her options, then acted. Saves a lot of time in the day when you can do that.”
I filled his mug up with coffee, added milk and sugar, and set it in front of him. His words were bouncing around my head.
“I’m a good decision maker,” I muttered.
“Yep, just like your mom.”
So that was a skill that made you a good mom, too? Huh. I’d never considered that.
Dad took a sip of his coffee and grimaced. “My first born, I love you more than life itself, but you donotmake a good cup of coffee. I wish Paul hadn’t decided to move out. Between his cooking skills and his coffee-making ability, now that man would make a fine wife for someone.”
I froze, Dad’s words hitting me like a punch in the gut. “What did you say?”
“I know, I know. You’re going to call me out for not being a feminist or some such nonsense. I didn’t mean it. I was only teasing.”
“No, Dad, I think you might be on to something…”
Just then my phone started ringing. I picked it up off the table and saw it wasn’t a personal contact, just a phone number with a New York City area code.
Curious, I accepted the call. “Hello?”
“Ms. Kringle? Hi, Troy Sally, so glad we could connect. I’m calling from Emerson Resources. You sent your resumé to us a few weeks ago.”
Emerson Resources was one of the largest headhunter firms in Manhattan. They only dealt with executive-level placements. They were the first group I’d emailed my updated resumé, but I’d expected the process to take time. I wasn’t looking for just any job. The position I might consider would probably take months to find.
“Yes, of course,” I said. “Nice to speak with you, Troy. What’s up?”
“Well, something just popped. Something we think you might be interested in. A COO position opened up in a smaller boutique insurance company. Nowhere close to the size of Hart’s, but they’re looking for someone to right the ship, so this would be a step up from a VP position. Twenty K less than what you were making previously, but with bonus incentives built in that could actually double your previous salary if you hit them all. Interested?”
“Of course,” I said automatically.
There was nothing to think about. It was a title bump. It was an opportunity to turn a failing business around. Put it on the right path. Get paid off if I accomplished it. Not to mention the restoration of my business reputation, if I could restore it.
“Excellent. I’ll submit your resumé along with the cover letter to them. How flexible are you for an in-person interview?”
“Uh, I’m actually home for the holidays. But I could get a flight back to New York fairly quickly. I just need a day to arrange things.”
“Got it. Okay. I’ll let them know.”
I disconnected the call and slowly sat down at the kitchen table.
“What’s that?” Dad asked. “Not a work emergency over Christmas, I hope?”
I tried to make sense of what I was feeling, but it was all a jumble. Was I happy? Excited? Or filled with dread? I couldn’t distinguish it all.
I looked at my dad then, saw the confusion in his face.
“No, Dad. It’s not…” I took a deep breath and let it go. “It’s not Hart’s calling, because I got fired from Hart’s.”
“What?” he asked, clearly shocked.
“There was a merger and departments were consolidated. As the person who tended to be the least political…”
“You mean the person least likely to kiss ass,” he grumbled.
