Page 21 of Best Kept Vows

Her eyes lit up with amusement. “When Betsy and I first talked about helping women return to work, our goal was to support people like you—not just in reentering the job market, but in discovering what truly lights you up. Not only what you’re good at, but even the things you didn’t know you could love.”

I felt some of the tension dissipate.

Nina was right. I wasn’t the first woman to do what I was doing. “You’re right, I feel inadequate—but you’re also correct in saying that I have a lot of life experience, which has taught me patience and given me the ability to listen, learn, and adapt.”

Nina’s gaze softened with understanding. “We have set up an internship program. Now bear with us, because you’re the first person to go through it, so you’ll be our guinea pig. We will need you to be candid with us on what’s working and what’s not so we can build this program and bring more women into Savannah Lace, and give them the experience they need to bolster their skillset and CV.”

“I’ll be a great guinea pig,” I blurted out.

She laughed, her face bright. “Excellent. It’s a twelve-month program, and you will spend this time in four departments. Your first three months will be with Luna Steele as a project manager. Luna is our head of architecture. After that, you will then spend three months with Nova Larue, who is our office manager, supporting her. Then, you will work with Stella Carter’s team, project managing landscape design. Lastly, you will work with meas an executive assistant, overseeing the projects I work on.”

I gaped at her. She was giving me a job for twelve months, during which time I would be able to gainallthis experience. That was…amazing! More than I ever thought this could be.

“What do you think?”

“That I need to buy Betsy Rhodes a big fat present.”

“She likes champagne,” Nina informed me. “Blanc de Blanc, preferably chardonnay.”

I tapped the side of my head. “Noted.”

“You’ll fit in very well here,” Nina stated. “Now, I have a question that may seem intrusive, but please don’t be offended. I’m from Savannah, and I know how our society works. You know that your husband’s family is not going to jump with joy that you’re working at Savannah Lace.”

“My father-in-law was happy to learn of my interview,” I told her, which was true.

Nina arched an eyebrow. “Abraham Boone has certainly softened. The last time I saw him was years ago when I was going through my divorce, and he called me a harlot.”

Since I knew Abraham, I knew he was capable of that. “He used to call me a gold-digger,” I confided cheerfully. “But after the stroke, being in a wheelchair hasmade him see the world with a different, kinder perspective.”

“Your husband? How does he feel?”

I shrugged. “I’m forty-four years old. My husband doesn’t have a say in what I do.”

She smiled. “Good. Because, unlike Shakespeare’sOphelia, you shouldn’t wait around for a man to decide your future.”

My eyes widened in surprise at her bluntness, but I laughed, relieved and energized by her candor. I needed exactly this—someone who believed in me enough to challenge me.

Nina pushed an envelope toward me. “Here is the contract. Go home, read through it, and give me an answer by the end of the week.”

I shook my head. “You can get my answer now. It’syes.”

“You don’t want to look at the contract?”

I shrugged. “We’re fortunate that we don’t need my salary to make ends meet. I care to be paid for what I do. I deserve that. But I don’t think you’ll lowball me. Also, what I get in return, regardless of my salary, is more valuable to me than the dollar amount on this contract.”

Nina seemed surprised by my response or maybe by the confidence with which I spoke, as I had been a stumbling mess at the start of this interview.

She gave me a brisk nod. “First up, you’ll be working under Luna, who is right now working on a huge hospital project bid.” There was a knock on the door then. “Speak of the devil.”

Luna peeked in. “You ready for me?”

“Yes.” Nina waved her in.

Luna looked like she belonged on a motorcycle rather than behind a drafting table. Her short, dark hair framed an expressive face, and her boots clicked sharply on thehardwood floors as she approached, offering a firm handshake. I had seen her before, at some fancy social event.

“She has accepted the offer,” Nina told Luna.

“Welcome aboard, Lia,” she greeted me warmly.

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