Page 1 of Sunset Serenade
ChapterOne
In the middle of a newsroom, under lights more intense than the midday sun, it dawned on Rose that her self-doubt was an infection she’d ignored for far too long, and suddenly, she was going septic.
She watched as someone clipped a microphone onto the lapel of her suit jacket – so small and light, like a butterfly resting its wings.
Importantly, however, it was not a butterfly, and its wings would soon broadcast her voice to the good people of the Seattle metro area – all 3.5 million of them.
She gaped down at it, and a man wearing a headset stopped what he was doing to point at her. “No mouth breathing. Your mic is live.”
Her head shot up and she clamped her jaw shut. “Sorry!”
He yelled out, “In five, four, three…”
His voice trailed off, finishing counting with his fingers struck into the air.
Rose smiled blankly ahead, a deer in the headlights – or in this case, a deer about to be interviewed on the news about a book titledFind Your Perfect Match: Data and insights from decades of relationship research.
Not only had she not written the book, she had never read the book, or evenheardof it.
How had she ended up here?
The day had started off so well. Rose got up at five, determined to get to her job interview early, to get ready without waking her sisters.
Yet, when she got out of the shower, Lucy was in the kitchen frying bacon and eggs, a pot of fresh coffee at her side.
“You’re really not going to take the ferry? It usually comes.” Lucy paused. “Eventually.”
“I can’t risk it,” Rose said.
As pleasant as ferry rides were, the chance of getting delayed waswaytoo high. Rose despised being late. It made her sweaty and nervous and entirely not interview-ready.
There was no room for her to fail. Rose needed a job, arealjob, not like the one Lucy had gotten her at the farm.
She was broke. As fun as living with her sisters and riding on the ferry was, she needed to get back to reality, and that meant moving back to the mainland where the jobs were. It was not the time to be whimsical and wish ferries ran on time or that she could live on Orcas Island forever.
She kept telling herself this, trying to make herself believe it.
“Your interview isn’t until one,” Lucy argued, popping the lid onto a travel mug and handing it to Rose. “I’m sure a ferry will show up before then.”
Lillian shuffled into the kitchen and took a seat at the table, pulling her robe tightly across her chest. “Rose is turning into an old lady with her need to be early. I’m surprised she didn’t book a hotel room so she could wake up in Seattle.”
Rose had thought of doing that, but she couldn’t afford a hotel room and was too proud to ask for money. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she scoffed. “I just need to make a good first impression.”
“Why are you so anxious?” Lucy set down a basket overflowing with warm slices of buttered brioche. “They’d be lucky to have you work for them.”
“Yeah, right.” Rose stared at the bread. She didn’t want to have any. She didn’tneedto have any. She was cutting back on carbs. Ever since moving to the island, she’d felt the urge to reinvent herself, to live as she’d always wanted to live – and she’d feel ready to do that once she lost the extra pounds that had snuck on over the last few years.
What was one day, though?
She reached forward and grabbed a slice, bringing it close to her nose to breathe in the smell.
“Seriously.” Lillian put a hand on Rose’s shoulder. “You need to believe in yourself.”
Easier said than done. Especially with the recent firing she’d endured from her last job. “I’ll get right on that.”
“I know you don’t have much faith in yourself,” Lucy said, loading Rose’s plate with eggs and bacon. “You’ll have to borrow mine. You’re awesome! You’re a super hard worker – you worktoohard, actually – and people love you. What more could they want?”
Lillian nodded. “I agree with Lucy. You’re a catch, and if they can’t see that, you don’t want to work for them anyway.”
