Page 53 of Unconventionally, Elle
She cut me off before I kept going down the rabbit hole of
possibilities for what prompted this video chat. "No, no, nobody is dead." She let a small grin peek through her lips, and then she pressed them back together in a serious way. "I'm up for a promotion at work," she said quickly.
"Oh my God, Rach! Congrats! That's awesome, isn't it?"
She wasn't smiling. Why wasn't she smiling? "And Josh just found out that his job is transferring him to New York."
"Oh fuck." It slipped out before I could censor myself. I noticed her cheeks glistening on my phone screen. "Rach, you're crying!"
"No shit, Sherlock," she said with a tearful grin. "But, um, yeah, and if he doesn't take the transfer, then there is no job here in Saint Louis for him." Her voice quavered.
"What about your job? Is the promotion available in New York? Your company has an office there, right?" My heart was breaking for her. I knew the pain and anxiety this decision brought with it. Last time, I chose my career and so did Jude. But Rach and Josh, God they'd been together for years. Would this be it?
"That's the thing, the promotion isn't guaranteed and it's only for the Saint Louis office. New York doesn't have the position open."
"Rach?" My voice was full of contemplation and reflection.
She replied with a throaty "Yeah?"
"So what exactly are you leaning toward? What about if you kept your current position in New York and skipped the promotion? Is that option available?"
"That's the thing--I don't know, Elle. I'm so fucking torn, and I asked already. My position is full there. I don't know what I would do." Her frustration was beginning to peek through thegrief of the decision. "I want to move up. I want to break glass ceilings in my career. But Josh and I are serious. I mean, shit, we're talking about marriage! You don't throw that away. We have to think of each other, right?" Her eyes were pleading, and I felt like I was suddenly in a very small room. Jude and I had been lightly discussing marriage as well, but we did throw it away.
"I mean, that's what they say," I replied lightheartedly. "We both know I'm not the pro of this kinda thing." I felt shame heat my cheeks as I remembered my conversation with Jude. Remembered choosing to end things... again.
"Right." She looked at me with a quizzical lift of her brow. "So I have to think of his career now too, but what do you do when they're at odds? I really don't know, Elle. I want him to take the job, but at the same time, I want my promotion. I've worked so damn hard, I deserve it." She sighed as she lifted her arms up and rested her clasped hands on her head. "Jesus, how do things get so complicated?"
"Josh is going to support you, and you know I will too," I said after a few quiet moments. "When do you officially talk to your boss about the promotion?"
"We have a meeting set for this Thursday, the first," she replied with a hopeful tone.
"Oh, okay, that's the day before I leave for Nantucket. I'll have my phone on me, waiting. You'll have to keep me posted and let me know what happens!"
"Again, no shit, Sherlock." Her wry grin was sassy, and her brown eyes were bright and almost caramel against her jet-black hair.
"You'll make the right decision... for both of you. You're too good for anyone to lose. Josh included."
34
Now
Bundled up in thick jackets, Barrett and I held hands on the bow of the ferry. I stepped a little closer so that I could rest my head on his shoulder and felt a tiny kiss on top of my beanie.
"See that over there, Elle?" He pointed to a long blur in the horizon.
"Yeah, I see it," I whispered dreamily as the wind rushed against my face and the smell of sea salt made my body relax.
"That's where we're going." He wrapped his arms around me and held them across my chest. His hands held mine, stabilizing me on the ship. "You're going to love it. I can't wait to show you the townhouse we have off Main Street." He squeezed my hands a little tighter and tilted his head on mine. The scent of sandalwood and spice made me close my eyes and sigh.
The ferry sailed up and down, following each wave as it broke against the boat. My wavy brown curls whipped across my face, so Barrett turned our bodies to block the wind. I turned around and wrapped my arms around his middle. He took one hand, brushed my hair from my face, and kissed my nose withthe tiniest little peck. I rested my head on his chest and felt his heartbeat against my ear. His body was warm, safe.
He moved unexpectedly, making my eyes burst open. He shifted his arm and pulled a coin out of his jacket pocket.
"Elle, here's a penny." He offered it to me with a huge smile, and I stared at him with my mouth open and my brows pinched together. "Seriously, take it. We're passing Brant Point Lighthouse."
"Ah, I love lighthouses! What's the penny for?" I asked, turning the penny in my fingers and looking to where Barrett was pointing. "Is that it?"
"Yep, you're looking at one of the oldest lighthouses in the US. And if you throw a penny into the water as we pass it, you'll ensure your return trip back to Nantucket, or so the locals say." He took another penny out of his pocket and held it. "On the count of three?" He looked at me with an eyebrow raised.
