Page 100 of Eye of the Hurricane
I open my mouth to speak and nothing comes out. I’m speechless. There isn’t a thing in the world I could say. I’ve chased this moment since middle school.
“Are you serious? Of course, you’re serious why would you joke about this… I don’t know what to say. Oh my God. I can’t believe it.” A single tear slips down the side of my cheek and I just let it. Because it’s a happy tear. Happy doesn’t even cut it, it’s a tear of fulfillment and elation.
“I have the official offer package here, in writing. I’m going to send it home with you. We would like a decision by—” I cut him off.
“Yes. My decision is yes.”
He laughs. “I really have to insist you read through the offer package first. I don’t see any red flags in it but if there is something that doesn’t work for you, you’ll have to negotiate with HR.”
“I’m sure it’s perfect.”
“As that may be, please read it through before you answer.” He laughs.
“I will. I promise.”
“So you take this,” he hands me the packet sitting in front of him. “And read it over at home. We would like a decision by Monday but Friday is the deadline. All of the info about start date, wages, dress code, and expectations are written out in there in very clear terms.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get the decision over by Monday.” I take the packet from him, doing a quick flip through. It’s thick. There’s a lot here.
“I’ve been doing this for forty-odd years, I’ve loved every second of it. It was important to me that my position was filled by someone who would love it even more. There was not a single candidate who had the same level of passion for this as you. The job was yours from the second you met with us.” I think my heart might actually be glowing. There may even be fireworks going off inside my head.
“Meet me at my house,”I tell Luna. I do my best to keep a steady voice so it’s a surprise when she gets there.
“When?” she asks with a groan. I must have woken her up. Although, it’s one in the afternoon.
“Now. Unless you’re busy.”
“Does a nap count as busy?”
“Nope. See you in ten. Love you!” I hang up the phone.
This feels like news I should be making a bunch of calls to tell everyone. I can’t call Ravyn and Audra because they’ll tellAres before I get to. And I don’t want to tell him over the phone.
Now more than ever, I can’t call my mom. I expected some kind of big cut-off after the falling out. I would assume I have my dad to thank for the fact I haven’t been entirely dropped yet.
I shoot my dad a text, letting him know.
Katherine
I know things aren’t great right now but I wanted to let you know I got the job.
Dad
Congratulations. Should I tell your mother?
Katherine
No.
Dad
Okay.
It’s short and it’s tense but it still feels like a win. A win that he’s still speaking to me after I kicked them out of my house.
I can’t pinpoint what it is that I want with my parents. I don’t know if I want a relationship with them or not. It’s complicated.
What I want is for them to wake up one day and be better parents, but that’s not realistic. So instead, I take it day by day until I have the mental bandwidth to make a decision on the matter.
