Page 43 of Through the Snow Globe
Instead of waiting for a response, Diana placed her cell phone back inside her purse. She needed to mentally prepare to go into this interview. Rochelle had flowers and when Diana was done with her interview, she would call Ro and say whatever was necessary to make her best friend understand why she couldn’t go out tonight.
When time was limited, priorities shifted. That’s what Mrs. Guzman had said, and it was true. Diana pulled open the door of Powell Rehabilitation and stepped inside.
Leann looked up from behind her desk as Diana approached. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I have a meeting with Mr. Powell this afternoon.” Diana shook her hands out by her side, willing her nerves to calm down. She could do this. She could convince her boss that she was confident and personable. That she would make a great manager. A much better one than William.
Leann looked at the schedule on her desk and nodded. “Yes, there you are. Two o’clock?”
“That’s me,” Diana said, forcing a smile.
“Wonderful. Have a seat and I’ll call you when he’s ready.”
Diana had sat down for no more than a minute before Leann stood and called her name. “Ms. Merriman? Mr. Powell is ready to see you now.”
Diana’s legs felt shaky as she followed Leann down the hall toward Mr. Powell’s office. She mentally rehearsed how she would greet him, deciding she would offer her hand and shake his firmly. And she absolutely would not throw William under the bus during this interview. This meeting was about proving she was a well-rounded therapist who genuinely cared about her patients and coworkers. Because she did.
Mr. Powell looked up as soon as Diana walked into his office, flashing his winning smile. Even if she didn’t know him, she would definitely assume he was a leader of some sort. He had the confident vibe that all her leadership books talked about.
Diana tried to replicate that vibe as she stepped toward him and shook his hand. “Hello, Todd. Thank you for meeting with me today.” She’d only just walked in and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. She had never been good in these types of situations. She preferred easy, friendly interactions with her patients and coworkers. But seeking a management position was the right next step in her career.
“Of course,” Mr. Powell said. “Please have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
Diana nodded. “A cup of coffee would be lovely. Thank you.”
“Of course.” Mr. Powell headed over to his counter where he had a Keurig set up along with a tray of coffee condiments. “Do you take cream or sugar?”
“I drink mine black,” she told him, just like yesterday.
“My kind of woman.” Mr. Powell prepared her mug of coffee and then walked over and handed it to her. Diana reached up to take it with shaking hands. When her fingers touched the warm mug, she pulled back. Mr. Powell had already released the mug, though, and it dropped through Diana’s fingers and onto her lap.
Diana squealed as the hot liquid burned her skin through her dress pants. She shot up, knocking her head directly under Mr. Powell’s chin. She audibly heard his jaw clink against his teeth. “Oh, no! Are you okay?”
Mr. Powell had a dazed look about him. His polished smile drooped as he clutched the side of his face. His gaze also held a hint of irritation that slipped past his refined demeanor. He quickly blinked the look away and forced a faint smile that looked kind of painful to Diana.
“Areyouokay?” He looked down at the dark brown coffee stains all over her thighs.
Her skin burned beneath the fabric, but she had forgotten about the pain when she realized what she’d done to Mr. Powell. Five minutes in and she’d already blown this interview. She took a step backward to give him space and tried to pull in a breath so that she didn’t start hyperventilating. She felt like she needed a brown paper bag to breathe into right about now. What was the point of having a day to do over if she did it worse every time?
Mr. Powell cleared his throat. “Would you like me to get you another cup of coffee?”
Diana shook her head quickly. “No, that’s okay.”
“All right, then.” He walked around the other side of his desk where he was probably safer. Then he sat down and rested his elbows on the wooden surface and looked at her. He blew out an exasperated breath. “So, tell me why you want this promotion.”
Diana opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She’d mentally rehearsed what she’d say to Mr. Powell, but now she felt rattled. All the composure she’d built on the drive over was obliterated. “Why do I want this promotion?” she repeated, looking for her rehearsed answers. Whydidshe want this promotion? She’d never considered herself a leader. She didn’t like ordering people around. She didn’t mind training others. Sharing her knowledge was something she actually enjoyed.
Across the desk, Diana could see the redness of Mr. Powell’s face from where she’d bumped his jaw. Guilt swam through her, along with discomfort and a touch of embarrassment. “Well,” she began, “you see, I’ve been a physical therapist for a long time. I’ve been working in the field for nearly ten years now, and it feels like this is the right next step in my career.”
Mr. Powell reached for a pen and jotted that down in a notebook. “Management isn’t for everyone, though. The right next step for one person isn’t always the same for the next. It’s like a marriage. Sometimes couples date for ten years before tying the knot. Sometimes they date for one month. And sometimes they don’t get married at all.”
Why was he talking about marriage? This was a job interview. And now Diana’s mind was on Linus and their engagement. Why had she been dragging her feet on setting a date? The truth was, she was a little scared—more than a little. Marriage was a big step. What if she wasn’t what Linus needed? What if she turned out to be a failure of a wife and ruined his life? What if, like everyone else in Diana’s life, he left?
“I know,” Diana said, returning her thoughts to the interview, “but I think I could be good as management.”
“Do you feel like you’re a good leader?” Mr. Powell asked.
Diana rolled her lips together, moistening them as she thought on her answer. “Yes.”
