Page 65 of Through the Snow Globe
She loved him so much that the thought of him never waking up from that coma was just too crushing to even consider. But even worse was the thought of Linus getting into a tragic accident time after time. How many times could she lose him? Was he feeling the pain with each accident? She had to assume he was becauseshewas feeling it, more and more, deeper and deeper.
And she was realizing with each passing hour that one more day wasn’t really a gift at all. Not if it was this one. It was more of a curse.
Chapter 17
Leann looked up and smiled as Diana entered the rehabilitation center. “I’m here to see Mr. Powell.” Diana tapped her fingers impatiently as the receptionist looked at the schedule.
“Yes. Please have a seat and—”
“You’ll let me know when Mr. Powell is ready.” Diana nodded. “Got it. But he’ll be ready in about thirty seconds so there’s no point in me sitting down. I’ll just stand right here and wait.”
Leann’s smile drooped. “Oh. Okay. Well, I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.” She picked up the receiver of the phone, her gaze flicking to Diana as she told Mr. Powell that Diana was here in a hushed voice. Then she placed the receiver back in its cradle and stood. “He’s ready for you.”
Diana felt a little frazzled and out of control, which probably wouldn’t serve her best going into an important meeting with her boss. Not that it mattered. This day didn’t matter one bit, just like yesterday and the day before. She followed Leann inside Mr. Powell’s office, walked straight up to Mr. Powell and shook his hand. “No need to offer me any coffee, Todd. Let’s just get to business, shall we?” she said as she sat down and crossed her legs.
Mr. Powell took a seat across from her, looking a bit bewildered. “Perfect.” He ran through all the questions from yesterday and Diana answered them robotically until he got to this one: “What makes you think you would make a good manager?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think that, actually. I have no idea if I’d make a good manager or not.”
“Oh?” Mr. Powell’s brows lifted with surprise.
“I mean, you want total honesty, right? That is my honest answer. Actually, if I’m honest, maybe I’m not cut out for this promotion at all. I have no idea why I’m even here.” She ignored Mr. Powell’s slowly sinking smile. “In fact, I’m wasting both of our time right now, aren’t I? This interview isn’t going to go well no matter what I do, so I’m going to get up and leave now, and spare us both an awkward attempt at proving to you that I’m better suited for the job instead of William.” She stood abruptly and offered her hand to Mr. Powell.
Mr. Powell was speechless for a moment. “You’re leaving?” he finally asked. “I didn’t think this was off to such a bad start.”
“Well, give it time and it would have been. Thereisno time, though,” she said, feeling more frazzled and out of control by the moment. This whole day was a train speeding toward a tragic ending. “Or there is time, too much, but not for things I don’t even know that I want.”
Mr. Powell finally shook her hand. “Well then, thank you for coming in, Diana,” he said politely.
When she pulled her hand away, she purposefully knocked the crystal frame off his desk and watched it shatter at her feet just like this train wreck of a day. It didn’t matter. She’d be back here again tomorrow. “Thankyou,” she echoed. Then she turned and walked out of the office, past the receptionist’s desk, and out into the cold afternoon. She hurried to her car, got inside, and didn’t cry this time. In fact, she felt a little numb.
After a few minutes, her phone buzzed with an incoming text. That would be Rochelle. She checked the screen.
Rochelle:You sent me flowers?!
Diana tapped a message back.
Diana:It’s the least a crappy friend can do on your birthday.
Rochelle:You’re not crappy. Thank you. You’re not blowing off drinks, are you?
Diana:Nope. I need a few drinks, actually. See you in a bit.
Diana was about to set her phone down, but it started to ring. That would be Joann. “Hello, Joann,” she said without even checking the caller ID.
“Oh, Diana. I’m so glad I caught you. Are you busy?”
“Well, I am at work.” Diana glanced around the lot where several cars were parked. The rehabilitation center had a home health branch, but it also saw patients inside the small gym area here. “I can spare a quick second for you to invite me and Linus over for dinner this weekend, though.”
Joann stammered. “W-well, yes. That is exactly what I was going to suggest. We really enjoyed seeing you at Thanksgiving and we were hoping to spend some more time together. We could start planning that wedding of yours too,” she said, her voice climbing a hopeful octave.
“That’s a really nice offer, Joann. Our answer will depend on whether or not Linus and I can make it home in one piece tonight, I guess.”
Joann laughed nervously. Diana guessed she thought Diana was joking. She wasn’t.
“I’ll discuss it with Linus,” Diana added.
“Please do. Maybe we can go dress shopping sometime soon too. Me, you, and your mother.”
