Page 89 of Through the Snow Globe
Rochelle: . . .
Rochelle:You’re right. That does sound weird. Are you sure you’re okay?
Diana:I’m better than okay. It’s just been a long day. A long month, actually.
Rochelle:You quit Powell Rehabilitation. You got the promotion, but a week later, you decided you never really wanted to be someone’s supervisor.
Diana:No? What do I want?
Rochelle:You want to sell toys. At least for now. You’re running Linus’s store. And I think Dustin will be a great helper.
So, she had gotten her promotion and was supervising fifteen home health therapists, and then she’d decided to run a toy store instead?
Rochelle:You keep saying you’re just holding down the fort for Linus. But I see how happy you’ve been. You like it. If it makes you feel closer to Linus, it’s a good thing.
Itwasa good thing for Diana. She loved her home health patients, but when she really stopped to consider her life, she wanted a change. And becoming a supervisor at Powell Rehabilitation wasn’t it. She’d spent most of her life keeping her feelings tucked inside, but now she wanted to feel them—all of them, even the messy ones. What better source of raw emotion than being around children?
Diana:This is also going to sound weird, but . . . is there anything else that’s happened over the last couple of weeks that I should know about?
Rochelle:Other than becoming a foster parent and quitting your job to run a toy store?
Diana:That’s right.
Rochelle:I think that’s enough change for one month. Are you experiencing amnesia or something?
Diana:Something like that.
Rochelle:Well, just don’t forget about New Year’s Eve drinks with me. It’s tradition. And in case your memory is failing, Linus’s mom is watching Dustin that night.
Diana:Thanks. I’ll be there.
Rochelle:You better!
Chapter 26
Let It Snow, Let It Snow
New Year’s Eve
The bell over the front entrance to the toy store jingled.
Diana looked up from the counter and hurried over to greet her incoming customer. “Addy! Mrs. Pierce! What are you two doing here?”
“Oh, we were out doing a little after season shopping, and Addy wanted to stop by and say hello,” Cecilia Pierce said.
“How’s the new therapist working out?” Diana asked.
“He’s so annoying.” Addy rolled her eyes. She was wearing her purple-and-gold scarf today—the one Diana had purchased for her at Eloise’s Trinkets and Gifts. “I miss having you come over. For one, William is a guy and he has no fashion sense whatsoever. He also tries to be my best friend, and I’m sorry, but he’s just not. Sierra is my best friend.”
Diana had to admit, she got a little thrill over the fact that Addy didn’t like William as her physical therapist as much as she’d liked Diana. Diana also had to admit that William made a decent supervisor. His over-the-top need to accommodate others made for a decent work environment for the staff.
Diana had discovered that she was looking for a change of pace, though. She’d heard that there was a position for a school PT opening at Dustin’s elementary school in the new year. Maybe she’d apply for it. If Dustin and Addy had taught her anything, it was that she liked kids. Plus, this job would line her up with Dustin’s same schedule. She could take him to and from school and keep an eye on him during the day.
“Well, you won’t need therapy much longer,” Diana told Addy. “When are you going back to school?”
“As soon as Christmas break is over.” Addy’s skin was glowing. She looked genuinely happy. And healthy.
“I’m sure your friends will be thrilled,” Diana said, watching the girl’s reaction closely.
