Page 105 of Steadfast
“Let’s get you that application.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How long did you say it would take that cast to come off?”
“Ten days.”
“That’s good news, Jude. Good news indeed.”
* * *
Isatin the Avenger and called Sophie, just to hear her voice.
“Jude?”
The sound of my name on her lips made me close my eyes in gratitude. “Hi, baby. How are you doing?”
“I’m nervous about tomorrow,” she confessed. She was having her Come-to-Jesus meeting with the hospital boss. “It’s going to stink to hear him tell me I didn’t get the job, even if I already understand why.”
I wanted to argue with that assumption, because Sophie was everything to me and I couldn’t imagine anyone turning her down. “No matter what they say, I’ll hold you tight next time I see you.”
“Promises, promises. Are you heading to the Shipleys’ tonight?”
“Sure am. Sneak out and come with me? Take your mind off your troubles?”
“God, I want to. But I’m making stuffed chicken breasts and trying to get Mom involved. Today I basically told her I was going to move out and probably leave Colebury to find a new job.”
“How’d she take it?”
“She was…” Sophie sighed. “Resigned, I guess. But I asked her to cook with me tonight and she said she would. But we’ll see.”
“Okay. I’ll be patient.”
“Love you!”
“Back atcha babe. Later.”
I hung up without telling her about Mr. Marker’s job offer. If Sophie didn’t get the job she wanted in Montpelier, I didn’t want her to mourn the fact that I’d somehow landed one just on the other end of town.
After a couple hours in the shop I headed over to the Shipleys. In addition to the cake I bought at Crumbs on the way out of town, I bought Zachariah a case of fancy beer. Lawson’s Liquids’ Sip of Sunshine was one of the craft beers that people drove from out of state to try.
When I went to prison, beer was just beer. When I came out, the whole world had gone crazy for Vermont brews. I didn’t really get it.
“Here, man,” I said, pressing it into Zach’s hands when I found him in Ruth Shipley’s kitchen. “This is for finding me a job.”
“Finding…really?” he asked.
“Really. Marker will hire me, even with the felony conviction.”
“SCORE!” Griff shouted, thumping me on the back, and then all the women piled on to hug me.
Life could really be worse.
“Zach, can I have one of your fancy brews?” Griff asked. “I’ll be your best friend.”
“Well, in that case,” Zach said, tugging one out of its cardboard restraints.
“Do you need a glass?” Ruth asked as Griff popped the top of the can and immediately took a sip.
