Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Hey, Callie. We already have fourteen applicants to be your assistant,” she said.
“Already?” I hurried into my room and shucked off my snow pants. “He just mentioned hiring yesterday.”
“Reed doesn’t mess around,” she said with a smile in her voice. “Anyway, do you want to interview them personally?”
“You’re sure I need an assistant? I’ve never needed one before.” I rejected the stab of fear that I’d be easily replaced.
“We’ve never grown this quickly before, either. How many photos do you have to upload tonight?”
I cringed. “Hundreds. But it’s opening weekend. I closed down for a couple hours around noon too. The lighting is shit at that hour, and it gave me some time get the first session polished and uploaded.”
“Right. An assistant is going to be able to do that for you. Think of all the time you’ll save!”
Time. The one thing I didn’t have right now.
The one thing I needed if I wanted to work on some of my own shots. I definitely needed better pictures than the ones I’d taken through the helicopter window like a nervous Nelly. But I also needed to remain valuable to Madigan. I couldn’t afford to lose my job.
“What if I wanted to put that time to a different use?” An idea took shape as I pulled off my socks and wiggled my cold toes. My boots were great, but standing in the snow for hours didn’t do me any favors.
“What are you thinking?”
“I was thinking about working on some marketing shots for Weston’s operation.” I held my breath. Asking Ava as a friend was one thing, but she was calling as the business manager, and that was entirely different.
“Really? That would be awesome!” The excitement in her voice let me exhale.
“Great! I can interview people on Mondays and Tuesdays,” I told her. Those were my days off now that the season had begun, or the days I took sessions privately.
“Tuesday it is,” Ava said. “Any thoughts on Thanksgiving?”
My stomach pitched. “I haven’t brought it up to him yet.” Given the way he’d talked about Reed, I had a feeling I was going to have to tell my friend we wouldn’t be going.
“I’m just sorry Reed put you in that position. It would really help if those two had a sit-down. Oh, I’d better let you go. They’re coming today, right?”
“Any minute.”
“Go!” We said our goodbyes and hung up.
I cursed at the contents of my closet but settled on jeans and a V-neck long-sleeved sweater that didn’t scream budget.
“I’m not done yet!” Sutton shouted as I opened the bathroom door, steam wafting out and clouding the mirror.
“Just grabbing my brush,” I said. “You’d better hurry, sugar.” I unraveled the twin braids I’d worn under my hat today and ripped a brush through my hair as the doorbell rang.
“Shit,” I muttered. There was no time for makeup, so they would get me in the lone coat of mascara I’d applied before hitting the slopes this morning. Not that they’d ever cared, but I didn’t want them to think I wasn’t capable of caring for myself…or Sutton.
A coat of mascara isn’t going to imply that.
“Coming!” I raced down the steps, my feet still bare. Taking a second to suck in a deep breath at the foot of the stairs, I composed myself and plastered a smile on my face before I opened the door.
“Callie!” Mrs. Wilson stepped through the door and pulled me into a hug, holding me just as tightly as she had when Gavin had been alive. “It’s so good to see you!” She pulled back and took my face in her hands. “You look beautiful as always.” Her smile was warm and reminded me so much of Gavin that my chest ached.
“You look wonderful too.” I meant it. Her brown hair had faded to silver in elegant streaks, and she pulled off the winter resort look like a pro in her equestrian boots and Patagonia vest. Then again, they never came for the snow. They came for Sutton.
“Callie,” Mr. Wilson greeted me with a kind smile and loose hug. “Thanks for letting us stop by.” He rocked back on his heels, and I glanced away. The similarities between him and Gavin were just so strong that I wondered if that’s how Gavin would look if he’d ever gotten the chance to age.
“Any time.” We all knew they hadn’t just stopped by. They came every six months or so, always scheduled, always kind. I tilted my head at the sound of the shower stopping. “Sounds like she’s just getting out of the shower.”
“We don’t mind waiting,” Mrs. Wilson said, her eyes sweeping over the space.
“How was the drive?” I asked. Small talk was key here.
“Uneventful,” Mrs. Wilson answered. “Hardly any traffic from the airport. And the changes to the resort are lovely.” They always stayed at the resort when they came into town.