Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I hate feeling helpless and dependent on other people.
Like Maverick.
That money isn’t going to last forever. I really need to find a job soon. Babies are expensive, and I loathe the idea of having to take money or a job that’s not really there from my grandparents. I should be looking for a job right now, but Ada was up most of the night last night. She’s teething, and she’s miserable. We walked the floor for the majority of the night. The only way she was comfortable was if I was holding her. Even then, it was a struggle.
Hoping I can get in a quick fifteen-minute nap before she wakes up screaming in pain again, I lean my head back on the couch and close my eyes. I’m almost there, drifting off to sleep, when my phone rings. I jolt awake because I don’t get calls anymore. My friends, or who I thought were my friends, abandoned me when I got pregnant. Apparently, a single pregnant friend hinders their partying ability or something like that. My parents wrote me off, and lord knows Ada's dad never calls to check on his daughter.
Glancing at the screen, I don’t recognize the number, and hope swells in my chest. Maybe it’s one of the many jobs I’ve applied for. I clear my throat and then answer. “Hello, this is Stella.” I hope I sound professional. If this is a prospective job, I need to impress from the start.
“Hey, Stella, this is Jordyn Kincaid.”
Kincaid. “Hi, Jordyn,” I answer politely.
“We met briefly when Mav brought you to the soft opening. There are a lot of us.” She chuckles. “I’m Ryder’s wife.”
I can hear the smile in her voice. “There were a lot of you.” I laugh nervously.
“You’ll learn all of our names in no time. Anyway, my husband mentioned that Mav said you were job hunting.”
“I am.” I’m not sure where this is going, but hope wells in my chest. Of course, Maverick would have to be involved with that hope. Seems that’s been a new common theme since the day he stopped to help me on the side of the road.
“Can you tell me a little about what you’re looking for?”
“Anything. I don’t have a lot of experience. I worked as a server during my first two years of college. I had to drop out of school when I found out I was pregnant with Ada. My parents… they didn’t support me keeping her.” I hate talking about my situation, especially with strangers, but if she’s a potential employer, I feel that being honest with her is the best policy.
“Oh, so customer service. That’s great. I’m looking for help at the boutique. Ry’s stressed out that I’m working too much. I don’t know if it would be full-time right away, but it would be part-time for sure until things pick up. Do you have time to come in so we can talk more?”
My shoulders relax, and relief washes over me with Jordyn’s easy acceptance of my past. The last thing I want to do is sit and discuss the people who were supposed to love me unconditionally but don’t. “I can, but my grandma had a doctor's appointment, so I’d need it to be later so she can watch Ada. I promise I’ll have reliable childcare,” I rush to tell her.
“Oh, just bring her with you.” Her tone is nonchalant like it really isn’t a big deal that I bring my one-year-old daughter to a job interview.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely,” she replies without a second of hesitation. “It will be very informal. I just want to go over the job and show you what you’ll be doing. We can talk about working hours and all that.”
“Okay, well, Ada is napping.”
“I’ll be here all day. Just come over after she wakes up.”
I’m shocked. It’s as if the perfect scenario just landed in my lap. “Thank you so much, Jordyn.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you and Ada in a little while.”
The line goes dead before I can reply. Closing my eyes, I hug my phone to my chest. I’m smiling, and I’m sure if anyone were to see me right now, they’d think I just got a call that I won the lottery.
This feels like I’ve won the lottery, the job lottery.
Unlocking my phone, I pull up Maverick’s name. I know he was behind this. He had to be. I hate that he’s still giving, and I’m still taking. Maverick Kincaid has once again made a huge impact on my life. I don’t know how, but I will repay him. Before I can chicken out, I type out a text and hit send.
Me: I’m not sure why you were the one to find us that day on the side of the road, but I’m so thankful that it was you. You’ve done so much for Ada and me, and we’re nothing but strangers to you. Thank you for everything, Maverick. I’ll never forget your kindness.