Side Trip(68)

AFTER


Joy

Joy stares out the twenty-second-story window at her lab workstation at Vintage Chic. Her views of New York’s skyline are stunning, especially at night when she works late. Lights sparkle, disguising the city’s filth as a fairy tale. Behind her, the quarterly sales report glows on her monitor beside an open email from the department head congratulating her on the success of Judy’s Lip Rouge. Lilah Carney wants to promote Joy to senior cosmetic chemist, a vice president–level position. Joy would oversee a team of chemists for not one, but all six of Vintage Chic’s lipstick brands with plans to roll out two more lines Product Development has proposed.

Joy is proud of her achievement. She imagines Judy would have earned a similar promotion, if not sooner. Mark will be ecstatic when she shares the news. Too bad she doesn’t want the promotion, or any other job at Vintage Chic.

Says the girl who doesn’t wear lipstick.

Dylan’s remark whispers through her mind and she shakes her head. It doesn’t matter what he thought about her chosen career or how she feels about her job. She worked at Vintage Chic and launched her own line of lipstick under the Vintage Chic label. Two more items down on Judy’s list of life goals. There isn’t anything else left here Joy needs to pursue. She is done.

Joy logs out of her computer and collects her purse and shoulder bag. “Something came up, Anna,” she announces to her workstation mate. She quickly gathers up a framed photo of Judy, another of her and Mark from their honeymoon, and her collection of Route 66 magnets. She adds them to her shoulder bag along with her water flask and the sweater she keeps on hand to ward off the lab’s chilly air. “I can’t make it to the staff meeting.”

Anna peeks around her monitor. “What do you want me to tell Bryce?” Their boss.

“I quit.” Joy grins at Anna’s jaw drop. “I’ll send her an email later.” Decision made, she can’t get out of the building fast enough.

“What about me?”

“Drinks tomorrow? I’ll explain,” she says. What-comes-next ideas churn. She has plans for a new career, ones she wants to implement immediately. The lab door closes on Anna’s look of incredulity.

Joy takes the elevator to the lobby. She strides toward the exit. Beyond the glass, Tenth Avenue teems with yellow cabs and pedestrians. Freedom. Her step is light, her head lifted, her smile bright. Inside she feels a noticeable absence of obligation.

“Are you leaving for the day, Ms. Larson?”

Joy stops abruptly and swivels around. Thomas watches her expectantly from behind the lobby’s security desk.

“Yes, Thomas, I’m leaving.” She approaches the desk and gives him her identification badge. He takes it, looking surprised. Joy is a dedicated, enthusiastic, and loyal employee. Colleagues describe her as a Vintage Chic lifer. No wonder she’s leaving people speechless.

Joy turns to leave but hesitates. She puts down her purse and bag and removes her lab coat. She drapes the coat over the desk. “Would you send this up to Anna Clark at Vintage Chic?” She’ll hang it up with the others.

“Sure thing, Ms. Larson,” Thomas says. “Good luck to you.”

She waves, walking away. “Goodbye, Thomas.”

Hello, world. Joy takes a deep breath outside. She draws in the Hudson, car exhaust, and the fresh scent of opportunity. Instead of hailing a cab or taking the subway home, Joy silences her phone and walks a few blocks to the Hudson River Gateway, and she keeps on walking. Bryce will call. She won’t wait for her email. But Joy needs to think. Now that she isn’t working for Vintage Chic, she gives an idea she had as a tween free rein: a natural and organic soaps and salves company that caters to arts and entertainment professionals. The idea sparked when she’d read an article in Jam Session, an online magazine about the LA music scene and local gigs. Reedy Cash, an indie guitarist, shared her dry skin issues during an interview. Her left hand fingertips wouldn’t cease peeling and cracking no matter the lotion or balm she applied. Joy immediately saw an opportunity. She recalls sharing her dream with Judy over an In-N-Out burger. Judy told her to go after her dream, and now Joy can.

She achieved Judy’s dream. Joy accomplished an item on her sister’s list of life goals. She feels elated, which isn’t anywhere near the disappointment she felt at the end of her road trip across country. She hadn’t completed Judy’s Route 66 Bucket List. She hasn’t completed Judy’s Life Goals either. Only one thing left: have three kids.

Joy stops midstride. It’s been a year since she and Mark put family planning on hold. Maybe she should put her natural and organic soaps and salves business on hold instead. Research, planning, and product testing should wait while they focus on family. But what if she miscarries again?

She starts walking. She isn’t ready to go through that pain or the heartache. She hasn’t gone to therapy either like Mark had insisted and she promised to think about. Honestly, she forgot.

Elation deflates and her pace slows to a crawl as she debates what to do.

If only she could call Dylan.

It isn’t the first time she wishes that she could reach out to him to talk through a dilemma. He’s the only one who knows the truth about Judy, her lists, and Joy’s determination to see each one through. But if Joyride is any indication, he’s moved on, whereas she’s still stuck in the past.