Tumble (Dogwood Lane, #1)(65)

“I think so.”

“Many women wouldn’t have been able to accept her like you have. It shows your grace.”

“That’s silly,” I say, waving her off. “Mia’s a great kid. She can’t help the circumstances in which she was conceived.”

“Again, not everyone would see it like that.” She picks up a few papers on her desk and puts them on top of a larger pile. “Based on what you just said, I’m guessing you still might leave town?”

“I’m so torn, Aerial,” I admit. “There’s a growing part of me that thinks I could be happy here. Mom is here. Heck, I even like Gary. It’s so beautiful here, and I love seeing Claire and Matt and Penn . . .”

“And Dane.”

“And Dane.” I grin. “But if I do that, if I stay here, I fear I’ll always feel robbed, because what am I going to do here, Aerial? I can run the gym for you. I could pick up some freelance work somewhere, probably. But how am I going to feed that part of my soul that needs to do something . . . else? And does that mean I’ve wasted my entire life up to this point if I don’t go back?”

“Maybe everything you’ve been through so far was to prepare you for this? Or something else, even if it’s not this.”

I look at her honestly. “Or maybe I need to realize this is a honeymoon phase and it won’t always be like this here. With Dane or the gym or even Mom. It’s all new and fun, but it won’t always be.”

“Sounds like you have a conundrum.”

“It feels like it too.”

“Let me know what you decide,” she says. “But my fingers are crossed you decide to stay home where you belong.”

“Thanks.” I laugh. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out. “I need to take this.”

She gives me a wave as my spirits sink like a ship. Hustling outside, I wait until I’m alone before I answer. “Hello?”

“Is this Neely?”

“It is.”

“This is Frank Selleck. How are you?”

My old boss’s boss. His voice rings through the line. It feels like forever since I heard it, but also like we just spoke yesterday. We used to get together about big projects or to brainstorm. There’s a warmth to his tone that makes me relax a bit, but I still sit on a picnic table while I gather my wits.

“I’m good, Frank,” I say, clearing my throat. “How are you?”

“Been better, been worse.”

Mia waves as she trots off with Keyarah and Madison. I wave back.

“I’m calling you for a few reasons,” Frank says. “For one, I’d like to apologize.”

“For what?”

“When the résumés came across my desk for the new magazine, I assumed incorrectly that you already had a position there. Mark and I had talked extensively about putting you in charge of the Creative Department, so I assumed your résumé was sitting there as a protocol thing, not for actual consideration. Your vision really shaped the entire concept of what we’re looking to do, and I felt you, above everyone else, myself included, were the best choice in leading our company into this new sector.”

The phone almost slips from my hands. His words are drowned out by the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“Well, thank you for that vote of confidence,” I reply. “It’s too bad I wasn’t selected to work on the new project at all.”

“That’s the second reason I’m calling, Neely. Not promoting you was an oversight on our part. On my part. I’ll take responsibility for it. But I also have to take responsibility for correcting wrongs, and not having you leading that team is definitely a wrong.”

“What are you saying?” I ask. I pick out a little pebble on the ground and stare at it.

“I’m saying we want you back. I want you back. I don’t hold it against you for quitting for one second. I would’ve quit too. As a matter of fact, if you hadn’t, I would’ve been disappointed.”

I hop off the table, unable to sit still any longer. “You want me back. How? In what capacity?”

“I want you to lead the Creatives. I want you to direct our approach to this thing. What types of articles are we publishing? What images are we showing? I want you to be the one to present me with a final version of anything that goes out so I know it’s been through you first.”

Tears sting my eyes as I realize what he’s saying. He’s giving me the one thing I’ve always wanted, the platform I’ve begged for. Prayed for. Quit for. He’s giving me the only thing I’ve ever set my heart on.

A car backs out of a parking space in front of me and a horn honks. A window rolls down and Mia and Keyarah wave. “Bye, Neely,” they shout.

My hand comes up, but it doesn’t quite move. I can’t move. I can only listen to Frank tell me he wants me back in two days.

Two.

Days.

Before Manicure Day.

Before the Summer Show.

Before I have time to break this to Dane and Mia in a way they deserve.

“I’ll give you ten percent more than we were offering for the position you applied for,” he says. “You’re worth it. This project depends on you.”

I watch the car disappear from sight. But so do they.