Page 39 of It Started at the Lake

Evie smacks my arm. “Gross. We’re about to eat.” She looks at Becca. “Evie’s degree is in marketing. Do you know of anyone who needs some social media help or ads created? Maybe some basic graphic design work?”

Bennett and Henry stroll into the dining room, taking seats on either side of their mom. “Who needs social media help?” Henry asks.

“Millie’s looking for a job,” Evie says. “There’s nothing local. We’re trying to find something she can do from here so she doesn’t have to go home.”

Becca taps her chin. “Hmmm.”

Bennett’s brows rise. “That’s her idea face. What are you thinking, Mom?”

Becca lays her palms on the table and leans forward, toward me. “Have you ever been a personal assistant before?”

I shake my head. “No. I was a secretary at a real estate office and a marketing firm though.”

Becca nods slowly. “With your marketing degree and secretary experience, you’d be a good fit.” She sits back in her chair. “Do you like to read?”

“Before college I did. I read too much for classes now. I don’t have time for anything fun.” Does she know someone who’s hiring?

Bennett snaps his fingers. “I know where this is going.” He smiles but doesn’t meet my eyes. Since the boat incident, he’s avoided me.

“My PA is out this summer on maternity leave,” Becca says. “I was just telling Bennett that I’m struggling to find time keeping up on my research and writing. How do you feel about being my personal assistant and handling my social media accounts while you’re here?”

I grasp my water glass between my palms. “You’d pay me to help you market your books?”

Becca smiles. “Yes, I would. Honestly, it’s an answer to my prayers. If you’re up for it, we can start this afternoon.”

“Aunt Becca,” Evie hedges. “How many hours a week are we talking about here? Will Mils have time to go out with us?”

Becca chuckles. “Yes, Evs. Millie will have plenty of time to hang out with you. My assistant worked around twenty hours a week. I pay thirty dollars an hour. Are those acceptable terms for you?”

I swallow before answering. “Yes. Thank you for the opportunity.” I don’t love everyone knowing how much money I’m making. It’s embarrassing. But I’m also thrilled I found a job that will let me use my degree and pays me enough to stay here.

“What should we do after lunch?” Henry asks. “Skiing? Kayaking? Hiking?”

“Oh!” Evie squeals. “Let’s do the lake shore trail. I want to see if that eagle’s nest is there from last year.”

My stomach clenches. Why do I have to miss out on activities I want to do? Why can’t I be like Evie’s family and have money in spades?

Stop it, Mils. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to clear these negative thoughts. Evie told me how hard her great-grandparents and everyone else in her family since then have worked to get to where they are today. I have no room for being jealous or petty over someone else’s success. Be grateful for what you have and what you’re working toward.

“You’ll have to take me on that hike another time,” I tell Evie.

She squeezes my forearm. “Absolutely.”

I follow Becca into the library, stopping in my tracks the moment we step inside. There are two stories. Two! This is a dream come true for any fan of reading. Books fill the shelves of every floor to ceiling built-in throughout the room. Brown leather couches surround a large stone fireplace. The room has a cozy vibe with a tan rug covering the hardwood floors. I’m immediately drawn to the ladder that leads to the second floor.

“I’m set up over here,” Becca says, leading me to a mahogany desk that easily fits eight people around it. The furniture is settled between two large windows. “You can sit across from me.”

I set my laptop on the desk and pull up a wingback chair. “Where do I begin?”

“First, I’d like you to look through my social media channels to see what posts and reels my PA usually does. I’d like to keep my content similar.”

“Makes sense.” I pull up Instagram and start scrolling through her feed. Clearly, she’s an author. Her posts vary between something humorous, something about one of her books, and books she recommends. Keeping the theme will be easy.

I move on to her other platforms and notice the same short videos posted in multiple places. That also makes my job easier.

“I’ve added you as an admin.” Becca puts her phone on her desk. “I have a content calendar I’ll email you. If you have any questions, let me know, but I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”

I do. With how many businesses use social media ads, a lot of my classes were about online marketing campaigns. I’ve got this. “What else would you like me to help you with?”

---