Page 66 of One Day

I believe in you.

My eyes are fixed to the encouraging words on my screen, trying to stomp down the nerves currently working their way up my throat. No part of me thought I would be nervous when the time came to interview for potential internships, but then again, I've never had to do this before. Mr. Richards handed one over simply because I was the kid from around town that he knew and wanted to help out.

"Mr. Bodie? They're ready for you," the receptionist calls my attention from the front desk with a smile on her lips. The big Gilmore and Boseman sign stands out on the shiny marble-finished wall behind her. The sleek office complemented by the greenery spread throughout the waiting room, bringing life into the otherwise chic space. "Right this way."

I swallow the last of my nerves and follow after the clicking sound of heels on the smooth tile floor as she leads me down the corridor. Sonya's words pressed to my skin, playing as a constant reminder in my mind all the way to Jillian Boseman's office, one of the founding members.

"Ms. Boseman, I have Walker Bodie here for you," Erica, the receptionist says after knocking to make our presence known.

I hear some shuffling on the other side of the door before Erica offers me a reassuring smile on her way back to the front desk.

"Mr. Bodie! Please, come in," Ms. Boseman says, waving me in as she stands from her chair and moves around the cherry wood desk to greet me. "It's wonderful to finally meet you. Weston put in a great word about you. I've been looking forward to getting to meet you."

Professor Abbott's first name sounds weird coming out of her mouth. I've grown so accustom to greeting him with his job title and last name, that hearing anything else in reference to him is like a shock to my system.

"I have been too," I say, offering her my hand when I step into her office and meet her halfway. "Thank you for taking the time out of your day to meet with me."

She nods, giving my hand a firm shake before gesturing for me to sit in the chair across from her desk. I take a slow breath in and choose one of the two leather seats, setting my bag in the empty chair and brace myself for the tough questions I'm sure are about to come my way.

"Why do you want to be a lawyer?" she asks, leaning back in her chair with her hands resting gently in her lap and it was not at all the question I was expecting.

It feels too simple. I prepared all night with Sonya, had her ask me the questions Professor Abbott had given me when I told him about the interview. My career goals, my job history and everything in between. I was ready to talk about my classes, my grade point averages and my accomplishments in the last three years.

I had it all laid out in front of me, but I wasn't prepared for such an easy question.

Jillian smiles across from me when she sees, what I can only assume to be confusion on my face. "It's not a trick question, Walker. When Grant and I started this firm, we decided we wanted to surround ourselves with good people. I can tell from your resume and cover letter that your experience and schooling is the right fit for us, but I want to know who you are. So, no trick questions, no formal setting, just tell me why you want this."

A small laugh slips onto my lips. "It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. It wasn't until the town lawyer in the small town I grew up in needed some help around his office offered me a summer job that it kind of clicked into place. And if I'm being honest, I think it was an entirely selfish reason," I admit out loud for the first time.

"How so?" she asks, a curious look on her face.

"I like feeling needed."

All my life it's been my mom and me. I needed her and she needed me. It was an equal balance until I left for school. It felt a little selfish taking what I wanted, but at the end of the day, it comes down to my need to be useful to other people. It's why when I saw how much the people in my town turned to Mr. Richards. I wanted to be that, too.

"I was raised by a single mom, and a lot of the time, she needed me to help. I think as I got older, it turned into this desire to be everything for everyone. Many could say I'm a people pleaser, which I won't deny. I am. I want people to want to come to me when they need help. It's who I am, and even if I thought I could change that, I wouldn't. I'm loyal to a fault, and I think that's part of the reason why I felt such a kinship with this career path. I fight to make things better for people, and when they put their trust in me? That's everything."

She nods her head. "I couldn't agree more. Being a safe place for people to land, to depend on. It's the best part of the job," she shares, leaning forward to rest her arms on the edge of her desk. "May I ask why you won't be interning with your town lawyer again?"

Sonya fills my thoughts—her laugh, her smile, her glow.

"I thought it was because I wanted more, and that's true for the most part, but I think it's because I want to be here so I'm close to someone else."

My decision to stay in a big city after law school was entirely my own, but the longer I look at it, the easier it is to realize that opinion slowly started to cement after Sonya found her way into my life. As much as the choice is for me and my future, it's also because I can't imagine being anywhere she's not.

"A partner?"

"Something like that," I say.

"It's important to have a good support system at home," Jillian says. "This career can become a lot. Having someone to be your calm is important."

I nod my head in agreement, because that's exactly what Sonya is. And truthfully, it might be what she always has been.

"How'd it go?" Sonya asks when I settle in my car after my interview.

We spent another twenty minutes talking before Ms. Boseman informed me that she had a few more interviews to get through, but that she enjoyed our conversation. It left me feeling light on my walk out to the car, and the moment I got to my car, the only thing I wanted was hear Sonya's voice.

Now she's grinning at me through the screen of my phone, and all I can do is bask in the ray of light her smile is. God, I am so utterly fucked.

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