Page 35 of Chasing Sunsets

“I’ve tried lots of jobs. Truth be told, my favorite was waiting tables while getting my associate degree in marketing.” Doreen frowned. “Or maybe I’m romanticizing that season of my life. It’s when I met Ted. He came in for dinner with a date and asked me out.”

Sadie frowned. “In front of his date?”

“No, he made some excuse and came back into the restaurant. I refused. He returned every night during the week and nagged me to let him take me to dinner and a movie. The fifth night I finally gave up and agreed.”

“So you’ve tried jobs in marketing?”

“Among many others. Ted has been extremely patient while I’ve jumped from one thing to the next. I don’t have to work. His rare book business supports us. It’s just, I want something for me.” She looked up at Sadie. “This will sound nuts, but I want to cut hair.”

“Doesn’t sound nuts to me.” It sounded tiring standing on your feet all day.

“Whenever I brought up the subject, Ted rolled his eyes. So I started attending barber school without him knowing. When he found out, he became angry. That’s when I left.”

“Have you two talked about it during the race?”

“Twice. It ended in an argument both times. I should’ve told him I decided to do it. I simply didn’t want to watch him roll his eyes again. Since I’ve tried different occupations over the years and never stuck with them longer than a few months, I think he fears I’ll lose interest in this as well.” She shrugged. “Thing is, I can’t be certain I won’t.”

“When do you start on real people?”

“I’ve been cutting men’s hair for three weeks, and I love it.”

“Why barber’s school and not cosmetology?”

“Because most women are freaks about their hair.”

Sadie grinned. “That’s true.”

“I wish Ted could see how much I enjoy it.”

A day Zack stopped by Sadie’s office with a surprise lunch popped into her mind. While they were eating in her office, someone knocked on her door. She’d juggled three nurses and two doctors in a short span of time. When one walked away, another waited behind them. When she finished and closed the door, Zack smirked.

“What?” she asked.

He got up and walked over to plant a kiss on her lips. “This place would be lost without you.”

She wondered how the office was holding up during her leave of absence.

Would she ever want to go back?

Her future too much to think about, she simply enjoyed the memory of the tender moment they’d shared that day as the elevator jolted to life and descended.

“You are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way.” ~ Jennifer J. Freeman

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