Page 19 of Dream with Me

The problem gets resolved after lunch when Lester walks me up to the third floor and drops me off at Mr. Stinson’s office. When I get there, a man is sitting in Mr. Stinson’s chair, and I’m totally confused. This man is definitelynotMr. Stinson, who would have to be in his late sixties by now. No, this man is much younger, yet sits authoritatively behind the large, walnut executive-style desk.

The attractive man rises from his chair. “You must be Shannon.” He extends his hand to me, and I shake it, praying my hands aren’t sweaty. “By the look on your face, I’m guessing you were expecting my father. I hope you’re not too disappointed. I’m Jeff Stinson. Dad retired a few years ago, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

His smile is disarming, and heat rushes to my cheeks.

“Sorry, yes. I guess I was expecting the old Mr. Stinson... I mean, not old, old. But older than you.”

Geez, Shannon, quit talking already.

A warm chuckle grabs my attention, and it’s only then that I realize there’s a second person in the office as well. I turn my attention to him.

“Way to go, Jeff. You’ve got her stressed already. No wonder you have that reputation for being scary,” the man jests. He never takes his eyes off me when he’s speaking, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t immediately recognize he was attractive.

He’s very handsome, in fact. Styled hair, thick and dark, with green eyes that bore into mine like he wants to know all my secrets. He wears an air of confidence and a suit that I imagine cost more than my first paycheck here will be. The man sits casually with his legs crossed and smiles at me before he stands to gesture at the chair next to him like a gentleman.

“I’m Will, one of the senior accountants. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shannon.”

“Nice to meet you as well.” I smile at him and hope he can’t hear my heart galloping around in my chest like a herd of horses.

Over the next several minutes, Mr. Stinson, er—Jeff—as he insists I call him, and Will explain that Will is my supervising accountant. He’ll supervise me while I earn some recent experience to be eligible to sit for my Certified Public Accountant test. I should be pumped about the opportunity. Instead, the first thing that comes into my brain is that now I’ll have to take more care with my appearanceeveryday if I’m working with this man all the time. It’s exhausting already. I push that thought aside.

“I look forward to learning from you, and I promise, I’m a fast learner. I appreciate this opportunity.”

Will smiles, “The pleasure is all mine. Jeff here always stresses me out with annoying twenty-two-year-olds right out of college, the frat boy type. I’m more than pleased to see that you are, indeed, not another frat boy.”

I spend the rest of the day with Will. He shows me the ropes and tells me his plan to get me acclimated over the next few weeks. One thing I’m grateful for is that Mr. Stinson is allowing me to work thirty hours a week. So, most days I’ll arrive by eight and I can leave at two-thirty. It’ll work out perfectly because I can still get the kids to school on time and then be home to pick them up. The only thing I have to worry about is someone watching Chase on the days the kids aren’t with Troy.

As I drive to my parents’ house to get Chase, I question why the job that was supposed to bring me relief doesn't, and it nags at me. I glance at my reflection in the rearview mirror.

“It’ll take time. Be patient. It was yourfirst day.”

Great. Now I’m talking to myself. What is it they say? It’s okay unless I start answering...

I arrive at my parents’ house and exit my car. It hits me how fortunate I am to have the family I do. My parents have agreed to watch Chase on the days Troy can’t because he’s at the fire station, and I know any of my other siblings would help whenever they could. Emily has even offered if I continue to do her books. The woman is a genius in the kitchen, and she’s absolutely in love with breeding and raising the Labrador retrievers she does, but she sucks at math. Like really sucks.

I get to the side door at my mom and dad’s and walk in without knocking. I climb the few steps that lead into the kitchen from the side door, and I’m surprised to find my mom and Shyley there. Mom is pouring coffee into the three mugs on the counter, and my little bundle of energy is nowhere to be found. Concern immediately fills me, thinking maybe Chase escaped my mother without her noticing.

Mom must know exactly where my thoughts go because she looks up at me and chuckles. She picks up a cup of coffee and extends it to me. Then she gives me that soft, but concerned, smile. The one she does whenever she has something to talk to one of us about. Something she doesn’t think we’re going to want to hear.

“Oh, no. What happened? Did Chase break something expensive?”

“Chase is with Dad, sweetheart. Dad’s already taking him back to your house, so he’ll be there to pick up the kids from school. But we need to talk.”

CHAPTER12

SHANNON

Shyley and I aren’t just sisters. We’re best friends, too. But that doesn’t stop us from fighting over our favorite spot on Mom and Dad’s sectional couch—the chaise lounge part—every time we’re here together. When she walks right past it and takes another spot, I’m immediately suspicious.

“What’s going on here? Is this some sort of an intervention?” I blurt out.

Mom throws a quick glance over at Shyley, who gives Mom a subtle nod. Oh, my God, itisan intervention.

“Shan, we’re worried about you,” Shyley says. Her voice is hushed and drips with concern.

My eyes dart between her and my mom. “I’m fine. I’m just tired. It’s been a busy week.”

“How is the new job, honey?” Mom’s voice is calm, but there’s an undertone of unease.

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