Page 62 of Second Chance for the Single Mom

“Here comes the rejection,” I muttered. Then I answered the phone. “Haley Mercer speaking.”

“Ms. Mercer! My name is Juliana Vortsch, with the Worthington Academy. I’m sorry to disturb you so late, but I was wondering if you and your son would be able to come in for an interview next week.”

I blinked in surprise. “An interview?”

“Yes, an interview is the next step of the admissions process,” she explained. “After reviewing your application and reference letters, we think Bran might be an excellent candidate for admission at our school.”

I had to force myself not to jump up and down with excitement.

“Yes of course, we’re available any time!” I replied. But something she’d said confused me. “I submitted an application, but what reference letter are you referring to?”

“The one from Mr. Laramie and his firm,” she replied. “That letter bumped your son’s application to the top of the pile.”

I stared off in confusion.

Shay put in a good word for me?

32

Haley

I packed my suitcase the next morning, stuffing way too many outfits for just a three-day trip. I knew I was overpacking, but I had the room in my luggage, and I would rather have too many outfit options rather than not enough. It was my first conference, after all. I didn’t know what to expect.

“The interview is Monday afternoon,” I told Sara, who was sitting on the edge of my bed while I packed. “I’m so glad I bought Bran that suit two months ago!”

“Wasn’t that for a funeral?” Sara asked.

“Cousin Jessy’s great-grandpa,” I confirmed. “I guess I shouldn’t be happy about it.”

“He lived to be a hundred. Can’t ask for more than that,” Sara said. “Do you know what Shay wrote in the reference letter?”

“I haven’t asked him yet. I’ll text him when I’m at the conference. I’m sure I’ll have downtime sitting in my hotel.”

Sara giggled.

“What?” I demanded. “You’re not going to suggest I send him a lewd text while I’m in my hotel room, are you?”

“No. I was just thinking about how you’re accidentally sleeping your son into a better school. Bran’s entire life might be on a better path, and it’s all thanks to your proficiency in bed!”

I smiled at my sister. “We weren’t in bed. We were standing up against the glass in a seven-figure condo.”

She giggled again. “You see? This is why I stole your phone and nudged you in the direction of a threesome. I wanted to live vicariously through your sexual escapades. And yes, now I do think you should thank Shay with a sexy photo while you’re bored in your hotel room.”

I paused in my closet, then took down a hanger with black lingerie on it. “I don’t even know if I can still fit into this. I bought it in college.”

Sara took it out of my hand and forcefully placed it in my suitcase. “Stop being modest. You lost all your baby weight before Bran was crawling.”

That wasn’t exactly true, but I was excited by the idea of trying it on for someone, so I let the lingerie stay in the suitcase. “You don’t think it’s immoral? Sleeping with a guy, and then allowing him to help my son get into a better school?”

“You’re just a mother doing her best to take care of her son,” Sara said. “That’s not immoral at all. Besides, it’s not like you had sex with himbecausehe was going to do this. You had no idea.”

“True. Besides, he hasn’t gotten in yet. It’s just an interview. Honestly, I still don’t think Bran will get in. But it feels good to have a chance!” I sighed down at my suitcase. “Maybe I shouldn’t go on this trip.”

“Stop it,” Sara snapped. “I’ll be fine. Bran will be fine. But youwon’tbe fine if you miss your flight, and we need to leave in ten minutes.”

I finished packing without any other waffling. My sister was good at talking sense into me in a way that nobody else could.

The four of us piled into the minivan, with Harper acting as chauffeur since it was getting harder for Sara to drive in her state. We dropped Bran off at Kindergarten first, and I got out and hugged him tightly.

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