Page 10 of One Last Time
The phone rings, and I don’t even have to look to know it’sher.
“Do not pep talk me,” I warn before Heather can get a wordout.
“Well, don’t be so damn pessimistic! You’re the one who always had rainbows shooting out of her ass. Now you’re all doom andgloom.”
I grip the steering wheel. “That was before my husband served me with divorce papers three monthsago.”
“Welcome to the club,bitch.”
“I never wanted a membership,” I say with a hint ofhostility.
“I know you can’t see it now, but trust me, you’ll thank your lucky stars later. When you meet a man who loves you through all the shit, it won’t seem like the worst thing in the world. You’ve just got to get through this part,” Heather tells me with so much hope in her voice that it stunsme.
Her divorce wasn’t easy, I get that, but we have two children involved. There’s a home filled with the life we shared, child support, alimony, debt, and so much more. Since moving out of the house, he’s attempting to be cordial, but our lawyers are the ones communicating about the uglystuff.
It’s almost like Scott lives for finding ways to make my life hell since he found out how much he’d pay in childsupport.
“Regardless, I’m not there yet,” Isigh.
“Today you’re starting your new life, Kristin. You get to be anyone you want when you walk through that door. Befearless.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I smile, knowing she’sright.
Fearless is the last thing I am, but I can fake it. Can’tI?
Heather laughs. “You’d be lost. Now go in there and show them who’sboss.”
I exit the car and head into the small officebuilding.
“Hi.” I smile at the woman sitting the front. “I’m Kristin McGee. I have a meeting withErica.”
My nerves are high, but I do my best to keep it together. Erica and I spoke at great length on the phone, but we didn’t actually meet before she offered me the job. All she needed was Eli Walsh’sendorsement.
She nods, looking at her screen. “Yes, you’re the new girl. I’mPam.”
We exchange pleasantries as she walks me to a desk in the back corner. I place my things down, and then she leads me to what should be an office, but I don’t think I can call it that. There are two partitions, which I guess are supposed to be walls, posters tacked in random places, papers all over the desk, and clothes all over thechairs.
What the hell have I gotten myselfinto?
“You must be Kristin!” A short woman at least half my age jumps up. “It’s great to meetyou.”
“You, too.” I plaster a fake smile on and shake herhand.
“Excuse the mess,” she says with a smile as she looks around sheepishly. “We moved to this office last week, and it’s been a transition, to say theleast.”
I shake my head, dismissing her worries. “I just moved myself, I getit.”
Erica pulls her hair into a messy bun, and I realize how overdressed I am. She’s barefoot and wearing a pair of workout shorts and a T-shirt that says: Y’all NeedJesus.
I’m not sure if I’m excited about the possible dress code orscared.
“Please, sit.” She motions for thechair.
“Thanks,” I say as I move the shirt to the otherchair.
“So, you’reseriouslyfriends with EliWalsh?”
This is going to be so awkward. “Yes. Heather, his girlfriend, is one of my bestfriends.”
