Page 209 of Love in Riverbend
What day is it?
What time is it?
Am I late for class?
Am I scheduled to work?
Running my fingers through my hair, I concentrate on the screen.
Shit. It’s noon on Tuesday.
I remember that classes are done; I have my degree. That is, until I start working on my master’s degree. I’m not scheduled at the store until the three-o’clock-to-closing shift. I’m about to exit my room when I see the name of a firm I have been dreaming of working for on an email: Parker and Stevens.
Preparing myself for a “Dear John” in the form of a hiring, not dating, response, I click the email open. My eyes bug as I read the email not once, not twice, but three times.
* * *
Mr. Dunn,
Thank you for your time with our interview procedure. Herold Parker and Ralph Stevens would like to extend an invitation to the next phase of our process, a dinner with our partners and select members of our team.
Date: Friday, …
Location: Hotel Carmichael
Cocktails: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. We apologize for the short notice; the holidays delayed our invitation.
The partners would like to get to know you in a less formal atmosphere. A plus-one is acceptable and encouraged.
Contact Tillie Johnson at this email address with any questions and your confirmation.
Thank you,
Tillie Johnson
Assistant to Ralph Stevens, Partner
* * *
“Fuck,” I say louder, looking around for a camera or something to indicate this is a prank. No cameras. I open my bedroom door. Max’s door is partially ajar. The disaster left behind by Tornado Max is threatening to invade our hallway. However, judging by the lack of noise, he and whoever was with him are gone.
I think about the email.
It is dated yesterday. Somehow with my work schedule and the distraction of Max’s music last night, I must not have seen it.
RSVP by Tuesday.
“Shit, shit…” My mind goes in a million different directions. This is the cherry on the top of a sundae job. The dream firm, the one I’ve been wanting ever since Marilyn mentioned their name.
Marilyn.
I search my contacts for my sister’s number. Devan’s a seventh-grade science teacher in Riverbend. Her ringer is probably off, but I hit the call button anyway.
“Ricky? Is everything okay?”
