The Christmas Sisters

Ruby turned saucerlike eyes on her. “You don’t work.”

That’s going to change, Beth thought.

“I do. I’m putting together ideas for a new campaign.”

“What’s a campaign?”

“Wait—” Jason’s voice sounded strange. “You took the job? Without talking to me first?”

She didn’t point out that he’d accepted his promotion without talking to her first.

How did it go, Beth? Did you like them? Did they like you? Tell me about it.

She found a tissue in her purse and wiped Ruby’s mouth. “Go and wash your hands and face, baby. I want to talk to Daddy.”

“I’m not a baby. Can we play fire stations?”

“Maybe. We’ll see. You, too, Melly.” She waited until both her daughters had vanished into the bathroom before turning back to Jason. “Don’t you want to know how it went?”

“I only just walked through the door. Give me a chance.”

“To answer the question you didn’t ask, it went well. They’re pitching for a major brand in the new year and they want me to be part of that. If we win, the job is mine.”

“If you win.” He let out a long breath. “Do I need to remind you what Corinna is like, Beth? She is a machine, and she expects her team to display the same qualities.”

“She’s committed. That’s why she is good at her job.” She wasn’t sure if she was defending Corinna or her own choices.

“She is good at her job because she doesn’t have a life. And she expects the people who work for her to not have lives, either. Is that really what you want? Think about it, Beth. What happens when one of the kids is sick? Corinna isn’t one of those bosses who is going to smile sweetly and hurry you out of the door. She’s never acknowledged your kids exist! She didn’t even send a card when they were born and you were upset about that. She hurt you.”

“I’d had a baby. I was hormonal. And if one of the kids is sick, maybe you could come home early. Why does it have to be me?” Only now did she notice that Jason looked exhausted. Was that what one morning looking after the children had done to him? “You’re trying to put me off because you don’t want me to do this.”

He jammed his fingers into his hair. “That’s not it. And if you think Corinna’s changed, you’re deluding yourself. If anything, she’s likely to be worse now that she owns the business. Every moment you give to your family is a moment you’re not giving to her and she isn’t going to like that.”

“You wanted her to reject me, didn’t you?”

His hesitation was infinitesimal. “I’m concerned that working with her won’t make you happy.”

“Oh please. Why not at least be honest and admit you don’t want me to work for her?”

“Do I have a choice? We hadn’t agreed that you were going back to work, but it seems you’ve already accepted the job.”

“I haven’t even been offered the job. First I have to come up with some ideas and go to the pitch with them.”

“What’s her agenda?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why does she want you?” His blunt question exposed all her insecurities.

“It can’t be because she thinks I’m the best person for the job? Thanks for that vote of confidence, Jason.”

“That isn’t—”

“Do not say anything else.” She hadn’t thought it possible for her feelings to be so badly hurt. She stalked toward the bedroom and he followed her, closing the door so that the girls wouldn’t hear them.

“All I’m saying is that you’ve been out of the business for a while. There has to be a reason that she is chasing you so hard.”

“Stop, Jason. Just stop! And don’t close the door. I need to listen out for the children.”