Sam shrugged. “Yeah, but I own the business. Your extra work is lining somebody else’s pockets.”
“I want to make a good impression,” she told him lightly. “And I enjoy working. I always have.” She’d spent the afternoon in a conference room with Nathan and Eliana, talking about a secret project they were working on with Eliana’s other son in Scotland. They were creating an international blend, with whiskey from four different distilleries across the world, and had tasked Mia with creating a marketing plan for the new product.
“We’ve always outsourced our marketing before,” Eliana had told her. “But Nathan and Daniel persuaded me that we need a dedicated resource. That’s where you come in. You’ll work on our other brands, too, but I want this to be your top priority.”
It was exciting, and scary, and Mia knew this was her chance to make an impression. If the Carters liked her work, then her job would be safe, which would mean she could start paying her way and even saving for the boys’ futures.
In a few years, Michael would be going to college, and as much as she hoped he’d at least get a partial scholarship, she needed to have enough money to help pay for everything else.
And then there was Josh. He didn’t have a lot of expensive hobbies, but he did suffer from asthma. His prescriptions would be covered by this job, too, minus the copay.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she was starting to relax about money and their future. And it was good to be challenged professionally. She’d always been good at her job, even if she sometimes felt like a failure at everything else.
“Hey, Mom?” Josh said, as she went to head back to the kitchen, where her laptop was set up on the table.
“Yes, honey?”
“Noah’s mom says she’s going to call you about pee wee football. There’s a place on Noah’s team I could join.”
“I thought you didn’t like football.” Okay, so maybe he wasn’t as cheap as she thought.
“I didn’t like it in Kansas City.” Josh shrugged. “Dad would always shout at me when I dropped the ball. Noah says nobody shouts at his games.” Josh gave her a hopeful look. “Noah’s mom says she can take me to practice every Saturday. She says if it’s okay with you, I can stay over on Fridays after the game at the high school.”
“Oh. Okay.” Mia nodded. “I’ll call her.”
“Two footballers in the family.” Sam shook his head. “I worry for the cars of Hartson’s Creek.”
“Uncle Sam.” Josh rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to hit any cars again. I’m gonna be a good footballer.”
Mia bit down a smile and walked back into the kitchen, grabbing a soda from the refrigerator.
It was almost midnight by the time she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. Josh had been asleep for hours, and Michael had come home from a friend’s house just before eight, muttering something about an assignment. She assumed he’d gone to bed at some point, because there was no light spilling out from under his door. Carefully, she peeked in, and sure enough he was curled beneath the covers, his face resting on his hands.
She’d just finished brushing her teeth when her phone vibrated.
I thought you were calling me later. It’s later.
She didn’t need to look at the number to know who it was. Shaking her head, she brushed her hair and pulled the covers back off her bed.
&nb
sp; The screen had faded, but the memory of the text remained. If she didn’t reply, he’d call her tomorrow.
It’s late. And I was only going to call because I thought you had the invoice for the repairs. M
There, that should put an end to it. She climbed into bed, and turned the light out. A moment later, her screen lit up the room.
If I have the invoice you’ll call me? C
She rolled her eyes. Yes, if you want to discuss money, I’ll call you. M
I want to discuss money. C
Now? M
Yeah now. C
But it’s almost midnight. I’m tired. M. That was a lie. She’d never felt so awake, thanks to the rush of blood around her veins.