CHAPTER20
Alexa
* * *
Leifand I spent the morning doing our usual routine, feeding, playing, walking along the beach, then when I put him down for his morning nap, I plopped down on the recliner on the patio and called my parents.
“Hey, are you two available for Saturday night babysitting? Luke’s deal went through, and we are supposed to go into Manhattan for dinner and a celebration with the new partners.”
“Of course, dear,” my mother said excitedly. “We would have insisted if you hadn’t asked. So, I thought the deal fell through?”
I spent the next few moments explaining what changed with the big deal Luke had been trying to negotiate with Hanson.
“That’s so good to hear,” she said, and I listened as she yelled at my father, who must have been out of the room. “I’m putting you on speakerphone so he can talk to you as well. Just hold on.”
“Hey, honey,” my father said, and I could hear the excitement in his voice. “So, the big deal is still on after all?”
“Yes,” I said. “Luke got exactly what he wanted — a consortium of private investors instead of being swallowed up by the whale.”
We spent the next few minutes discussing the deal and the implications.
“This means you won’t be moving to Houston, right? I couldn’t stand the thought of you moving to Houston. It’s so far from New York…”
“No, while the headquarters will be in Texas, Astra will remain in New York, Seneca in Washington, and Hanson will remain in Texas. All’s right with the world. At least, according to Luke.”
“That’s great, honey. As long as Luke’s happy, we’re happy. How are you doing after turning Professor Turner down?”
I sighed. “I’m relieved. It was an exciting opportunity, but it’s just bad timing. One day, I’ll get the job I want, when the time is right. For now, I want to focus on Leif, and I want Luke to be involved with Leif during this first year or two.”
“That’s great,” my mother said, and I knew she agreed with my decision. “You won’t regret it. Children grow so fast, and before you know it, they’re off to college, and you wonder where the time went. Enjoy this period of Leif’s life. Cherish every moment.”
“I plan to. Luke and I plan to.”
We spoke for a few more minutes and she promised me that they would arrive in the afternoon on Saturday so that Luke and I could take the limo into the city in time for our dinner with Hanson and the other investors.
I ended the call and then sat back on the deck chair and watched the surf on the beach below the property.
It was going to be another gorgeous day on the ocean, and I was happy to have the chance to enjoy it for a brief time alone while Leif slept.
It was while I was reading over my social media that I got a notification of an incoming email. I checked my inbox and there it was — the response from Professor Turner.
I felt bad as I tapped on the mail icon and opened the email.
Dear Alexa:
I completely understand your reluctance to leave your new baby so soon and move to Brussels, but my loss is your little one’s gain. Don’t worry about me — I have a few other candidates, but you were my top choice, so I figured I’d offer it to you first. I’ve got a tentative acceptance from another former student, so I’m good. In other news, I gave your name to a contact I have in the UN and said that if they were ever in need of a great candidate for any policy job, they should keep you in mind and I hope you don’t mind, but I forwarded him your C.V. Hopefully, it will bear fruit for you some day. I think a recommendation from me will put you in a good position in the future, when you’re ready to let your little one go into daycare.
Keep in touch and I’ll let you know how the new position in Brussels goes.
Cheers,
Helen
I was really glad to know that she wasn’t angry with me for turning down the plum first job with her and that she understood why. I figured it would be easy enough for her to find someone else for the position and I was right. It made me all warm inside to know she sent my C.V., to someone she knew in the UN. It would be nice to be headhunted instead of having to go out and look for work.
I wrote her back right away.