by Sophie Kaye
“But working in a bank?”
“You would finally get some use out of that finance-degree, and I'm guessing the pay and the hours are better than at the diner.”
“I don't know.” Jessica adjusted her leg.
“Or, I guess you could stay here in the house and let me and Rosa take care of you.” Priscilla leaned back in the sofa.
“It just doesn't feel right, you getting me a job.”
Priscilla leaned forward and held up a finger. “Ah, but I didn't. See, you think I don't listen to you, but I do. I know you wouldn't take a job I wrangled for you. I only got you the interview.” She leaned back. “Whether or not you get the job is totally up to you.”
Jessica smiled. She did need to pay rent. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome. I am, however, expecting you to come to the benefit gala next week.”
“I know, I'll be there. I might have to get a dress that matches my cast though.” Jessica tried to reach under the pink cast to scratch an itch.
“We can do some shopping before then,” Priscilla said. “By the way, Cory will be coming too.”
“I'm guessing his dad's death will influence the gala.”
“They've set up a special tribute to Grant.”
Jessica nodded.
“And, I hope you don't mind...” Priscilla paused.
Jessica narrowed her eyes. “What?”
“I offered Cory to stay here during the gala. I just couldn't let him stay at a hotel. Not after his dad died.”
“I'm sure that's fine.” Jessica sighed.
Chapter Seven
Jessica tried to straighten out her scarf without dropping the crutches. She took a deep breath and wiped her palms on her coat.
“I'll wait right here,” Priscilla said and pointed to the car. “I have a few phone calls I need to make.” She adjusted Jessica's hat. “You'll do great.”
“Thank you.” Jessica swallowed. Why was she so nervous about a job interview for a job she didn't want?
“Careful of the icy patch.” Priscilla pointed to the sidewalk.
Jessica nodded and gripped her crutches tightly. She had spent a couple of days walking back and forth in the hallways and considered herself quite good at mastering them at this point. But crossing the patch of ice was still nerve-wracking.
The next challenge was the heavy door that led into the bank. She was almost at the point of trying to get her mother's attention when someone came out.
“Jessica?”
“Hi, Herb.” Jessica smiled at him.
“I heard you had an accident. Broke a leg?”
“I sure did.” Jessica held up the cast that peaked out under her slacks.
“Oopf, that's no fun. I guess you won't be able to work at the diner for a while?”
“No, Jenna gave me some time off.”
“Will I see you at the Valentine's committee? If you don't feel up to it...”
“I'll be there.” Jessica smiled. “I think I can still be of some use.”
“Good.”
“Hailey agreed to fill a stand, by the way.”
“Sounds like it's coming along nicely.”
“Yes, but I should get going.” Jessica nodded to the bank.
“Oh, yes. Here let me.” Herb held the door open for her.
“Thank you.”
At first glance, the inside of the bank was in desperate need of an update. The dark wooden half walls that separated the customers from the teller were taken straight from an old movie. But the little sitting group was inviting and a few plants took away the starkness of the room.
“Can I help you?” The woman sitting behind the counter eyed her with a stern face. Her yellow and pink shirt was bright enough to hurt Jessica's eyes.
“I'm here for an interview.” Jessica walked up to her. “I'm Jessica Sangold.”
“Oh, from the diner. I thought you looked familiar.” The woman relaxed and smiled. “I've seen you there a few times.”
Jessica smiled. “I was told you need some temporary help?”
“Yes, of course. Let me get Michael.”
Jessica stiffened as the woman disappeared through a door that seemed to lead deeper into the bank. Micheal? She closed her eyes. Sam's brother worked at the bank. How could she have forgotten?
A door opened into the customer part of the room.
Michael stepped out, looking at some papers. He was wearing a gray suit with a dark blue tie. His hair had been cut shorter, short enough to almost behave respectably. And he was wearing glasses. Jessica's shoulders slumped. On the tennis court, he had been so alive and enticing. Now, he looked like... a banker.
“Ms. Sangold.” He raised his eyes.
For a split second, Jessica thought she saw a smile flitter across his lips, but it was gone before she could be sure.
“Jessica.” She took a couple of steps closer on the crutches and reached out a hand.
“Jessica.” Michael's fingers enveloped hers and she remembered how easily he had carried her.
“Michael.” She nodded shortly.
“You're here for the job?” He seemed surprised, still holding her hand.
“I am. I have a bachelor's in finance and I'm a hard worker.”
“No, of course.” He let go of her hand and held up the paper. “I have your resume. I just... Come in.” He held open the door and waited for her to go through. “It's down to the left. The last door.”
The corridor led left to right with a window to the right. Another door must have been the one the woman had gone through. Jessica passed an open door to a small but tidy kitchen. Another door had a glass panel showing a small office filled with boxes.
“Here, let me.” Michael squeezed past her to open the door to his office.
It was larger than the one with boxes and very organized. Filing cabinets took up one wall and two paintings the other. Behind the L-shaped desk was a window overlooking a small snowy area with some trees and bushes.
Michael gestured for her to sit down and went around the desk. Jessica noticed that everything was placed just so, the pencil holder was at the top right of the dark desk pad, and an organizer was placed in the top left corner. A phone, the file holder, and a stack of papers were neatly at right angles. On the short part of the desk was a wooden stand with a laptop on it and a separate keyboard underneath. The only decoration was a small bonsai tree in a wooden planter.
Michael cleared his throat.
“How- how are you feeling? The leg, I mean.” He brushed away an invisible piece of dust from the desk.
“It's broken.” Jessica shrugged.
Michael seemed to deflate. “I am so sorry. I never should have asked you to play with me.”
“You didn't.” Jessica frowned. “I offered. And it's not your fault. It was an accident.”
“If there's anything I can do, just let me know.”
Jessica smiled. “How about a job interview?”
“Of course.” Michael fumbled with the papers. “I, umm... it says here you've been working as a waitress?”
“Yes, at Jenna's Diner.”
“And you graduated with honors?”
“I did.”
“Why didn't you go for a job in the finance sector?”
Jessica inhaled. "I'm more of a people person. I wanted a job where I could talk to people and interact in a less formal manner."
“So why this job? Why now?”
Jessica raised a crutch. “I was told the job is temporary and matches up with the time when I can't work at the diner.”
“Yes, good timing on that.” Michael turned his gaze to the papers. “Or bad, I mean.” He looked up. “Bad that you broke your leg.”
“I know what you mean.” Jessica smiled at him. He seemed more nervous than she was.
“To be honest, we haven't had many applicants and you seem more than qualified.”
“So I got the job?”
“I'll have to check with Rita, but I don't see a prob
lem.”
“Who's Rita?”
“She's my colleague, she's home sick today with this cold that's going around. We share responsibilities here.”
“I see.”
“And you met Maggie, she's the teller. We call her our first line of defense.”
Jessica smiled.
“Let me show you your office.” Michael stood up.
“I get an office?” Jessica gathered her crutches.
“Well, it's part office and part storage room.” Michael watched her carefully as she struggled to get up. “This way.” He went into the hallway and up to the closest door.
Jessica peered into the office with all the boxes.
“There's some form of merger or something coming up soon, so we need to make sure we have all our papers in order. Some of these boxes contain stuff that goes back to the founding of the bank in 1899."
“And my job is...?”
“To go through it all. I can take more time to explain it when you start work. I'll call Rita later today and let you know during the afternoon. But like I said, I don't think she has any objections.”
“Sounds great,” Jessica said dryly and wondered if spending six weeks with her mother wouldn't be preferable.
Michael continued down the hallway.
“Over here is the kitchen. We usually bring food and heat it up, but I know Maggie sometimes goes to the diner.”
There was something sad about the kitchen. It had a fridge, a microwave, and a coffeemaker. Besides a kitchen table and four chairs, there wasn't much in the way of furniture.
Michael down the hallway to the window and gestured.
“Rita's office is down the hall and the bathroom is over there.” He pointed down the small stretch of hallway. “I think that's all you need to know, for now. Do you have any questions?”
“Will she be working with us?” Maggie poked her head through the door.
“I wasn't talking to you, Maggie.” Michael sighed. “But unless Rita objects, then yes she will.”
“Great, we need some more life around here.” The bell on the front door jingled and Maggie disappeared with a smile.
“So, questions?”
“I can't think of any,” Jessica said and looked around.
“If you do, here's my number.” Michael took out a business card and hesitated. He grabbed a pen from his pocket and wrote something on the back. “That's my private number. If nobody answers here.”
“Thank you.” Jessica took the card and placed it in her pocket.
“I'll call you later to let you know,” Michael said and held the door open for her.
Jessica nodded at him and made her way to the heavy front doors.
“Allow me.”
She startled as Michael reached a hand past her to open the door. She hadn't noticed him following.
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
Outside, she took a breath. The whole experience seemed surreal somehow. She carefully navigated the icy sidewalk to her mom's car.
At least she knew what she'd be doing for the next six weeks. And who she'd be doing it with.
Chapter Eight
“Did you sleep well? Rosa made bacon.” Priscilla swiped a finger across the tablet beside her.
“Good morning, parents. I slept fine.” Jessica sat down and reached for the coffee pot.
Frederick lowered the newspaper. “Do you start your new job today?”
Jessica nodded and swallowed.
“You'll do great.” He raised the paper. “Wear a hat, they say it's going to snow later.”
“No bacon?” Priscilla watched her intently.
“I'll just have coffee and yogurt.” Jessica reached for a pot of yogurt. Her stomach was twisting with nerves. She tried to convince herself it was because she'd be working in a bank. Not because Michael would be there. Even waiting for his phonecall had brought her back to high school, walking down the hall past Trevor's locker, hoping he would be there so she could bump into him.
Jessica shook her head. She was a grown woman. Not a teenager with a crush. Besides, Michael was a banker. His tennis lessons were probably the most exciting thing about him.
“Cory is arriving later today.” Her mother looked up from the tablet.
“Already? The gala isn't for another week.”
“I think he needs some time to get away from things. And it'll give us time to go over most of the business I had with his father. I think there might be some big changes coming up.” Priscilla sighed.
“Bad changes?” Jessica took a sip of coffee.
“No. Just changes I wasn't quite ready for.” She smiled. “Nothing to worry about.”
Jessica ate her yogurt in silence while her father rustled with the paper and her mother swiped on her tablet.
“Nobody's eating the bacon?” Rosa came in with a small bag in her hand.
“Oh, right.” Frederick lowered his paper and reached for the bacon.
Jessica smiled. She'd seen him sit at the breakfast table reading the paper for two hours, completely forgetting to eat.
“Here you go,” Rosa said and handed the bag to Jessica.
“What's this?”
“Couscous salad with peppers, green beans, feta cheese, and olives. I also put some homemade focaccia in there.”
Jessica lit up. “Oh, Rosa. You're the best. Thank you.” She reached up to hug the woman.
Rosa gave her a quick hug. “None of that now. I'm just doing my job.” She gave them a glare over her shoulder as she left the room. “Now, eat the bacon.”
“See, living here isn't too bad,” Priscilla said and took a piece of bacon.
FIVE MINUTES TO EIGHT, Priscilla dropped Jessica off at the bank.
“Good morning.” Michael turned the corner just as she was trying the door.
“Good morning.”
The sight of him brought her vividly back to a dream she had woken up to during the night. Michael had whipped off his glasses and lifted her up to whisk her away from the bank, a monster who made everything around it gray and spectacled.
She waited while Michael unlocked the door.
“I'm glad to see you here on time,” he said as he held the door open for her.
“It's one of the things my mother thought me early on. She used to say once you're the boss you can arrive any time you want until then you should arrive before the boss.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
Jessica made her way past him with her crutches.
“Of course, she's the boss so she'll be working a few hours from home before she goes in, so even the people there before her don't work as much as she does.”
“Sounds like your mother is quite the woman.” Michael unlocked the door to the hallway.
“She's pretty amazing.”
“Here we go.” He went before her to the kitchen. “If you brought lunch, you can put it in the fridge.” Michael took out a box as he spoke and placed it neatly on one of the shelves.
Jessica stopped next to him and tried to balance on one foot as she opened her bag to take out the little lunch bag. Reaching for it, she felt her balance shift.
“Careful.” Michael put a hand on her back, steadying her.
“Thanks, I'm still getting used to these.” Jessica nodded at the crutches.
“Here.” Michael held out his other hand for her lunch. “I'll put it away.”
Jessica handed him the bag, and without taking his hand from her back, he put it in the fridge.
“OK,” he inhaled and let her go. “We should get on with it. I'll show you to your office and explain what we need you to do.”
Jessica blinked and followed him. He seemed to have a hypnotizing effect on her. Maybe it was the subtle smell of his aftershave that lingered in the air? Or the way his muscles played under his winter coat?
“AM I INTERRUPTING?”
Jessica looked up from the papers. Maggie stood in the doorway wearing a blue dress with large purple circles on it.
&n
bsp; “Not at all.” Jessica put down the paper she had been studying. “I'm just trying to make heads or tails of this.”
“Well, I hope you've found what you needed. And I'll be right out front if you have any questions.”
“I'm good.”
“Good.” Maggie came in and moved a box off the chair opposite Jessica's.
“Don't you need to...” Jessica pointed a vague finger towards the front room.
“Oh, I can hear the bell from here. And it's Wednesday mid-morning. Nobody comes in on Wednesday mid-morning.”
“They don't?” Jessica tilted her head.
“No. It's bingo at the town hall on Wednesdays,” Maggie said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Jessica raised an eyebrow.
“People who work come later, in the afternoon, and people who don't work, go to bingo.” Maggie lifted a paper off the desk and started reading.
Jessica leaned over and snatched the paper from her.
“I guess that makes sense. We have lulls like that at the diner.”
“Anyway, I was thinking I'd make coffee. Do you want some?”
“Sure. I could do with a break.”
“Great, I'll let you know when it's done.”
BY LUNCHTIME, JESSICA was ready to scream. The work was easy but boring, and her leg was throbbing. She had made a makeshift footstool out of a couple of boxes, which helped, but just fetching something from across the room was an endeavor.
Maggie knocked on the doorpost. “It's lunchtime. Do you want to come with me to the diner?”
“No, thank you. I brought my lunch.”
“OK, see you later then.” Maggie waved a hand and disappeared down the hallway.
Jessica finished up the paper she was working on before she joined Michael in the kitchen.
“Did you need the microwave?” He stood waiting for his meal to heat up.
“No, I have a salad.” Jessica struggled to open the fridge with a crutch in her hand.
Michael nodded.
Jessica managed to get her bag to the table and sank down on the chair. Sitting all morning had made her stiff and a bit sore. She was used to moving around.