Feeling a twinge of sorrow for being so rude to her, I motion for her to take a seat and open her folder. She’s been busy the last few years. She’s made a great name for herself. Her references are impeccable, and she has three glowing letters of recommendation.
I only have one question for her. “Why? Why do you want this job?”
“I want to work here because this is by far one of the most highly sought after companies to work for in the industry. You and Blake do it all. You have your own magazine, a list of highly visible clients, and a line out the door of people that want you to represent them. More than anything, I want to make amends. I want to apologize for everything. If you’ll give me the chance, I’d like to prove it to you.”
“So you want my business?”
“No. I want to be a part of your business. I want to help it grow even more and succeed.”
The girl in front of me is not the same girl I used to call my friend. She’s changed, matured. She’s grown into what appears to be a caring person. What would Blake say right now? Would he want me to give her a second chance or kick her out? I wish I could ask him because I’m not sure what I should do.
What I do know is life is short. If I hold onto this grudge forever, I may be missing out on the person Aubrey’s become today. I want to forgive her, to give her a second chance, but it’s going to take time. If she’s here, working under me, we’ll have nothing but time.
CRAWLING INTO BED, I cuddle up to Blake’s pillow and inhale. It stopped smelling like him a few weeks ago. I broke down that night, crying until after the sun rose over the horizon. It’s here I feel closest to Blake. In the bed we used to make love, where he used to hold me while we slept, and comfort me when I was sad or ill.
I haven’t talked to him in a while, and tonight feels like the right time.
“Hey, baby! Sorry it’s been a while. I’ve been staying pretty busy. Between work, construction, and the girls, it’s kind of crazy around here. So, I have some good news for you. We’re having a little boy. I know we laughed about it, but I’m going to name him Blake. Only a few more months, and he’ll be here. I wish you had been there with me during the ultrasound. Your face would have lit up like a Christmas tree when she told you it was a boy. I can almost see it now.”
Closing my eyes, I pause, focusing on the way Blake’s face use to look when he was excited about something. I remember the way his eyes would start to sparkle and his smile would seem as if it stretched from ear to ear. Blake had a great smile.
I tell him about a few other things and that I love him. Just before I start to drift off, I tell him about Aubrey, her interview, and bringing her on as our newest agent. I hope he understands my decision. More than anything, I hope I don’t regret my decision.
Once sleep consumes me, he’s there, waiting for me, just like he always is. The storm has passed, there are puddles everywhere, and Blake is holding my rain boots. It’s my favorite time of day, jumping from puddle to puddle, holding my husband’s hand, without any fear in my heart.
My Amazing Readers,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Jumping Puddles. I hope you enjoyed Charlotte and Blake's story. If you'd like to help other readers decide whether or not to read Jumping Puddles, please leave a review on GoodReads.com, Amazon.com, or any other platform.
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