call that I need to make some changes. I’d had that epiphany before I heard from Stella. And now that she’s in the mix, I have even more incentive to figure out my shit and decide where I’m going to live.”
“You’ll be coming home, then?”
Amanda took a deep breath and held it for a second. “I don’t think so.”
“Where will you go?”
“I think I might stay right here in Butler, if Stella doesn’t mind moving to Vermont. They live in upstate New York, so I could take her there a few times a year to see her friends.”
“What’s so exciting about that small town in Vermont that you want to stay there permanently?”
“So many things. It’d be hard to sum it up until you see it.” She didn’t want to tell her mother about Landon. Not yet. She didn’t want her mother to think she was making life decisions based on a man. He was definitely part of the equation, but she was the bigger part of it. This was about her, first and foremost. She wanted to be someone her daughter could be proud of and set the right kind of example. To do that, she needed a job that didn’t require her to travel constantly and a home in a place where a child could grow and thrive.
Butler felt like that kind of place.
“What will you do for work?”
“I’ve inquired about a job with the Abbott family’s business. They’re launching the catalog and warehouse this fall.”
“Won’t you find that boring after what you do now?”
“Not at all. They’re building the catalog and warehouse from the ground up, so it’s an exciting time for their company. This week, they’re launching our product line and doing a family photo shoot for the catalog. I haven’t been bored one minute since I’ve been here.”
“Well, I’m going to have to get there to check this place out before much longer. Of course, I’ll want to meet Stella, too.”
“We’ll make that happen for sure,” Amanda said, surprised but delighted at the genuine interest her mother was showing in meeting Stella. “When the time is right.”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you about my own situation.”
“What about it?”
“I’m thinking about retiring and planned to ask if you were interested in my job, but I guess that’s a moot point now.”
“Maybe not,” Amanda said, thinking fast. “I’m sure the company realizes by now that they’d need two people to replace you since you work sixty hours a week. What if I coordinated the trade show element, and you hired someone else to manage the sales force?”
“Didn’t you just say you want to work for the Abbotts?”
“I do, but I think I could handle that part of your job, too. I’m going to have a child to support, college to pay for. The extra income will help.”
“That’s an interesting idea. I’ll pitch it to them and let you know what they say.”
“And you’ll convey my two weeks’ notice?”
“I’ll do that. It’s going to be odd not to work together anymore,” Joyce said, sounding sad about the changes.
“We’ll still talk all the time, and I’m going to want you to come visit—and eventually meet your granddaughter.”
“I’d like that.”
“Well, then, we’ll make that happen as soon as possible.”
“Keep me posted?”
“I will. Thank you again for everything you’ve done for me, Mom. The job has really meant the world to me.”
“You did a great job for us. Don’t be surprised if you hear from Martin,” she said of her boss. “He’ll want to keep his top sales rep in the family.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Amanda said with a laugh. “I’ll be ready for him.”
“Let me know how the training goes with the Abbott sales force.”
“Will do. We train on Monday.”
“I’ll speak to you soon, then. Love you, honey.”
“Love you, too, Mom.” Amanda put down the phone, feeling oddly emotional after hearing those words from her mother. Their relationship had become very businesslike and transactional after Amanda went to work for her. She was interested to see how things would evolve between them when they no longer worked together.
The phone rang again, and she grabbed it without checking the caller ID. “Did you forget something?”
“What? Who’s this?”
“Amanda. Who’s this?”
“Is Landon there?”
“No, he’s working.”
“Tell him Chrissy called. Again.”
The line went dead before she could say anything. “Lovely.” Amanda shook that off and went back to thinking about the call with her mom.
“So, that happened. You quit your job.” She took a second to let the words register, expecting to feel regret