Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
C iara already knew what she was going to say to Sarah when she saw her. Her only worry was knowing exactly when to bring up the subject of returning to work.
She’d promised Maggie she’d talk to Sarah, so she spent the last twenty-four hours planning a strategy, and still didn’t know what she was going to say.
The Outreach Center had been an important part of Sarah’s life, and it was Ciara who introduced her to volunteer work. Before long, Sarah was a full-time employee, managing the Food Pantry and running the Domestic Violence Center for Women.
After adopting Noah and Sophia and finding out she was pregnant, Sarah came to Ciara to announce she was quitting, leaving Ciara to look for a replacement. Since Sarah left the Center, Ciara hadn’t hired anyone full-time to fill her position. Partly because she hadn’t found anyone experienced enough to take Sarah’s place.
Now, after many months staying home, Sarah had already complained to her mother that she needed more. It was no wonder. Sarah’s husband, Trevor, struggled with his own career, which made things worse for her.
Ciara hoped Sarah would return to the Outreach Center as soon as possible. It would be the best news to come out of today’s visit.
“Hey Ciara, what a surprise,” Sarah said when she opened the front door.
“Is this a bad time? I should have called,” Ciara said.
“No, of course not. Come in. Did I hear right that you and Crawford are joining us for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, and we appreciate your mother inviting us. We feel like orphans this year.”
“I take it Crawford’s sons all have other plans?”
Ciara nodded. “What can you expect from three young men with girlfriends? They’re all planning on spending Thanksgiving with their friends, and I can’t really blame them. Where are your children?”
“Trevor isn’t going into work today and wanted to spend the day with them. I thought that was sweet, except it was last minute, and he didn’t realize Noah had a Thanksgiving party at school. It's the last day of school before the holiday, so it’s a big deal. He took the baby and Sophia for a walk. You might see them before you leave. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“No, thanks. I just thought I’d stop by and have a few minutes to catch up. Thanksgiving will probably be crazy with everyone talking. I thought we might not get a moment alone. So, how’s life? What’s it like now that you’re home and a full-time mom?”
“Oh, it’s good…busy, but I knew it would be. Everything is great.”
Ciara knew Sarah well enough to know that her friend was anything but great, and decided it was time to dig a little deeper.
“No regrets about leaving the Outreach Center?”
Sarah shook her head. “Nope. I’ll be honest, some days aren’t as easy as others, but overall, I’d say I’m happy with the way things are. I mean, no one’s life is perfect, right?”
Ciara nodded. “Right…absolutely.”
“I don’t mind telling you that there are days when I wonder what I was thinking to…leave…I mean, it’s just that…well.”
Sarah looked uncomfortable, but Ciara couldn’t remain quiet.
“Sarah, I know you’re not happy. Let’s start with the truth. I know you. Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on?”
Ciara watched Sarah struggle to answer her.
“You wouldn’t be the first woman to feel overwhelmed, or is it something else?”
Sarah didn’t answer.
“Okay, let me put this another way. You are not being unfaithful to your family by venting. Let it out and talk to me.”
Sarah started to cry, and Ciara wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay, everything is going to be fine. It’s just a bump in the road, that’s all,” she whispered.
She held Sarah and let her cry for as long as she needed.
Wiping her eyes first and then blowing her nose, Sarah’s face was red. “I’m sorry, Ciara. I didn’t mean to let the floodgates open like that.”
Ciara rubbed Sarah’s back. “It’s fine. Something tells me you needed to have a good cry. You can’t hold everything inside, because eventually, it comes out in a big way. Besides, that’s why I’m here. I want to help. What do you need?”
Sarah shrugged. “I honestly don’t know where to begin. It feels like it’s everything all at once. Trevor is miserable at work, so much so, I think he’s letting an old friend talk him into going back to working nonprofit work. The kind of stuff he used to do before the old ball and chain tied him down.”
“Stop that right now,” Ciara insisted. “I have no idea what Trevor is going through, but I’m not interested in his issues at the moment. I care about you and your needs right now. What do you need?”
“That’s just it, Ciara. I need Trevor. I need him to stop acting like a child and realize that he has a wife and three children who need him. Whatever fantasies he has about traveling the globe can’t happen. He has to let them go. He has a family now, and we need him to step up and take responsibility.”
“So, all you need is Trevor to be happy, and then you’ll be happy? Is that what you’re telling me?”
Sarah shrugged and dropped into a chair.
“When you put it like that, it sounds awful.”
“That’s because it is awful, but is it accurate?” Ciara asked.
Sarah shook her head. “No. I mean, I want Trevor to be happy, and honestly, I don’t care what job he has as long as it doesn’t take him away from us. I could use more help, but again, that’s not what’s bothering me.”
“So, what is it?”
“Other than Trevor’s situation, I’m feeling a bit lost myself. I miss working, but I’d never want to go back to a full-time job. That is too much for me. Maybe something part-time…anything, just so I can have more adult conversations. Something to get me out of the house for a bit. But…”
“But?”
“But now isn’t the time. Until Trevor figures things out, I need to be here for my family. In time, when things are more stable, I’ll find work.”
Ciara understood Maggie’s worry about Sarah, but she also could see that Sarah was perfectly capable of figuring out what to do.
“Sarah let's keep talking about this. I’m sure Trevor and you will do what’s best for your family. Just know that if you want something part-time at the Outreach Center, you’d be welcomed back…anytime.”
Ciara wondered if she should tell Sarah that Maggie asked her to speak with her.
Would that only worsen the situation?
In the end, she decided against it. Sarah had enough to worry about.
“Thank you, Ciara. That’s sweet of you to leave the door open for me. I’ll give it some thought…I promise.”
Joshua came up behind Jacqui and slipped his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck and held her so tight she couldn’t escape.
“Oh, my gosh, you scared me,” she said.
Jacqui was putting the finishing touches on a painting she’d started last year, and finally decided to hang it in the gallery.
“It’s beautiful, just like you,” he said.
“I never thought there’d be enough room here for me to paint. I’m so glad it worked out, because the lighting in here is phenomenal. What are you up to?”
Joshua pulled away and stepped toward the window. “I’m helping Dad with the inventory, then we’re closing shop for Thanksgiving.”
Jacqui put her paintbrush down, pulled her apron over her head, and hung it on a wooden peg on the wall. She walked to the window and looked at Powell Water Sports across the street.
“Do you think you’ll always work there, or do you have other ambitions?”
“What do you mean by other ambitions?”
“I mean, you and your brothers have worked there since you were kids. Didn’t you ever want something more?”
“Not really. My brother, Luke and I have big plans for Powell’s. Now that Finn is an airline pilot, he said he doesn’t care what we do. I know we want to expand to other parts of Florida. I expect at some point in the future he might want us to buy out his share, but that’s years away. Dad won’t be retiring for a long time. Why do you ask?”
Jacqui had spent the last few days alone with her thoughts about Joshua and her family. No one would ever say she was a rich snob who cared only about money, but she was a Hutchins, and that means never having to worry about money.
She loved Joshua, and she loved the way they were together, but something was holding her back from being more serious about their relationship. She loved the fun, easy and carefree life with him, but a future with children and a home seemed beyond what they were capable of building together.
She hadn’t said anything to him about her feelings, mostly because she thought he’d be insulted, and she couldn’t argue with his position because she was ashamed of how she felt.
It was a terrible place to be. She’d fought her whole life to live outside the Hutchins dynasty, but now that marriage and children seemed around the corner, she was having second thoughts.
“I don’t know, I just wondered. I mean, you and your brothers aren’t married, and have little responsibility other than helping your father. It looks more like a job than a career.”
Careful to not provoke an argument, Jacqui chose her words with care. She didn’t want to hurt Joshua, but she also couldn’t ignore the thoughts that had been consuming her lately.
Joshua turned to face her, a look of confusion mixed with a hint of hurt in his eyes.
“I get what you’re saying, Jacqui, but it’s more than just a job to me. It’s our family legacy. But, I suppose, everyone has their own path. What about you? Where do you see us going?”
Jacqui sighed and leaned against the window frame, looking out at the quiet street that normally had tourists walking by.
“I don’t know. I mean, I love what we have, but sometimes I wonder if it’s enough for both of us.”
Joshua stepped closer, his expression softening. He took her hands in his. “Jacqui, I want to meet your parents. I want to get to know your family and take this next step with you. I thought we agreed Thanksgiving was a good opportunity to do that. If we go together it’ll be a chance for me to show them how serious I am about us.”
Jacqui’s heart raced. Thanksgiving was a big deal in her family, and bringing Joshua would mean something significant. She bit her lip, considering the idea. Devon and Eliza Hutchins weren’t easy to warm up to anyone. She hated the idea of Joshua walking away from Thanksgiving and ultimately her after meeting them.
She looked at him and could see his eyes full of determination.
If not tomorrow, then, when? Maybe it would be a good thing to get this over with and let the chips fall where they may.
It would make Joshua happy, but it also meant opening up her world to him in a way she hadn’t done before. It meant the next steps for their relationship.
She nodded. “Okay, I’ll call my mother and let her know.”
Joshua smiled and pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her off the ground slightly. “This is going to be great.”
She closed her eyes and thought back to Trevor’s warning.
“If you do bring Joshua, you best prepare him on what to expect. We don’t want the poor boy to go running out of the house screaming at the top of his lungs.”