Chapter 31
Emory
Emory tugged at the collar of her shirt. The buttons strained against her chest, not so much that it looked bad—especially through a computer screen—but enough for her to feel uncomfortable in Byron’s grand desk chair.
Don’t fidget, she told herself. Don’t stretch your arms forward. It’ll be fine. Look at the camera, not yourself. Smile, but not too much. Pause if you need to, don’t say um.
She still had twenty minutes before the interview was meant to start.
Byron had promised to keep Clayton entertained outside, so she’d hauled herself into the study earlier than needed.
She didn’t want to be late, but even she could admit that twenty minutes was probably a little too early.
Maybe she could go and get changed. Surely the interview would go better if she were comfortable.
Running through the clean clothes she still had packed before the flood, Emory compiled outfits in her head.
The blue sundress might work—it looked a bit like a shirt on top, she supposed.
And only her shoulders would be on the screen anyway.
But she’d worn it a few days ago. Was it washed?
Was it dry? It probably needed an iron. Nothing else was even close to suitable.
All tight tanks or oversized sweaters. A few daggy T-shirts she wore to work.
This too-small, off-white button-down was her only option. She’d have to make do.
Leaning against the tall back of Byron’s chair, she tugged her legs under her knees and twisted her hips.
The movement forced the chair to spin back and forth underneath her, and she closed her eyes.
She let her body feel the gentle movement and tried to ground her racing emotions.
Anxiety was beginning to fill her up, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t ease the way her heart hammered in her chest or settle the churning in her gut.
At least, she told herself, it was only a video interview, not the real thing.
At least, if she utterly failed to impress them, she’d have a reason to stay.
Dropping her head back, Emory let out a long, determined breath. She shouldn’t think like that. It was doing nothing except sending a message to the universe that she didn’t really want this job. And she did, she wanted it so badly, even with the cost. She had to try.
With five minutes to spare, she stood from the chair and did a few star jumps, making sure not to stretch her arms too far or exert herself to the point of sweating.
Just enough to throw out some of the adrenaline that was starting to take over her body.
She sat down, pulling a small twisty fidget into her lap.
Time to shine.
She was only logged into the meeting for a minute or so before Ashleigh joined the call.
After a quick internet sleuth, she had been expecting the woman’s eccentric style, but seeing it still brought a smile to Emory’s face.
Ashleigh was wearing a bright yellow, frilly top, and her mop of tight brown curls was tied high on her head.
Bright red glasses framed her face, complemented by a matching necklace.
On Emory, the whole ensemble might have appeared gaudy, but on Ashleigh, it just worked.
Something about seeing the woman helped to calm Emory.
Maybe it was her sense of fashion or the larger-than-life smile, or maybe it was just because once they started chatting, Emory felt instantly at home.
If she got this job, she had a feeling she would fall right into place within the Sydscape team.
She’d need that, to find friendships with her coworkers.
Otherwise, she would have no one when she moved to Sydney.
No one to catch up for coffee with, no one to call when she needed a hand with Clayton.
It didn’t matter how far she moved, she knew she would always be able to call Mya when she needed a chat, but it wasn’t the same as having a support network close by.
Emory couldn’t have finished her degree without Mya’s help. And Byron’s. Was she crazy to think she’d be able to cope without them when she moved?
She bit back the thought. Ashleigh was giving her another brief rundown of the graduate program and some of the clients they expected to hand over to their next cohort of employees.
Emory needed to pay attention. Under the table, she twisted the fidget toy between her fingers.
It helped her focus on Ashleigh, but she still tracked each word carefully to make sure she didn’t miss any important details.
“Since you’ll be coming in from a rural community, we thought you’d be the perfect fit for one of our newest clients.
It’s a small Sydney business that works directly with farms to buy all the produce the supermarkets don’t want, so it doesn’t go to waste.
They’re still in start-up mode, and I think your tie to the farming industry, even if it is a bit roundabout, would really give you a leg up on their marketing. ”
Ashleigh’s enthusiasm seeped through the screen as she spoke.
Every sentence was as though Emory already had the position, and this interview was a mere formality.
Emory hoped that was the case, but thought through every response all the same.
She shouldn’t get too far ahead of herself, she still needed to prove her worth.
The conversation continued to flow, and Emory became more and more confident in her chances with every pleased smile Ashleigh sent through the screen.
Professionally, at least, Emory was convinced.
Talking with Ashleigh, she’d almost forgotten all the so-called cons of this job.
The thought of moving to the city was back to being the exciting adventure she had always thought it would be.
This job was everything. She couldn’t wait to get started, and she didn’t even have the job yet.
“I just have one more question for today,” Ashleigh said with another of her enthusiastic smiles. “Moving from Gardner Creek is a big step, and I know we’ve spoken about the job potential and how excited you are to start your career, but are you ready for such a big location change?”
Emory froze. Maybe if she sat still, didn’t blink, for long enough, she could fool Ashleigh into thinking the connection had dropped out.
“It’s not my place to say whether you are or not, but your son is still young, and it will be a big adjustment.
If you’re confident you’re ready, I won’t question your judgement,” Ashleigh continued when Emory remained silent.
“But it’s something I want you to think about before we go through the next steps. ”
Emory’s breath shook. She should have said something, anything, to squash Ashleigh’s concerns, but she had nothing.
For the first time through the whole interview, she didn’t have the answer.
In one short enough sentence, Ashleigh had broken all Emory’s resolve.
Of course, she was still excited about the job, but Ashleigh was right.
Moving to the city would be a big—no, huge—adjustment.
Three weeks ago, Emory would have brushed off the question with a laugh. She’d had nothing keeping her tied to Gardner Creek. But now?
Now, she knew that leaving town also meant leaving Byron.
And the thought of that had enveloped her with worry.
It wasn’t just not being with Byron that had her concerned.
It was not being around anyone who supported her.
She didn’t have much in Gardner Creek, but Mya was here, and Tucker.
They were as good as family to her and Clayton.
Byron was the closest thing Clayton had to a father figure, and the past few weeks aside, he had been nothing but helpful and supportive.
So maybe she had been hasty in thinking it was going to be an easy exit on her eventual way out of town. Her new—and incredibly overpowering—emotions for Byron aside, she wasn’t sure how she ever thought she could cope. Her ribs tightened, but she couldn’t find the right words.
Ashleigh’s brow furrowed at her lack of response. She looked away from the screen for a moment.
“Sorry,” Emory gasped, firmly aware that she was creating doubt not just in herself but in Ashleigh’s mind, too. “It would be a big change, but I’ve been working towards this through my whole course. I always knew that leaving Gardner Creek was in my future. Even if it is scary, I’m ready.”
She nodded then, pushing herself to sit a little taller. She was ready, and it was okay to be scared when faced with such a big change. It wasn’t okay to let her fear carry her away. Or hold her still.
Ashleigh looked pleased. She nodded, an overexaggerated movement that might have seemed over the top in person but through a video screen felt genuine and enthusiastic.
“We would be willing to support you in whatever way we can. Our relocation team typically works with higher-end management, but I’m sure we could convince them to help you with securing a house or apartment, as well as childcare for Clayton.
” She paused, leaning forward into the screen a little.
Emory matched her posture. The shirt strained along her back, but Emory no longer cared.
This was going well. She was sure of it.
“That would be really helpful, thank you. What are the next steps in the interview process?”
“I’ll be really honest, Emory, I like you.
I think you’re a wonderful fit for our graduate program, and I’m excited to move forward with you.
After this round of interviews, we have successful applicants come into the office for a team-building exercise.
It’s mostly a formality, but we do use the opportunity to see how the new graduates will work with each other, and within the whole Sydscape team.
Would you be able to come to Sydney for that? ”
Emory felt a shudder run through her spine.
The fidget hung loose on her lap. If she’d understood correctly, Ashleigh was as good as offering her a position.
Sure, it was all formality, and she still needed to impress them on this group interview day, but Emory could practically taste her ticket out of town.
“Yes, of course. It’ll take a little planning, but I can make it work.”
She’d have to. She’d do anything to make sure it worked, even if it meant covering Mya’s ticket to Sydney so she could watch Clayton for the day.
“Fantastic, you’ve got a while to figure it out. We don’t have a set day yet, but it’s typically later in November, after university exams have all finished. I’ll send you a tentative offer later this week, and we can confirm the details once the date is finalised.”
That was it? Emory grabbed the fidget from her lap, twisting it around her fingers in some feeble attempt to hide her eagerness.
“That would be great. Thank you so much.” She grinned so wide her cheeks hurt. There was no hiding how excited she was now.
“Take your time,” Ashleigh cautioned her. “Big changes are always equal parts scary and exciting. Make sure you give yourself time to feel both. Please reach out if you need anything.”
“I will, thank you.”
After a pleasant goodbye, Ashleigh discontinued the call, leaving Emory staring at her own shocked face. Her eyes were wide, her chin dropped low, but her open mouth was covered by her hands.
She’d done it.
She’d more than done it.
Three years of insane juggling and multitasking, of long nights studying and spending her work shifts reciting marketing techniques in her head in the lead up to exams. Three years of feeling utterly stuck in a small town that seemed to hate her.
Three years of working for this moment, to finally have the road out of town cleared for her.
Ashleigh had offered her a position and the support she would need to find her feet in the city. It was everything she had been wanting and then some.
Tears began to fill her eyes as the overwhelming rush of emotion bled through her.
She was proud and excited and determined.
And, okay, she was also terrified of the change, but she was ready.
Wiping her face, Emory pushed away from the desk and unbuttoned the top of her shirt.
For the first time since she put it on, she felt like she could breathe again.
Her hand was on the door, ready to slide it open and share her big news, when she heard Byron’s voice from behind it.
“Not yet,” he hushed.
Emory heard the pattering of footsteps near the door.
“Mummy will be out soon,” Byron continued. His voice faded away as he guided Clayton back down the hall.
Something new joined Emory’s bubbling cauldron of emotion.
It turned thick in her stomach and pulled at her shoulders.
No matter how excited she was to leave Gardner Creek, it was really going to suck leaving Byron.
If she stayed here any longer, she was going to chicken out of leaving the town altogether.
She knew what she had to do.
Reaching above her head, she pulled her hair out of the respectable bun and scratched at her scalp.
How on earth was she going to tell Byron it was time for her to move out?