Chapter 25
A week later, Julie was at the kitchen table with her laptop open and a cup of coffee going cold beside her.
Two days ago, she’d finally called Griffin, the editor at The Flathead Beacon.
She’d talked to him about the job vacancy and what types of stories he was looking for.
Everything had sounded better than she’d imagined.
He was enthusiastic about where the paper was going, and proud of the team that had won regional newspaper awards, three years in a row.
Julie had ended the call with a promise to send Griffin her resume. There was only one problem. She’d changed it so many times she didn’t know where to start.
The phone rang, and Julie answered it.
“Hi, Julie. It’s Susan. I know you said you’ve got everything under control, but I’ve put together a meal schedule for Cole. It’s nothing elaborate, just enough to make sure he’s eating properly for the next week.”
Julie didn’t know what to say. “That’s amazing. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
“It’s what we do in Sapphire Bay.” Susan said the words as if they didn’t mean much, but to Julie, it meant a great deal.
“Maria and Beth are already on the schedule. I didn’t want to call Cole in case he’s asleep.
Do you know if he has any dietary restrictions I should know about before we go any further? ”
Julie thought about Cole’s fridge. She’d made him lunch yesterday, and a carton of takeout, a block of cheese, and a nearly empty jar of peanut butter wouldn’t make a delicious meal. “No restrictions I know of. He just doesn’t cook.”
“Then we’ll keep it simple,” Susan said. “We’ll focus on healthy food that reheats well. How are you doing?”
Julie rubbed her forehead. Apart from trying to document her career in a two-page document, she was fine. “I’m doing okay.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Julie looked through the window. Outside, a fine mist was threading through the pale morning light. “I’m tired,” she admitted, which was closer to the truth.
“I had a feeling you were. Going back and forth between Sapphire Bay and Polson each day was bad enough, but sitting in a hospital is worse,” Susan said gently.
“I’ll send you the meal schedule when I’ve finished.
And because we care, we’ll make a few extra meals for you. If anything changes, let me know.”
That was all. No analysis, no emotional processing, no extended discussion of what Julie might need. Just a concrete plan, already in motion, offered without ceremony.
That was so like Susan, that Julie smiled. “Have I told you what an angel you are?”
“Only about four times in the last week.” Susan chuckled. “I’m polishing my halo as we speak. If you need anything else, just ask. I’m only a phone call away.”
Julie looked down at her computer. Susan had owned a large catering company in Georgia before moving to Sapphire Bay. She must have read dozens of resumes in her career, and each of them would have been a lot more recent than Julie’s.
“There is one thing you could help me with. I’m sending my resume to a local newspaper in the next couple of days. Would you look at it to make sure it’s okay?”
“Of course, I can. Bring a copy into Paul’s restaurant tomorrow morning. We’ll sit down with a cup of coffee and go through it.”
Julie breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks, I’ll do that. See you soon.”
After she ended the call, Julie thought about how much her life had changed since moving to Sapphire Bay. For the first time in decades, she had friends who really cared about her.
Maria had brought her two containers of soup since Cole had been discharged from the hospital. Beth had dropped off a basket of fresh fruit, chocolate, and Julie’s favorite coffee, and Pastor John had left a voicemail making sure she was okay.
She didn’t know how Cole’s recovery would go or whether Griffin would offer her a job. But, for the first time in a long time, Julie was thankful that she wasn’t facing her future alone.