Chapter 27 #2
Kylie paused, taking it all in with deep breaths. Christmas songs were being piped over the town’s public address system, local radio station WLUV playing holiday music. The station normally played only love songs, but weren’t Christmas songs all about love, at the core?
This was what she wanted, her soul incredulous, her mind racing to process it all. Goodness and decency radiated off of Luke, and Harriet was the absolute sweetest. Kylie almost needed to pinch herself to be convinced this wasn’t a dream.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Wendy.
How’s it going? she asked. I’m up late with Estelle. She got food poisoning and is puking. The fun side of my job.
Way to take the shine off Kylie’s afternoon.
I’m better off than you, Kylie texted back. Welcome to nannying. It isn’t all hot German dudes named Johann. Just spent time with Luke and Harriet.
You’re working, too?
No, she typed, hesitating. Desperate for someone to talk to, she spilled her guts. Luke and I kissed.
CONGRATS!!! Has he proposed yet?
Kylie sputtered, looking around as if people could read her sister’s crazy words.
Uh, one kiss isn’t grounds for engagement, she replied.
In some countries, it is. But Kylie! YAY! You snagged Hot Cop.
I don’t know about snagged, but he asked me out on a date tomorrow.
Date! This is serious!
It’s… nice.
Kylie’s getting laid!
A purple eggplant appeared. Wendy was a walking cliché when it came to sex emojis.
We’ll see.
Does this mean you’re staying? Calling off the job search?
Finger hovering over her screen, she let Wendy’s question percolate.
I don’t know, she said honestly. So far, no bites from New York.
I know it’s your dream, Ky, but maybe your new dream could be staying in Luview? Or having a Luview in you? ;)
You are sick.
I am right.
I need advice, not a bunch of vulgar jokes.
You want my advice? Keep your options open. No one’s locked down here. If you get an interview, go for it. You don’t have to make any decisions until you have a job offer in hand. Until then, explore.
When did you become so insightful?
People in Europe just are flat out smarter than Americans.
You’re not European!
No, but I had one in me…
LOL! Kylie wrote back, literally laughing out loud. Her sister was right, though. About all of it.
Options were good.
TTYL, Wendy typed. Estelle’s calling for me.
The conversation was over.
By the time she reached the driver’s side door to her car, the downtown streetlights were on, giving the shopping district a warm glow that matched her internal state.
Her phone buzzed with a notification, and she looked. An email.
An email from one of the jobs she’d applied for.
Dear Ms. Hood,
Thank you for applying for the production coordinator position with KidzdocTV. We’re impressed by your credentials, especially your experience with on-site children’s programming, and would like to invite you to an online interview on...
The letter’s words turned into gibberish as her eyes raced across the page, barely able to absorb meaning. She got a Zoom interview?
She got the interview.
KidzdocTV was the premiere children’s programming station for high-quality documentaries and reality TV for kids. If she got a job there, she’d be set for life.
Or, at least, set for a couple of years. Nothing was permanent in the corporate world, but this would be a huge steppingstone.
In New York City.
Looking down the street, she stared at the police station.
Looked down at her phone.
Police station.
Phone.
The glow of the afternoon spent with Luke, Harriet, and his parents faded as if an ill wind blew it away, chilling Kylie to the bone suddenly as two worlds clashed.
Still reeling from what they’d learned about Amber, and excited by the camp’s possibilities, she’d let herself live in a future where she became part of Luview, in every way possible.
Part of the town.
Part of a family.
Part of Luke’s heart.
And now she faced a fork in the road, where the need to choose between two possible futures had to finally resolve itself. She was either setting down roots, or she was spreading her wings.
No. Hold on.
Nothing said she had the New York job. This was just an interview, right? And it was just a Zoom interview, which wasn’t a big deal. Just like the kisses with Luke weren’t technically violating Number 14, Part A, accepting an online interview for a job wasn’t about making a commitment.
It was about exploring a possibility.
Fifteen years ago, Kylie was wrenched from one world to another without a choice. Without input. Without consideration for what she wanted.
And now?
What did she want?
The right thing for her heart was to turn down the interview, get in her car, drive to Luke’s house and tell him how she felt. Pour it all out and take a deep breath, hoping he felt the same way. Take a big leap and be vulnerable. Open. Honest.
Real.
The right thing for her pride was to prove that Perry hadn’t ruined her. To go back to New York and resume the career she’d always wanted. To shape what children saw in the media and to make a difference in the world.
To be independent, her mother’s voice hissed in her head. To protect yourself.
Heart and pride were in conflict.
And Kylie hated conflict.
“‘When in doubt, don’t’,” she muttered aloud, her mother’s words coming easily to the tip of her tongue. They rang hollow, though, a product of fear.
Kylie didn’t want to live in fear.
She wanted to live in abundance.
Wendy told her to keep her options open.
Without further hesitation, she replied to the email, accepting the online interview. It was just a screening, a weeder interview. Chances were good nothing would come of it, and it would be good practice. Maintaining more than one option was smart.
Options were always good, right?
Right?