Chapter Five

Sarah checked her email again and glared. Still nothing in her inbox about any of the jobs she’d applied to. Wasn’t she qualified? Didn’t over ten years in the industry give her enough experience? She’d been successful, landed tons of accounts, led hundreds of campaigns. Her references were outstanding. So, what was the deal? It wasn’t the holiday season where everyone was on vacation. It was March, for crying out loud. This was a great time of year to apply for jobs. Yet, here she was a week after sending her resume and applications in with nothing in return. A frustrated sigh left her and she snapped her laptop shut. Crossing her arms, she glanced around the empty store to find something to keep her occupied.

Gran came in through the back and approached where Sarah sat at the counter. Giving Sarah a side hug, Gran asked, “What’s the face for?”

“I’m just discouraged about jobs. I applied to several a week ago and haven’t heard back about any of them. I don’t get it.” She wanted to throw or hit something—anything to let off some frustration.

Gran tsked. “Give it time. Goodness, one week is a mere blink when it comes to business. You know that. The right answer will come when it should. Until then, it’s not as if you aren’t in a good place. You’re much more fortunate than most who lose their jobs.”

“I get it and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. You’re right. I’m luckier than most, but I guess I thought I’d find something right away.” Sarah grumbled under her breath. “And that I’d still have my own place in Seattle.” She hated when her grandmother’s logic prevailed. One week wasn’t enough time for things to move in the corporate world.

“What was that, dear?” Gran cocked an eyebrow and gave Sarah a Look.

Sarah fought against the heat rising in her face. Of course her grandma’s hearing was still excellent in spite of her age. “Nothing, Gran.”

The older woman humphed. “I thought so.” Gran puttered around the shop, tweaking displays here and there. “How are things living with Bridget and Jack?”

“Good. No complaints.” None aside from having their true love shoved in her face any time they were all in the same room. It was petty to whine about that. She adored her sister and was thrilled she’d found Jack, but damn if it didn’t rub salt in Sarah’s wounded heart. She’d spent years moving on from Cornelius and now she felt like she’d fallen down the cliff she’d worked so hard to climb. All it had taken were a few interactions with him to throw her into emotional turmoil. Between the love birds at home and her ex living next door, Sarah realized maybe she hadn’t healed as much as she’d thought…not that getting back with Cornelius was an option. Nope.

“How are wedding plans?” Gran asked.

Wincing inside, Sarah smiled on the outside. “Great! The invitations are all mailed and Bridget has the Wild Rose Inn reserved for the ceremony and reception. I think we’re going dress shopping this weekend. Maybe some kind of meeting at Wild Rose for planning? I think Becca said she’d take care of flowers from her own garden.” There was so much to do and not a lot of time. March was halfway gone and the wedding would be here faster than they could blink.

With a nod, Gran said, “Becca and I have the flowers set. We’ve already gotten ideas from Bridget and have early plans in place.”

The door chimed and both women looked over to see who entered. Gran beamed. “Hello, my almost grandson. What a lovely surprise!”

Jack walked over and hugged her grandmother. “Morning, Gran. You’re looking spry as ever.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere with me.” Gran chuckled. “What brings you by? Bridget isn’t here at the moment.”

“I know. I’m here on official TLC business.” He looked over at Sarah. “Do you have a few minutes?”

“Sure, what’s up?” She wondered what Jack could need from her for Timber Logging. And why talk to her here instead of at home?

He nodded his head over to the corner and they walked a few feet away. Gran busied herself with straightening shelves on the opposite side of the store. Jack cleared his throat. “Timber Logging is in need of some marketing services. We need to hire new loggers, ones with experience.”

“You need an HR person. Not marketing.” Sarah tried to tamp down her annoyance. This wasn’t the first time someone had confused the purpose of a marketing advisor.

“I need someone who can make what I write for job descriptions sound catchy and know where to advertise. Marketing. Not Human Resources. Plus, it would be great to have some pieces for actual promotion of TLC to get more timber requests, maybe even some long-term contracts. That’s right up your alley.” Jack grinned.

Sarah didn’t. “I don’t want your pity job. I have enough saved to be okay while I find something else.” Ugh, she wanted to wipe off the smug look on her soon-to-be brother-in-law’s face.

“Not what this is. At all.” He sighed and gave her a serious look. “I’ve been going through every book and spreadsheet for TLC. We’re not in trouble by any means, but I know how fast winds can change in the business world. We need to expand and have backups. I’d like to hire some seasoned workers, not just the local kids who are brand-new to logging. We need both to keep moving forward, plus new job contracts to keep them employed. I’m willing to pay you market value.”

She snorted. As if he knew how high her hourly rate was. “You can’t afford me.”

The charming smile returned. “You mean you won’t give your brother-in-law a family discount?”

“You aren’t married to my sister yet.” She crossed her arms. Given she didn’t have any current job interviews and she’d applied to all the open positions out there right now, Sarah couldn’t afford to turn Jack down. She just wasn’t sure what this meant for interacting with Cornelius. “Listen, I know Fallbank doesn’t garner what I’d be paid by a big firm in Seattle. I’m willing to be reasonable about my rate. What would this entail? Do you want me at your office or something? I can’t abandon the shifts I’m working here.” Please, please let him pick up on her need to avoid his business partner.

“I wouldn’t ask you to stop helping at Three Sisters. That would be sacrilege.” He pressed a hand over his heart with a mock gasp. “And you don’t need to come into the office. We see each other often enough. I’ll email you what I have for the job descriptions and what I’m thinking for a potential advertising campaign.”

“And I’ll fix all of it. From the comfort of home or the store when it’s quiet.” Gratitude at not having to go into TLC offices weakened her resolve. As long as she could evade Corey, this side hustle could work out.

Jack nodded. “Done.”

“You have a deal.” She held out her hand and he shook it. “But this is temporary. Once I start getting job interviews and offers, I’ll wrap up whatever I’m working on for you and that’s it.”

“You got it. Wouldn’t want to derail your job search.”

Sarah wasn’t so sure about Jack’s sincerity with his last comment. His cat-eating-the-cream smirk was far too suspect for her liking.

 

* * * *

 

Cornelius exited the regional airport in Eureka and made his way to his rideshare pickup while checking his phone again to see if his dad had texted. He assumed no news was good news and fired off a message that he was on his way to the hospital. Cornelius hadn’t taken his father up on the offer of a ride so that his parents wouldn’t be separated. Even though the surgery wasn’t scheduled for another few hours, their arrival time was far in advance. Anxiety swamped him as he sweated through the entire twelve-minute drive. Once he could see his mom in person, he knew he’d feel better…at least he hoped. He had to hold it together for a little bit longer and he’d be reunited with her. He bounced his foot hard enough the seat shook.

After navigating the medical complex and getting to her waiting room, Cornelius took a moment to breathe and calm his nerves. No reason to go in and make his mother upset or worry about him. He needed to keep focus on her and nothing else. Plastering a smile across his face, he knocked and opened the door. “Hey, Mom!”

Clarissa Hawthorne looked small and fragile in the hospital bed, hooked up to machines surrounding her. Her cheekbones stood out in her face from weight loss and her skin was paler than normal. She still beamed at him, though. “Hi, sweetheart.”

Cornelius blinked at the stinging in his eyes. Dammit, he hadn’t wanted to get emotional in front of her. There was no reason to add to her stress. “You look good,” he lied. “How’re you feeling?”

“Come here, honey,” she said and opened her arms.

Like he was still five years old, Cornelius threw himself into his mother’s hug—albeit with more gentleness, and let himself cry. Her eyes were wet too when he pulled back. His mom patted his cheek. “Feel better? I’m going to be okay, I promise.”

“You can’t promise that, Mama.” Cornelius choked out the words, still tied up with his emotions that his strong, vibrant mother was having surgery, that she had cancer. A cold pit of fear in his stomach opened and refused to close shut. His mom had to be okay. No other option was acceptable.

“You’re right. No one can. That doesn’t mean I won’t fight my hardest to recover. The doctors have high hopes that all of this will resolve.” She squeezed his hands. “I know I’ve lost a few pounds and I’m having surgery, but I do feel fine.”

Her reassurances eased some of the apprehension in his body. “That’s good. You know you and pops can always call me if you need anything.” Cornelius turned to greet his dad. “Hey, old man. You look like crap.” This time no lies were detected. Boyd looked haggard and defeated, tired in a way that Cornelius had never before seen in his father.

His father chuckled. “I know. I’m taking this harder than your mother.”

“We both are.” Cornelius shoved his glasses back up his nose. “Hate to see the woman in our lives sick and we can’t do a damn thing about it.” He despised this helplessness.

“All right. That’s enough fussing over me.” His mom waved a hand at Cornelius. “I’m more concerned that I’m the lone lady in your life. Aren’t you dating anyone?”

Sarah popped into mind and Cornelius just as fast shoved that thought away. She was back in town and seeing her was torture, but that was how things were. No changing that situation, either. They had broken up for a reason. Sure, he still might not know what that reason was, but it was something on Sarah’s end. He needed to move past these lingering feelings for her and find someone new. The dating app notifications he’d ignored made his phone seem like a lead weight in his pocket. “I’m not seeing anyone right now, but I am open to it.”

“Maybe you should get on those app things to meet girls,” his dad suggested.

“Women, pops. I date women, not girls.” Cornelius gave an exaggerated shudder.

His dad rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m trying to lighten the mood. It’s heavy in here.” Cornelius sighed. “I’m on dating apps. There’s not a lot of options in Fallbank. Even expanding the mileage range still doesn’t give much.”

His mom opened her mouth, but a nurse walked in. “Hello, Mrs. Hawthorne. We’re ready to get you wheeled back to the operating room for your procedure.” The nurse smiled at all three of them. “We’ll take good care of her. I promise. Dr. Ateyemi is the best. She’s a fantastic surgeon.”

Cornelius and his dad made their goodbyes to Clarissa and both men managed to keep crying at bay. Once they were out in the waiting room, his dad went to grab coffee while Cornelius staked out a couple of chairs.

While he waited, Cornelius checked his phone. A text from Jack had come in a while back.

 

Jack: Talked to Sarah and she’s on board. Good to go for help with the job and general TLC ads.

 

Running a hand through his hair, Cornelius exhaled. He couldn’t begin to unpack how that made him feel, given the status of his temperament and the situation at hand. He needed to not blow off Jack, yet didn’t want to commit to working with Sarah.

 

Cornelius: Cool. Let me know if you need any help.

 

Jack: How’s it going? Your mom doing all right? You hanging in there?

 

Cornelius: Yeah, things are okay. My mom’s surgery started a few minutes ago. I’ll check in with you after she’s done here.

 

He drifted his gaze up to the first text, the one about Sarah. A pang of sadness hit him in the chest. Twelve years later and he still missed her like their breakup was yesterday. It didn’t make sense. He should have moved on. God knew he’d tried. When she wasn’t around for long stretches, he would believe he’d gotten past all of this, that he’d stopped loving her. Yet as soon as she came back to town or someone mentioned her in conversation and Cornelius was back at square one. Maybe she would always be the one that got away, the one his heart would want more than any other.

He’d fallen for her the day they’d met—the day she had moved in with her grandparents. He’d seen her before on family visits, but never said hello. That day she’d sat on the sidewalk in a black dress, sadness draped over her like an invisible blanket. He couldn’t not speak to her to try to cheer her up. His poor ten-year-old heart never stood a chance. Of course when she’d kissed him at age twelve, let him get to third base at age fifteen and slide all the way home at sixteen, he believed they’d be together forever.

Too bad life threw a curve ball he couldn’t hit. Seattle had changed Sarah and with that her plans had, too…plans that no longer included him. Yet here he was, still mooning over her and wishing for one more chance at bat. He shook his head. Ugh, his stupid metaphors were annoying even him. “Get your shit together, Hawthorne.”

He could hear Hop’s voice in his brain.

“Let me give you advice you’ll never need. Don’t get back together with an ex. It doesn’t work out. Ever. Trust me.”

Cornelius did. He’d seen how Hop’s high school girlfriend had dragged him along for years. Then there was the woman he’d met at his first mobilization post and their volatile break-up-make-up relationship. Hop spoke from hard-earned experience.

“Hey, son.” His dad sank into the chair next to him and handed over a cup of coffee. “What’s got you looking depressed? Aside from the obvious?”

Adjusting his glasses, Cornelius shrugged. “Thinking about life. Women. Getting married. Having kids. The fact that I’m thirty-one and single.”

His father nodded. “Understandable. Your mother and I don’t mean to put pressure on you. Like most parents, we’d like to see you settled with someone. A family of your own before we depart this world. Assurance that you’ll have loved ones by your side.”

“Jeez, Pops. Way to make this super morbid. You and Mom are not dying on me.”

“Not tomorrow, but one day in the future we will. We worry about you and don’t want you to be alone. Your mother in particular. She wants to hold her own grandchildren.”

Grandchildren? Cornelius struggled with finding a date, let alone someone to have kids with. The idea was like ice cold water thrown down his back. “Dad, I…”

“I know. You’re having a hard time finding someone. You don’t want to settle and that’s a good thing. Nothing wrong with taking your time for the right person.” His dad glanced at the doors to the OR. “Just maybe don’t take too long.”

Cornelius patted his father on the back. “I’ll do my best, Pops.” As he stared at the doors, willing the doctor to come through them even though there were still several hours to go, he realized he needed to change his habits, make a real effort at meeting women and finding a real relationship. He might not be able to let go of Sarah entirely, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fall in love with someone else.