He continued explaining. "I used to ask mom about you all the time. Occasionally when she ran into you, she would update me. After a while, I think she stopped on purpose because she could tell it brought back painful memories."
His words knocked the wind out of me. "I didn't realize you were impacted."
"Well, I was. I know that was a long time ago and you've moved on with your life. But as I stand here looking at you, it feels like it was just yesterday that we hugged goodbye for the last time. Some wounds take longer to heal more than others, and some never heal."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You were my high school sweetheart. Most high school sweethearts get married. That's what should've happened with us. If I wasn't so young and dumb about how I handled things, we'd probably be married today,” he said.
"That's a little presumptuous, don't you think?"
"Is it? Ask anybody, and I bet you they'd say the same."
He was probably right. I dated after Ethan but never loved anyone the way I loved him.
"I guess we'll never know," I said.
"Never say never. I followed you out here to see if there's any chance you'd be open to a fresh start at getting to know each other again?"
"Ethan, we're a little too old to play high school sweethearts, don't you think?"
"I'm not proposing that we play anything. The least that can come out of it is the chance to catch up on old times. The best that could come from it is an opportunity to finish what we started. Either option is much better than how we left off. Wouldn't you agree?"
He always had a way of making me crack a smile even when I didn't want to.
"Agreed."
I caved in. Let's face it, spending time with Ethan couldn't be any worse than hanging out with the guys I'd met over the years. At least I was more familiar with this one.
"Alright. Now we're talking. If you would be so kind as to write your number on this…"
He rummaged through his briefcase, looking for something to write on.
"What kind of lawyer doesn't have paper in his briefcase?" I teased.
"Oh, this whole briefcase and fancy suit thing is just for show. After all, I do have an image to uphold as a hotshot lawyer. I think that's what you called me, right?"
"Ha... ha... ha. Now I'm going to call you Ethan, the comedian."
"I'm just teasing ya."
"Good. Besides, you don't need a pen. I have the same cell phone number that I've had since senior year."
"Are you serious?"
"I guess there's only one way to find out."
I winked at him before sitting in my car and turning over the ignition. When I put my window down, he leaned over to share a few parting words.
"I hope you're telling me the truth. If not, I know where your parents live."
"Like I said… there's only one way to find out."
I put my sunglasses on, reversed out of the space, and waved. I didn't foresee this conversation with Ethan turning out the way it did. His desire to reconnect definitely slipped under my radar.
Payton
"Picture Perfect, how may I help you?" Abby answered.
Abby helped to keep the store afloat while I conducted my last interview for the day. Having her around as things started to pick up had been a lifesaver. However, she needed to get back to the kids, and I needed extra help, pronto.
I brought my interviewee over to the couch to have an informal chat.
"Natalie, thank you for joining me today."
"Thank you for having me, Ms. Matthews."
"Why don't we start off by you telling me a little about yourself."
"Sure, I'm in my junior year of college. My major is in marketing, and I currently have a 4.0 GPA. Since I have a pretty flexible schedule, my plan is to work part-time to start gaining some experience."
Natalie had golden-brown hair that was elbow length and a smile that lit up the room. She wore a very professional looking outfit, and I could tell she was taking the interview very seriously.
"That's fantastic. So technically, this would be your first job?"
"My first job working for someone other than a family member or a neighbor. I used to babysit, and during the summer, I worked at my uncle's hardware store before he retired. It was at the hardware store that I learned the basics of customer service and how to operate a cash register. I can provide references for you if you'd like."
"Wonderful. Natalie, that's just the kind of experience I'm looking for. As you know, my photography store is still rather new. The busiest time of the day for me is afternoons and Saturdays. I need someone who can work the cash register, answer phone calls, and book appointments. Does that sound like something you'd be interested in doing?"
"Yes, that would be perfect. If you hire me, you won't be disappointed. "
I really liked her confidence. So far, out of all the other candidates, she was definitely a strong consideration.
""I love your enthusiasm. I have one last question for you before we conclude. Tell me about a time when you were challenged by a situation at work and how you decided to respond."
"That's a good question. It would have to be the time a customer yelled at me for not finding what he needed fast enough. He was asking for a specific kind of nail that was impossible to locate. I tried my best, and even apologized. Needless to say, he still left the store without his nails."
"That's exactly what I'm looking for. You can't always please everyone. You tried your best, and that's all you can ever do."
"Thankfully, my uncle thought the same thing. I thought for sure he would be mad at me, but he wasn't."
"Natalie, I'm impressed with our interview today. I'm going to reach out to your references and if everything pans out, you
