Ari looked at her mother’s pale face, not knowing how to respond. She couldn’t promise her mother that she’d continue living, because she couldn’t make it without her. It was the first time Ari ever remembered her mom asking something of her that she couldn’t do.
“I’m serious, Ari. I want you to live your life for you. Enough of this guilt eating you up inside. Enough of all this sadness. I need to hear some good news so please tell me how school is going?”
Guilt consumed Ari. She really didn’t want to tell her mother of her dire circumstances. What if it sent her back into the coma? On the other hand, she couldn’t lie.
“I took some time off of school. You know I can’t graduate without you sitting in the front row cheering me on. It wouldn’t be the same.”
“Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. Well, I’m awake now, and I’m just fine, no matter what those doctor’s say. You go back to school and enroll. You’re not a quitter, and I already have the frame picked out for your graduation photo. I’m so very proud of all you’ve achieved.”
“Oh, Mom,” Ari cried as she climbed up into the bed next to her. Even though her mother was still weak, she lifted her arm and began stroking Ari’s hair like she’d always done when tragedy had struck. Somehow it made everything better.
She was supposed to be caring for her mom but, as usual, it was her mother taking care of her. She didn’t care. She needed this moment to be comforted. She promised herself that in a few minutes she’d find her inner strength and help her mom get through her horrible illness.
Being in her mother’s arms was giving her what she needed to carry on over the upcoming weeks or months. She said a silent prayer as the two of them lay there silently together.
*****
Ari came through her front door and saw the flashing light on her answering machine. She tossed her purse on the couch and forced herself to casually walk to the sink and get a glass of water and then stand there while she slowly drank it. Her eyes kept straying to the blinking red light only a few feet away as impatience amassed in her.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” she lectured herself. She didn’t want to press the button, hoping for a job offer, only to find out it was just another bill collector. It was always too devastating for her when that happened.
When she deemed enough time had passed, she walked to the machine, making sure her movements weren’t too hurried. She casually sat on the couch as she lifted her pen and paper that were sitting next to the small black box, and only then did she push the button.
She wasn’t happy with herself when hope gripped her heart. It didn’t matter how much she lectured herself, she was still going to be devastated when she found out that it wasn’t her dream job offering to save her from living on the streets.
“Ms. Harlow, this is James Flander from Sunstream Electronics. We’ve gone over your application and feel you are a strong candidate for our team. Please give us a call back as soon as you get the message so we can schedule you for an interview.”
Ari barely heard the rest of the message and had to play it back twice more so she could write down the number. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely grip the pen.
Waiting until her voice was calm and steady, Ari soon dialed Mr. Flander's number, pressed in the extension and took several deep breaths as she waited for him to come on the line.
Within minutes, she was scheduled for a job interview. Excited butterflies filled her stomach as she rushed into the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed. She could feel it was going to be her day. She hadn’t settled by selling her body. There had to be some kind of reward for that sacrifice.
She left the apartment thirty minutes after taking the call and climbed in her car, taking a moment to breathe deeply as her hands were shaking so badly.
“Calm down. You don’t want to blow this interview. You are smart, confident and made for this job. It was meant to be,” she told herself as she started the engine and pulled from the small complex.
Arriving in downtown San Francisco, Ari found parking with astonishing ease and made her way to the modest five story building. Sunstream Electronics provided home and business security for much of California and all across the states. It was a successful company with great benefits and job security.
The position was for an assistant, really just a glorified secretary, but she didn’t care. She could type letters all day long and take dictation down. It was a good place to work. As the elevator announced her arrival, in her mind she gave one last plug of encouragement, Chin up, shoulders back, stomach in. With that, she plastered a smile on her face and walked confidently into the room.
Chapter Seven
With a bounce in her step that had been missing for months, Ari practically waltzed down the hallway at the hospital. She was now officially employed as a personal assistant to the vice president at Sunstream Electronics. She was getting a great salary, allowing her the financial freedom to pay her mother’s medical bills. She could feel her life turning around. She may even manage to make it back to school to finish her degree.
A smile parted her lips as she turned a corner and hit a solid body with enough force that she bounced off and went flying to the floor, landing hard on her butt, sending a sharp pain up her spine.
“I’m so sorry,” she gasped as she tried to stand, finding the pain in her back making it a difficult maneuver.
“Are you okay?”
Ari’s body froze as her eyes traveled up the exquisitely encased legs of none other than Rafe Palazzo. What was he doing at her mother’s hospital? Had he followed her there? When she reached his eyes, his concerned expression made her forget all about her bruised tailbone.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“I could ask you the same,” he answered as he bent down and ran his hands over her legs. “Can you stand?”
Not if you keep running your hands across me, she nearly said before stopping herself. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? You fell pretty hard. It may be wise to get an x-ray,” he insisted, causing her temper to override the shock of seeing him.
“I said that I’m fine. Just back off so I can have some room to stand,” she practically snarled. His lips quirked in a slight smirk as he stood and held out a hand. She thought about ignoring it, but her tailbone was really smarting, so with reluctance, she placed her hand in his and let him lift her.