the cue, and…
CRACK!
The cue ball flew off the table, narrowly missing a waitress and landing with a splash in someone’s drink at the bar.
The entire bar went silent for a moment before erupting into a mixture of laughter and applause. Adam stood there, cue still in hand, looking like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.
“Oh no,” Laura murmured, half–laughing and half–concerned. She got up from the booth. “I better go help him before he gets kicked
As she approached Adam, who was profusely apologizing to the bartender, Jen called out, “That’s my sister – always helping the less fortunate!”
Laura shot her a playful glare over her shoulder before turning to Adam. “Hey, um, maybe we should stick to nachos and leave the pool. to the professionals, huh?”
Adam’s relief was palpable. “That sounds like a much safer option. I’m so sorry about all this.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Laura assured him, guiding him back to their booth. “It’s not every day we get dinner and a show.”
As Adam slid into the booth next to her, looking both grateful and mortified, Laura couldn’t help but feel a spark of… something. It wasn’t attraction, not really, but maybe… possibility?
Keisha, ever the peacemaker, pushed the nachos towards Adam. “Here, have some. I find cheese usually helps in embarrassing
situations.“!
“Thanks,” Adam said, cautiously taking a chip. “I, uh, don’t suppose you ladies would believe me if I said that was all part of an elaborate plan to join your table?”
Jen snorted. “Not a chance, pool shark. But we’ll give you points for creativity.”
As the conversation flowed, Laura found herself relaxing more than she had in months. The weight of the divorce, the stress of the trial – it all seemed to melt away in the warm glow of friendship and laughter.
They swapped stories, with Adam regaling them with tales of his most spectacular lab failures (“And that’s why you should never mix hydrochloric acid and aluminum foil, kids!“), and Keisha sharing gossip about old classmates (“Remember Sarah from Psych 101? She’s a professional dog psychic now.“).
As the night wore on and the bar began to thin out, Laura felt a comfortable buzz, both from the alcohol and the company. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed this much.
“Oh!” Keisha exclaimed suddenly, looking at her phone. “I almost forgot. Laura, about that job – can you come by the warehouse tomorrow around 10? I talked to my boss, and he’d love to meet you‘
Laura blinked, momentarily thrown by the shift back to reality. “Oh, um, yes! Absolutely. Text me the address?
As Keisha tapped away on her phone, Jen nudged Laura. “See? Told you things were looking up.”
Laura smiled, a genuine, hopeful smile that reached her eyes. “Yeah, I guess they are.”
Adam, who had been quiet for a moment, cleared his throat. “Um, I know this might be a bit forward, but… Laura, would you maybe want to get coffee sometime? No pressure, of course, and I totally understand if you’re not interested or if it’s too soon or-
“Adam,” Laura cut off his rambling, surprised to find herself charmed by his nervousness. “Coffee sounds nice. Why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll call you once things settle down a bit?”
The relief on Adam’s face was comical. “Yeah, great! That’s.. that’s great‘
As they exchanged numbers, Jen and Keisha shared a knowing look.
п
Finally, as the bartender called out for last orders, they knew it was time to call it a night
“This was amazing,” Laura said as they gathered their things. “We need to do this more often.
Keisha pulled her into a hug. “Absolutely. And hey, no matter what happens with the job tomorrow, we’ll celebrate again, okay?”
They said their goodbyes, with Adam awkwardly waving as he headed off in the opposite direction, nearly tripping over his own feet in
the process.
As Laura and Jen started walking home, the cool night air a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the bar, Jen linked her arm through
her sister’s.
“So,” Jen said, a teasing lilt to her voice, “Adam seems nice.”
Laura laughed, shaking her head. “He’s sweet, but I’m not ready for anything like that yet. Today was about celebrating my freedom, remember?”
Jen nodded, her expression softening. “I know. And I’m so proud of you, Laura. You’ve been through hell, but you came out stronger.”
Laura leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder as they walked. “I couldn’t have done it without you, you
Oh, please,” Jen scoffed, but Laura could hear the emotion in her voice. “You’re the strongest person I know. You would have been fine.
“Maybe,” Laura conceded. “But I’m glad I didn’t have to find out!
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the streets quiet save f through Laura’s mind – the tension of the courtroom, the relief of the verdict, the unexpected joy of the evening.
for the occasional car passing by. The events of the day played
As they approached their building, Laura paused, looking up at the night sky. In the city, the stars were hard to see, but she could make out a few twinkling lights.
“You okay?” Jen asked, concern creeping into her voice.
Laura turned to her si
sister, a serene smile on her face. “Yeah, I really am. For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful.”
Jen squeezed her hand. “Good. You deserve it.”
As they climbed the stairs to their apartment, Laura felt a sense of peace settle over her. The road ahead was still uncertain, with new jobs and potential relationships on the horizon. But for now, in this moment, she was content.
Jen yawned as she unlocked the door. “God, I’m going to feel this in the morning. Remind me I’m too old for weeknight drinking, okay?”
Laura laughed, following her inside. “Never. Growing up is overrated.”
As they got ready for bed, Laura caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror. The woman looking back at her was tired but happy, her eyes bright with the promise of new beginnings.
“Goodnight, Jen,” she called out, climbing into bed.
“Night, Laura,” came the muffled reply. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” Laura murmured, already feeling sleep tugging at her consciousness.
CHAPTER TWENTY–ONE–Caught Between Two Worlds
Laura McKenna stood in front of the bathroom mirror, carefully applying a light layer of foundation. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her mascara, the nerves of her first day at the new job getting the better of her. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before continuing with her makeup routine.
“You’ve got this,” she murmured to her reflection, trying to summon the confidence she desperately needed.
After finishing her makeup, Laura moved to her closet, rifling through the clothes she’d carefully laid out the night before. She settled on a crisp white blouse and a navy pencil skirt, hoping the ensemble struck the right balance between professional and approachable.
As she made her way downstairs, the aroma of fresh coffee filled the air. Her sister, Jen, was already in the kitchen, pouring a mug for
Laura.
“Morning, sis,” Jen said, sliding the steaming cup across the counter. “Ready for the big day?”
Laura took a grateful sip. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
Jen reached out and squeezed her sister’s hand. “Hey, you’re going to do great. Remember, you’re smart, capable, and stronger than you know. This job doesn’t define you, olcay?
“Thanks, Jen,” Laura replied, managing a small smile. “I needed that.”
With a final hug from her sister, Laura grabbed her purse and headed out the door. The drive to the warehouse was mercifully uneventful, giving her time to mentally prepare herself for what lay ahead.
Pulling into the parking lot, Laura took one last deep breath before stepping out of her car. The warehouse loomed before her, a vast concrete structure that seemed to swallow the morning light. She straightened her skirt and walked towards the entrance, her heels clicking against the pavement.
Inside, she was greeted by a reception area that looked like it hadn’t been updated since the ‘gos. Behand the desk sat a middle–aged woman with graying hair and thick–rimmed glasses.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked, peering at Laura over her glasses.
“Yes, hi I’m Laura McKenna. It’s my first day as a secretary here.”
The woman’s face softened slightly. “Ah, yes. I’m Doris. Welcome to the madhouse,” she said with a wry smile. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a visitor’s badge. “Here you go. You’ll need to head to HR first, Take the elevator to the third floor, then follow the signs to Mr. Jackson’s office.”
“Thank you, Daris,” Laura said, pinning the badge to her blouse.
As she made her way to the elevator, Laura couldn’t shake
shake the feeling that she was walking into the unknown. The elevator creaked and groaned as it ascended, doing little to settle her nerves.
Following Doris’s instructions, Laura found herself outside a door labeled “Human Resources – Mr. Jackson” She knocked tentatively.
