Tori could not believe her luck. A regular job in a regular office, with regular people.

“I’ve been coming here every Friday night for years. You are always kind and efficient. With Dorothy leaving, I really need someone to keep me and Robert in line. We can’t be trusted on our own.” He let out a guffaw.

“I don’t know anything about working in an office,” Tori responded.

“You’ll learn. Besides, most of our clients are regular people who need wills drawn, real-estate closings, a few divorces, and a little estate planning. And I use that term lightly. It’s not as if we have a lot of estates in this area. The bigger money is closer to Asheville, but it’s a good, decent practice, and I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.”

Tori was truly taken aback by his offer. “Can I talk it over with my husband?”

“Of course. The hours are ten to four Monday through Friday. No weekends, no evenings. The salary is twenty dollars per hour.”

“Are you sure you’re not a salesman?” Tori joked.

George Layton laughed. “I was when I was in law school! You think about it and give me a call. The sooner the better. Dorothy is leaving at the end of the month, and I’d like her to be able to show you the ropes.” He handed her his business card. “Please. Think about your little boy. You’ll have more time with him. My only concern is that if I steal you from this place, they may start spitting in my food!” Both let out a big cackle, causing other guests to turn their heads.

Tori took the card and tapped it in her hand. “I will certainly think about it.” But she knew she was going to accept. She just had to run it past her husband first. Heaven forbid she make a decision without him.

It had been a no-brainer. The money and the hours were so much better than the grind of being a mom and housewife all day, then being a hostess at the busiest restaurant four nights a week. When she told her husband about the offer, he had a mixed reaction. The money was a great incentive, but it would put Tori in front of an entirely different situation. He liked the way things were. Predictable. It was a reaction from when he was in his teens and his entire life was chaos.

Tori remembered the feeling she had when she accepted the job. Elation. And for some odd reason, she was feeling that same emotion now. She rested a hand on her belly. Maybe it was her hormones.

As the water became tepid, she decided it was time to dry off and make a cup of tea. She wondered how long she could keep her pregnancy a secret. Another month, perhaps.