Finding Home Read Online Free

Finding Home
Book: Finding Home Read Online Free
Author: Irene Hannon
Tags: Romance, Christian, Love Inspired, Starfish Bay
Pages:
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this week.”
    “What about Sarah’s job?”
    Elaine folded her hands over her rounded stomach and grinned. “How would you like a promotion?”
    A few beats of silence passed as Cindy digested the unexpected offer. “I’ve only been here a year.”
    “But you came to us with excellent credentials from your museum work in Dallas.”
    “That was twelve years ago.”
    “You haven’t lost any of your skills. I was sorry I couldn’t offer you a higher-level job to start with. Now I can.”
    When she named the new salary, Cindy caught her breath. She and Jarrod were doing okay, but the extra money would help. A lot.
    “That sounds great, Elaine. Thank you.”
    “Exemplary work deserves to be rewarded. However...there is a downside. I know you’ve been trying to keep regular hours, and I understand that. You’ve had some rough months, and Jarrod needs you. But as the collections and displays manager, you’ll be responsible for the Summer Sizzler exhibit. Because you’re new in the job, the project will probably require extra hours. Is that a problem?”
    Was it? Cindy had helped Sarah last year with the display for the annual fundraising drive. It had been complicated and time-consuming, but six years of doing it had allowed Sarah to pull it off with ease—and do a stellar job. “Barnstorming, Balloons and Blimps” had chronicled area history from a bird’s-eye perspective, garnering widespread media attention and encouraging generous—and much-needed—contributions from residents.
    Topping that would be tough.
    But with the fundraising kickoff only five months away, a pro like Sarah would surely have things well under way. She could make this work without too many extra late hours if she skipped her lunch breaks and came in earlier.
    “It’s not a problem.” She gave Elaine a confident smile. “And thank you for the opportunity.”
    “Thank you. I’m glad I had someone well-qualified close at hand. Because I’ll be out playing new mommy—” she tapped her tummy “—I won’t be much help. But I know you’ll do a great job.”
    “I’ll meet with Sarah tomorrow to go over the project.”
    “Perfect.” Elaine hoisted herself to her feet. “Now go home. While you can.”
    As Elaine disappeared through the door, Cindy shut down her computer and stuffed some documents in her briefcase to review after Jarrod went to bed, still marveling over the unexpected promotion. Not a bad way to end a Monday.
    Yet as she grabbed her purse, doubt began to erode her euphoria.
    Had she taken on too much? With life just settling down for her and Jarrod, was it wise to throw in a new complication? Should she have turned down the offer?
    She slung her purse over her shoulder and gripped her briefcase. She’d already been putting in extra hours thanks to the short-staffed situation, so that was nothing new. And she and Jarrod were coping, despite last Friday’s glitch with that unpleasant Scott Walsh. Plus, it wasn’t as if she’d have to start from scratch on the exhibit. She could build on whatever Sarah had already worked up. By next year, after a full twelve months in the job, she’d be ready to tackle the project on her own. She had the skills. The enthusiasm. The confidence of her boss.
    There was no reason to worry.
    * * *
    Twenty-four hours later, Cindy pulled into the parking lot at the Orchid to pick up take-out dinners, set the brake, rested her forehead on the wheel—and fought back another wave of panic. They’d been crashing over her steadily since nine o’clock this morning, when she’d discovered Sarah hadn’t even begun to work on the display proposal yet.
    What had she gotten herself into?
    She wanted to be angry, but how could she be after Sarah had admitted her husband had been fighting depression for months? That she’d been on edge for weeks while he advanced from one round of interviews to another for his new job? That her doctor had prescribed an antianxiety drug to help her cope?
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