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I drop to kneel beside her chair Tears are forhing like she feels silly

“I’ve been selfish in keeping you out there,” she says quietly “I justI can’t do without you But I see norong I’ve been I should have done er You were so upset too, about losing your friend”

I can’t say anything I don’t knohat to say

“But every ti for your job, I’d think about how good you are at it, how you basically keep this office running and keeping me sane Then I’d say, maybe another month won’t hurt”

“I only do my job,” I say, but she shakes her head

“Another month And another month And it did hurt you, Lucy You’ve had as you’ve wanted, and ideas, but I couldn’t bear to let you go”

“So the presentation was okay?”

She laughs and wipes her eyes “It is going to get you this proa as colleagues Mentoring you s I ever achieve in my career”

She looks at the last presentation slide and pauses

“I have to know, though If there were no interviews, no new job, would this idea have stayed locked up inside you forever? Why keep this to yourself?”

I sit back on my heels and look at my hands “Good question”

How s has this promotion unlocked inside me?

“I thought you knew your ideas were i to fret

“I think ht Or I didn’t have confidence Now I’, I think Even if I don’t get the job, this whole thing haswoken me up”

I think of last night, kissing Josh under a streetlight, and then remember