Chapter 42

I ended up taking it.

The job, that is.

After a week, I finally came out of the coma I had slumped into and replugged the phone in.

Sad to say, it wasn't that I had reached enlightenment, although after a week of fasting, I should have.

Nope, nothing so drastic or life changing.

Simply put, I got hungry.

I called my favorite deli in town and asked for a delivery of fresh bread, crab salad, a wedge of Brie, and a basket of fruit. I took a shower, opened a bottle of chilled Galestro, and, as I waited for the food to arrive, picked up the phone. I called my family first and talked to my father for the longest time. He just listened, as he usually does. I could almost picture him leaning against the heavy dresser in the hall, where the only phone in the house is kept, nodding or frowning as the conversation unfolded. He whistled softly at the mention of Gabe's name. I finally sighed and waited for him to speak.

"Take the job. Don't be an idiot."