Chapter 14 - The Offer Anna Didn’t Expect
St. Anne’s called Monday morning.
Anna was folding baby clothes.
Daniel was upstairs trying to assemble a crib he claimed did not need instructions.
The crash from the bedroom suggested otherwise.
Anna answered the call.
Dr. Grant sounded cheerful.
“We’d like to offer you the position.”
Anna sat down.
For a moment, she could not speak.
“Anna?”
“Yes.”
“I’m here.”
Dr. Grant laughed softly.
“Good.”
The salary was better than Anna expected.
The schedule could be partly hybrid.
Three days on site.
Two remote after the first three months.
Start date flexible because of the pregnancy.
Anna’s heart raced.
“I need to discuss relocation.”
“Of course.”
“There’s a possibility we’ll be in Colorado Springs.”
Dr. Grant paused.
“That is a commute.”
“I know.”
“But.”
Anna waited.
“We’re opening a satellite program in Castle Rock.”
Anna straightened.
“When?”
“January.”
“That’s halfway.”
“Roughly.”
“We might eventually transition part of your role there.”
Anna smiled.
The pieces were moving in ways she had not planned.
“I’m interested.”
“Take two days.”
“Thank you.”
When the call ended, Anna sat in silence.
Daniel appeared in the doorway holding an Allen wrench.
“You look strange.”
“I got the job.”
His face lit up.
“You got it?”
“Yes.”
He crossed the room.
Then stopped before hugging her.
Anna noticed.
She smiled.
“You can hug me.”
Daniel wrapped his arms around her.
Carefully.
Anna laughed against his shoulder.
“I got the job.”
“You got the job.”
He pulled back.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re making the face.”
“What face?”
“The face where good news creates six new worries.”
Anna smiled.
“I hate that you know me.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Sometimes.”
They sat.
Anna explained the Castle Rock possibility.
Daniel stared.
“That could work.”
“Maybe.”
“Colorado Springs to Castle Rock is manageable.”
“Maybe.”
“Why are you saying maybe?”
“Because I’m trying not to turn possibility into a plan before we discuss it.”
Daniel smiled.
“That sounds familiar.”
She nudged him.
“Don’t be annoying.”
They spent the afternoon with notebooks.
Housing.
Schools.
Commutes.
Hospital distance.
Base access.
Childcare.
Anna wrote down everything.
Daniel wrote almost nothing.
She looked at him.
“Why aren’t you taking notes?”
“I’m listening.”
“That’s suspicious.”
He laughed.
Eventually they found three neighborhoods between the base and the interstate.
None were perfect.
All were possible.
Daniel pointed toward one.
“This school district looks good.”
Anna looked.
“So does this one.”
“Which do you prefer?”
Anna looked at him.
“You’re asking.”
“Yes.”
“I noticed.”
He smiled.
Then Noah walked in.
“Are we moving?”
Daniel lifted him onto his lap.
“Probably.”
Noah looked at Anna.
“To the mountains?”
“Yes.”
“Does Grandma come?”
The room went quiet.
Anna answered carefully.
“No.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked at her.
She nodded.
He spoke.
“Grandma made some choices that hurt Mom and me.”
Noah frowned.
“Is she bad?”
“No.”
Daniel answered immediately.
“She made bad choices.”
Anna looked at him.
That was exactly the distinction she wanted.
Noah thought.
“Can she say sorry?”
“She did.”
“Then is it fixed?”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“Sometimes sorry starts fixing things.”
Noah looked confused.
Anna added.
“But fixing takes time.”
He accepted that more easily than adults often did.
Then he ran outside.
Daniel watched him go.
“Kids are terrifying.”
“Because they ask questions?”
“Because they understand the answers.”
Anna smiled.
That evening, Evelyn sent a message.
Not to Daniel.
To Anna.
I understand if you don’t respond.
I canceled the apartment application and sent written corrections to everyone I contacted.
I am sorry.
Anna stared.
Daniel read it over her shoulder.
“What do you think?”
“I think she’s doing what we asked.”
“Do you want to reply?”
Anna thought.
Then typed.
Thank you for correcting the record.
We need time.
Evelyn responded only once.
I understand.
Anna showed Daniel.
He nodded.
No commentary.
No defense.
Progress.
Two days later, Anna accepted the hospital job.
That evening, Daniel officially accepted Fort Carson.
They signed both emails sitting beside each other at the kitchen table.
Daniel looked at her.
“Ready?”
“No.”
Anna smiled.
“You?”
“Absolutely not.”
They pressed send.
The future became real.
Then, at 2:14 the next morning, Anna woke with a sharp pain.
She sat upright.
Daniel woke instantly.
“What?”
Anna breathed slowly.
“Give me a second.”
Another pain came.
Stronger.
Daniel turned on the lamp.
Anna looked at the clock.
Her face changed.
“Daniel.”
May you like
He was already reaching for his phone.
“This is different.”
