Page 2 of Help Wanted

“You should take some time off. Just relax. Go on a tropical vacation,” Rachel suggested.

Kenley made a show of looking under the table.

“Sure. That sounds like a great idea. Now, where did I put my rich husband to pay for everything while I’m lying on the beach drinking? Oh, right! I don’t have one. I support myself.” She was most likely going to have to give up her expensive, miniscule apartment in Manhattan and move back home. Another small part of her withered up and died.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rachel asked, her brow raised. While Kenley might not begrudge their ability to go where they pleased at eleven in the morning, she might have been slightly bitter about the major financial back up that came from being married to a well-off man. Even if Vanessa’s well-off man was Kenley’s older brother.

“Nothing.” Kenley rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry.”

“You need to find a better job. You were going nowhere at that place anyway,” Vanessa said. “You did everything for her, and she held you back so she wouldn’t have to find someone to replace you. You should find a job here so you can move home and be closer to your niece.” Her best friend/ sister-in-law made it sound like a benefit—which it was—but it was also surrender to her failure.

“I like living in the city.” In the city she was just another anonymous fish struggling to make it upstream. She was so busy she didn’t realize what she was missing.

“This is your chance to get out and live.” Rachel sounded like an 80s cruise ship activities director.

“Does this have anything to do with me, or is this about you feeling trapped?”

“Who knows? It will be good for both of us.” Her friend shrugged as Vanessa pulled out her phone.

Kenley’s drink finally arrived and she downed it before the waitress left. With a wince and a cough she held up the empty glass.

“Another, please,” she wheezed. The waitress—who should have been impressed—looked annoyed as she trotted off to fetch another drink.

“I don’t think getting wasted is going to help your cause,” Rachel warned.

“I will be happy to test your theory, as I have no other plans at the moment.”

“Ooh! Here’s something that would be perfect for you.” Vanessa held out her phone, expanding the print on the screen.

“It’s in New Haven.” Kenley frowned as reality reared its head. If she didn’t find another job in Manhattan right away, she would have to move.

“It’s at the marina.”

“What’s the position?” Kenley leaned over to get a closer look. Maybe this was what she needed. “It would be a fresh start. And it’s only an hour and a half from Manhattan. Not on the other side of the world. Plus I’d be closer to you guys.”

“It would be nice to see you more often.” Rachel pouted out, working her over with guilt.

“If I’m still friends with the two of you after you were both pregnant at the same time, I think I’ve proven my loyalty.” Kenley plucked the cherry out of Vanessa’s drink and bit it from the stem as they chuckled. Where was her second drink?

“You’re right. You need a fresh start where you can meet the man you’ll give your heart as well as your…” Vanessa didn’t finish the sentence, she simply pointed to the cherry stem in Kenley fingers.

“What is this dream job in New Haven?” She changed the subject.

“Like I said, it’s at the marina. It looks like they repair and restore boats.”

“I don’t know anything about boats.”

“You don’t need to. They’re looking for an Executive Production Coordinator.”

“That sounds like a fancy name for a secretary,” Kenley said.

“What was your title at your last job?” Vanessa asked with a look.

“Assistant Director of Programs.”

“And what did that mean?”

“Secretary.”