Destiny Calling Read Free Page B

employee.” Mrs. Shaw sank into the leather chair, which practically swallowed her up. So far, the scariest thing about her was her dress. The flowers covering the polyester material shimmied as she swayed back and forth in her chair, as if longing to return to the sixties when the dress was made.
    My eyes were drawn to her necklace. The tiny silver masks were similar to the ones hanging on the sign outside. I placed my hand on the desk. If I could only touch her arm.
    “I understand.” Having endured rejection many times, I understood all too well. “I need this job, Mrs. Shaw.” That is, if I valued food and shelter.
    She peered over her tiny-black rimmed bifocals and sighed. “I know you do. They all do.” She raised a carefully penciled eyebrow so high it almost met the fringed bangs complementing her salt and pepper pixie haircut.
    She picked up a pen and tapped it on the desk. “If Miss Ruthie feels you’re appropriate.” She cleared her throat. “Despite not yet completing the process of an employment record.” She took a sip from her herbal tea. “And Chief, of course, he is the boss.” She smiled.
    I was surprised she referred to him by his nickname, since she was so formal with everything else. With one look at her face, the reason was obvious. He was why she worked here. Guess there is someone for everyone.
    A dull ache started behind my brows. I rubbed my head.
    “Have you tried taking medicine for your headaches?” Mrs. Shaw reached into her desk and took out a bottle of over the counter tablets, gave it a shake, and then held it up for my inspection. “These work wonders for me.”
    Looking at the bottle, I wished relief could be that easy. People who’d never had a migraine couldn’t comprehend how debilitating they could be. Destroying a perfectly good day…or an employment record. Besides, my headaches weren’t the normal garden variety.
    I wished I’d never come to know that.
    “…or cutting down on your caffeine.” Mrs. Shaw made clucking sounds with her tongue. “I’ve seen those giant cups of coffee the young girls guzzle all day. Those aren’t good for you. If I had any children, I can assure you they’d never start on any of those toxic beverages.”
    Like a bobble head, I nodded again, trying to look as if I’d not heard this lecture before or tried everything to get rid of the pain.
    Mrs. Shaw’s face softened, and she appeared pleased, as if she’d offered a solution. I wanted to keep her talking, rather than have her dwell too much on the application I was hunkered over, filling out with haste.
    “Are you getting enough sleep?” Mrs. Shaw scrutinized me. “I’m sure a pretty girl like you is asked out a lot by the fellows. I saw you talking to Griffith.”
    “What?” When I glanced up, she was regarding me with interest, and her eyes held a glint of strange anticipation.
    “I’m sure it’s a challenge to find fellows taller than you, though.” She continued as if she’d never mentioned Griffith.
    Maybe she hadn’t. I pinched the bridge of my nose and squeezed my eyes shut.
    “What are you, six foot?”
    “I’m five foot nine.” I probably seemed like a giant to her who looked all of five foot two in heels.
    “You may think you don’t have to worry about taking care of yourself, but from your driver’s license I can see you’re in your twenties now…”
    Mrs. Shaw’s droned on. The smell of cinnamon seeped into my senses, filling my pores and enveloping me.
    “Oh no, not now,” I mumbled. Mrs. Shaw was in full-force lecture-mode and didn’t acknowledge my comment.
    I took in the tiny office, searching for an air freshener or other potential source of the offending odor. A crammed bookshelf housed ancient books on office management with spines cracked and peeling. A multitude of photos of dogs appeared to be a substitute for the children she didn’t have.
    Nothing around that could explain the smell.
    “Then there are herbal teas you could try