How to Bake the Perfect Apple Pie Read Free Page A

ethic of the CEO and the trickledown effect to the managers. I can see that even though we have individual stats we do work together as a team, and I really value that.”
    “I totally agree…the Keurig coffee is pretty awesome.” We both laugh. “Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be in touch.” I roll back my chair and stand up. We shake hands and she exits my office.
    The rest of the meetings go about the same. My heart is beating overtime. The adrenaline rush of being able to pick the right candidates from the stack is racing around in my mind. Perhaps if I chose any of the other candidates from the stack I might like them also, but of the five I’ve interviewed, I like them. I’m surprised I’ve decided on them before the clock ran out. I can see their future with our company and them being great employees for my team.
    But what if I’m wrong?
    Only ten minutes until I meet with Javier. There isn’t enough time to interview anyone else. I’ve got to go with these and not let my internal doubt stand in the way. I grab my cell phone from my purse and press
Jack-my-fiancé
’s number. It rings twice.
    “Lauren…how are things going?” Jack lets out a deep breath.
    The sound of his voice drizzles like melting chocolate beyond my ear and slides down to my toes. My cheeks are warm. I take in a deep breath and pucker my lips together.
Focus.
“Good…actually great. I’ve narrowed down my five candidates for my team and I’m about to meet with my boss to go over them.” I move the mouse on my desk and glance at my email. All five candidates have sent follow-up emails. My stomach clenches. This is even better.
    “Great, Lauren, that’s…great.”
    The following silence is dark. Like a deep hole, there is no sound. No understanding. We are so far apart. I know physically there are thousands of miles, but emotionally it seems further than that. Is this distance going to break us? Do we even have a foundation built to handle this issue?
    “Jack…is everything all right?” A lump forms in the back of my throat.
    “Yes…no…Lauren, I don’t want to be without you… Seriously, why don’t we meet in Vegas this weekend and make it official? I bet we can even have Elvis marry us.” Jack laughs.
    I laugh for a second. But I can’t joke about this. “Jack, I don’t want to be married by Elvis or in Vegas… I want…I want a real wedding… It doesn’t have—”
    “I know, Lauren, I want to give you a real wedding but it’s only been hours since I last saw you and the distance is too much.”
    I sigh. “I agree…it’s too much.”

Chapter Two
    Bing. My email system alerts me that I have another email. It’s almost as if it’s taunting me. Like it knows that it’s yet another email from my mother. A wedding theme possibility, no doubt. I swear the moment Jack and I became engaged my mom went into full-on planning mode. I think she has even put off her annual Valentine’s Day cupids and hearts ceremony. It’s still January, but usually by this time she’s sent me several pins for her Valentine’s Day Extravaganza board so I too can appreciate all the possibilities of her decorating themes and parties, costumes and cards. When it comes to holiday planning my mom goes all in.
All in.
As in dressed from head to toe in…interesting
décor.
    I click on the message.
    “Dearest Lauren,
    I’ve created a Pinterest board for you and Jack. No need to thank me—it was a lot of fun to do. Well, actually I’ve created several Pinterest boards for you. Currently, there are ten different boards with various themes. I’ve pinned over a thousand pins in only a few hours! Anyways, I know you’re at work but when you get a chance, I think it would be a good idea to narrow down the theme so we can focus on building the best wedding for you and Jack.
    All my love,
    Mom”
    I roll my eyes. I cannot believe…well I can believe it’s just ten Pinterest boards of wedding themes, but over a thousand pins? It’s