Free The Inheritance (Forever Bound #1) by Bree Callahan

happy and I might not be in love, but it doesn’t matter.” She stared at Ana and Ana didn’t seem convinced. Charity cleared her throat and stood up from the table. “Let’s go in the living room. It’s more comfortable in there.” Ana followed her into the room, and they both took a seat on the couch and placed their coffee cups down on a coaster. “I do want to let you know that I’ve decided to look for another job.”
    “You have?” Ana asked shock etched in her voice. “I thought you’d retire from Bill’s Diner.”
    Charity chuckled. “Really? Not even close,” she replied, playing it off. She thought the same thing, but again she had to tread lightly with Ana’s good news. “I don’t want to be a waitress all my life.”
    “Then what are you planning on doing?” Ana asked.
    Charity grabbed the newspaper from the coffee table and placed it between Ana and her. “I’ve really just started looking today, but I found a few possibilities. I thought of looking into something related to children. After all, I wanted to be a teacher, and I thought I could get my foot in the door and eventually if things worked out, I could go back to school.”
    Ana squealed. “Are you serious? That’d be awesome. I’d always thought you’d make a fabulous teacher.”
    Charity looked at the paper. She needed to get some money built up in her account before that’d be possible, but she couldn’t help but hope it would come true. She pointed to a couple of the postings she circled. “A daycare is hiring a full-time daycare aide. It sounds interesting, and the middle school is hiring a teacher’s assistant. Both jobs seem promising, so I’m going to go see if I can talk to someone tomorrow.”
    “Good for you, Charity. I wish you the best.”
    Charity smiled. “Thanks!” She sighed, folding the paper up and putting the newspaper back on the coffee table. Both jobs would surely bring in more money and more hours, so she couldn’t wait to get out there and see what was available to her.
     
    ***
     
    Derek walked into the office and was immediately hit up by Lily. “I have your schedule for today,” she said, entering his office before he could even discard his briefcase.
    He laughed. “Hello to you, too.” He put his briefcase on his desk and looked up.
    She chuckled. “Sorry. I have a ton to do at my desk, and I don’t have time to waste. Plus, your first appointment is in about five minutes.”
    He frowned. “I don’t recall anyone on the schedule until late afternoon.” He looked down at the schedule. “I don’t know any of these names that are on here. Care to explain?”
    She shrugged. “Amanda in HR has been busy, what can I say? She sent an email with these names and times they’d be here.”
    The notion hit him, and he cringed. “Interviews?” he asked, wishing he was wrong.
    She nodded. “Apparently word gets around and everyone’s clamoring for this position.” She left his office, and he could hear her laughing all the way to her desk.
    He glanced at his watch, picked up his phone, and dialed in Amanda’s extension. “This is Amanda,” she cheerily answered.
    “It’s Mayor Worthington. Um…five interviews today…seriously?” he asked.
    She laughed on the other end. “It sort of just happened. I’ve sent you an email that contains all the applicant’s resumes.”
    “How did this just happen? I only told you yesterday that Lily was leaving.”
    “We have employees in this building that happen to know someone in need of a job. I decided to give them first dibs. Plus, Lily said you were open in your schedule for this morning. I didn’t think it would matter when you had these interviews. Do you need me to cancel? I will, but I thought you’d want the job filled quickly.”
    He groaned. She had him there. “Don’t cancel them, just promise me that tomorrow won’t be as chocked full of fun,” he sarcastically said.
    She snickered. “I promise. Be sure to check your