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  The following day, she dressed carefully for the interview. She wore her black suit with a pale gray shell and pearls. She also decided to wear Kendra’s mauve leather jacket and print scarf. While it was cold outside, she would be warm in the car, and from what Sharon had said, parking was not an issue. As Barbara inspected herself in the mirror, she remembered that the last time she had worn this outfit had been with Stewart on that memorable Monday. Should she change? She looked at her watch and realized she would not have the time.

  She arrived at the office of Eagle Vision about ten minutes early. As she sat in the parking lot of the small west end plaza, she watched as people went in and out of the drug store and small confectionary shop. Although the location was unimpressive, it was far more convenient and easier to access than downtown Toronto. Taking a deep breath, she got out of her car.

  Barbara entered the office and smiled at the lone receptionist. There were four other partitioned areas, all empty. She noticed a corridor that led to two enclosed offices. “Good afternoon, I’m Barbara Davies, here to see Sharon Clarke.”

  “Hi, I’m Sue. I’ll let Sharon know you’re here.”

  She picked up the phone and, after a brief conversation, waved Barbara toward the first office on the right. The door opened and Sharon came out. She smiled widely when she saw Barbara.

  Barbara entered the office and sat down opposite Sharon. She looked about and was disappointed by the lack of décor. The furniture had just been thrown together and different shades of beige and grey made up the muted color scheme.

  “I know. Not too inspiring, but it works for us.” Sharon spoke in an amused voice.

  Barbara blushed. She had to be careful around this woman. She may or may not have magical powers, but she could clearly sense feelings and attitudes. She nodded in agreement. “And that’s all that really matters.” She handed Sharon her revised résumé.

  Sharon went through the résumé very carefully, flipping back and forth between the two pages. “Your first fifty-three years may not have been too substantial career-wise, but you certainly made up for it in the last few months.” She put the résumé down. “Tell me about that book of yours.”

  Barbara described the basic premise behind It’s Your Time.

  Sharon grew more animated. “That’ll work well with the workshops and seminars you’ll be facilitating here. Many of them deal with transition and change.” She adopted a more businesslike tone. “Now about the actual job. As a corporate trainer, you will go into different organizations and teach such topics as communication, job transition, and other soft skills. At least, that’s what I see you doing right now. That could change. You would be based in this office and handle the west end and GTA speaking engagements. Occasionally, you might get a booking in Kitchener, London, or Windsor. You’ll be here in this office about four or five times a month. If all goes well, you’ll be spending most of the time on the road.” She smiled knowingly. “I usually ask about reliable vehicles, but in your case, that’s not an issue. I plan to start you off at fifty thousand dollars. Any questions?”

  The job sounded tailor-made for her. She loved speaking in front of groups and was intrigued by the idea of building a platform for her book. She didn’t mind spending time on the road. It would be a welcome change after the tension in the ReCareering office. “That sounds great. When can I start?”

  Sharon raised her eyebrows. “You are keen! I think this will work out well for both of us. How about coming in next Monday? We have a staff meeting, and you’ll get a chance to meet the other trainers. I’ll partner you up with Anne. You can follow her around for a few days and get your bearings before you start delivering your own presentations.” She added, “If I were you, I would wait a month or two before relocating. Get a taste of the different communities and parts of Toronto. Don’t rush into the first condo or house you see.”

  “I have no intention of leaving Carden, at least not until the fall,” Barbara said.

  Sharon’s eyes widened. “After all that’s happened?”

  “As you said, I’ll be spending most of my time on the road. I’ll just be sleeping in Carden, nothing else.”

  Sharon started to speak and then stopped. “Let’s wait and see what happens.” She raised an eyebrow wickedly at Barbara. “You have no questions about anything else?”

  Barbara knew she was being tested, but did not know how to respond. She shook her head. “No, everything’s fine, Sharon. Thank you for the job.”

  Sharon gave her a long look. “You could have negotiated salary. I would have been open to that. Keep that in mind when we meet in three months for your first performance appraisal.”

  Barbara laughed. “Lesson learned. Thank you.”

  Chapter 35

  As soon as she returned to Carden, she contacted Lisa738 and told her the news.

  Lisa738 clapped her hands. “I’m so happy for you, Barbara. How can I help?” Her eyes were bright and shiny as she continued to gaze at Barbara.

  Barbara was taken aback by her question. “I don’t know if there’s anything you can do this time. I already have the Specialist Skills button for presentation skills. And I have five different speeches prepared.” She thought with a pang of the speaking engagements she had cancelled.

  Lisa738 refused to be deterred. “You will need more material for the training sessions. Most of them will run entire days. I could do research for you. I’ll check into some of the other training organizations and find out what types of presentations they are doing. I’ll download the material and organize it for you.”

  Barbara was surprised at her resourcefulness. It was true. She would need more material, but she had planned to wait until after meeting with Anne, her new mentor. She agreed. “Thank you, Lisa738, that would be wonderful. Don’t feel you have to rush.” Lisa738 waved goodbye and faded into the screen.

  Barbara longed to share her news with someone else. But who could she call? While Janice had been very sympathetic, she did not feel comfortable contacting her so soon. Maybe in a month or so, she would pick up the phone and share her news. Hannah would be kind and not make hurtful comments, but she was a devout Catholic who followed her faith to the letter. She would not approve of Barbara’s fling with Stewart. Elaine may or may not have heard the news. In any event, she wouldn’t be too thrilled to hear that Barbara would be working for Sharon. As for Gillian. Barbara sighed. That last conversation had been a disappointing one.

  Call Kendra. This time, she welcomed the intrusive thought. Why not call Kendra? After all, she was one of her references. She found the number on her résumé and dialed it. Kendra picked up after two rings.

  “Peace and Plenty. Kendra Adams speaking.”

  Barbara smiled at the company name. How appropriate for a New Age business. She could use some of that peace and plenty right now. She took a deep breath and spoke hesitatingly. “Hello, Kendra. It’s Barbara Davies. Isabella from the Mediterranean Kingdom.” She hoped that Kendra would not be too upset with that reference to her former life.

  “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, Barbara,” Kendra said. “I’ve had two dreams about you since Christmas. One good and one not so good.”

  Barbara wondered if it was possible to have a normal conversation with any of these New Agers. Her curiosity won out. “Tell me about the dreams.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to upset you.”

  “Trust me, Kendra. There’s very little that would upset me right now.”

  “It sounds like you need some loving kindness and support. You’ve called at a good time. My client canceled and I have the rest of the afternoon free.” She paused. “I’ll start with the first dream. I dreamt that you were in a room filled with sunshine and lovely green plants. You were basking in the warm sunshine and smiling contentedly. Slowly, the plants started to disappear and the sun faded until it was totally dark and you were alone.” She spoke more quickly. “A few days later, I dreamt you were at the bottom of a large mountain, look
ing upward at the sky. You were surrounded by snow and it was cold outside. A large crowd cheered you on as you started to climb. Does any of this make sense to you?”

  “Yes, yes it does.” And then she gave Kendra a brief summary of her human life.

  “It’s too bad we didn’t connect earlier,” Kendra said. “I must remember to turn that answering machine on whenever I leave the office. But that is neither here nor there. Your life has turned out the way it has for a reason. And now, you need to unearth that purpose and use it for your own good and the greater good. Your book will be a success. I can see that already. As for your personal life, well, there are a few more twists and turns there. I see two more men entering your life.”

  “I don’t want any more men in my life. I’m having enough trouble with the ones who are already here.”

  “Don’t be like that,” Kendra said. “You were not meant to be alone. Right now the universe has shattered a few of your illusions, and it is necessary for you to heal and grow before you can have a loving relationship.”

  “That is not a priority for me.” Barbara spoke impatiently. “All that matters is my book and this new job.”

  “Why?”

  The question threw her. “I, everyone needs financial security.”

  “Not good enough. Go deeper. Why do you want the money? And why are you so intent on removing relationships from your priority list?”

  Barbara was quiet for a few minutes. “Relationships are messy. I liked being with Graham, but I sensed he wanted more from me. I wasn’t ready to commit to life in Carden. Stewart had more to offer financially and the sex was great, but I don’t see a long-term commitment there. I’m not even sure I want that. At least, not until after the book is launched.”

  “You’re trying to prove something to someone?”

  “To Annabella and Mirabella. I want to have everything that Belinda Armstrong has, but I want to get it myself. I want to show up my mother and throw my success in my grandmother’s face. I want to be the best of the Bellas.”

  “Wow!”

  “Yes, Wow! So Kendra, what advice do you have for me now?”

  “I have experienced Annabella’s competitive nature firsthand. And I’ve heard that Mirabella is a ruthless social climber in her earthly life as Belinda Armstrong. But, you, my dear Isabella, take the prize when it comes to competitiveness. You are driven to compete with your mother and grandmother, and I fear nothing will stand in your way until you achieve that goal.” She paused. “I hope that this will be enough to satisfy you.”

  “It will.” She changed the subject. “I have your mauve leather jacket. I hope you don’t mind me wearing it.”

  “I suspect it’ll be a bit tight for me.” She sighed. “Wear it with my blessing.”

  “Thanks.” There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

  Kendra broke the silence. “I’ve been invited to a Wellness conference in Toronto. I don’t usually visit Toronto during the winter months, but I would like to see you. I think I’ll accept the invitation. Maybe we could meet for lunch or dinner.”

  “That would be wonderful. When is the conference? Do you need a place to stay?” She heard a shuffling of paper on the other end of the phone.

  “First weekend of March. They’re putting me up at the Chelsea hotel in downtown Toronto. We’ll touch base before then and make plans to spend some time together.” She continued briskly, “In the meantime, you need to build up that social network of yours. It sounds like you’re all alone up there.”

  “I talk with Lisa738 regularly, and I will be meeting new people on this job.”

  “You need to connect with someone right now. Tell me about all the people in your life.”

  Barbara gave her a brief recap of all her Carden relationships and waited for Kendra’s response.

  “Call Elaine,” Kendra said. “She is the least judgmental of that crowd.”

  “I was planning to call her and Janice in a couple of weeks after I am more established.”

  “Don’t wait that long. Call Elaine after you finish talking with me. As for Janice, why don’t you wait until she calls you? While she appears the most sympathetic, she still feels guilty about letting you go and not helping you find a job. Give her time to get over those negative feelings.” Kendra repeated, “Call Elaine.” She hung up the phone.

  Barbara looked at the clock and hesitated.

  It was close to dinnertime, but she knew she wouldn’t call if she waited until later. She took out her address book and found Elaine’s number. She dialed and held her breath, hoping to get the machine and leave a message.

  “Hello, Barbara. How lovely to hear from you. I’ve been thinking about you.” Elaine’s voice sounded warm and sympathetic.

  “I guess you’ve heard,” Barbara said.

  “Yes, and I’m so sorry that you lost that job. How are you managing?”

  Barbara told her about her new job with Eagle Vision.

  “You know how I feel about Sharon,” Elaine said. “But I’m glad you were able to line up a job. It actually sounds tailor made for you. Just be careful.” She changed the subject. “This calls for a celebration. Why don’t you come down here and spend Saturday with me? We can go shopping and have lunch. You’re welcome to spend the night.”

  Kendra was right. This woman does not have a judgmental bone in her body. She laughed. “Sounds great, but I don’t need any clothes. I have enough.”

  “You’re starting a new job as a corporate trainer. You will need another suit or two and more blouses. I saw a lovely cape last week that would be perfect for you. Shoes and winter boots are on sale. I think we’ll start at Sherway Mall and work our way east.”

  Barbara mentally thanked Kendra as she listened to Elaine’s animated voice describe their upcoming shopping adventure.

  Chapter 36

  The rest of January flew by. Barbara quickly adapted to her new workplace. Anne was a wonderful mentor who helped Barbara to plan her presentations and Lisa738 contributed her meticulous research. With their help, Barbara developed and delivered seven different presentations. Sharon was impressed and complimented her on her progress. Barbara was looking forward to her first performance appraisal.

  Her social life also picked up. Anne was divorced and invited Barbara to join in many of her activities. Barbara liked the other women in Anne’s circle and enjoyed meeting them for dinners, theater, hiking, and ski trips to Mount St. Louis.

  Her Carden connections were slowly slipping away. Janice sent her a congratulatory card and wished her well in her new job. But there was no mention of getting together. Barbara recalled Kendra’s comments and wondered if Janice harbored any feelings of guilt. While she had sent a letter of reference shortly after the debacle, Janice had not made any suggestions or put out feelers for her.

  She continued to meet with Elaine, but less regularly. Elaine had connected with a widower in her condo building. They spent most of their time together and were planning a trip to Florida. So, she was surprised to receive a phone call late one evening. She considered not answering until she saw Elaine’s number on call display. She hoped nothing was wrong.

  As soon as she picked up the phone, Elaine started speaking in an excited voice. “Hello, Barbara. I’m sorry for the late hour, but I couldn’t wait until the morning. David found a lovely condo for us near Tampa and we’re leaving for Florida on Saturday. He was able to get it for two months. Can you believe it? Two lovely months away from this cold weather.” She took a deep breath and continued, “I’m calling to ask you a favor, actually a favor for both of us. We were wondering if you would consider staying in my condo for that time and checking in on David’s every other day. We thought you might like living in Toronto, especially during the winter months. And it would be good for you to get away from Carden for a while.”

  Barbara’s head was whirling. It was Wednesday, only a few days until the weekend. While it was unlike Elaine to be spontaneous, Barbara suspected that David was
changing all of that. Good for him! And good for Elaine! Now, it was her turn to be spontaneous.

  She replied enthusiastically, “Thank you, Elaine. That sounds great. When do you want me to come?”

  “Our flight doesn’t leave until Saturday afternoon,” Elaine said. “Could you be here early Saturday morning?”

  “Perfect.” Barbara looked around her bedroom and smiled. It wouldn’t take long to pack up her belongings. “I’ll see you then.”

  Barbara tossed and turned all night. She ate and dressed quickly. She walked down the stairs of her building to the superintendent’s apartment. When she knocked on the door, a sleepy-eyed Bob Traychuk answered. Barbara smiled and recalled their first meeting. It was her turn to catch him unaware.

  “Good morning, Bob. I hope I didn’t get you out of bed?”

  “Not to worry, ma’am. I’m on-call twenty-four seven. Is there some problem in your apartment?”

  “Nothing like that. I’ve come to give you notice. I’m leaving Carden this Saturday.”

  His eyes widened and he looked like he wanted to ask more questions. “Kind of sudden, ma’am. Is everything all right?”

  “Everything’s fine, Bob. I’ve decided to move to Toronto. It’ll cut back on the commuting time.”

  “I suspect it will.” He longed to find out more and knew that Rita would not be too pleased with these meager offerings.

  “I’ll drop off my keys before I leave.” Barbara turned and left before he could ask any more questions.

  Thankfully, she was busy Thursday and Friday with daylong presentations. In the evenings, she could think of nothing but her move to Toronto. Was she too impulsive? Should she have waited before giving her notice to Bob? What if she couldn’t find a reasonably priced apartment within two months?

  Friday evening, she went to bed early, but found she couldn’t sleep. She called Kendra for advice.

  “Yippee! I’m proud of you, Barbara.”

  “Thanks, but . . .”