“What skill set would that be?” I asked.
“Trying to take down corrupt organizations of power?” he said sarcastically.
“You’re impossible,” I said with a bit of chuckling at his last comment. “Okay, will you at least go on an interview for the position if you’re called?”
“Sure,” he said. I could tell that he was just humoring me at this point.
But the next morning, I was betting that he wished he hadn’t humored me. Because all it took was one phone call to Anna and he was offered an interview. I didn’t know who her friend at the university was, but it must have been someone pretty high up.
“An interview?” Michael asked as I poured him a hot cup of coffee. “How in the world did you get that to happen? And how did you manage it so quickly?”
I shrugged and grinned impishly at him.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said as I put my coffee cup to my lips. “You said that you would go if you got called for an interview. You’ve been called. You need to go.”
“I said that because I didn’t actually think it would happen.”
“I know,” I smirked. “But it did. You aren’t going to go back on your word to me, are you?”
Michael sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Of course not. I’ll go. But I can promise you that it’s a waste of time, and that all I’m going to get out of going to this interview is a load of embarrassment when they show me the door and wonder why the hell I applied for the job to begin with.”
He stood up and reached for the coffee pot. It was impressive how quickly he downed that hot caffeine.
"Wait a second,” Michael said as his hand paused in its reach for the pot. “How did I apply for this job? They wouldn’t be calling me for an interview if I didn’t have an application in. But I’m pretty damned sure that I never applied for the position.”
Damn it. I was hoping we could just breeze over that part.
“Just bring your resume with you,” I said as I quickly took my coffee with me to go finish getting dressed in the bedroom.
I could feel his eyes boring a hole into the back of my skull as I walked out of the kitchen without answering his question. I was pretty sure that he already guessed that I had Anna snag him an interview using her connection at the university. And I knew he didn’t like it. But I didn’t care. There was something bothering him, and maybe it was the way that our lives had calmed down. Maybe Michael missed the craziness and adrenaline that we had pouring over us all the time before coming to Canada. And maybe being headmaster at the college here would at least fill a purpose for him.
I had read about protagonists in books, and heroes in movies, who once they got to their happy endings, decided that they missed the thrill of their old life so much that they couldn’t settle down. I was really hoping that wasn’t the case with Michael. I would do anything for him, and to be with him—even if it meant going back to the States. But I really didn’t want to. I wanted to think about the other things. The kinds of things that went along with Adam’s question about marriage.
“What time is this interview anyway?” Michael asked as he cornered me in the bathroom while I was brushing my hair.
“Noon,” I answered brightly. I was trying to portray a lightness and positivity that I was hoping would help generate the mood.
“Do you have anything exciting going on at the shelter today?” he asked as he put toothpaste on his toothbrush and stood next to me at the sink.
I wasn’t sure if the diversion from the topic of his interview was a good sign or a bad one.
“Nothing much,” I said. “But I am going to work on a project here when I get home.”
“Oh? What is it?”
I finished brushing my hair and waited for Michael to finish brushing his teeth. This idea had come to me a few days ago, and as soon as it did, I realized how perfect it would be.
“Well, we have all that rooftop space, and I’ve already started a little garden. I was up there the other day looking at it and it dawned on me that I wanted to put something really special up there—something that reminded me of us, and that would make the rooftop a magical place for us to enjoy together.”
“Sounds amazing,” he smiled as he wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned up against the sink to hold me. “What is it?”
“A greenhouse.”
“Like the one on the aquarium rooftop?” he asked with a spark of intrigue in his eye.
There was that spark again. I’d been missing it lately.
“Yes, just like that one. Although maybe not quite as large. What do you think? Do you like the idea?”
“Yes,” he said as he pulled me against his body and kissed me. “I love it.”
“I’m so glad you like the idea,” I smiled.
“It almost makes up for you setting me up for this interview,” he scowled playfully at me.
“Oh just go,” I pressed. “Who knows, maybe it will end up being just what you need.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed and he stared at me as if he was studying every aspect of my face. His expression turned serious and intense.
“I have everything that I need as long as you and I are together,” he said.
I could see the longing in his eyes and feel the tightening grip around my waist.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “It just seems like lately you might need something more. I don’t know what that could be, and it worries me.”
