"Hello, hello," Sam called from the doorway, accenting his arrival with the slam of the front door behind him.
I lept up from the couch and charged him. "I got it," I announced before pouncing on him.
"You got it!" Sam blinked in surprise as he seamlessly caught me.
"I got it," I squealed.
"The marketing job at the IT company? The ESOP?"
"Yep, I got it!"
Sam matched my excitement by swinging me around in the entryway. "I knew it," he declared.
"I'm so excited! I start two weeks after graduation. I got it!"
"What did your dad say? Your mom? They must be so stoked!"
"I haven't told anyone yet. I wanted you to be the first, silly!"
"You've told no one?" Sam set me down and looked me over in surprise, as though I was joking.
"No! I had to tell you first. You've been helping me with every step. Of course, I waited to tell you!" I jabbed at his stomach in jest.
Sam's eyes glazed over with threatening tears.
"Sam! Who do you think I would tell before you?" He pulled me into another hug as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I just thought, you know, big life moments. I thought you'd call your friends and tell them."
"Oh, I will be calling. But you're number one! I got it, babe!"
"Yeah, you did, Lily. And they are so lucky to have you, just like me," he murmured into my neck before peppering me with kisses on my neck. "I'm so incredibly proud of you."
"I can't believe I have a job, like a real grown-up job with benefits, and a 401k, and it's an ESOP!" My mind whirled that I had actually gotten my first choice of roles.
"I never doubted you for a second." Sam smiled as he set me down. "So, what do you want to do? Call the folks? Call your friends? Let me take you out to dinner to celebrate?"
"Yes, except order in for food. I want to call all the people I know and then veg out watching old episodes of Murder She Wrote while eating shrimp vindaloo," I declared.
"Done! You start calling. I'll shower and order the food. But I'm taking you out this weekend to celebrate," he warned.
"Agreed." I smiled up at him.
"You got it." He smiled back down at me.
"I got it," I said again, in half disbelief.
Telling my mom was highly lackluster. She just could not grasp the idea of an ESOP. I gave up and asked to talk to my dad. My dad had, of course, read everything he could find on ESOPs.
"It's a smart move. If I were starting out again, I'd target the same type of company. IT is the future, and that means job security. Then you throw in this ESOP layer, and it's just too good to pass up." Then he made me cry with three simple words, "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Dad," I managed, trying to choke back tears.
"I bet Billy is about to bust. I wouldn't be surprised if he chartered a plane," he teased.
"He doesn't know yet. He's my next call! I wanted to tell Sam first because he helped me so much with my search," I explained.
"Yeah, of course, the search. Sam was helpful with the..." There was a pause before my dad finished with, "search."
"Dad," I groaned. I didn't have to say it. I knew he preferred Billy over Sam, and he knew it annoyed me.
"What? I just said he helped with the search. You go call Billy. Tell him to call me soon, if he can. I know he's busy, but I just read a fascinating book on the first World War that I think he'd like," my dad diverted.
"Okay, I'll tell him. I love you, Dad."
"Love you too, Kiddo. I'm really proud of you," he added again.
"Thanks. I'll call soon!" I promised before I hung up.
"Hey, Lil. Have you talked to Tim today?" Billy launched into a conversation as though he hadn't just answered. "He's a bridezilla; er... groomzilla? He's annoying," Billy declared.
"No, I haven't talked to Tim. I have news!"
"You should give him a call and tell him to chill out; maybe he'll listen to you," Billy absently continued.
"Billy!" I broke into his jabbering. "I have news," I declared again.
"News? What? Are you okay?" Panic rose in his voice.
"I'm great! Guess what?" I tempted.
There was a long pause, and then, "why don't you just tell me, Lil?" Billy's tone was small and deflated.
"I got the job," I announced.
"What?" His inflection immediately inflated to his booming roar.
"I got it!"
"The marketing job at the ESOP?"
"Yes! I got the job! I'm so excited. I start two weeks after graduation. I got it!"
"I never doubted you would! I'm so proud of you, Lil." I closed my eyes and pictured the dimples on Billy's cheeks.
"I'm coming to your graduation. I have the date marked as no trespassing. The entire week after too! I'm so proud of you, Lil. This is what you've been working towards since I met you!"
"I know. It feels so real telling you," I admitted as I slumped down onto the couch. "Billy," I managed as the panic rose in me. "I got it."
"Lil, you're going to be amazing," Billy soothed, sensing the change in my tone.
"How do you know that? I know nothing about IT, and I'm an English major! What do I know about marketing?" I stammered.
"Well, clearly you sold yourself to them," Billy countered.
"What am I going to do?" I slumped back onto the couch in defeat.
"Oh, stop it. You are going to crush it. I bet you are running the place in a matter of months."
"Yeah, well, of course you'd say that," I groaned.
"Yes, of course I'd say that. Lily, who knows you better than me?" Billy asked.
"No one."
"So, if I am the Lily Turncott expert, then you have to trust me. You are going to kill it!"
"Yeah, yeah. I have until June to figure out everything I can about IT and marketing," I absently spoke.
"Great, now you have another reason to hide in the library. You should start to get your mail delivered there," Billy teased.
"Well, at least I sit still long enough to have a place to call home," I shot back.
"Wow," Billy's voice lowered a bit.
"I'm sorry, Billy. That was over the line," I apologized.
"I don't like it when you say my name like that," Billy murmured.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm living to wrong life; anytime it follows the words 'I'm sorry.'"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Collins?" I offered.
Billy let out a small laugh. "I'm sorry, Lil. This is your big day. I'm so proud of you. I wish I could be there; give you a hug."
I let out a laugh. "My dad was putting money on you chartering a plane," I teased.
"Don't tempt me," Billy cautioned. "It's been too long since the cabin. I can't wait until I can see you in May."
"Billy, are you okay?" Concern filled me as the loneliness crept into Billy's tone.
"Yeah, you know how it gets on the road," Billy deflected.
"Is everything okay with Sarah?"
"Yeah, yeah. She's great. I really love her, Lil. It just feels right when she is around."
"That's great!"
"Yeah. I have to keep myself from jumping the gun. With Tim talking about wedding stuff all the time..."
"Billy, are you thinking of proposing?"
"Maybe. No. Maybe. It's crazy. We haven't even been together that long, but it feels..."
"Billy, ignore the calendar. If it feels right, go for it. I think she is really good for you," I offered.
"Really? I mean, do you really think she's the right one?"
"I can't answer that for you, silly. You have to answer that," I reminded him.
"What about you and Sam?" Billy asked.
"We're so great. I think he's the one!"
"Really? So, if he popped the question..."
"I'd say yes," I answer with so much certainty that I startled myself.
"That's great, Lil. It seems like everything is falling into place: the job, Sam..."
"My best friend in the entire world," I added.
"Yeah," Billy agreed as his voice perked up again. "I love you, Lil. I'm really proud of you."
"Thank you. Oh, and my dad wanted to tell you to call him soon. He read some book on the first World War that he thinks you will like," I quickly shot before Billy could hang up.
"Will do. I love your dad; he's the best," Billy said, almost to himself.
"Yeah, he is. Call me soon, and make sure to take care of yourself out there," I directed.
"Yes, ma'am. I have my nightly tea and get a massage once a week," Billy offered.
"Wow, rock star, how fancy of you," I teased.
"Lil." Billy's voice came in a jesting warning.
"I love you, Billy," I cut off his words.
"I love you too, Lil. Have a good night."