California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances by Casey Dawes Read Free Book Online Page A

like to move to New Jersey?”
    “Huh?”
    “You know, one of those small states on the East Coast.”
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “I’m not moving to New Jersey. I’m not moving anywhere. Are you crazy?”
    “Watch your tone, young man,” Annie said automatically. Maybe a different tack would work. “David, there’s trouble at my work. They can’t keep as many of us employed as they did. The economy … ”
    He interrupted. “They fired you.”
    “They didn’t fire me. There’s another job in New Jersey.”
    “What if you don’t go?”
    “They’ll lay me off.”
    He let his spoon plop back into the broth. “I don’t get it. How can they lay you off? You’ve worked there for years.”
    How could she explain the workings of Corporate America to David? There were times she didn’t understand it herself.
    “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “But unless I go to New Jersey, I won’t have a job. And that’s a problem.”
    Scooping another spoonful of Top Ramen, he said, “I’m not moving. I’ve got a good shot at varsity soccer next year, maybe even starting goalie. I’ve done really well at the rec league this spring. We’ll have to figure out something.” He leaned back and thrummed his spoon on the table, droplets of soup scattering across the top.
    Suddenly, he bent forward. “I know! I can get a job and help out. Summer’s almost here. They always need help at the Boardwalk in the summer. You don’t have to do it alone, Mom. I’m grown up now. I can help.”
    Annie smiled. If only it were that simple. Kids had no idea how big a mortgage for a beach house really was. To David, cutting back on expenses meant a McDonald’s hamburger without the fries. Not nearly enough for the few thousand a month it took to live where they did.
    “Thanks, kiddo. You’re the best, but I need to stay with the company. That way, I can keep my benefits and the salary I’ve got. And … ” She paused to make sure she had her son’s full attention. “ … I’ll be able to help you when you go to Berkeley in two years.”
    David went back to shoveling soup into his mouth without answering. The silence lengthened as Annie waited for the reaction that she knew would come. Like her, he needed to chew on something in his head before giving his opinion on anything important.
    He stopped eating and looked at her. “I already told you. I’m not moving to New Jersey. You have to do something different. I’m sure you can find another job. A company would be stupid not to hire you.”
    “David, it’s not that easy,” she said. “There aren’t enough jobs right now.”
    “But you can find one. I know you can. We can’t move to New Jersey. All my friends are here. I’m on a good rec soccer team. You’ll ruin my life if we moved to New Jersey.” His voice ramped up. “You don’t understand. I’m not going. I’ll stay with one of my friends if I have to, but I’m not moving to Nowhere, New Jersey!”
    David stood up and tossed his spoon in the sink; the dish clattered after it. He stomped toward the stairs, stopping at the edge of the kitchen.
    “I’m going over to Chris’s,” he announced, glaring at her. “Okay?”
    Annie hesitated before answering. Chris was a soccer friend who lived a few blocks away. The walk there and back would probably do David good. “Just be back by ten,” she replied.
    “Yeah. Whatever.” David thudded down the stairs. A few minutes later Annie heard the front door slam.
    Well, that didn’t go well. Annie got up to load the dishwasher. She thought about the next item on her list.
    Tell Fred.
    She shook her head and put David’s bowl in the top rack. Not happening today. Besides, she needed to find out more about the job and when everything was happening. Fred would be annoying and want all the details. She’d talk with Randy about the job in New Jersey on Monday.
    Then she’d talk to Fred.

Chapter 4
    John leaned back in the nubby