Stars So Sweet by Tara Dairman Read Free Book Online

Lydia gripped Gladys’s hand. “Are you offering Gladys—that is,
me
—a full-time job?” she asked.
    â€œI am,” Fiona said matter-of-factly.
    It was a good thing Gladys wasn’t holding any silverware in her other hand, or it would have clattered down loudly onto her plate. As it was, she had to remind herself to keep breathing. She squeezed her aunt’s hand back.
    â€œI . . . um . . . well, I’m very flattered,” Aunt Lydia said carefully. “I really don’t know what to say.”
    And Gladys knew that her aunt was telling thetruth. In their discussion the night before, they had speculated about what Fiona might want to discuss, and it had occurred to Gladys that there might be a job opening now that Mr. Gadfly was gone. But she hadn’t thought that Fiona would consider
her
—she’d assumed the editor would want to hire someone with more experience for the position. Clearly, she had been wrong.
    â€œWell, are you interested?” Fiona asked.
    Aunt Lydia shot Gladys another questioning glance, probably trying to get a hint for how she should reply. But Gladys, who was still processing the offer, could only give her aunt the tiniest of shrugs.
    â€œWell, of course I’m
interested
,” Aunt Lydia said, “but unfortunately, that’s not the only issue. After all, I do have my daughter here to think about. She’s about to start middle school, which means that her schedule will be much more demanding than it has been in the past.”
    Gladys nodded vigorously. Her aunt raised a good point—there was no way she’d be able to juggle all of her middle-school classes and full-time work, especially considering that the work would probably mean coming into the city every day. It was an extremely flattering offer, but Aunt Lydia would have to say no on their behalf.
    No
wasn’t the word that came out of Lydia’s mouth,though. “However . . .” she continued, “maybe we could work something out. If Coraline could accompany me to the office sometimes, and on reviewing outings . . .”
    â€œWait—what?” Gladys couldn’t help her outburst. What on earth was her aunt talking about?
    â€œI’m just thinking out loud, my Gla—er, my Cornflower,” Aunt Lydia said, quickly correcting herself. “Nothing’s been decided yet.”
    â€œIndeed,” said Fiona, who didn’t seem to have picked up on Lydia’s flub. She pushed her empty plate away and folded her hands on the table. “And actually, you have a bit of time to make your decision. Despite the major drop in my department’s payroll with Mr. Gadfly’s departure, the
Standard
’s business department won’t approve a new hire until the new year. And even then, they say that I can only bring on a new person if I cut our freelancer budget. As our subscriber base ages, our margins are shrinking,” she explained, “and all the departments are being asked to make do with less.”
    Gladys froze, a fresh chicken finger halfway to her mouth. Budget cuts—just like the ones that were messing with Parm’s soccer trip at school. But what did this mean for Gladys’s freelance work?
    â€œExcuse me,” she blurted, “but are you saying you won’t be able to keep Mom on as a part-time reviewer if she doesn’t take the permanent job?”
    Fiona blinked at Gladys in surprise, but when sheanswered, she addressed Aunt Lydia. “Unfortunately, yes,” she said, “which is all the more reason for you to accept my offer. You wouldn’t be starting until January, but I would like to know your decision by the end of October at the very latest. That way, if you decide not to take the position, I’ll still have time to hire someone else.”
    â€œOf course,” Aunt Lydia said. “But how will the department function down one