Read Online Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson - Free Book Online Page A

may have the pleasure”—she said this as if she meant the complete opposite—“should Miss Brooks accept our offer of employment.”
    “You’re coming to work here?” Ned straightened his tie. “That’s the bee’s knees. Which department?”
    I made my eyes look as pitiful as possible, sending Miss Tight Corset a silent message not to tell.
    With a brisk nod, she took my arm. “No chitchatting. There are papers to be filled out. You can socialize on your own time.” With that, I took my parcels back from Ned and she escorted me away. I could have hugged her! I gave Ned a quick glance and a wave over my shoulder.
    You would have thought I was applying for a job as publisher of the newspaper, there were that many forms to fill out. Miss Tight Corset turned off her desk lamp and was gathering her things up to go home for the night by the time I finished.
    She gave them a quick once-over. “This all looks fine. Can you start tomorrow night?”
    The job was the graveyard shift, ten p.m. to six a.m. Worse than farmer’s hours. But much better than farmer’s pay! Better than a wardrobe mistress’s wage, too. “I need to give my current employer a day or so notice.”
    With a sigh she flipped through the day calendar on her desk. “Hmm. Thursday’s the third, and it seems pointless to start the day before a holiday. I guess you’ll have to start Monday. I’ll tell the night watchman to expect you. Come to the front door. There’ll be a work smock for you in the custodial room.”
    I gathered my parcels and smoothed the skirt of my new dress. “Thank you. For everything.”
    “Believe it or not, I was young once, too.” She settled her hat on her head. “Good luck with your young man.”
    She was out the door before I could correct her mistake about Ned. No matter. I took a deep breath. I had a job at a newspaper! I did a little twirl, right there in the employment office. It wasn’t the job of my dreams—far from it—but it was a job for a newspaper. I only hoped it wouldn’t be too long from heavy lifting to headlines! I hummed while waiting for the elevator to arrive. Though I wasn’t crazy about the thought of walking to work at night, the late shift would mean it would be easier to avoid Ned. With luck, he’d never know his sister’s friend was dusting the desk he sat at each day.
    The elevator dinged and I readied myself to step inside. And found myself face to face with Ned. Again!
    “Fancy meeting you here.” He winked. “Everything all set with the new job?”
    “Yes. Quite set.”
    “Want me to show you where the steno pool is?” He stepped aside to make room for me in the crowded car.
    “Oh, no thanks.” This wasn’t exactly a fib. I didn’t
say
I worked in the steno pool; he assumed that.
    “I have a fine idea to go with that fine new dress.”
    My cheeks burned hot with the attention.
    “We’re practically coworkers. I’d say that calls for a celebration. Do you have plans for dinner?”
    I shifted my feet. My new shoes pinched a bit. “It’s only a starter job.”
    “Well, you have to eat, don’t you? Have you been to the New Delmonico?”
    “No, but I couldn’t—”
    He shook his finger at me. “What you really mean to say is ‘Yes, I’d love to, Ned.’ ” Then he cocked his head and battedhis lashes, doing his best imitation of a pup with big brown eyes. I couldn’t help it. I started laughing.
    “I’m taking that as a yes.”
    Why not? A pleasant dinner with a new friend beat out a grilled cheese sandwich from the corner diner any day. “It’s a yes.”
    Once again, he took my bags from me, and we stepped outside, brushed by a warm summer breeze. Somewhere in the distance, a tuba oompahed, and strains of a John Philip Sousa march filled the air.
    Ned and I chattered the entire way to the restaurant. He was full of stories. Summer holidays with Maude. Pranks he’d pulled in college. Stateside war duty stuck typing reports. “The only good thing about