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Which brought me back to the reason for calling Mom. Blowing out a slow breath, I gave myself an internal pep talk for telling her about the conversation I’d had with SSA Riggs yesterday. Because if I knew Mom, she’d blow it all way out of proportion and have me on the next flight home to start house hunting.
“So back to the reason I called…. I sort of have a job offer.”
“I didn’t know you were looking.”
“I wasn’t. This job just fell into my lap, so to speak. Jameson’s boss was impressed with my findings, how I connected the murders here, and she offered me a job. With her profiling team. In Dallas.” I cringed at the sharp inhale from the other end of the line. I really didn’t want Mom to get her hopes up, but I also needed her advice. “I’d review reports of cases where an ME is involved, checking for discrepancies and finding connections that might have been missed. Or actually flying to the small towns where the team is needed and only a coroner is available.”
Mom hummed, but in the background, I heard her pounding footsteps as she ran up the stairs. “And this would be with the FBI, you say?” I rolled my eyes at her loud tone. Obviously, she was trying to not so subtly let Dad know we were discussing something big. “In Dallas?”
Damn, could she have said that any slower?
“She’s coming home?” I heard Dad ask.
“Mom,” I whined. “Don’t get his hopes up. Or yours or Uncle Sam’s either. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do.” The heavy pause made guilt fill my chest. “Yes, it’s an excellent opportunity, but I’m not sure I’m ready this early in my career to leave the day-to-day aspects of this job. I love what I do, and I don’t know if I’m ready to step away from all that.”
“Rain,” Mom said in that soft voice she always used when she was about to impart something she viewed as wisdom, “do you really love the day-to-day aspects, or is it the problem-solving that comes with it? Don’t think about this offer as stepping away but gaining more responsibility, doing what you love on a grander scale. And no one says you have to stay in this job for the rest of your life. It could be a steppingstone to get you into a chief medical examiner role somewhere.”
Damnit, I hated when she was right.
“I just wanted to let y’all know about the opportunity. I’m still thinking it over and told SSA Riggs I would have a decision for her soon. Now, enough about me. How are things at home?”
“We’re all good, honey. I don’t have another trip planned for a while. Your uncle is away for a few weeks.” It always made me snort when she called him my uncle. It started back when I was younger so their lifestyle didn’t affect how others treated me at school, and it kind of stuck. “And your dad—”
“Is fucking tired,” he called out, making me snort. “Here, give me that phone.” There was a rustling noise and them bickering about Mom hogging me, and then Dad’s deep sigh came through the line. “Hey there, Rainy Day. Is there a trial date set for that motherfuck—”
“Language,” Mom chastised somewhere in the background.
“That ass of an ex of yours?” he corrected.
“Not yet. He’s going before the judge soon, though. I’ve heard he plans to plead not guilty despite half of the police force witnessing what happened that day.”
“I never liked that guy,” he muttered.
“I know, Dad. So, you’re tired? What’s going on?”
“Just tired of herding cats.” I barked a laugh. “I can’t keep up with all the new ways people have invented to cheat the system or hurt each other.” He paused. “I’m debating retiring sooner rather than later. Let someone younger step in with new ideas and more damn energy than my seventy-five-year-old ass.”
“You’re not seventy-five.” I could almost hear his mustache brush against the phone with his growing smile. He’d called himself seventy-five for years now. Saying that was how he felt the number just didn’t match up.
“Still. Time for me to travel, explore while I still can. You seriously thinking about taking this job in Dallas?”
“Maybe,” I muttered. At the whoosh of the glass patio door opening, I turned to face Jameson and Slade as they stepped outside. “Hey, listen, I need to run. Talk to you and Mom later. Love you.”
After his quick goodbye, I ended the call and set the phone beside me.
“You guys headed to the station?” I asked.
“Yep.” Jameson bent down and pressed his lips to my forehead. “You’ll be right behind us, right?”
I nodded, holding a hand to my forehead, shielding my eyes from the sun as I shifted my gaze to Slade. “Right behind you. I don’t have anybody waiting for me.” I paused. “Get it? Any. Body. Anybody.”
“I’m laughing on the inside,” Slade said with an indulgent grin. Holding my chin between two fingers, he tipped my face all the way up and pressed a searing kiss to my lips. When he pulled back, his green eyes searched my face. “You sure you don’t want to ride with us?”
Careful to not let my anxious, twisting emotions show, I shook my head, dislodging his hold. “I’m taking the chief’s advice and taking things a little slower. Who knew a lazy morning could be so enjoyable?”
“Everyone, Raindrop. Everyone.” Running his hand down my hair, Jameson tugged at the ends. “We’ll either be in your office or at Slade’s desk. Come find us when you get there, okay?”
It made me want to hug them both, knowing they didn’t want to leave me alone but still did. I would push them away if they didn’t. I was fairly certain they knew that too. Well, Jameson did and then communicated—a.k.a. strong-armed into understanding—my need for independence to Slade.