Mari & Ilna-you're the best.

McRollers-thanks for reading.

This story references original characters introduced in my stories 'Never Alone' and 'All the Difference'. It'll make more sense if you've already read those.

Walking Through (1/1)

"Joseph." Jerry Bergen called out from a few feet down the corridor. "What brings you to Pearl on a beautiful day like this? I heard you had plans to go on a hike with your amazing wife."

"I'm just here to drop off my notes for a lecture I'll be giving next week," Joseph replied. "An old colleague has graciously agreed to make some slides for me to use. Which is a good thing because technology and I don't always get along."

Jerry chuckled. "Same here. Luckily we have two kids in the house. These days I think they're born knowing how to deal with that kind of stuff."

"I have one move," Joseph said. "Unplug it. Plug it back in. If that doesn't fix it I'm out of luck." He took in not only Jerry's easy smile and upbeat demeanor but his freshly pressed suit and polished shoes. "What are you up to this morning?"

Jerry tapped the fingers of his left hand against the folder he was holding in his right hand. "As if you didn't know." He grinned. "I'm here for a job interview."

"Really? That's great." Joseph smiled widely. "I ran into Lisa the other day and she told me you've completed the job retraining course at the VA."

"I finished last week," Jerry said. "My job counselor recommended I apply for a civilian position here at Pearl. He thinks my previous naval experience will be a plus since I already understand a lot about how things work."

"That sounds like a great plan," Joseph said.

"I thought so too," Jerry said. "I was really excited about the whole idea. I was a little disappointed though when they told me it would be 60-90 days before they could process my application and get me an interview."

"The military runs on its own schedule," Joseph said.

"Uh-huh." Jerry grinned. "So imagine my surprise when I got a call 5 days later asking me to come in."

"Wow!" Joseph smiled. "That was fast."

"Very fast," Jerry agreed. "It's almost as if someone with some pull intervened and asked them to put my application on the fast track."

Joseph feigned innocence. "Could be I guess."

"Thank you," Jerry said sincerely. "You didn't need to do that but I really appreciate it."

"What makes you think it was me?"

"You're the only person I know with that kind of pull around here," Jerry said.

"I may have suggested you'd be perfect for a few of the open positions and mentioned you were available to start right away," Joseph said. "The rest is up to you."

"The interview went really well." Jerry beamed. "They said they'd let me know in the next few days."

"Congratulations." Joseph slapped him on the back good-naturedly. "I have a really good feeling."

"Lisa?" Catherine asked when she saw a familiar face pacing outside the front door of the building. "Is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine," Lisa Bergen replied with a nervous smile. "I'm just working off some nervous energy. I have a job interview in…" She checked her watch. "Ten minutes."

Catherine adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder. "With the governor's office?"

Lisa nodded. "In the accounting office. They advertised for a full-time auditor last week. Everything about the position sounded perfect for me so I called and set up an appointment." She wiped her palm on her skirt. "Then I remembered I haven't been to a job interview in over ten years and I have no idea what to expect."

"You'll do great," Catherine said confidently.

"I didn't even really have to apply for the job I have now." Lisa continued to ramble nervously. "I got an internship there my last semester of night school and after I graduated they offered me a full-time position. They didn't bother with an interview because they already knew me."

Catherine smiled, thinking of how Cody had originally started off as an intern. "Sometimes it happens that way.

"There was a time when I thought I'd work at JRB Financial Consulting forever." Lisa checked her watch again. "But that wasn't meant to be, so here I am." She took a few steps towards the front door. "I better get in there. I don't want to be late. That wouldn't be a very good first impression."

Catherine entered the building right behind her. "If you don't mind my asking, what happened? With your job I mean."

"My boss, Mr. Bellasandro, is retiring next month. He always thought his son Tony would take over the company and keep it going. Which was the plan. Until he ran into an old classmate at a reunion last year. They rekindled their high school romance and six months later he packed his bags and moved to Texas to be with her."

"There's no one else to take over?" Catherine asked.

Lisa shook her head. "Unfortunately not. Mr. Bellasandro was great to me after Jerry got injured. He let me work my schedule around doctor's appointments and gave me time off whenever I needed it. Once Jerry was out of the hospital he even let me pick up extra shifts to make a little extra money until Jerry could get back to work."

"That was nice of him," Catherine said as they reached a bank of elevators.

Lisa looked at the directory on the wall. "I think I need to go this way." She pointed down the hall.

"I'm headed in that direction," Catherine said. "I'll walk with you."

"I'm really happy for my boss, and he deserves to enjoy his retirement," Lisa said as they walked down the hall. "I'm just really nervous to be in this position."

"Think of everything you've gone through in the last year," Catherine said. "And here you are. Still standing and stronger than ever." They reached the door of the Human Resources Department. "You've got this."

Catherine reached for the doorknob.

"You don't have to do this," Lisa said. "You and Steve and your parents have already done so much for us."

"Don't be silly." Catherine said. "I was headed this way anyway." She pushed open the door and greeted the head of HR, Tamika Reynolds, with a wide smile.

Tamika smiled back. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Did you really think you were gonna take a whole week off, travel to Germany, meet your new grandson, and I wasn't gonna be here the day you got back asking to see pictures?" Catherine said.

"Well, since you asked." Tamika grabbed her phone. "I may have a few to show you."

Catherine watched on as Tamika scrolled through a dozen or so pictures. "He's absolutely adorable. Mom and dad both doing good?"

"Couldn't be better," Tamika said.

Catherine smiled. "That's great."

Suddenly Tamika noticed Lisa. "I'm sorry. I got carried away in a proud grandma moment. Can I help you?"

"Tamika, this is my friend Lisa Bergen," Catherine said. "She has an appointment for an interview."

"Nice to meet you." Tamika extended her hand.

"I'll leave you guys to it," Catherine said. "Text me some pictures of that adorable baby, please, I'm sure Steve will want to see them."

After Catherine left the office and closed the door behind her, Tamika turned to Lisa with a warm smile. "Let's talk about why you'd like to work here at the governor's office."

"Honestly, I don't know how we can ever thank the two of you," Lisa said as she and Jerry stood chatting with Catherine and Joseph after baseball practice a few days later. "I was so nervous during my interview. I know Mr. Bellasandro gave me a good recommendation, but I can't help but think that the chief of staff making a personal introduction to the head of HR was what put me over the top. When she called to offer me the position I nearly screamed with joy."

"And I know for a fact I'd still be waiting to even get an interview at Pearl if a certain retired captain hadn't put in a good word for me," Jerry said. "But instead, I start work at in a week."

"You both would have done fine on your own," Joseph said. "I was happy to help open the door, and I think I can speak for my daughter and say she feels the same."

Catherine nodded.

"But that's all we did," he continued. "You two walked through all by yourselves and as the kids say, you crushed those interviews. That's why you both got hired."

"You got those jobs on your own merits," Catherine said. "And I have absolutely no doubt that someday you'll be the people opening the door for someone else."

Joseph dropped his arm across Catherine's shoulders. "Which is exactly the way it should be."

THE END

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