Tequila Sunrises over Georgia (a novella) by Yara Greathouse Page B

Gia.”
    “Hey, Dillon. This is quite fast. I’m not
sure what to think.”
    “No worries, I’m not going to drag the news.
I’m calling to let you know the job is yours if you still want
it.”
    “Don’t mess with me, Dillon. What about the
other candidates?”
    “There were no other candidates. I’ve created
this particular show with you in mind. The interview was just a
formality. You will be the youngest designer in our network to head
her own team and her own TV show. Are you in?”
    I turn my head and stare at the cell phone,
verify the number, and after I put it back to my ear, I pinch my
thigh as hard as I can, until I wince. That’s when I finally
realize this is really happening.
    “Gia, are you there?”
    “This has nothing to do with…”
    “No. It doesn’t. You have worked hard and the
viewers have been requesting it. So, what’s your answer?”
    “YES!” I say loudly, almost screaming. Dillon
chuckles on the phone.
    “Good, ‘cause you leave tomorrow.”
    “Yeah? Wait… What do you mean tomorrow?”
    “Exactly that. Pack your bags. I will have
Kennedy get your work gear and tools from the studio ready and
overnight them to the work site. Jay Michels will be your on-set
assistant and Junior Designer. He’s been handling things and taking
my directives while I could get the necessary approvals.”
    “Oh, okay. Hmm, I was just wondering why so
soon?”
    “Well, we were supposed to start a month from
now, but the owners had a schedule change and in order to avoid
conflict, they need the renovations to start right away. We have
secured the top construction company in the area, and I personally
have been working on the design drafts until everything was
approved. I’m sure they will be to your liking. Human Resources
will call you in a few minutes with all the details of the new
contract, which will probably be emailed and require your immediate
attention. I will have a courier send the designs to you right now.
Feel free to make any changes as needed. You are in charge.”
    “Okay. Thank you, Dillon. I will not let you
down. I promise.”
    “I know you won’t. I trust you
implicitly.”
    “Oh, and Dillon?”
    “Yes?”
    “Where am I headed tomorrow?”
    He chuckles again, a bit more quietly this
time, before he gives me the news.
    “Tomorrow you are headed to Newnan,
Georgia.”
    My Hometown.
    “Gia, don’t be upset. It will be fine. Nobody
needs to know you are even there.”
    “Dillon, you are lucky I like you. You are
also lucky because I cannot shove my arm through the phone and
choke the living crap out of you, my friend. ”
    “Ha! Funny – who would’ve thought…? Okay, I’m
sure you have tons of things to do the rest of the day. All the
details will be emailed to you shortly. And Gia?”
    “Yes?”
    “Enjoy it. You deserve it.”
    The call ends.
    Newnan, Georgia.
    The place I was born.
    The state I was named after.
    Where I learned everything about design.
    My crazy family is there.
    Carter is there.
    So many bittersweet memories.
    Time to wipe the slate clean. Time to create
new ones.
    I’ve finally gotten what I worked for in my
career and I will “own it.”
    Forgetting the salad, I walk in the kitchen
and straight to the cooler, pulling out a brand new bottle of wine,
liquid courage. Lord knows I need it.

CHAPTER 2
Carter
    I’m walking around the house while looking at
the floor plans I received yesterday. My company is one of the
largest in the area and it will take all hands on deck for this
project’s complete overhaul to be done in a matter of ten
weeks.
    “Good morning, Carter.”
    “Hey, Jay. So glad you are here, I wanted to
ask you some questions about the wood floors… There’s this other
brand that has good quality and the same texture with almost the
same color, but it’s a lot cheaper. I picked up a sample for you to
present it to the owners for their approval.”
    “Sure thing, Carter. I’m sure they will
appreciate you looking out for