It was a Friday afternoon and I was sitting in Starbucks at my favorite table when my phone rang and displayed a number I wasn't familiar with.

“Hello,” I answered.

"Hello. Is this Miss Addison Belle?" the woman on the other end asked.

"Yes, this is Addison," I replied.

"Miss Belle, this is Veronica Moore, head of the Human Resources department at London Arc Corporation. We would like to interview you for a position we have available at our company."

I gasped and the coffee I had just taken a sip of went down the wrong way as I started choking into the phone.

"Miss Belle, are you all right?"

"Yes, excuse me," I apologetically replied. “I would love an interview with your company. May I ask how you got my name?" I nervously asked.

"We pulled your name from the University of Hartford's Architectural program and you are one of the qualifying candidates we are looking for."

I sat there stunned. I’d only graduated three days ago and now a company like LAC was calling me for an interview.

"How is Monday at noon?" Veronica asked.

"Monday at noon sounds great. I'll be there."

"We will send our private jet to get you here and back home. I’ll email you the details."

"Thank you, Ms. Moore, but if it's okay with you and your company, I'd rather drive. It's only two and a half hours and I love the scenery."

The voice on the other end sounded agitated.

"Okay, Miss Belle, if that's how you want to arrive, then by all means. See you at noon sharp,” she spoke, and I heard a click.

I sat there, staring out the window and watching the rain fall gracefully down from the sky. My favorite place to be when it rained was sitting in Starbucks, at my favorite table by the window, drinking a latte and reading a book.

Hartford, Connecticut was my home and had been for the past twenty-five years. I lived with my mother, Madeline, and my stepfather Edward. My father, Charlie, died when I was eight years old. His death was something I would never get over. Charlie was the love of my life and I was his little girl.

Edward married my mother when I was ten years old. I resented her for getting married so soon after my father died, and she knew it. She said we needed to be taken care of and that was what Charlie would have wanted.

"Do you believe in fate, Addison?" my mother asked me one night as I was lying in bed. I looked at her with innocent eyes as only a child would have.

 “What's fate, Mama?"

She gently placed her hand on mine and gave it a soft squeeze.

"Fate is when things happen in our life the way they are supposed to. We are on a journey, Addison, and fate leads the way."

I wasn't sure at that moment what the hell she was talking about until I was older and realized she was talking about marrying Edward.

I got up from the table, grabbed my umbrella, and pushed in the chair. As I stepped outside, I took in the sweet earthy fragrance. I loved rain. There was something soothing about the sound that it made when the raindrops hit the cement. I walked to my car, which was parked around the back of the building, and proceeded to drive home. I was reeling from the phone call and as excited as I should have been to tell my mom, I was nervous.

I opened the front door and was taken back by the smell coming from the kitchen. Our kitchen was my mom’s sanctuary. She loved to cook and bake because she believed that was what made a house a home. She was truly a June Cleaver.

"What is that delicious smell?" I asked as I took a seat at the island.

"I'm baking pies for the school bake sale tomorrow."

My mom loved to show off her desserts and did so every chance she got. Even after all the years I’d been out of elementary, middle, and high school, she still continued to bake for their bake sales every year.

"I hope you made my favorite cherry pie?" I smiled.

"Of course, I did. It’ll be done in thirty minutes."

 Madeline's motherly instinct kicked in as she turned to me and smiled.

"You have something to tell me, Addison. It's written all over that beautiful face."

God, I hated how she knew me so well. I stood up from the stool and opened the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water.

"I received a call today for a job interview."

"That's wonderful, darling. I knew it wouldn't be too long before you'd find something. What company is it with?" she asked.

I knew she was going to ask that and I felt my stomach bottom out because I’d have to tell her it was in New York.

"It's with London Arc Corporation," I softly answered.

I watched her gently set the bowl down on the counter she was holding.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of that company. At least not here in Connecticut.”

"It’s not in Connecticut. They are located in New York, and my interview is scheduled for Monday at noon."

Just as I finished my words and before my mom could speak, Edward came walking into the kitchen.

"What's this about an interview?" he asked.

He walked over to Madeline and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

"Addison has an interview at a company called London Arc Corporation on Monday. It’s in New York.”

"Well, I’ll be damned, Addison, that's great news!" he exclaimed as he hugged me. "Did you apply online or something?"

"No. It's the weirdest thing. They called me and said they got my name off the Architectural program list from the University and they want to interview me."

"That there's fate, Addy. Congratulations.” Edward smiled as he pointed at me. "I’m taking you and your mom out to dinner tonight to celebrate."

“But I was going to make a turkey breast,” Madeline spoke.

“That’s okay, honey. You can make the turkey breast tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek.

"Thanks, Edward. That sounds like fun." I smiled.

I could tell my mom wasn't happy, not because of my interview, but because of the possibility of moving to New York.