"Charlie, are you almost ready?"

"Yes, Mom!"

"Are you almost ready, or are you 'Charlie ready?'"

"Uh, maybe somewhere in the middle?"

Every morning I struggled to motivate my bright-eyed, blonde-haired fourth grader to climb out of bed, dress, brush his teeth and gather his schoolwork. I sounded like a broken record when I called out and asked for a status. I, on the other hand, had no problem getting ready in the morning. That is, until today.

Our apartment, still lined with packed boxes, created a maze for Charlie and me to weave around. If we walked through without knocking anything to the floor, it was a miracle. We only moved here two weeks ago. Today was Charlie's first day at a new school, and it was my first day at a new job.

Despite moving to a new city, Charlie’s routine remained the same, and he still couldn't be ready on time if his life depended on it. Some things never change no matter how much distance is put between your past and future. However, I couldn't afford to be late. What kind of professional was late on their first day of work?

"Charlie, I mean it! We have to leave in T minus five minutes!"

"I heard you the first couple of times!" Charlie shot back.

"Did you? Because you're still not out here tying your shoes yet, mister!"

I tossed and turned for hours and hours last night. I couldn't help but wonder what my new boss would be like or how my coworkers would treat me. I thought about what kind of coffee the office provided. Did they have K-cups or coffee grounds? As if that's an important life decision to make.

A whirlwind by the name of Charlie flew around the corner and into my arms.

"Ready!"

"You're getting heavy, kiddo."

"That's because I eat my vegetables and drink milk."

"You do?" I gazed at him suspiciously.

"Well, sometimes I do."

I set him down and ruffled his soft, blond hair. When I found out I was pregnant, all I cared about was having a healthy child. I didn't care if it was a boy or a girl or if they looked like me or not. Charlie was the best damn thing to come from my failed marriage. Silver lining.

"You look pretty, Mama."

"Thanks, Tater Tot."

I spun around dramatically as my navy pencil skirt hugged my hips. My dirty-blonde hair twirled, and my leather heels clacked against the floor while I made a full turn. Looking in the mirror this morning, I realized the woman I wanted to be returned my gaze. I'd curled my elbow-length hair, put on makeup and spritzed my favorite Chanel perfume on the nape of my neck. While I'd developed a few wrinkles since my prime, I continued to smile brightly despite my age. I never thought I'd miss dressing up, but after weeks of moving and wearing nothing but sweatpants, my feminine side purred.

Growing up, my mother reminded me of my beauty, but never forgot to reiterate the importance of being healthy, too. When I found the time, I worked out at the gym or ran outside. Before Charlie, I almost had a six pack, which I proudly revealed at the beach or by the pool. Now, the six pack is more of a two-pack, but I’ve done what I could. After all, there were only so many hours in the day, and between raising a child on my own and working my ass off, there wasn't always time for myself.

"Ready for your first day?"

"I hope I make new friends," Charlie whimpered.

"You will, babe. Just like you made new friends at your last school, you'll make new ones here, too."

When a recruiter called me and said a law firm several hundred miles away had an opening for a corporate attorney, I told them I wasn't interested. How could I move my child across the country in the middle of the school year? I had excellent credentials, though, and a phenomenal win/loss ratio. The recruiter called me every day, upping the ante with better benefits, higher pay, and other opportunities I’d be afforded if I accepted their offer.

"Isn't there someone more qualified? Surely I can't be the only attorney who'd fit the bill?"

"Ms. Montgomery, the partners want you and only you. You stirred the pot after that case last month, and my bosses want you on their staff."

Hint: I helped one of the largest technology companies in the country acquire another smaller business and their accompanying patents. The buyout cost more than four hundred and fifty million dollars. And yes, I got it done in record time.

After weeks of coaxing and a phone interview with the managing partner, I finally said yes. Once I realized I'd have the chance to start fresh somewhere far away from my ex, I accepted the job with no regrets. It took another few weeks for Charlie's dad to agree. I think he fought me for the sake of argument; he only hosted Charlie two weekends a month as it was. Not to mention, he planned to remarry in a little over two months, so he was tied up with planning. Good thing he had one marriage under his belt so he’d know what to do the second time around. Cue the bitterness I still carried with me. We divorced less than two years ago, and now he was engaged to remarry? The man worked fast, not that I could blame him.

Anyway, Charlie, my partner in crime, and I were leaving on a jet plane and headed to the big city.