The Day Has Come (Counting on Hockey #4)

Prologue: Full Timer

So, here we are. I'm about to become the lead journalist for the Minnesota Wild, after my boss, Maria, found a new job somewhere else. I now have to hire somebody myself. I'm the only one in the journalism department. I've tried to teach a few of our marketers how to just take notes, then I write the story, but they don't do too well. I have a list of names, nine in all.

I graduated with the first applicant, he didn't seem very into sports though. The second applicant used to work with Maria here, went back to college for a degree in English, and now she's back. I won't list you the rest of them.

I graduated with two more of them, and the other five from various colleges around here. I have very few requirements for this job personally, so I hope I can find at least one person. Our department has the space for three more journalists, but we can never find enough people that they want to hire.

So, after my interviews with four of them, the only one I can even think of hiring is the last, Bridget. She has all the right qualifications, has a good attitude, and my type of humor. I guess I'll have to see the other five, and how they do.

After final thoughts, I have narrowed everyone down to three. I'm not going to hire all three, because I want to leave at least one of the spots open for an intern this coming season. I have Bridget, Valerie, and Jamie to pick from. Jamie, well, he has the most experience. He worked for a sports magazine in New Orleans, where he was the assistant editor. I'm thinking I'm going to hire him for now, then leave the other two spots for the interns, though I'm biased towards the interns, because that's pretty much how I got this job. I'll hire somebody else once I know how many interns I get this year. So, Jamie it is.

After I think more about hiring Jamie, I realize that's he's the only one I really want to work here, forget the other two. I have to take my choice to Mr. Fletcher, so he can approve it. It's just stadium policy. I take Jamie's application, and my notes on him up to Mr. Fletcher's office, and knock on the door.

"Come in", I hear him say through the door. I walk in and he looks up at me. "Ah, Meredith. How's everything doing in your department?"

"Very good, Mr. Fletcher. I actually came to ask for your okay on my job applicant. His name is Jamie, and he is pretty much the only one qualified for the job. He worked for a sports magazine before moving here in Saint Paul, and I love his work", I say. I lay down the small stack of papers on Fletcher's desk. He glances quickly over them before taking the glasses off his face and setting them on his desk.

"His paperwork looks good, and if you see him fit for the job, then you can hire him. Thank you for bringing this to me", Mr. Fletcher replies, handing me the paperwork back.

"Thank you, sir", I say before leaving his office and going back to my own. I told the applicants I would call on the job tomorrow, so I have nothing else to do today. It's just about time for me to head home for the day, so I pack everything up and text Cole. You still here? I'm about to leave.

A moment later, I receive a text back. Give me twenty minutes, and I'll be done. Come down to ice.

I bring all of my stuff down to the ice and sit on the bench. The guys are all skating around for fun, waiting until Boudreau is done talking to a few different people. A few guys on the team spot me and start to whistle, then Cole notices me and skates over, planting a quick kiss on my lips. "Hi", he says quietly.

"Hey you", I reply, before the team skates over and crowds around me.

"So, do we have a new know-it-all like you were?" They know I'm hiring a new journalist. That's what they call all the new people. The thing is, it's true, the name I mean.

"Yep. His name is Jamie. He's from New Orleans", I say to them. They look at me like I'm crazy.

"New Orleans doesn't have a hockey team. Does he even know what it is?"

I laugh. "Yes, he does. He grew up here in Minnesota, played hockey all the way through college, then moved down to New Orleans for his job. I've gone through everything, and you have nothing to worry about. I hope", I say to them, a few of their smiles disappear.

"Well, I'm just glad we have somebody new. I don't like your writing", Cole scoffs sarcastically. I roll my eyes.

"Hey! I don't need your sarcasm honey bunch, You're the one who told me to come down here. I do not approve of your sass", I smirk back. The team laughs. Cole sticks his tongue out at me. "What are you, two?" I start to say something else, but I'm cut off.

"Okay team. You can leave. practice is over".