Decisions (4th Book in the Boss's Niece Series)

Jackson Calls

The next day, I had planned to sleep in. Uncle Aaron had given us our first day off in...well...it was our first day off since he became Unit Chief.

Unfortunately, my plans were ruined by my phone ringing at 6:30 in the morning. I groaned.

"Want me to answer it?" Spencer asked.

"I'd love that." I muttered. Spencer chuckled and reached over to the night stand to get my phone. He answered, "Hello?"

There was a pause as the person on the other line spoke.

"No, you have the right number. This is her husband. Who's this?"

Another pause.

"Sergeant Jackson from the Philadelphia Police Station."

I rolled over to look at Spencer. His face looked a combination of pissed and upset. He looked down at me.

"I'll talk to him." I said, sitting up and taking the phone from Spencer. He got up and left the room. I let out a sigh. "Hello?"

"Hi. I'm sorry if I woke you. I forgot about the time differences." said Sergeant Jackson.

"Don't worry. It's only 6:30 in the morning." I said, sarcastically. I honestly didn't care about being rude. Not only did he wake me up at 6:30 in the morning on my day off, but I knew he was calling to ask me about and/or convince me to take the offer.

"I've annoyed you." he said.

I felt like saying, "You think?"

"I just wanted to call you. It's been a few weeks since we've last spoke and I haven't exactly heard anything about that offer yet." he said.

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it. My daughter's birthday was yesterday." I said.

"Oh. Well, I hope she had a good birthday."

"She did." I snapped.

"Like I said last time I seen you, the door on that offer is closing fast. We had someone in about it yesterday."

"Oh yeah? And how were they?"

"I don't know. He was a good kid and had a good resume and all. I just don't think he was as a good a leader as you would be."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to calm myself down. I could feel the anger rising in me. I just wanted this guy to go away and leave me the hell alone.

"Why do you want me so bad?!" I finally snapped. "I mean, you have so many other people you could hire! But you have to keep bugging me about it. Why?"

There was silence. It felt good to let my anger just flow out like that, but now I felt bad. I shouldn't have gone off on him like that. I should've just said that I didn't have a reply and leave it at that.

"You're just a good leader, that's all. You were even better than that Unit Chief of yours." he said. "Do you not want this job?"

I sighed and laid back on the bed.

"I don't know." I said. "I mean, it is a big deal, like you said. But I can't leave my family or my friends. I just need more time to think about it. I'll let you know as soon as I can. If I don't let you know and you find someone else, you can give the job away."

"Alright. I'm sorry if I've upset you." Jackson said.

"You haven't." I lied. "I'll be talking to you soon, hopefully."

"Goodbye Dr. Re-Mel."

"Goodbye Sergeant Jackson."

I hung up the phone. Spencer came back into the room with Haley in his arms. She looked half asleep, but quickly perked up as Spencer put her on the bed and she jumped on me.

"Good morning mommy!" she exclaimed.

"Morning sweetheart." I said and kissed her cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes I did."

I smiled and hugged my little girl. Spencer sat next to me.

"Are you mad?" I asked.

"How can I be mad? It was just a phone call. It's your decision whether you want to take the job or not." he replied. "I'm just thinking about the team."

"So am I." I admitted. "I told Uncle Aaron, but no one else knows."

"You should tell them."

I nodded. I didn't notice that I was playing with Haley's hair, which caused her to lie down next to me and she slowly began to drift off to sleep.

"We have work tomorrow." I said. "I'll tell them then."

"Whatever you choose, I'm right here for you." Spencer said, putting a hand on my arm. "I promise."

"That's why I love you." I said and kissed his cheek. "It's still only 6:45 and this little one is asleep again. Lie down with us. We can sleep all day if we wanted to."

Spencer chuckled and lied down, too. The three of us slept till 8, which is when Haley woke up and got the two of us up for breakfast and a day of family time.