She smiled at me and extended her hand.
"Please call me Eva."
.
I smiled back, taking her hand.
"And you can call me ...?"
I hesitated.
.
"Will?" she suggested.
.
Thankfully I had a full beard. I am sure it hid most of my blushing.
.
"Eva 'ere is goin' to take the pictures of the motel, once we finishes and she can do dat website thing too."
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"Well," Eva defended.
"We haven't actually decided that right yet, but I am interested."
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I sat on a stool.
Hank passed me a beer.
.
"Would you like a beer?"
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Evangeline nodded.
"I would."
.
Hank passed her a beer and quickly he and Cavelle excused themselves.
"I believes we 'ave dat ting to do, Cavelle."
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"Yes, we does."
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They hurried off.
.
I shook my head.
"I guess that leaves me to do the interview."
.
She took a deep breath.
"So, what do you want to know?"
She passed me a resume.
.
I glanced at it, briefly and lay it on the bar.
.
I think she mistook my actions, because she quickly defended herself.
"I know I don't have much experience, but I am willing to work hard and I know, if you give me the chance, I can do this."
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I sipped my beer.
"This is your first job interview?"
.
She shook her head.
"No. I have had a few, but they have always went with a more experienced photographer and designer.
I have just graduated from Memorial, in December."
She took a laptop from a satchel near her feet and started to open it.
"If you just let me show you ..."
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I closed the laptop, as I drank my beer.
.
"Shit," she snapped.
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I got up and walked around the bar.
"Want another beer?"
.
She held up her near full bottle.
.
I opened her another one anyway and put it in front of her.
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"Aren't you even going to look at my work? At least give me a chance?"
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I opened another beer for myself.
"Nope. No need to."
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She took a deep breath.
"You were hoping for someone more experienced?"
.
At that moment, Ghost jumped up on the bar and walked to Eva.
.
"My stars. What a beautiful cat. He is just gorgeous."
.
Ghost stared at Evangeline, flicking her tail.
.
"Did I say something wrong?"
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"He, is a she," I informed her.
"That is Ghost."
.
Spirit joined his sister.
"And that handsome young man is Spirit."
.
Both cats seemed to quickly take a shine to Evangeline.
She petted both cats.
"They are beautiful."
She looked at me.
"They are yours?"
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I nodded.
"Okay, you too. Scat."
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The two cats scurried across the bar and ran to their beds, tail flicking.
.
"They actually listen?"
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I nodded.
"They are rather obedient."
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Evangeline put her laptop back in the satchel.
"Well. I won't take any more of your time, Mr. Templeton."
She stood and offered me her hand.
"Thank you for your time."
.
I smiled.
"Where are you going?"
.
"Well if I hurry, I can make it to Gander. I have a friend there, that I can stay with for a ..."
She stopped mid sentence.
"I don't mean to be rude, but ..."
.
"How quickly can you get the website up and running?"
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She stared at me.
"Excuse me?"
.
"The website," I repeated.
"Isn't that why you are here?"
.
"Yes, but ..."
.
"But what?"
I looked at the two beer on the counter.
"Besides you haven't finished your beer."
.
She sat back on the stool.
"So, I have the job?"
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I nodded.
"If you want it?"
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"I do. I do," she half yelled, excitedly.
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I raised my glass.
"Then welcome to our little family."
.
We clinked bottles.
Evangeline was simply glowing.
.
"I won't let you down, Mr. Templeton."
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"Will. My name is Will."
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She nodded.
"Okay Will. When do you want me to start?"
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"Aren't you even going to ask how much the job pays?"
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She shook her head as she guzzled her beer.
"I don't care. I just need a chance to start somewhere."
She picked up the second beer.
.
"What is the going rate for a designer?"
.
"It depends."
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"On what?"
I already knew what a great website would cost and I wanted this one to be beyond great.
.
"Well ...."
She hesitated.
.
"Eva. What will it cost?"
.
"I can set up the site for around 3 grand?"
It was more of a question than an answer.
.
I opened another beer for both of us.
.
"You trying to get me drunk?" she joked.
"Won't change my price."
.
I smiled at her and leaned on the bar.
"We want the best website we can. I don't want one of those crappy sites that people set up for 3 grand.
I want it fully interactive. I want a virtual tour of the motel and every room, as each will be unique. I want iceberg videos and whale videos and videos of our dinner theatre.
I want instant bookings and even the ability to chat to one of the staff here.
I want it all. I want the best interactive site on the web.
And, I want you to administer it, as well."
.
Evangeline let out a whistle.
"Well I am sure I can find some stock videos of whales and ..."
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I cut her off.
"Nope. You take the videos. I want you to go on the boats and take the tours and record the whole thing."
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"That will take quite a commitment."
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I nodded.
"At least a couple months. You will have to stay here through the entire season. Probably through to September.
We will set you up in one of the cabins."
.
Evangeline got a very strange look on her face. She started nodding her head.
"I see now."
.
"See what?"
.
"I guess the cabin will be next to yours?"
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I shook my head.
"I think you are getting the wrong impression here, Miss Carson."
.
"Its Ms. I am divorced. I just haven't changed back to my maiden name."
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I shook my head.
"Irregardless. This is strictly about business. I do not like people doing half-assed jobs.
If you want this job, then you will do it my way. I do not want stock photos or stock videos. I want actual photos and videos of actual people, enjoying this motel and the tours it provides.
And the person who does this website will be the one to do all of that.
If you feel that person is not you, then I guess we will continue to look."
.
A sad look came to her face.
"Wow. Didn't see that coming."
.
I suddenly felt like a complete shit.
"Look, Ms. Carson. I like you. And I would be a liar, which I am not, if I said I didn't find you attractive, but ..."
I searched for the right words.
"I just completely messed up a relationship. I have decided that the only person I can get along with, is me."
.
"That is sad," she remarked, genuinely.
"No one deserves to be alone."
.
"Well, weren't you about to give me the same speech?"
.
She nodded.
"Something similar."
.
"So. We are at the crossroads. Do we part ways and call it a day?
Or do you accept this challenge and show the world what you are capable of?"
.
She offered me her hand,
"Friends?"
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I nodded, taking her hand.
"Absolutely."
I started laughing.
.
"What is so funny?"
.
"It just so happens that the only available cabin is the one next to mine."