Hopeless Wanderer

"And Sidney is a little..." Jennifer, the Penguins public relations coordinator, trailed off as she led Carrie through the hallways of the Consol Energy Center towards her potential new boss.

"Strange?" Carrie offered. She had heard stories from her husband, R.J. But often she tuned out what he had to say because most of the time his conversation starters were mainly about the varying sports he enjoyed following to keep up with his younger brother, Josh. Who happened to be a writer for the Globe and Mail in Toronto.

"Set in his ways is more like it." Jen looked over at Carrie as she said this.

"So he's not really wanting a personal assistant?" Carrie instantly felt nervous, she needed a job and when Jen told her she may have something she immediately jumped on it.

"I wouldn't say that. He's just being picky about who he lets live with him and help him with everyday tasks."

"Usually a wife helps with that."

"And that is why you're our top candidate!"

"Ha, thanks. I really appreciate this Jen. I've been.."

"Lost?"

"To say the least."

"Well, so has he. You two will balance each other out. Or at least I am hoping." Jen stopped in front of a large wooden door with the team logo etched across it. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," carrie said as she smoothed the front of her dress pants and shirt. She hiked her shoulder bag higher up on her shoulder and followed Jen in through the doors, past a family room with games of varying degrees and televisions set up, to a row of offices and a conference room. Inside sat three men, one of which was Carrie's potential employer.

"Hello gentlemen, this is Carrie Palmer. Carrie, meet Pat Brisson, Troy Crosby, and Sidney Crosby," Jen introduced. Carrie quickly shook hands with all three men and took a seat next to Jen.

"Well, if memory serves me correctly, you know Jen from somewhere. Am I correct?" Pat asked with a soft smile and a way to break the ice.

"Yes, I do. Jen is a close family friend."

"Grew up together?" Troy piped in with a hint of skepticism in his voice.

"More like helped babysit her with her older sister. Kathleen was my matron of honor in my wedding."

Carrie smiled a tight lipped smile at the men in front of her. She was grateful that Jen didn't run off to do something else and leave her to speak with these men. All of which appeared intimidating even though she knew they weren't.

"So, tell us about yourself Carrie. Start with your education."

"Okay, well I attended St. Vincent's and majored in secondary education. I earned my master's through an online program with Penn State and I taught for five years in a small school district north of Latrobe."

"Do you mind me asking what made you leave your job?" Sidney asked. It was the first time she heard him speak.

"I needed a change of scenery. I didn't feel the same passion for my job as I once had and after some soul searching I determined that I no longer wanted to be a teacher. So I moved out here with my crazy great Aunt Mare and have been unemployed since. Not for lack of trying. Apparently having two degrees means you are overqualified for retail, even to make ends meet."

****
Sidney studied the disappearing figure and contemplated everything she had just shared with all of them. It didn't go as he had anticipated, but there was something about the woman that made him think she was the right person for the job.

"I'm so sorry guys, I spoke with her sister and she had warned me that Carrie can inadvertently ruin things. She has been going through a rough patch these last few months."

"She quit her job and moved to Pittsburgh. How is she sustaining life?" Pat asked.

"Her aunt has a little bit of money. She never had grandchildren, but only truly likes Carrie."

"What happened to her?" Troy questioned, meaning Carrie.

"Her husband and little baby were killed in an automobile accident just under a year ago. She wasn't in the car, and she was supposed to be as her sister put it. Anyway, after she buried her family she quit really living. She quit her job, she sold her house and stayed at Kath's for a while. But she said it was too hard." Jen trailed off wondering if she went too far in telling a story that wasn't hers to tell. Sidney listened intently as he considered the way the interview turned south fast.

"Sidney, I think this one has too much emotional baggage. Maybe we should go back to the previous candidate. He seemed very well prepared," Troy suggested.

He shook his head and turned to his father. "No, she's the one."

****
Carrie rushed out the door in search of the nearest bus stop. She blew the interview. She knew it. Rambling on about her sick aunt that she now lived with and her inability to find decent work weren't exactly qualities that possess someone functioning as a personal assistant. She never gave herself the chance to explain that her organizational skills alone could win awards, that she would successfully see to it that Sidney was assisted in any way he needed.

Nevertheless, Carrie walked through the slight drizzle to the corner of Forbes Avenue in front of Duquesne University and waited for the bus she needed to get her back to Shadyside. To the small, two bedroom apartment that she shared with her aunt now.

Bus after bus zoomed by and by the time she felt her cell phone vibrating in her pocket the rain had picked up to a steady downpour. It was good April weather. She quickly huddled into the entrance to the parking garage and listened to the voicemail that was left.

"Uh, hi. Carrie...this, this is Sidney...Sidney Crosby. We just met. Of course you know that though. Anyway, I am calling to offer you the position. Jen will be reaching out to you with regards to the terms of your contract because I am sort of busy right now. Anyway. Yeah. So, see you around."

Carrie studied her phone and listened to the voicemail again. She got the job. And right in the middle of the parking garage entrance she jumped around and danced. Relief flooding her system for the first time in nearly ten months.

****
Carrie wandered through the sprawling house, twisting and turning to look at artwork scattered throughout the place. She was only half listening to Sidney as he explained where everything was and nearly ran into him when he stopped on a dime and turned to her.

"Oh God! I'm sorry! I am listening, just admiring this place too," she explained sheepishly. She could feel her embarrassment blossoming across her face in rosy little patches.

"No problem, but you'll have time to do all that you realize. I mean since you'll be living here and all," he cracked a sad, little smile and resumed giving the tour of the house.

"Wait. What?" Carrie asked. She seemed to have missed the whole actually living with Sidney, but she knew she had a tendency as of late to not focus or forget complete details about something.

"You'll be moving in. I have a room upstairs for you with an attached office and living area so if you ever are sick of me you can escape up there."

Carrie didn't know what to say. She was already overwhelmed by the thought of being paid just as much as teaching paid her to follow this guy around to make sure he made it to places he needed to go. But to actually get to live in his monster size house was just the icing on the cake.

"You did know that the job requires you to live here, right?" Sidney asked Carrie as he turned to face her while he walked backwards.

"Oh! Yeah, I knew. I, uh, just forgot that detail. I'm sorry. I'm not usually forgetful. When should I move in?"

"I can get a moving truck over to your place tomorrow."

"That, that won't be necessary, I hardly have anything. I can fit it into my aunt's car."

"You don't have a car?"

"Uh, no I sold it once I got here. I needed the cash. I took a couple buses to get out here today."

"You'll have access to my vehicle once you are settled in then. And I will just come with you to gather your things."

"You don't have to do that! Its fine," Carrie trailed off. In actuality, his offering to help was really appreciated.

"Please, you are doing me a favor by accepting this position as ridiculous as it may seem. It's the least I can do to help you get settled in."

"Well, thank you. That is very kind."

"Let me show you your room!" Sid exclaimed and he quickly walked past Carrie towards the front of the house where the grand staircase was. She tried to keep up, but his strides were longer than hers and she fell behind almost immediately.

"Hold on, you move too fast!" She laughed at the thought and managed to catch up to him at the top of the staircase. "Geez, I'm not as in shape as you are."

"Sorry, you'll get used to how fast I move. Now come on." He pointed out three doors and said that they were guest rooms; one more door was a full bath that guests would share. "We have our own wings. My side pretty much reflects your side of the house. It's like two master bedrooms almost, except mine is slightly larger."

Carrie nodded her understanding and waited in anticipation of the big reveal. "Close your eyes."

"You're being weird, and I barely know you." Carrie leaned back and crossed her arms protectively.

"I'm sorry, I'm just excited for you to see this." Carrie considered what Sidney said and decided he was just genuinely excited to fill the space on the other side of the door.

"Alright, alright. Closing my eyes," Carrie said in exasperation. Sid waved his hand in front of her closed eyes and smiled in approval. He turned, opened the door then led her into her wing and told her to open her eyes.

"Oh wow," she whispered. The space was sparsely decorated, but it was charming with the basic furniture and perfect to meet her needs.

"What do you think?"

"I get to live here?" Sid nodded his head. "It's bigger than my apartment now!"

"I doubt that. It's probably because of it lacking any sort of decorations. All the furniture is new, no one has used it before. And whatever you may want or need for in here, let me know. I will see to it that you get it."

"Sidney," Carrie started.

"No, I don't want to hear it. I will furnish your wing however you want. I want this to feel like home for you."

"Thank you," Carrie replied after a very pregnant pause.

"No problem. Now, onto what you actually will be doing!" Sid smiled a megawatt smile and led Carrie down the hall towards his own suite where his office was.

****
"Carrie, are you sure this is what you want to be doing?" Kathleen asked the following morning when she called her older sister.

"I'm not finding anything else and I refuse to go back into a classroom." Carrie was adamant.

"Yeah, but there are so many other ways you can utilize your degrees instead of following some chump hockey player around to hand him a tissue when he sneezes."

"My job isn't to follow him around and hand him tissues. It's to actually wipe his runny nose with the tissues that I carry. Which are all flecked with little pieces of 24 carat gold which allows for him to shimmer after he uses them. Because all people with millions of dollars shimmer in the light."

"Alright, stop. Your sarcasm can only go so far," Kathleen said.

"Well, I am just completely full of sarcasm these days."

"You better not ruin this opportunity."

"You are so full of contradictions! You just told me I could be doing something bigger than this, then you told me not to ruin it. Which one is it sissy?"

"Care bear. Please." The emotion in her sister's voice made Carrie instantly lose all the sarcastic bite left.

"Look, I know what you are going through."

"NO YOU DON'T! You still have your husband and children! You still get to hold them and care for them. I have two bodies buried six feet in the ground and an asshole worth millions of dollars wanting to pay me off so he won't go to jail for killing my family!" It wasn't unusual anymore to hear Carrie snap the way she did. Kathleen knew better than to recommend to Carrie about talking with someone. Instead when her sister would yell, she let her do it then move on without another word.

"Do you need help moving at all?" Kathleen asked.

Carrie took a deep breath to calm herself, then said, "I don't have anything to move. Sidney is coming over in an hour to help with my luggage."

"Okay, but if you need anything I am only an hour away. I can be there in no time."

"I know sissy," Carrie said. It was a term of endearment among the two siblings. When Carrie was young she found it easier to call her sister that than her first name. The nickname stuck for years. But the only time Kathleen heard it was when Carrie was under stress and needed her sister.

"I love you," Kath said, her heart calling out to Carrie.

"Love you," Carrie said as she hung up the phone.

Notes

Here's something new I am trying. I would love to know what you all think so far. It will help to keep me motivated! Thanks in advance! Subscribe, vote, comment please! You all are great!