Kate was sitting at her desk going over her to-do list.
“Can you do a client interview?” Helena asked. “There’s a gentleman asking for you by name. He said he was referred by a friend.”
“Of course.”
She picked up her clipboard and an intake form and walked to the room where they interviewed new clients. It was hardly bigger than closet-sized, but at least it was private.
A young man was waiting there for her. He was wearing a flannel shirt, jeans, work boots, and a worn-looking coat.
She smiled brightly. New clients were often a bit hesitant when visiting the food pantry for the first time, and she wanted to put him at ease. “Hi, I’m Kate Watts.”
“Zach Nielsen,” he said and shook Kate’s proffered hand.
“Please have a seat.”
Kate went through the intake questionnaire. Zach was twenty-seven, lived with his disabled mother, and also cared for a younger brother. The family currently received food stamps but still came up short at the end of the month.
“My little brother is fifteen,” Zach said. “My mom can’t keep him filled up. He’s growing so fast. I’ve got a part-time warehouse job, and I’m trying to get on full-time. Maybe in the next month or so, they say.”
“It’ll be okay,” Kate said. “We can help you.”
Kate noticed the relieved look on his face and the way he seemed to relax in the chair. “Do you have ID?”
His smile faltered. “Yes, but I don’t have it with me.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Kate said reassuringly. “Just bring it next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
When the interview was complete, Kate helped Zach fill a box with a three-day supply of food for each member of his household.
“Come back next month and we’ll fill the box again.”
“Thank you,” he said.
When she finished with Zach, she started another list, jotting down the things she’d need to take care of if she left with Ian. Breaking her apartment lease and turning in her resignation to her board of directors were the two biggest things she’d need to address. Though he’d mentioned that Kate didn’t need to worry about finding a job unless she wanted one, she knew she wouldn’t be happy without something to fill her days and give her a sense of purpose.
Helena’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Earth to Kate. I’ve said your name three times.”
“Sorry,” Kate said. “I was thinking about Ian.”
“If that man were my boyfriend, I’d never get anything done. I’d just sit and stare off into space thinking about him.”
“Helena Sadowski, listen to you.”
“Well, it’s true.”
Kate walked over and sat down on the edge of Helena’s desk. “Ian may need to relocate for one of his clients. He’s asked me to come with him.”
“It would take me approximately four seconds to make up my mind if I were in your shoes.”
“Did Bert ever ask you to make a choice? Follow him somewhere, do something you hadn’t planned?”