Tangled Hearts

Chapter 10: Rebuilding (part 1)

Cathy found herself at a crossroads. The divorce had left her without financial support from Rey, aside from the money he provided for Elijah. Cathy hadn’t asked for anything more. She was determined to stand on her own two feet, to prove to herself and to everyone else that she could make it on her own. But the thought of re-entering the workforce after a decade away filled her with dread.

Cathy had spent the past few days polishing up her resume, trying to make it look as impressive as possible. But there was no getting around the fact that she hadn’t worked in ten years. Her credentials were solid—she had the education, the certifications, and she knew her field was in demand. But she couldn’t escape the nagging doubt that she had been out of the game for too long.

As she stared at her computer screen, Cathy’s mind raced with thoughts of what could go wrong. Would anyone even consider hiring her with such a large gap in her work history? Would she be able to keep up with the latest developments in the field? What if she had forgotten everything she knew?

But she couldn’t let those fears hold her back. She had to push through, for Elijah’s sake as much as her own. Cathy took a deep breath, clicked on the job listings, and started scrolling. She had spent hours the day before searching for opportunities, and she was determined to apply for as many jobs as she could. She was qualified, and she knew that her profession was still in demand. But convincing an employer to take a chance on her after ten years away was another matter entirely.

Cathy’s eyes landed on a job posting that caught her attention. A local clinic was looking for a Speech-Language Pathologist to work with children. It was exactly the kind of position she had loved before she got married—helping young kids develop their communication skills, watching them make progress day by day. It was work that had always made her feel fulfilled, like she was making a real difference in people’s lives.

She clicked on the job description, reading through the qualifications. The position required someone with a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, state licensure, and experience working with children. Cathy met all of those requirements, except for two glaring issues—her lack of recent experience and masters degree. She hadn’t worked in the field since Elijah was born, and the thought of trying to explain that gap in her resume made her stomach turn.

But Cathy knew she couldn’t afford to be picky. She needed this job, or any job that would allow her to support herself and Elijah. She took a deep breath, pushed aside her doubts, and started working on her application. She updated her resume, wrote a cover letter explaining her situation, and submitted everything online. When she hit the “Submit” button, she felt a small wave of relief. It was a step forward, even if it was just a small one.

Over the next few days, Cathy continued her search, applying for every relevant job she could find. The process was exhausting, and with each passing day, her doubts grew stronger. But she forced herself to keep going, reminding herself that she had no other choice. She had to make this work.

One afternoon, as Cathy was finishing up another round of applications, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be a response to one of her applications?

“Hello?” Cathy answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Hello, is this Cathy Chan?” the voice on the other end asked.

“Yes, this is Cathy,” she replied, her pulse quickening.

“Hi, Cathy. This is Dr. Meyers from the Hamilton Speech and Language Clinic. We received your application for the Speech-Language Pathologist position, and I’d like to invite you for an interview.”

Cathy’s heart soared with hope. “Thank you so much, Dr. Meyers. I’d love to come in for an interview. When would be a good time?”

They arranged a time for the interview the following week, and as Cathy hung up the phone, she felt a mix of excitement and nerves. This was her chance, her opportunity to prove that she could still do the work she loved, that she could support herself and Elijah without relying on anyone else.

But as the day of the interview approached, Cathy’s doubts started to creep back in. She knew she would have to address the gap in her work history, and she worried about how the interviewer would react. What if they saw her as outdated, as someone who had been out of the field for too long to be relevant? What if they didn’t think she could handle the demands of the job?

On the morning of the interview, Cathy dressed carefully, choosing a professional outfit that made her feel confident. She took a deep breath, looked at herself in the mirror, and reminded herself of why she was doing this. This was for Elijah, for their future. She could do this.

When she arrived at the clinic, Cathy was greeted by a receptionist who led her to Dr. Meyers’ office. The clinic was warm and inviting, with bright colors and cheerful decorations. It was exactly the kind of place Cathy had always imagined herself working in.

Dr. Meyers was a kind-looking woman in her fifties, with glasses perched on the end of her nose and a friendly smile. “Cathy, it’s so nice to meet you,” she said, shaking Cathy’s hand. “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you,” Cathy said, sitting down and trying to steady her nerves.

They started with some small talk, discussing Cathy’s background, her education, and her past work experience. Dr. Meyers seemed genuinely interested in what Cathy had to say, which put her at ease. But Cathy knew the tough questions were coming.

“So, Cathy,” Dr. Meyers said, looking down at Cathy’s resume, “I see that you haven’t worked in the field for the past ten years. Can you tell me a little about that?”