Mia's event planning firm offered her a partnership in May.
It wasn't entirely unexpected—she'd been working reduced hours since Charlotte's birth, but the work she did was, if anything, sharper than before. The Romano connections had brought the firm three significant new clients over the past year, clients who specifically wanted "the planner who handled the Romano wedding," and her boss, a woman named Carol Ashby who had run the firm for fifteen years, had been watching the trajectory with increasing interest.
"Partnership," Carol said, over coffee in her office. "Full partner. Your name on the door, alongside mine. Equity stake, decision-making role in firm direction." She paused. "I know your situation is—unusual. I'm not asking you to work more hours. I'm asking because the work yo
