Chapter 1

Ring Ring…. I wake with a stir wondering what I am hearing when suddenly I realise it is the phone – why on earth is the phone ringing at 1120 hours.

Feeling as if I had been asleep for hours I get up to answer the call,

“Hello….” “Good evening, is that Mrs Robertson??”

“Yes, speaking” I hear myself answer still trying to waken up from my deep sleep.

“This is Mr Mario Lemieux calling from the Pittsburgh Penguins on behalf of the NHL regarding the job you applied for…..” suddenly I felt as if I was still dreaming.

“Sorry for calling so late Mrs Robertson but would you be willing to take part in a telephone interview??”

I was over the moon, suddenly after the last few nightmare months things were looking up.

In the few months leading up to this telephone conversation my husband Paul had died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 26, I was completely devastated and I felt as if life could not go on. Everything I did reminded me of Paul and things just seemed to get harder instead of easier so I decided it was time for a change. I applied for a job working as an Administration Manager for the NHL based at the Melon Arena Pittsburgh. This would mean emigrating from the UK to the US on my own which would be a huge challenge.

As I talk to Mario on the phone I realise that things could be looking up, if they are phoning me in Scotland I must be in with a chance of getting the job.

As more and more time passed after my interview and I hear nothing I begin thinking that maybe I got my hopes up but something in the back of my mind tells me not to give up.

Maybe my nightmare months are not over and the call was just teasing me.

Ring Ring… why does that phone insist on waking me up.

“Hello…” I bark down the telephone.

“Good evening Mrs Robertson, did I wake you?”

“Erm, yes, who’s calling?”

“Mrs Robertson, it is Mr Mario Lemieux again regarding your telephone interview, please accept my apologies that it has taken me so long to get back to you, I hope you have not lost interest?”

I sleepily rub my eyes listening to what Mr Lemieux is saying and realise that the little voice in the back of my mind might know what it’s talking about.

“Yes Mr Lemieux, I am still very interested although I had almost given up hope of hearing from you again.”

“Please Mrs Robertson call me Mario, I am just calling to pre-warn you that there is a formal job offer currently flying over the ocean on its way to you. If you can please tell me your email address I shall have a brief email typed up with details of what we are offering you until you receive your letter and contract."