Between Land and Sea Page 9

  Barbara received many invitations to speak in Carden, Milton, and the surrounding area. As much as possible, she created speeches based on her book. She was determined to establish a platform before the book’s publication.

  One morning, Barbara looked at the calendar and was shocked to discover it was already December. She couldn’t believe that two weeks had already passed since her first presentation. She had purposefully filled her schedule as much as possible, so as not to dwell on the book or her relationship with Graham.

  Graham tried to attend as many of her presentations as he could. He complained about not seeing enough of her, but Barbara was fine with the one or two times a week that they managed to get together. The sex was still good, but Barbara was starting to become restless. She could feel her life changing, albeit slowly.

  Barbara continued to look at the calendar on her desk. In a few weeks, it would be Christmas. She thought of Graham’s elaborate plans for the holiday. He was hosting a traditional turkey dinner for Christmas Day and planning an Open House for Boxing Day. His children would be visiting and he was expecting many other guests to drop by. Although Barbara would not be alone with him, she was not comfortable with their relationship. Everyone in Carden thought of them as a couple, and a few ladies at the Art Shoppe had started to hint about wedding bells.

  “Why so glum?” Lois asked.

  Barbara looked up and smiled tightly at the younger woman. While she got along with her colleagues, she kept her distance and didn’t confide too many personal details. The occasional smirks and sly looks that Lois exchanged with the other counselors unsettled her. “I was hoping for a short winter. Is that possible here in Carden?”

  “Dream on. Winter’s just beginning. Wait until we get those cold, snowy days in January and February. Now that’s winter.” Her eyes glinted. “I was just talking with Carolyn the other day. She doesn’t mind being housebound in this weather.”

  “How is she doing?”

  “Very well. It’s been almost a month since her surgery and she’s starting to perk up. She should be ready to come back in no time at all.”

  “That’s great. Give her my best.”

  “I’ve advised her to wait out the winter and come back in the spring, but she’s talking about coming back sooner. And Leslie told me that Sarah will be coming back in early February. What will you do then?”

  Barbara ignored the unsettled feeling that was forming in the pit of her stomach. “I just take everything one day at a time, Lois. I found that works best for me.”

  Lois furrowed her brow. “But you must have something—”

  The telephone rang and Barbara picked it up after the first ring. “Good morning, Barbara Davies speaking.” She waved to a disappointed Lois, who started moving toward her own desk.

  “Good morning, Barbara. And it’s going to be an even finer morning when I give you the good news.” An unfamiliar male voice boomed across the telephone lines.

  Barbara glanced at the call display. It was an unknown number. Hopefully he wasn’t one of those telemarketers offering her a free cruise package. She sighed and waited patiently for the man to continue.

  “This is Stewart Tobin, calling from Chicago.”

  Barbara held her breath in anticipation. Even though Graham and Janice had told her it might be months before she heard from the agent, she had fervently hoped that the call would come sooner.

  “Are you still there, Barbara?”

  “Yes, yes, I’m here. Please continue.”

  “I gave your book to Melanie James, who is an editor with New Spirit Publishing House. She called this morning and told me that they’re interested in meeting with you. A few of the other editors in the office have read the book, and everyone is convinced it will be a best-seller. This book of yours might be out in time for next Christmas.”

  It was starting to happen. She heard the excitement in her voice as she spoke. “That’s wonderful, Stewart.” She paused. “New Spirit Publishing House. I don’t think I’ve heard of them before.”

  “It’s a small publishing house based here in Chicago. They only accept five books a year and devote all their attention to them. They may not be Random House or Penguin, but they will deliver.”

  “I can’t begin to thank you.”

  “Barbara, that book of yours sold itself. I’m just a messenger.” His voice became more businesslike. “Now how soon can you get down here? We need to strike while the iron’s hot, and I’d like to set up a meeting before the Christmas madness begins. Can you come this week or next?”

  Barbara would have to talk with Janice, call Gillian, arrange for a flight, pack, and fly. A feeling of nausea overcame her at the thought of flying.

  “Barbara, Barbara. Earth to Barbara.” Stewart was laughing. “You’ve got to make a decision. Don’t leave me hanging like this.”

  Barbara took a deep breath. “Can you arrange a meeting for early next week?”

  “Melanie gave me a couple of possible meeting times. How about a week today? Monday at ten a.m.?”

  This was moving fast—too fast. But there was no way that Barbara could stop the momentum. “That sounds great. I’ll talk to my boss and call Gillian.”

  “I’ve already spoken with Gillian. She’ll be calling you tonight at home.”

  Barbara was taken aback by all of Stewart’s advance planning. “Do you always plan everything before talking to your clients?”

  “Of course. Why waste time with more calls and emails?” He added, “Oh, and I’ve arranged for the two of us to have brunch on Sunday. I’ll pick you up at Gillian’s. Now, I must go. See you then.”

  Barbara stared at the phone for a few minutes before hanging up the receiver. She couldn’t believe how slowly she was reacting to all the news. She took a few minutes to gather her thoughts and then headed toward Janice’s office. She knocked on the door and waited for the familiar “Come on in.”

  Janice looked up, worried. “Are you all right, Barbara? You look very pale. I hope you haven’t come down with that terrible flu that’s going around.”

  “No, everything’s fine. Better than fine.” Barbara sat down and told Janice about her conversation with Stewart.

  “I can’t believe it’s happening so quickly for you. But then I shouldn’t be so surprised.” She thought quietly for a few minutes. “Why don’t you fly down to Chicago Friday night and fly back here next Tuesday or Wednesday evening? Since you’re staying with a friend, you don’t have to worry about hotel expenses. So, take your time and make a holiday out of it.”

  “Take all that time off work? But how will you manage?”

  “Don’t worry,” Janice said. “December is a slow month for us. People are getting ready for Christmas and are not too interested in career advice. The other ladies usually take days off to attend their children’s plays and recitals and prepare for the holidays. Take two or three days off now and later in the month you can cover for them.”

  Barbara was glad she had spoken to Janice first. The older woman had a calm, competent air about her that inspired confidence. The two women chatted briefly about the book’s possibilities. Barbara went back to her desk and forced herself to concentrate on the day’s work.

  Chapter 18

  Barbara was grateful for the steady flow of clients because it left her no time to worry about the book or deal with Lois. She realized it wouldn’t be long before she said goodbye to this short chapter in her human life. Even though it was turning out to be far more than merely a pleasant interlude, she was ready to move up in the world.

  At four-thirty, Barbara was the first one out the door. She heard Lois exclaim, “Someone’s in a hurry today.”

  Barbara grinned happily as she walked briskly toward the apartment. She liked the feel of snow on her face and realized that she was actually enjoying the winter season in the northern hemisphere. The warm waters of the Mediterranean kingdom were slowly becoming a distant memory.

  Barbara reached the apartment in
record time. She hurried upstairs and made a beeline for the tablet. She pressed the green light and was greeted by a smiling Lisa738.

  “Hello, Barbara. You look beautiful today. You have lovely color and your eyes are shining. Do you have any good news to share with me?” The Numbers mermaid had a hopeful look on her face.

  Barbara hadn’t planned on sharing her news with Lisa738, but she would have to come up with some explanation regarding the flight to Chicago. “I have an opportunity to travel for my job. They’re sending me to Chicago.”

  “Are you flying?” Lisa738 asked.

  “Yes, it’s my first time and I’m afraid. When I heard the news, my heart started pounding and I felt sick to my stomach.”

  “That’s normal for all mermaids. We are daughters of the seas. While we can adapt to land, we have problems when flying in the air. It’s too much of a departure from the warm depths of our kingdom.” She spoke briskly, “You will need to apply a desensitization button. One will appear beneath the screen in a few seconds. Be very careful with this button. After you apply it, lie down and rest for at least one hour. Do not eat or drink anything until the hour has passed.”

  “It’s that powerful?” Barbara asked.

  “Yes, it will convert all your fearful, negative thoughts into positive ones. While it will address your fear of flying, it will also deal with any other phobias you may have. It is equivalent to two full years of therapy.”

  “That button would be a gold mine here on earth.”

  Lisa738 gasped. “Humans must never have access to our technology. They would not be able to handle it.”

  “I think you underestimate the human race,” Barbara said. “There are many strong, intelligent people here on land who would not abuse the power of the tablet.” Barbara thought of Graham, Janice, Hannah, and all the other people in her circle. She also considered her clients who were experiencing job loss, addictions, and other issues. The tablet could erase so many of the world’s problems. And it would lift many unfortunate people out of their depressions.

  Lisa738 shook her head. “Humans would abuse the power of the tablet. A few unscrupulous individuals would steal the tablet and use up all its powers. It would become ineffective in less than a week.”

  “I didn’t realize that the tablet’s power is limited. Is that why I have it for only a year?”

  “Yes, it would not last much longer than that. Though, in your case, you might get two years out of it. You don’t ask for much.”

  Barbara wondered how much the other mermaids had asked for in the past. She must ask Gillian about her tablet experience. She looked down and applied the shiny button that appeared. This time, the feeling was more intense and the room appeared to sway before her. She grabbed the edge of the nearby night table. Thankfully, she was already in the bedroom and would not have to walk too far.

  “Go directly to bed, Barbara.” Lisa738’s voice sounded far away as Barbara made her way into bed, fully clothed.

  Barbara woke up with a start. She panicked momentarily as she looked about the darkened room. She glanced at the alarm clock and registered the time as eighteen past seven. Slowly, bits and pieces of the earlier conversation with Lisa738 came back. She decided to test the power of the button. She closed her eyes and visualized herself flying to Chicago. She relaxed as she imagined the large, puffy clouds that would surround the plane. No nausea. No heart palpitations. The button had worked its magic.

  Her stomach growled and Barbara realized she had eaten very little all day. While her breakfast had been substantial, she had eaten only half of her tuna salad at lunch. Not wanting to linger too long in the kitchen, she decided on a turkey sandwich with a few raw vegetables and an apple.

  She logged onto her laptop and went on the Expedia website. After examining the different flight possibilities, she selected an Air Canada flight leaving Toronto at seven-twenty on Friday evening and returning at four-thirty on Tuesday afternoon. Although Janice had offered her three days off, she decided to take only Monday and Tuesday.

  Afterward, she quickly dialed Gillian’s number. The low, breathless voice answered after one ring. “Hello, there. I was just about to call you. You must be ecstatic!”

  “Yes, I’m so happy. I can hardly wait for the weekend.” She added shyly, “I just booked my flight.”

  “You don’t waste any time, do you?” Her voice became softer. “How do you feel about flying?”

  “I got the desensitization button from Lisa738.”

  “Good! Now give me the details. When are you coming in?”

  Barbara shared all the flight and terminal information with Gillian.

  “I can pick you up Friday evening and drop you off at O’Hare on Tuesday,” Gillian said. “Stewart called me this morning with your itinerary for the weekend. It sounds like you’ll be busy with him on Sunday and Monday. I’ll make plans for Friday night and all day Saturday. Let’s leave Tuesday for now. I have a sneaking suspicion that Stewart may take up that day as well.”

  Barbara’s head was whirling. It sounded like her days would be packed with meetings and other adventures. But she would deal with it. This was the beginning of a new chapter in her human life, and she was determined to make the most of the opportunity.

  “Barbara, are you there?”

  “I’m sorry, Gillian. I’m still trying to process all of this. I can’t believe it’s happening so quickly.”

  “Believe it. You’ve got a winner in that book of yours,” Gillian said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Stewart if I could read it. He only allowed me to read the first two chapters. I am very impressed by what I’ve read so far. You’ve made great use of those storytelling talents of yours. But then you are a Bella.”

  “Thank you, Gillian.” Barbara thought of how that name would always define her. Even Graham was using it now.

  “I need to ask about your wardrobe. We can go shopping on Friday.”

  Barbara didn’t want to spend her time shopping in Chicago. Barbara suspected that Gillian frequented upscale boutiques and spent a considerable sum of money on her wardrobe. “I’m down to a size ten now, and I took advantage of a ‘Going Out of Business’ sale here in Carden.”

  “Great. How’s everything on the Graham front?” Gillian asked in a low, husky voice.

  Barbara smiled and shook her head at this abrupt change of subject. Sex and relationships were constantly on Gillian’s mind. But then it seemed that’s all these humans liked to talk about. Even the happily married ladies at ReCareering liked to speculate and make comments about their male clients.

  “Everything’s fine,” Barbara said. “We’ve been intimate on a number of occasions and we’re spending a lot of time together.”

  “Has he introduced you to his parents or children?”

  “His mother died a few years ago and his children are out West. I will be meeting them during the holidays.”

  “That’s definitely a good sign.” She added, “Looks like you might get hitched before too long. Good work, Barbara.”

  “I have no intention of marrying Graham. He’s great company and a wonderful companion. That’s all.”

  “I take it this topic is off limits,” Gillian said. “I’ll have to keep that in mind when you come down here.”

  Barbara instantly regretted her sharp words. She knew that Gillian, Lisa738, and the other women meant well. Most fifty-something single women wanted and welcomed permanent relationships with men. “I’m looking forward to meeting you this weekend, Gillian. It sounds like we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

  “I can hardly wait to meet you, Barbara. Ciao, Bella.”

  Barbara put down the receiver. In less than a minute, the telephone rang again. She glanced at the call display and saw Graham’s number. She picked up the telephone.

  “Hello, Bella. Your line has been busy for a while.”

  Barbara took a breath and gave him a summary of the day’s happenings.

  Graham whistled. “It
sounds like you’re on your way. I’ll pick you up after work on Friday, and I’ll be waiting for you at the airport on Tuesday.”

  Barbara had planned to take a cab, but she welcomed Graham’s offer.

  “Let me know if you need to do any shopping beforehand,” Graham said. “I could drive you to Square One or Yorkdale.”

  “No, I’m fine.” She didn’t want to waste time driving to those large, glittering caves that consumed so much human time and money. Her one and only visit to Square One had convinced her that shopping in malls overflowing with people was not a pleasant activity.

  “I wish I could come over and celebrate with you tonight, but I’m still waiting for a delivery.”

  “At this hour?”

  “Allison DiSalle, one of my Toronto artists, promised me a few pieces last week. She and her husband are dropping it off on their way to Windsor. She called a while ago to tell me that they would be leaving a little later than usual.”

  Barbara was relieved. She had been flying high all day and looked forward to unwinding by herself. “It’s all right. We’ll celebrate later this week.”

  Chapter 19

  It took less than two days for everyone in Carden to hear about Barbara’s book. Friends, acquaintances, and total strangers stopped to congratulate her as she walked to and from the office. At ReCareering, Leslie joked that over one third of the daily calls were for Barbara. Clubs and organizations wanted to book her for speaking engagements, and new clients asked for her as a counselor.

  This wave of attention did not endear her to Lois and the other counselors. While they had worked harmoniously in the past, the other women now kept their distance. Janice was aware of the undercurrents, and she addressed her concerns to Barbara. “When I hired you a few months ago, I had a very good feeling about you. I knew you would succeed at whatever you chose to do. But I didn’t think you would achieve superstar status so quickly.”

  “I didn’t think any of this would happen,” Barbara said. “I needed to make more money and thought a book would do it for me.”