Reviews are down again, it seems that unless i make a direct threat i don't get very many. What do i need to say to get you to review? Please let me know, a good place to tell me would be the blue button on the bottom of this page, you can put your ideas in your review... Chapter 37 won't be posted until i get ten reviews... FYI i'm leaving on tuesday and wont be back until the sunday after thanksgiving, i would like to be able to post a couple chapters before i go, I have them written so it is totally up to you... they include Don's and Lana's backstory and kate's...
Chapter 36
Paige was stretched out and wrapped up tight on the air bed for over an hour while she listened to Charlie ramble on in his soft and deep 'try to put Paige' to sleep voice. He asked a few times if she was still awake and she 'mmmm hmmm'd' him but she didn't say any actual words. She was afraid if she talked then they would start another conversation and she wanted Charlie to get some sleep even if she wasn't able to. After an hour of hearing him tell her how much he loved her and what he thought it would be like when they were really together and of his voice getting softer and softer, she finally heard it drift off completely. Paige could hear his deep breathing and smiled picturing him in his bed snuggled up with a pillow and his phone just like she was. Paige refused to feel like a failure and vowed to not let Charlie think he was either. If she had her way he would never know that he didn't put her to sleep. If he asked her outright she would try to avoid the question but if he wouldn't let her she would tell him the truth, but she would make sure he knew the problem was with her, not with him.
Paige climbed out of the high rise blow up bed and took her phone with her so she could listen to Charlie breathe while she worked in the kitchen. She booted up her laptop and then unlocked the password protected digital files of the first book she ever wrote. She had started writing 'Becky Karecki Had a Bad Day' the day that Don had left for college. Paige had stood in the driveway and watched him drive off and then had gone up to her room to cry. She had pulled out her journal to write but found that it was easier to express what she was feeling through the story of Becky Karecki's bad day rather than her own. As often happened when Paige started writing she was completely lost in her story. Writing consumed her and she did little else for weeks except write and eat and talk to Don on the phone.
Paige started reading the first chapter and used her editing software to make notes and possible changes. At the end of the first chapter Becky received a post card from her grandparents and that made Paige think of the postcards that Charlie had given her when she left to come back to Neptune. She had sat down a couple times and held the cloth wrapped bundle but she hadn't been able to open them yet. She wanted to do it when she had hours to read them, hours alone, where if she wanted to cry she could, hours where she wouldn't be interrupted. Paige glanced at the clock on her computer, it was just after three. She got up and went to the garage and turned the water temperature up on the hot water heater, she grabbed her blue tooth headset from Don's car and then she went back to her computer. She minimized the manuscript she had been working on and updated her 'to do' list for the day. She had the interview with Colbie Baxter, the nurse that Casey Gant had arranged for her to meet. She needed to call Miles and get his okay for 'Operation Rob Thomas'. She needed to finalize the plans for Charlie's Saturday surprise. She needed to check in with the two agents who were watching the Fitzpatrick boys that she had met and tagged in Mexico. Then there were lots of little things she needed to do, she promised she would find time to meet with Lefty, she promised she would make Don another Lasagna, and she wanted to call the detective in charge of the Lana Arliss missing persons case in Las Vegas. She knew that Don couldn't go there to talk to them but she was hoping maybe the detective would call Don personally on Friday and just give him some assurances that the case hadn't been forgotten.
Most everything Paige had to do required that it be done during day light hours when you could call people and not wake them from deep sleep. Paige finalized her list of questions for the interview and made a few notes for things she wanted to make sure were a part of Charlie's surprise. She sent a quick email to Miles asking him to call her when he was up and had a chance. She checked the contents of the fridge and found that Kate had used a lot of the things she had bought to make Lasagna so she made a grocery list and then added a few things to make some more of Charlie's favorites since he would be there soon. Finally after an hour of getting everything done that she could do on her list she decided that she had done enough and that now she would have plenty of hot water. She went back to the den and got out her iPod, she grabbed the stack of postcards from her suitcase and unplugged the charger to her iPhone. She took everything with her in to the bathroom. She filled the bathtub with hot water and some of her body wash that made for a pretty good bubble bath in a pinch.
While the tub filled she plugged her phone in and linked it to the headset. She slipped out of her sleep shorts and took one last deep breath of the shirt that was smelling more like her and less like Charlie and then folded both neatly and set them on the counter. She snapped her iPod into the water proof case she had bought just for this purpose and set some towels and the stack of postcards onto the toilet next to the tub. She left the lights on but lit a few candles anyway. When she had everything ready she climbed carefully into the tub and settled in and got comfortable. She dried her hands off with one of the towels and then attached the phone's headset to her right ear. She smiled as she heard Charlie's slow and steady breathing so loud and clear it was like he was right there with her. She put one of her iPod ear buds into her left ear and scrolled through her playlists, she chose Taylor Swift's debut CD and then picked up the stack of postcards. She carefully unwrapped them, Paige laughed softly when she realized that Charlie had wrapped them in an old handkerchief. The handkerchief was old and monogrammed. There were a few small stains, and a few places where the material was worn and threadbare. The gift of the old handkerchief meant as much to Paige as the postcards did. Paige knew it was a tradition in the Darling family to get a set of monogrammed handkerchiefs for graduating from high school, but it was obvious to her that this one was a lot older than five years old. This one either came from Charlie's dad or maybe even his grandfather. Paige folded it up carefully and set it aside.
Paige picked up the top few postcards and held them cautiously above the water and bubbles. She knew it was a risk to read them in the tub but she had towels ready in case of a mishap and she knew this was the one place that Don wouldn't burst in on her.
Paige looked at the picture on the front of the first postcard. It was from Italy, and had a picture of a big bowl of pasta. Paige flipped it over and read the back:
August 14, 2003
Paige, happy birthday, I wish I could be there to celebrate it with you. Everyone keeps saying how good the food is here, but I can't help thinking it would be better if you were here to eat it with me.
I love you, Charlie
Paige didn't notice the tear that silently dripped from her eye, she slid the postcard to the back of her thin stack and looked at the next one. This one was a picture of the leaning tower of Pisa. She turned it over and read the back:
August 15 2003
Paige, I'm sorry I left without telling you. I've picked up the phone a million times to call you but you are probably busy. I miss you already. You would love it here. The leaning tower of Pisa really leans but I bet together we could hold it up straight.
I love you, Charlie
The next postcard was a picture of a gondola in Venice…
August 20, 2003
Paige, I got your letter today. I'm sorry I wasn't there for your birthday. I know it was the first one I ever missed. I know you don't understand but I had to go. Tell everyone I said HI, I miss you too.
I love you, Charlie
The fourth postcard was a picture of the Vatican…
August 30, 2003
Paige, me and a couple guys that I met went to see the Vatican today, be glad you aren't catholic. It was cool though, I wish you were here, your take on all the rituals would have had us all in stitches. I showed a couple of the guys a picture of you today. They all think you are hot. I told them you are taken.
I love you, Charlie
Next was a picture of a fountain in Rome…
September 16, 2003
Paige, your letter today had me cracking up. I miss Cow tongue and monkey brain sandwiches, pancakes here don't taste like yours and Kate's. Tell Kate nothing tastes as good as anything she makes. I know it sounds cheesy but I think it is because everything she makes is with love.
I love you, Charlie
Paige wished she knew what she wrote in that letter that had him cracking up, she decided to ask Charlie if he had the letters she sent too. She set the postcards upside down in a new stack and picked up a new group of a few. The next one was a picture of a vineyard.
September 21, 2003
Paige, it's getting harder to be here without you. I talked to my mom today. She said she saw you at the 49er game. A 13-12 loss sucks, and she said you looked tired. It's only been six weeks since I saw you but she said she thinks you grew, you better not end up taller than me. She said you are at least 5'10 now, so you still have a few inches to go and who knows I may still get a little taller too. She said it was just you and your dad, tell him I said hi too.
I love you, Charlie
Paige remembered that game, Payton had actually been there too, but he had seats with his dad down closer to the field, he had offered to let her sit with them but she had told him she wanted to spend some time with her dad, but in truth she wanted to be with Charles and Evelyn Darling so she could slyly try to pump them for information on Charlie. They hadn't said a lot, just that he was doing a lot of studying and that he was getting pretty good in Italian. Paige had written her next several letters to him in his new language. The next post card was another from Venice, but this one was of a bridge.
September 30 2003
Paige, this bridge reminds me of the old one at Stow Lake. I miss Stow Lake. I miss being on top of Stow Lake with you. I have never taken anyone up there except you. Have you ever taken anyone up there? Please don't, that is and always will be our spot. It's getting really hard to read your letters every day. And not just because I have to read them with my Italian to English dictionary. Everything sounds so romantic in Italian. You say something about eating ice cream with Kate and yet in Italian it sounds anything but innocent. I wish I knew how to make you love me like I love you.
I love you, Charlie
Paige glanced at the date again, she had gotten her one and only letter from Charlie the first week of October. The next postcard was another with food on the front.
October 10, 2003
Paige, today is the first day that I didn't get something from you, I guess you got my letter. I've second guessed sending it a thousand times but I think it's for the best. I went on a date last night. A dark haired Italian beauty. She ordered salad at dinner and then only picked at it. I paid almost 20 euros for that salad and she barely ate it. I don't mind spending the money but she didn't even eat it. I love watching you eat.
I love you, Charlie
She picked up the next card, it was from Spain and had a picture of a building designed by Antoni Gaudí.
October 21, 2003
Paige, some of the guys and I went to Spain for the weekend, how cool is that. You would love this Gaudi guy, this house was made with absolutely no straight lines. My mom said Payton's dad is sick, sorry to hear that. She said she hasn't seen much of you lately. I miss you. I think that my parents are coming here over the holidays so I won't be home. I bought you a present though. Maybe someday I will actually give it to you.
I love you, Charlie
The next postcard was from France, and was of the Mona Lisa.
November 16, 2003
Paige, I don't understand what the fuss is over this painting, it isn't as big as you think and there are so many people trying to see it and it is behind glass and you are really kind of far away. I would rather look at a picture of you any day. I miss your letters. I thought getting them was hard but not getting them is worse.
I love you, Charlie
The next one was from France too, this one was a picture of the outside of the Louvre.
November 17, 2003
The guys and I are still in France, I went back to look at the mona lisa today and I like many artists before me, I made my own version of the painting. I just did it with pencil but mine is way better. I thought about sending it to you but I want to keep it, it's the mona lisa but it is really you. I miss you. Do you miss me? Do you even think about me anymore?
I love you, Charlie
The playlist ended so Paige took a break from the postcards and looked for something new to listen to. She chose her Faith Hill collection and was glad that she had unchecked the 'Just to hear you say you love me' duet with Tim McGraw. She loved the song and she hoped that someday she would be able to listen to it without thinking of it as Payton's ringtone but right now she didn't want to hear it at all. She used a wash cloth to dry her tears and took a few deep breaths. She realized the water had gotten cold and she let some water out and refilled it with new hot water and added a little more bubble bath. When everything was ready again and her hands were dry she picked up more postcards. The next several were all of various Italian countryside.
November 30, 2003
Paige, my parents left today. They seemed surprised when they left that you hadn't called to wish us a happy thanksgiving. I guess you haven't told them we aren't talking right now either. I don't know what to do Paige, it's killing me not to talk to you, but I don't want to hear about Payton. They said his dad is doing a little better. I know if I actually sent you this you would write back but every time I walk down to the mailbox I can't bring myself to put anything inside. I never thought of myself as weak but I am.
I love you, Charlie
December 14, 2003
Paige, I wrapped your present today, I wanted to put it in the box I mailed to my parents with their presents but I just couldn't, someday I hope you can forgive me for being such a coward. I love you. I went to this farm today to see how they take the wool from the sheep and then spin it into thread, you would have loved it. They actually let you try everything if you want. You would have had so much fun. Not sure if anyone told you yet, but I am staying for another semester.
I love you, Charlie
December 25, 2003
Paige, I opened your present today, my parents slipped it into the box with theirs. It said it was from Santa, my parents stopped giving us stuff from him a long time ago, I should have known it was from you. So you finally let Kate teach you how to crochet, I love it. I will wear it every day while it is cold. It smells like cookies, did you crochet it while you and Kate made your Christmas cookies? I wish I would have gotten some of those too.
I love you, Charlie
January 18, 2004
Paige, so I talked to Chelsea and she said she and Hank went home for the holidays and went to a school football game. She said you were there CHEERLEADING. What the hell? Congratulations on making Varsity, that is quite an accomplishment since you were never on any of the other squads. I never thought you would cheer. I sure would love to see you in your uniform. Chelsea said she took some pics so hopefully she will send me some.
I love you, Charlie
January 30, 2004
Paige, I got the pictures, you look hot. I wish I had more. Your hair looks so long. Chelsea sent me a letter with the pictures and she said she asked about Don and that you said he was being weird. This is the first I heard he had been elected Sheriff. Isn't he kind of young? Anyway, sorry he's being a jerk. I'm going to England in February. Me and some of the guys bought our tickets today.
I love you, Charlie
February 14, 2004
Paige, Happy Valentine's Day.
I love you, Charlie
March 5, 2004
Paige, my mom said you are going to spring training with Don. I guess he isn't being such a jerk now? I hope everything is better, nobody should ever be mean to you. Have fun and make sure all the baseball players you flirt with know you are only 16.
I love you, Charlie
April 16, 2004
Paige, I heard you had a good time in Arizona at spring training. I talked to my mom and she said you looked really happy. She never said you looked unhappy but for some reason this really stuck out. I'm glad you are happy. I want you to be happy. We bought my ticket home today. School gets out for me the last day of May. I fly home on June 5th.
I love you, Charlie
June 5, 2004
Paige, I will actually be home before this, well actually I will be home at the same time because in truth I know I won't ever mail it, but if I mailed it from the airport, where I am right now, I would definitely beat it. My heart beats faster just thinking about us being in the same town. I miss you.
I love you, Charlie
Paige put the stack of cards down on her 'read' pile and thought back to the first time she had seen Charlie after he came back. Her dad had invited him and his parents over for dinner, Payton had come home for the weekend and he and his dad came too. She and Kate had barbecued in the fog and they had all sat at the big table in the dining room. Paige had thought seeing Charlie would be hard, and it was, but not like she thought. He had been casual and distant so she followed his lead. Mr. Turner wasn't doing too well, it was a miracle he was still alive and she left early with Payton to take him home. She helped Payton get him in bed and then they went back to her house. Everyone was still there playing games. Charlie had made one attempt to talk to her while Payton was in the bathroom but she had cut him off, telling him she was glad he was back and invited him to go the baseball game with her and Payton the next day. Charlie had told her no thanks, he had a date.
Paige debated whether she wanted to keep reading, the postcards made her happy and sad at the same time. She pulled the ear bud from her iPod from her left ear and concentrated on Charlie's breathing for a few minutes, this gave her the strength she needed and she picked up the next several postcards, these were all random shots of San Francisco.
June 10, 2004
Paige, I saw you last night. You are even more beautiful than I remember. I think you must have gotten prettier while I was gone. I hope you had fun at the game today, I lied I don't really have a date. I ran the bridge today. I wish you could have run it with me. It isn't as fun without you to chase.
I love you, Charlie
July 5, 2004
Paige, I saw you at the picnic yesterday, you were just with your parents and Kate. Thank you for playing basketball with me. You haven't done that in a long time. I was sorry you left early. I want to be your friend, I'm trying. I'm sorry if the things I say come out sounding bitter. I want you to be happy. Is it wrong that I want to be happy too?
I love you, Charlie
July 20, 2004
Paige, I just listened to the message you left. I didn't answer the phone because talking to you is so hard. I'm sorry Mr. Turner died. I know you were close to him. I think you spent more time taking care of him these last few weeks than Payton did. It breaks my heart to hear you cry. I wish I could be there to comfort you, but I'm not the one you want right now.
I love you, Charlie
August 15, 2004
Paige, Chelsea brought the baby up, she's three, should we still be calling her 'the baby'? We took her to the carousel, she wanted to ride the pig so I got to ride your green horse. I would give anything to take you for a ride on the carousel again. Chelsea is pregnant again. She and Hank are great. They said to tell you hi, Chelsea was surprised I didn't invite you to come to the park with us. I told her you were busy.
I love you, Charlie
Paige set that stack down and looked at the unread pile, she had only made it through a quarter of the stack. The water in the tub was cold again and she was completely pruney. She checked the clock on her iPod and decided that two hours in the tub was plenty. She drained the bath and quickly rinsed off and washed her hair in the shower. She dried off and put on a robe. She cleaned up the bathroom and carefully wrapped the postcards back up in their handkerchief and put them away. She got dressed in running clothes, removed her iPod from its waterproof case and slid it into her arm band. She left the blue tooth headset in her ear and grabbed her iPhone. She left Don a note just in case he woke up and then she went for a run.
Despite his lack of knowledge, Logan was very excited about the summer film class he would be taking. The class at UCLA started at ten, he figured with traffic it could take him as much as an hour and a half to get there, he wasn't sure how bad parking would be, he didn't know the campus and he didn't know where exactly the class was so he planned on being there by nine and that would give him plenty of time to have a cup of coffee and figure everything out, without having to stress over the possibility of being late. To get there by nine he had to leave by seven thirty. He set his alarm for six thinking this would give him plenty of time to get ready, make sure he had everything he needed and still eat a good breakfast. His mom may not have been the most involved parent but she had always insisted that he ate a good breakfast before school.
Logan woke up well before the alarm went off. He tried to go back to sleep but finally gave up. He got up, took a shower and picked out some nice but still casual clothes. He ordered room service and packed his laptop into his messenger bag. He sat at the table in the common area of the hotel suite and ate his breakfast. Logan had paid extra for the guy from the computer store he had visited the day before to come and set everything up the same day. Logan fiddled with the computer for a while. He pulled up his email and tried not to be disappointed that he hadn't heard anything else from Dani Knightley. It hadn't even been a day since he had heard from her, but still he was hoping to find the non-disclosure agreement in his email. Logan sent a quick email to Cliff McCormack asking to get an appointment with him sometime in the near future to draw up a legal document and so Logan could ask a few legal questions. Logan assured Cliff that he was not in any sort of trouble and neither was their favorite snarky little blond.
Logan had gathered everything he needed for class and was headed for the door when Dick walked out from his bedroom. "Hey man, I didn't think I'd see you before I left. You were on the phone even later than I was."
Dick wiped the sleep from his eyes and squinted at the bright sun that was pouring in through the big picture windows overlooking the pool. "Hey, yeah it was a late night. I heard you leaving and I had a question for you. I need some help. Mac is coming up for the weekend and we want to stay in the new house, but I have like zero furniture. She's going to help me pick lots of stuff out when she comes but I need to at least get a bed and stuff before tomorrow night. I have no idea what I need. Do you want to go look with me later?"
"Dude, I have no idea what you need either. Why don't you call one of her friends to help?"
"I would except the ones I know aren't around and the ones I don't… well I don't know them. Parker went home for the summer and I don't think they are really all that close anyway, Mac never talks about her, and Ronnie is… well I don't really know where Ronnie is."
"What about Mac's friend Paige? They went on the cruise together right? I know her, how about I give her a call later and maybe she can help."
"Cool man, thanks."
"Don't thank me yet, Paige may not have time to help. I gotta go. I'll call her from the car and give her your number."
"Paige, I'm having Morgan put together a profile for Keith Mars for the Nish Sweeney investigation. When you get a chance I'd like you to look it over and see if anything jumps out at you."
"No problem. I'm glad you called Miles. I need to get your okay to go ahead with the 'Operation Rob Thomas' that Charlie put together."
"Why are we even thinking about that right now? Don't we have plenty of other things that are higher priority?"
"The Sorokin's don't come home until next week, so there really isn't anything for me to do with that right now. Veronica and Mac's training is happening in SF, so nothing for me there either. I am putting together something to approach the Fitzpatrick's but so far they are staying indoors and I have to make sure my cover isn't compromised. They've already seen me once, I have to be extra careful next time around and we have Springer and Gibson watching them anyway. That leaves me to deal with Don and Payton. Coop took Payton's messages away from me, and I have everything with Don under control at the moment. I'm supposed to be on family leave. I figure we should take care of this while I have the time."
"I get it, you can handle it. What's the plan?"
"According to Rob Thomas's Castle confession, he-"
"No."
"You didn't even hear the plan."
"You aren't using anything from the Castle list. We can't have it getting out yet that we have it. We need to go through all the names and all the confessions and then decide how we want to deal with everyone. If we start taking down members one by one, it will get back to Jake Kane that we have the list and they will be able to protect themselves. I won't let Keith use the information either, for the same reason, which is why I offered up the bureau's best profiler."
"So if I can find another way, I can approach this Thomas guy?"
"Knock yourself out, but nothing comes from the confession."
"Okay, anything else? I just found myself with a lot of research to do."
"Paige, how are you holding up? And I want the whole truth, no sugar coating anything."
"I'm getting by. I'm keeping busy. Charlie has been a big support and it's probably good that Coop took over the messages."
"Are you sleeping?"
"No."
"What else?"
"I'm having a hard time looking Sheriff Mars in the eye. And myself. I'm having a hard time looking at myself too."
"What do you see?"
"I see Payton doing what he was doing, only instead of him being with Beth, he's doing it to me."
"What do we need to do to get you past this?"
"I don't know, I've read the psych journals too, I know my response is classic, but knowing that and getting past it seem to be two different things. I want to confront Payton and then be done with him."
"What about Beth?"
"I don't really care about Beth. From the two messages Coop let me read, she wants Payton, and as far as I'm concerned she can have him."
"You realize theirs isn't most likely a healthy relationship?"
"Most likely not, but again, I don't see it as my concern. She ended our friendship when she made a play for my boyfriend. He isn't my boyfriend anymore, but I don't really want her as a friend either. I have Clarence Weidman looking into Payton's past. As soon as he finds something, I will confront Payton and let him know that I really am finished."
"Okay, I want to know before that happens. You aren't to do anything on your own. I think Keith is right, there is something wrong with Payton, a threat against you is a threat against the team, and we will handle it as a team."
"Yes, sir."
"Now as your neighbor and friend, you need to get some sleep."
"I'm working on that, but right now I'm okay. It's only been two nights. Before that I got a few good nights worth of sleep, before that I went weeks without getting more than a few minutes at a time, so right now I don't feel that out of sorts."
"Take care Paige, and let me know when you come up with a plan B for Rob Thomas."
For the second day in a row Veronica woke up in Paige's bed. She knew that the housecleaner was coming today and the sheets would be changed so she took of the case on the pillow that Logan had used and put it in another ziplock bag she had brought upstairs just for this purpose. She put all the Ziplock bags in her suitcase side pocket and then checked her phone to see if she had any messages. She didn't, she glanced at the clock, it was seven thirty, she figured Logan would be getting up for his class but he said he would call her on the way home so she didn't want to bother him. She took a shower and got ready for the day. She was working at SWAT today. She stopped in to Mac's room to say goodbye before she left for Palo Alto and then she went downstairs to see if Derek was ready to go yet and to have breakfast.
Veronica found Charlie in the kitchen with Kate. They were sitting at the table and had a bunch of papers spread out in front of them. They both looked up when Veronica walked into the room and said good morning. She returned their greeting and headed straight for the coffee pot.
Veronica found the pot but found that it was empty. She turned back to find Kate standing behind her with coffee making supplies.
"Sorry V, Derek must have finished it all before he left. Charlie and I had tea so we didn't notice. I will make you some."
"That's okay, I can have tea too. Is there anymore of that Pear kind that Paige is always drinking? Pears make Logan sick so I didn't want to try it while he was here, but now that he's gone I would love to. Derek left? Did anything happen? Wasn't I supposed to go in with him?"
Kate put the coffee supplies away and showed Veronica where the tea was kept. "Derek went in early again but I don't think it was an emergency. Charlie can probably tell you more."
Veronica turned to look at Charlie, she didn't have to say anything she just raised her eyebrows and waited for him to read her mind.
"I've had my case load doubled. I'm not just your 'manny' now. Paige's nanny now also has a 'manny'. Kate has a bunch of stuff she wants to do today so Derek thought it would be fun if we dragged you along. He said you can work tomorrow instead. If you don't want to hang with us today I can take you in."
Veronica thought that she was supposed to go to the compound to train tomorrow and she looked questioningly at Charlie but she couldn't very well ask him about it in front of Kate. Charlie just shrugged so she assumed that they just had to go with the flow. She figured Charlie would give her some secret assignments when they got a moment away from Kate. She made her cup of tea and joined Charlie at the table. Kate offered to make her breakfast but said that she and Charlie had just had oatmeal. Veronica said oatmeal would be terrific and had they ever had it with peanut butter in it. Kate told her they put peanut butter in everything. Veronica ate her breakfast and listened as Kate and Charlie talked about the book they were working on at the moment. Kate had it all written and Charlie was working on the illustrations, he had 'first drafts' for a lot of the pictures and Kate was okaying them and telling him what she wanted next. After they had gone through the next several pages Kate went down to get ready in her apartment.
"So minor change of plans huh?"
"Derek got a call from a local PI. Payton tried to hire him to watch Kate, the guy turned him down but Payton probably just called someone else who doesn't feel like he owes Derek anything. Derek doesn't want Kate running around town on her own."
"Maybe the guy should tell Payton he'll do it, that way we'll know who the enemy is and the enemy will really be on our side. That way we can control what he reports back."
"It's thoughts like that, that make you a perfect recruit. Derek asked the guy to call him back right away. That is why Derek left early, he wanted to go talk to the guy and let him know exactly what he should and shouldn't be telling Payton. Derek wanted to do it in person."
"So what's on the agenda for today?"
"Mostly just shopping. Kate hasn't been to Sonoma for a while so the kitchen will be bare. She will get all the produce when she gets there, but she wants to go to Costco today to get a lot of supplies, non perishables and boxed goods. She said something about making s'mores in the fire pit one night. I'm sorry I'm going to miss that, she puts peanut butter on those too. Maybe I can talk Paige into doing that one night."
"Somehow I don't think it will require too much convincing to get her to agree."
"Probably not, anyway Costco will probably take a good portion of the morning. Kate loved a bunch of the clothes that Paige got from my mom's store so she wants to go there, and she mentioned Paige is out of sunglasses so we will probably hit Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf."
"We are going to buy sunglasses for Paige? Sunglasses as in plural?"
"Yes and yes. Paige is the most organized person I know, she's even more organized than Kate, she's even more organized than Chester and that guy is like a machine, but for some reason Paige loses her sunglasses constantly. Part of it isn't really her fault. She almost always wears them when she is on an assignment. Her eyes are so unique she has to cover them somehow, sometimes she wears contacts to change their color but if she can get away with sunglasses she will."
"That's why when she showed up at the airport in Mazatlan she threw a perfectly good pair of sunglasses in the trash can."
"She wouldn't risk wearing the same pair again."
"I couldn't figure that out, they were a very nice pair of Coach glasses. Doesn't just tossing them get expensive?"
"They weren't real Coach. That is why we are going to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, we can find tons of fakies for cheap. I don't think Paige has ever owned a real pair of glasses but she has had fake versions of everything."
"Are her purses fakes too?"
"Purses? I don't know about all of them, but I don't think so. The green one that she carries most of the time is a real Kathy Van Zeeland. You won't find it anywhere though. My mom bought the leather herself on a buying trip to Sweden and then asked Kathy to make the bag. They used to work together when my mom was a buyer for Nordstrom's."
"You realize when you tell me things like that, it makes me want to hate her."
"She's kind of hard to hate thought isn't she?"
"Yes, but still, it makes me want to try. Okay so I assume that this won't just be a shopping expedition for me today. What are my assignments?"
"Paige did good finding you, I don't think we have had anyone who was such a natural since we started Paige's training. Okay, this is what I want you to do…"
Mac waited until she had safely navigated the confusing streets leading from the Lamb's Forrest Hills neighborhood to the freeway that would lead her to Google's headquarters in Palo Alto, and then she connected her headset and called Dick.
"Good morning my beautiful Mac."
"Good morning my handsome Dick. Did I wake you up?"
"No, Logan did. But it was okay, I have a lot to do today and I wanted to talk to him anyway. I didn't realize he knew your friend Paige too. How is it that he knows her and I don't?"
"I don't know, her brother lives in Neptune so they could have met there I guess, or through his dad. Paige's dad is the head of SWAT in San Francisco, Aaron did that movie when we were in fifth grade, I don't remember what it was called but I heard that Aaron shadowed Mr. Lamb for research. What do you have to do today?"
"Lamb? Is Paige related to Don Lamb, as in Don Lamb the former Sheriff?"
"Yeah, she's his sister."
"Doesn't Logan hate Don Lamb?"
"Ummm, I think so, but that doesn't mean he has to hate Paige. Paige is great, she isn't anything like her brother, not that I've ever even met the guy but Veronica has told me enough to make me think that makes me one of the lucky few in Neptune. Have you met him?"
"Yeah, I never understood why Logan hated him. He pulled me over for speeding a couple times and he broke up some parties that I was at. Sheriff Lamb was always great, he always just gave me warnings to watch my speed. He always confiscated any alcohol at the parties but he only ever arrested someone once but it wasn't me and I forgot why he did it."
"You should probably try a little harder not to speed. I don't think Sheriff Mars will be quite so understanding."
"Ain't that the truth? So you are leaving kind of early for your short drive to work aren't you?"
"Uh uh, you have to answer my question first. What are you doing today?"
"I am supervising the repair of the cabinet shelves in the new house and I need to find a bed for us to get busy on when you get here. So why are you leaving so early?"
"I have a further drive than I thought. I didn't like the living arrangements that were offered to me. Last night Paige's nanny came back into town. She isn't Paige's nanny anymore but she still lives downstairs and she still does most of the cooking. I got invited to dinner and when I mentioned how I wasn't thrilled with my situation the Lamb's offered up the guest room again. Staying with people I like, in a house that I love is totally worth the extra drive, throw in Kate's cooking and the decision was a no brainer."
"So that is why you didn't want to talk about your living arrangements, you weren't happy?"
"You are a guy and you would just try to fix it, I wanted to fix it on my own. Besides I didn't want to just complain, there were much better things for us to be talking about."
"I'm glad you got it all worked it out. You are right I probably would have tried to fix it, but if you ever just want me to listen and not offer up ideas you could just tell me that. I don't want you to have to avoid telling me things. I can respect that you want to take care of some things on your own."
"Thank you, I will remember that."
"I suppose I should have asked for your old roommates name before I said all that huh? I would like to send her a little hate mail."
"It wasn't really her fault, I just like having my own room. I was having to get creative about where we could talk. I couldn't really have phone sex with you when I was sharing a room."
"Just a couple days and we can leave the phones out of it."
"I know, tomorrow night. We need to talk about where you will be when I get there."
"What do you mean? I will be at the airport. I want to pick you up."
"I think Paige is planning on picking us up. I hadn't actually thought about it until now. I will call her later. I have to go, I miss you baby, I will call you on my way home okay?"
"I miss you too Macster."
Paige had showered again when she got home from her run but she had just threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to wear while she made Don breakfast and took care of his wounds. Charlie's phone had died while she was running. She hoped that his phone hadn't beeped and woke him up but she figured if it had he would have called her, and he didn't.
Her phone was ringing when she got out of the shower but it was Miles. She did a little research on Rob Thomas after she hung up but then she had to get ready to meet Colbie Baxter for her interview at Java the Hut. Paige didn't want to do it at the house just in case. With the way Don treated a lot of Neptune while he was Sheriff Paige didn't' think it was wise to haphazardly pass around his address. She changed into a casual skirt, this one she had bought before she went on the cruise and it came back in her luggage but had blue and orange flowers along the bottom and went perfectly with one of the new shirts Charlie had picked up. One of her new pairs of shoes completed the outfit, she glanced in the mirror to make sure everything looked good but avoided her eyes. She did her makeup in the small mirror like Kate's that she had bought at the drugstore on her way home from her appointment at Mars Investigations the day before.
Paige made sure Don was good and didn't need anything and then she walked out the front door. Lefty had parked behind her blocking her car in the driveway and was walking up towards the house. Paige walked down the stairs and saw him when she turned toward the driveway.
"You look awfully pretty this morning. You don't have a hot breakfast date do you?"
Paige smiled at her tall dark haired old friend and wondered for the thousandth time why more girls didn't melt when they looked into his deep brown eyes. "Nope, no hot date, just an interview with a potential nurse. I was only able to score one interview so I am hoping this one will work out, otherwise I'm totally screwed."
"Crap you have to go, I tried calling this morning but your cell just went to voicemail, I didn't want to call the house phone and wake Don. Any chance we could talk today?"
"I was going to call you after my interview, I won't know what is happening until after then. I'm hoping she will be perfect and will want to start today. I'll call you after I find out. I must have been in the shower when you called. I left you a plate in the fridge, maybe we will be able to do lunch but why don't you take it anyway just in case. It's leftover salmon from last night. I made the dill sauce you like. It's in a separate container, make sure you take it out before you stick it in the microwave, the sauce should be cold." Paige gave her old friend a hug and kissed him on the cheek. "You're feeling kind of skinny, we gotta fatten you up and then we gotta find you a girl."
Lefty laughed at her and then moved his car so she could leave. He made her promise that she would find some time for them to talk soon and he winked at Paige as she drove away.
Even with her brief conversation in the yard Paige was still early for the interview. She got a table and ordered some tea and a pastry and went over her list of questions one more time. She really wanted this nurse to work out, but she wouldn't risk Don's health or even his happiness just because she was desperate. If it came down to it she would figure something else out. She kept her eye on the door and dismissed everyone that walked in as being the one she was meeting.
Paige saw the young couple walk in and dismissed them as quickly as she had dismissed everyone else, but for some reason they intrigued her. The couple was young but it was obvious that the man was a few years younger than the woman. Both were good looking, the man was tall at least six foot two and had brown hair, Paige couldn't see the guys eyes from where she was but he had thick sexy eyebrows. The girl had long hair, it was a light brown and she wore it back in a pony tail. The girl was in a casual skirt and the man was in a pair of slacks and a sport coat, but he had no tie. Paige had seen the man open the door for the woman but she noticed they weren't touching at all. The man approached the counter and talked briefly with the hostess, he then rejoined the girl and together they both scanned the room. Paige watched as their eyes settled on her and then they both smiled and walked toward her. Paige was sitting against the back wall, she never liked for people to be behind her in a restaurant if she wasn't with someone who could watch her back for her so she knew they were definitely looking for her. She waited until they got close and then she stood up to greet them. The man extended his hand and introduced them both.
"Hi, Paige?" He waited for Paige to nod and then went on, "I'm Casey and this is Colbie. I'm sorry to barge in on your interview like this, but I thought the personal recommendation from me might mean more if you actually met the person it came from. You look surprised, don't hold my being here against Colbie, she begged me not to come, she would have been here earlier but I ambushed her in the parking lot and spent the last several minutes pleading my case."
Paige watched as Casey rambled on and she continued to size him up. "No worries Mr. Gant. I have to admit neither of you are at all what I pictured. I thought you sounded young on the phone, but I had no idea the CEO of Gant Publishing was this young. Won't you please sit down?"
Casey held pulled out a chair for Colbie but remained standing. "Colbie was right, I shouldn't have intruded. You probably think this was just a ploy to get a chance to talk to you about your books. That really isn't why I am here. Colbie is a fantastic nurse, she spent more time with my grandmother than everyone else we hired. She was only an aide when she started but she was so gentle and compassionate. She was the only one my gram never complained about. I will leave you guys to have your talk. Can I get either of you anything?"
"Mr. Gant you are welcome to stay, if it is okay with Colbie, I was a little surprised that's all. I already got some tea and the waitress should be here soon to take orders."
Casey looked at Colbie and she rolled her eyes and indicated that he could sit down. "Are we really back to me being Mr. Gant? I thought we were past that. Do I have to go back to calling you Miss Lamb?"
"No, Casey you don't. Colbie, do you have a resume? I was hoping I could look at it while you look at this." Paige handed the small stapled set of papers to the pretty girl across the table. "It is just a brief description of the responsibilities I need help with and a very brief outline of Don's daily schedule. It starts when he gets up in the morning and doesn't end until he is asleep at night. It encompasses way more hours than we expect anyone to work in a day, but the hours may vary some and I want you to have a complete idea about what you would be getting into."
Colbie smiled and accepted the papers and handed over the resume she had polished up the night before. "Thank you. I'm not sure how much Casey has told you. When I started working for the Gant's I was still getting my certification to be a nursing assistant. Since then I have finished that and have become a Licensed Practical Nurse. I'm still working on becoming a Registered Nurse. I have two years of school left. Working full time and going to school at night has slowed things down a little. Casey wasn't sure if you only wanted someone who was already an RN. I tried to get him to call you, I didn't want to waste your time, but he insisted that you should meet me anyway."
"I appreciate your concern for my time, but its fine. We already had an RN and she wasn't what we needed. Looking at your resume you are more than qualified for what we are looking for. I see you have had several jobs over the last few years, you never stayed anywhere for very long, may I ask why you moved around so much?"
"You may, nursing can be a fickle profession. I never left a job because I was unhappy or because anyone was unhappy with me. You are welcome to call them all for references. Most hospitals and even clinics can't be real flexible with schedules. Each semester when my school schedule changed I had to find a new job that would accommodate my new availability. And then often, if something came along that paid better, I had to take it. I'm on my own and I'm paying for everything myself. I've taken out a few student loans but I'm hoping to graduate without being too deep in debt."
"So the fact that this won't be a long term position is okay with you? I hate to see you leave a job that could be permanent for something that will just be for the summer."
"Right now I am working with several temporary placement agencies just to make ends meet for the summer. It's hard to remember where I am going each day. I would love to find one full time job that will take care of the bills. Private care often pays better than clinical work and is usually much more rewarding. Even if one of the agencies found me something full time I would have to leave when school starts up in the fall."
"I notice your resume says you live in LA, are you okay with that long of a commute. I would offer to let you stay with us, but the house is too small. I don't even get my own room. We could always make due in a pinch, but trust me you wouldn't want to do it regularly."
"Casey has offered to let me stay in my old room at his house. I lived in most of the time I was with his grandmother. I actually didn't realize it until he mentioned it but I still have the key. I'm very reliable, I'm never late, even if I did go back to LA for the night I would make sure to be on time."
Paige and Colbie continued to talk as Casey's head bounced back and forth between them. They had stopped paying attention to him and he pulled out his Blackberry to answer some emails. He was completely surprised when all of a sudden he heard his name. He looked up to find both Paige and Colbie looking at him like he had three eyes
"Sorry, were you talking to me?"
Paige smiled and Colbie laughed. "Yes I was. I was hoping I could talk to Colbie for a few minutes without you here, I see now that you would have never heard us anyway. But now that we have your attention again, could you give us a few minutes?"
Casey apologized again and went to find his own table.
"Colbie, I think you are great. So far you seem to be exactly what I am looking for. I don't usually think personal questions are appropriate for a job interview, but could I ask if you and Casey are a couple?"
"Me and Casey? No. I've known Casey for years now, and I have had a few boyfriends in that time, but I promise you none of them have been him. Casey spent a lot of time with his grandmother when she was starting to go downhill. We spent a lot of time together back then. We got to be friends, but we have never been anything more."
"You are free to date who you want, but to be honest, his recommendation means a little more if it isn't romantically motivated. How about it Colbie, I would love to have you as Don's nurse, but are you sure you want to be?"
"I appreciate your honesty about his recent attitude, but rather than turning me off, I see it as a challenge that I would love to take on. Couple that with the money you are offering, the opportunity for overtime and the fact that I will get incredible free accommodations for the summer I think it is a job I can't resist."
They talked a little more and Paige was delighted to hear that Colbie could start the next day. They waved Casey back over and they all made a little small talk. Colbie said she needed to drive back to LA and pack. She told Casey she would see him later that night and Paige that she would see her in the morning. Casey got up to help her with her chair and then sat back down.
Logan was a little surprised that his call to Paige went to voicemail. He thought she was only ignoring calls from Payton, he went ahead and left her a message but decided that he would call her back after class so that his message didn't get left in voicemail purgatory like the messages that Casey said he had left for her. He got to class early like he thought. He found a drive thru Starbucks and ordered a Venti iced coffee and a piece of coffee cake just because he knew it was something that Veronica would have liked. He found the building his class was being held in and found that it was still locked. He spotted a bench and settled down to wait. He still had almost an hour until the class started. He knew Veronica would be working and most likely couldn't answer the phone but he thought he would call and leave her a voicemail for her to find later. He listened to the phone ring and then heard her talking, he wasn't really paying attention, he was listening for the 'beep' and it wasn't until he heard her say his name a few times that he realized she had actually answered.
"Veronica baby? How come you aren't working? Is everything okay? Are you sick?"
"I'm fine. Derek switched my schedule around so I could help Kate get ready for Sonoma. We are on a marathon shopping expedition. I've never been to Costco before they open to the general public. Kate's card is from Penny's office so we got in with all the business shoppers. What are you doing?"
"You are being safe right? Charlie is right there too?"
"Of course he is, Charlie tell Logan 'Hi'" Veronica held the phone up so Charlie could do as he was told he took the phone and apologized for still not calling. He told Logan he would call him that afternoon when they got back to the house and after Logan's class. Logan asked him to promise not to let anything happen to Veronica and Charlie agreed but said he couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't get food poisoning from all the crap she was eating at the sample tables. Logan agreed not to hold that against Charlie, he acknowledged that Charlie couldn't stop her from eating anything and cautioned him not to try. He also told Charlie that it wouldn't be a problem, Veronica had an iron stomach. The whole time Charlie had the phone he had to hold it up so Veronica couldn't reach it, she kept dancing around him and trying to jump up and grab the phone from him. Finally Charlie handed the phone back and Veronica snatched it away like it was the last cupcake on earth. "You were just supposed to say 'hi' not spend the few minutes you have before class having an actually conversation with him."
"I still have plenty of time for you Sugarpuss. Have you eaten anything good this morning?"
"I had a good breakfast at home. Kate made oatmeal with peanut butter it was fabulous. Everything here has paled in comparison. Charlie wouldn't even try a lot of it, he says poison control is out of his job description and one of us should live to explain what happened. I've always loved the samples at Costco but a few days of food at the Lamb house and I'm afraid I've been spoiled."
"Well then babe, you better learn all you can while you are there. I would be happy to hire someone to cook all your meals for you but I don't think we will be able to get Kate away from the Lambs."
"I don't think so either, but I think we should try. You got to class so early that you are still locked outside didn't you?"
"Yep, just like every other first day of school I've ever had. It would be more fun if you were here with me like usual. I was smart this time though, I went to Starbucks and got a drink and a huge chunk of coffee cake that I would happily share with you. I bought it just because I knew you would like it."
"I miss you too. Every aisle I go down I find something that reminds me of you, or makes me think of you. We walked in and of course the big TV's are in the front. I thought how awesome it would be to watch The Big Labowski with you on the biggest one. Then I saw the computers and I thought of how you just bought a new one. Then we went down the office supply aisle and I saw the pens you like best. Then there was a bunch of camping equipment and I wondered if you liked to camp. That isn't something we ever talked about. I hated that I didn't know. Do you like to camp?"
"I've never really been camping. We went to Yosemite once, my parents called it camping but we had were in a very luxurious cabin and we had a maid who cleaned everything and a cook who started our campfire and barbecued all our meals. If you wanted to, we could try camping for real sometime. We could do it with a group, maybe Paige and Charlie, maybe Dick and Mac, I've never thought about Dick camping, it's kinda hard to picture, but he's changed a lot so who knows."
"I used to camp with my dad. My mom never wanted to come, but it was always fun. I think we should try it. So you can see changes in Dick too? Mac said she thinks so too, but I worry he may just be trying to impress her."
"I don't blame you for being skeptical, but he really does seem different, but still the same. It's weird, you will probably just have to see for yourself. He seems more put together. He's more organized, he's neater. I thought he was going to have a conniption fit because I didn't clean up before I left this morning, but instead he just asked me if I could go shopping with him. He put a bunch of thought into who could go with him."
"That all sounds like a new Dick, where is the old 'same' Dick?"
"He wants to go shopping for his house, the guy owns absolutely nothing but the only thing he is worried about getting before Mac gets here is a bed."
"Ahhh there is the old Dick. So are you spending your afternoon bed shopping with this young but oh' so responsible Mr. Casablancas?"
"The only bed for Dick's house I would consider shopping for is the one you and I will be sleeping in if we ever stay in the guest room. I told him I would call Paige and see if she is interested. I left her a message. I told him not to get mad if she can't or won't I know she's busy, but I thought it might be something she would get a kick out of and she asked lots of questions about him on our ride home. I thought it would be a chance for him to get to know him without Mac there to make him all sweet and disgusting."
"You are just full of brilliant ideas lately Mr. S. I would love to chat some more but I don't think Charlie can stall Kate anymore. He's been keeping her occupied in the books section but she knows it's all a ruse now and she wants to move on. I asked her to show me how to pick out the right kind of meat and that is where she's headed."
"Knowing which piece of meat to pick is a very important lesson indeed. Have fun Sugarpuss and I will call you after my class."
Veronica told him she couldn't wait, and she said goodbye, she listened as Logan said goodbye too and she waited to hear more but that was all she got, and then her phone started flashing. She noticed again that Logan hung up without saying 'I love you' even once and wondered what exactly that meant.
Casey nodded to a waitress and held up his cup, indicating he would like more coffee, and then he turned back to Paige. "You really will like her. She's terrific. I have given her many references over the last couple years. Never in person though, usually people call me, I didn't even think that my age could be a factor in you taking her seriously."
"It wasn't. I was just surprised. So I suppose since we are here you want to talk a little business?"
"We don't have to. I told you that there weren't any strings. I meant that."
"I appreciate that. It's nice to hear that sometimes people still mean what they say. I am a little curious though. Why is the CEO of Gant Publishing calling me directly? Why not an underling, and why sidestep my agent?"
"So for the record I would just like to make note that it is you who are initiating the business talk."
"Duly noted."
"I may be the CEO but for the most part the title is just that, a title. I took over when our accountant discovered our old CEO was helping himself to more of the profits than he was supposed to. I have a team of people helping me, I'm still trying to go to school and get my business degree, but I'm learning more by just working with different departments within the company. I'm trying to do all of the jobs that I would have if I had just started like someone who didn't inherit the company. I want to love the company and know it as well as my grandmother did. I have actually spent time in the mail room and even in the maintenance department. I didn't enjoy it but I did put in the time. Right now I'm working in the area of the company that seeks out new authors. I want to bring someone in on my own. I got a list of hot genres from one of our editors. I came across your name and noticed that your books were out of print. I found you in our system and saw that when your agent originally approached us you had written five books for the series. Only three of the books had been printed. I tried calling the agent we had listed for you but he said he didn't work with you anymore. He gave me your number and here we are."
"That agent dumped me when the publisher dropped the books. They wanted me to do a tour. I was seventeen, they thought it would be great, but I didn't want anything do with it. I wanted him to shop the books around but he said no. I was in school and really involved in several extracurricular activities. I just let it all go. I hadn't really thought much about the books until you called. What did you have in mind?"
"In four more months Pickles Press' contracts for the first three books expire. They never printed the second two so the contract for them is null and void. I already had our lawyers look into it. Basically I would like to do a major Becky Karecki campaign. I want her to be a household name like Hannah Montana, but without the negative stigma of TV, I want her just to be the good wholesome role model parents are begging us for. I see a huge marketing opportunity. There would of course be the books. We would start with the first one, we could have it out in time for the thanksgiving break. We would have a huge ad campaign, and make sure that every girl in America wants the book. We could begin December with some Becky Karecki inspired items, dolls, school supplies, I don't really know, that isn't really my area of expertise but I have a whole department that works on that kind of thing. I will work with them next. This would be my pet project. I would oversee it personally through the whole process. I figure we re-release the first three books every three months for the first year and then next November we release the fourth book, the fifth book can come out right around spring break, we'll have millions of girls lying on the beach and in lounge chairs by the pool while they read your book."
"You've already put a lot of time and thought into this."
"I admit, I put a lot of thought into what I wanted to do, but it took me a while to find the right books for what I had in mind. Yours are perfect. They've already proven to sell well. I think the Pickles Press was stupid to give them up so easily. The books are written for the Junior High crowd. Even girls that were in sixth grade when they came out are in high school this year. I checked AMAZON, there are a few copies for sale, but not near as many as I thought. I had our research department do some surveys, girls who have your books keep them, there is still a wait list to check them out at all branches of the LA county library system. They are still researching other counties. Balboa County Library has had every copy stolen. They are out of print and they can't get more. I spoke with the librarian at the Neptune branch personally and she said if they were re-released they would be the first books on her order sheet. I know this would be a cash cow, but that isn't the only reason I'm interested. This is a chance for me to make a splash in the publishing world. I turned twenty one last month and no one wants to take me seriously. They know I only got this job because of Gram, that's true, but I want to prove her right and make her proud, even if she isn't here to see it."
"Casey, it sounds like an amazing plan, but I don't know if I can commit to something that big right now. I finished writing the books when I was fifteen, the fifth one is five years old but the first one is almost eight. I looked at it last night. It needs a lot of work before I would even consider letting it hit the bookshelves again."
"We have some of the best editors in the business for that. You really don't have to do that much. You could mostly just sit back and watch it all happen, your hardest job would be cashing your checks."
"That isn't me. Everything I write is like a piece of my soul. I have always used my own editors. It isn't that I can't take the criticism, I can, I just feel like I am so invested in them, that I write them with love and I want the people who edit them to do so with that same love, you can't get that with a staff editor. I get that from my parents and a few carefully chosen friends."
"Okay so you use your own editors. I don't have a problem with that."
"Casey, I would have to be very involved with anything that had my name on it, even though Ella Hunt isn't really my name, she is still a part of me. Even if you did most of the marketing research and put everything together I would want a say about anything that went out with my name on it."
"Of course, I would welcome your opinion and ideas, you could have veto power over all licensed products. If you wanted we could go with your real name on the books. I am not sure if something like that would help or hurt initial sales, but I'm sure the marketing department has data on that sort of thing."
"No, if the books come out again it will still be under the name Ella Hunt. I assume part of your market blitz would include some sort of tour?"
"Ideally, you aren't fifteen anymore. I think one of the things moms will love is your wholesomeness. You are a marketers dream. Are you still against the idea?"
"I am not sure. When the books first came out we kept me out of the limelight because I was only fourteen and I wanted to be taken seriously. My parents didn't want anything to interfere with school so it just seemed the right thing to do. When the third book came out and the publishing company pushed for me to do a tour we talked about it again. I was seventeen and like I said I didn't really have the time. My boyfriend didn't really like the idea of me being in the public eye, it wasn't a big deal to me so I let it go."
"Is the boyfriend still a factor in your decision?"
"No, I figured out soon after that he was more interested in being the one in the limelight. I was young, stupid and in love, I was content with him being the one getting all of the attention. But he is completely out of the picture."
"I have a hard time believing any guy is the one getting the attention when they are standing next to you."
Please review!!! Fanfiction is really slow so i am having a hard time doing my final edit... i'm posted anyway and will make changes later, feel free to point out mistakes during your review!