“Yes, ma’am. I’ve always liked it and it fits the genre.” He handed it over and took out the other one. “Andy, here’s yours.”
“Can’t wait. Looks like a good length — not too long and not too short.”
Lani couldn’t be sure, but Desiree’s copy looked crisper than Andy’s. He’d likely given Andy the one she’d read, which was slightly dented up, even though she’d tried to be careful with it.
Desiree held hers on her lap and smoothed her hand over the title page, almost caressing it.
Would she turn to the next page? Lani couldn’t wait for her reaction to Rance’s heartfelt dedication. She’d been moved by it. Guaranteed Desiree would be over the moon.
“Your first book.” Desiree seemed content to leave the manuscript unopened. “I remember when I finished my first one. It’s like giving birth — a hell of a lot of work, but oh, the feeling when you’ve finished.” She glanced up. “You’re proud of it. I can tell.”
He stood with his hands in his pockets and a little-boy grin on his face. “Yeah.”
Andy reached for his glasses lying on a side table. “It really is a catchy title. I hope you get to keep it.”
“I hope so, but Lani’s boss may want something different.” He glanced at her.
“It’s hard to say. I like it, but in the end it’s a marketing decision.” Should she tell Desiree to turn the page? No. This wasn’t her deal.
Desiree sighed. “Marketing is such a mixed bag. Sometimes my publisher’s marketing department gets it right, but they also can get it wrong. I have more say than I used to, but lately I’ve been thinking about publishing the books myself.”
“Seriously?” Rance’s eyebrows shot up. “After all this time?”
“A lot of authors are doing it these days.”
“What about getting books into the stores?”
“I’d have to handle it, or better yet hire someone to handle it. I have the resources to do that now. Plus I’d take home more of the profits.”
“True.”
“And if I don’t end up in every single venue, that’s okay. I’ve had my day of seeing my books in the airport. I’m over it. But when I started out, I wanted to be in every bookstore in the country and I needed a publisher to make that happen.”
“And you’re everywhere. That’s why I want to keep our relationship on the downlow. I don’t want anyone tipping off theNew York Times.”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut. Is that one of your reasons for choosing Lani’s publishing house? Less chance of a leak?”
“Yes. Assuming they choose me. I can’t take that for granted.”
Desiree gazed at him. “Humility becomes you, son. Keep that attitude and you’ll be okay, no matter how famous you get.”
“You think I’ll be famous? Even before you’ve read the book?”
“I’ve always thought you’d be famous.”
“You never told me that.”
She grinned. “If I’d told you any sooner than today, when you’ve laid your heart and soul on the chopping block, you would have been insufferable.”
Lani hid a smile. Desiree knew her son and clearly loved him, warts and all.
“Hey, Dez,” Andy said. “You might want to look on the second page.”
Finally.
Desiree flipped the title page aside. “What’s… oh. Oh, my.” She fumbled in the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a tissue. “Oh, Rance. That’s… damn. I’m gonna blubber.”
“That’s the idea.” He crouched next to her chair. “You’re my inspiration, always have been. You lit the path.” His voice grew husky. “I owe you everything.”
