Elizabeth
Lila struck the period with a satisfied index finger. “Now that,” she said, “was a damn good paragraph.”
I shook my head and tried to seem exasperated, but I couldn’t help but smile. “It was a damn goodchapter,” I amended.
She gasped and turned to look at me. “Elizabeth Lancaster, did you almost say that writing together is going well?”
Writing togetherwas a bit of a stretch, considering that Lila was doing all the writing and I was doing little more than reading over her shoulder and criticizing where I saw fit. Which was, frankly, often. Lila was bright and energetic, but she definitely lacked the polish of a more seasoned writer. Which was to be expected, I suppose. She had written one book to my ninety-four. Bless her heart, she loved developing a character and was quite adept at realistic Regency dialogue, but plot? Timeline? Which is where I came in with mytrusty whiteboard, where I kept track of all our dates and movements. I couldn’t have done this without her—but I never would have admitted that out loud, of course.
I smirked. “I’m reserving judgment.”
“You-ou like me!” Lila said in a singsong voice. “It only took three weeks and thirty thousand words for you to realize it!” she teased.
I laughed and rolled my eyes.
Lila held her knees to her chest, looking so much like a child that I had to do a double take. “Liz, I think you should take this next chapter. Show me how it’s done.”
And, just like that, all my warm feelings evaporated. No one had called me Liz in three years. Not since Anthony. I glared at her. “My name isElizabeth.”
Grady appeared in the doorway, which he did pretty much every day now. And, well, let’s just say it didn’t have much to do with me. I was aromancewriter. I’d seen that spark between him and Lila right away—which was why I sent them on that ridiculous outing to the Lords and Ladies exhibit. Since then, there’d been a lunch here, errands there, a walk on the beach or two. But I didn’t dare ask if anything was going on between them. Grady was very much like a skittish turtle about love ever since his father died. I was afraid if I so much as gently poked him, he would slide right back into his shell. So I said nothing. But I knew. Those two had a big fat crush.
“I have a meeting at Apprentice later about another author, and I wanted to give Victoria an update on your progress,” he said.
“Oh, the life of an author with an agent. How sweet that must be for them.” Lila grinned at him, and he laughed.
“Send me what you’re working on,” Grady said. “I’m happy to take a peek at your pages.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “You can tell Victoria that the ghostwriting is goinggreat. And my palElizabethhere is going to write the next chapter.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Stop it. I am not.”
Lila and Grady crossed their arms, as if in unison, which I could recognize was kind of funny, even though I was feeling panicky.
Lila got up from the computer and crouched down in front of me like she was petting a dog. She took my hands in hers. “You’re brilliant. And you’re ready. I just know you are.”
Irritation at thisfetustelling me what I was ready for rose in me.
“Mom,” Grady said, sitting down in the chair beside me, “you’ve been here, day in and day out, crafting this story. Why don’t you just give it a try? And if it doesn’t work, no harm, no foul.”
But that’s what he didn’t understand. I had tried so many times and failed. This project was going well. It was goinggreat, actually. And, sure, Lila was writing, and I was directing, and as much as I never ever would have admitted it, we were stronger when we were together. I was terrified that if I tried and failed, even that could all fall apart for me.
Lila continued. “You are my hero. I have looked up to you since I was just a tiny little kid. And it kills me to see you give up so easily on this thing that you are truly one of the best in the world at.”
A sound of shock I barely recognized came out of me. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Give up so easily?Do you know what it’s like to lose the man you love and then lose the thing you love to do most in the world right along with him?”
Grady and Lila shared a look I couldn’t quite read. Lila took one of my hands and laid her head on me likeshewas the puppy. She was so touchy feely. Geez. “I’m sorry, Lizzy.You’re right. I have no idea. You are so brave, and you do whatever you want. I’m just selfish and want to read your writing again.”
I wanted to protest again that my name wasElizabeth, but I sort of liked Lizzy. And, as much as I hated to admit it, I liked having someone who felt close enough to call me by a nickname.
Grady nodded and took my other hand. “We love you, Mom, and we want to see you step back into your talent. But if you aren’t ready, you aren’t ready.”
“I’m not ready,” I said, ripping my hands away from both of them, wondering why I was so incapable of letting myself be comforted.
Lila stood up. “Okay, Grady. Tell Victoria that we are cruising along and that I have loved stepping into Elizabeth Lancaster’s voice almost as much as I love her as a person.”
Well, now, that was sweet. This girl needed therapy. I wasn’t that nice to her, and she just kept coming back for more. I’d suggest that when we finished the book.
“I have to head out for my shift at the coffee shop,” Lila said. “But I’ll see you in the morning.”
