“She asked if I was interested in writing a book. She said she can think of several editors at publishing houses who would be clamoring for it.”
That was the word she’d used—clamoring.
“Wow,” Sitka said, stopping again.
Was Sitka genuinely impressed, or just surprised? Angeni couldn’t tell. She was bothered by how much she wanted the girl to be impressed. There was something about Sitka that seemed incapable of being impressed with anything.
“I know, it’s crazy,” Angeni said, her eyes locked with Sitka’s. “I never would have thought I’d write a book.”
Though she had thought this, had always known it in her bones. She was just waiting for the right time, the right opportunity, a calling from the universe.
“You are made for this,” Aurora said, in alignment with Angeni’s own thoughts.
“Just incredible,” Erik said. “This will take you to a whole new level.”
They were all talking over each other. Angeni felt like she was levitating.
“Did you email her back?” Matt asked.
“Not yet,” Angeni said. “I wanted to talk to you all first.”
“Us?” Aurora asked.
Sitka stepped away from the island, went to the giant beanbag cushion on the back wall of the kitchen. She lay down on it, held Freya up above her, arms outstretched. They were both smiling, giggling.
“Well, yes,” Angeni said. “Because if I’m going to pursue writing a book, that’s a huge time commitment, and I’ll need the support of my community.”
“We got you, babe,” Erik said.
“Anything you need, Ang,” Matt said.
“We are here to support you,” Aurora said.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I haven’t even responded to the agent yet, but I just want you all to know that I realize this would be a community effort.”
“Totally,” Erik said. He looked each of them in the face before saying, “And I think I can say, on behalf of our community, that we are here to do whatever we can to enable you to do this.”
“This is what community’s about,” Jer said with his usual solemnity.
“Watch us rise to the occasion,” Matt said with a theatrically deep voice.
Angeni laughed.
“Are you guys sure?” she asked.
They all nodded.
Angeni looked at Sitka in the beanbag chair. She had yet to say anything about the news. Angeni wondered if she didn’t yet feel like one of them, part of the group, with a right to an opinion.
“The thing is, I do want the projects on The Land to continue, and I know you guys are knee deep in those,” she said, looking at Erik, Matt, and Jer.
“I can help with Freya,” Aurora offered, raising her hand high in the air like a kid in school.
Sitka was still not looking at Angeni.
“Thank you, Ror,” she said. “Freya is so lucky to have such a loving auntie. I was thinking Sitka may help too. Freya seems to love both of you so much.”
Sitka finally looked up, seemingly surprised to be included in the conversation.
