She sent him a text using voice-to-text.The gallery owner doesn’t know who the former tenant is. However, SunTrust does. I don’t suppose you have a local connectionthere?
About an hour later she received a reply.No connections that I know of. But I can go with you tomorrow morning. Maybe I’ll recognize someone.
Sadie took Rio for a walk on the shore, then after lunch she took a dip in the ocean and lay out on the beach with a romance novel for an hour—that was about as long as she could sit still. She constantly checked her email for a letter from her editor. Tomorrow was pub board. Why hadn’t Erin responded to her proposal yet?
Midafternoon she texted Gillian to see if she had news.Nothing yet, kiddo. Have faith. We’ll know soon enough.
“Argh!”
Rio’s eyes opened from where she napped on a sunny spot of the living room floor.
“Why hasn’t she written me, Rio? Doesn’t she know I’m dying down here? My whole career hangs in the balance.”
Clearly used to Sadie’s monologues, the dog’s eyes fluttered closed again.
She might as well clean the house. It would pass the time—and there was perhaps more sand on her floor than on the beach. She changed into comfortable leggings and a loose-fitting T-shirt.
Two hours—and a million email checks—later, Sadie’s apartment was sparkling clean and it was almost dinnertime. The New York office would be closing in a matter of minutes and still no word from Erin.
She’d heard Sam pull into the driveway a while ago—a short day for him, though he usually started just after sunrise.
Sadie sighed. “We may as well start dinner, huh, girl?”
Rio had followed her around the apartment as she cleaned. Her little sweetie was the best company. Sadie had taken breaks only to text with Caroline and her island friend Keisha, who’d decided to start a mommy book club and wondered if Sadie had any advice. Oh boy, did she.
On her way to the kitchen, she checked her phone to see if Keisha had responded to her last text and saw a new email. She opened the email app.
“It’s from Erin!” She plopped down on the barstool as she opened the message. Her stomach wobbled at its short length, and she held her breath as she read.
Hi Sadie,
Sorry to take so long to respond to your proposal. I loveyour story idea. I’ll be taking it to pub board tomorrow and will let you know Wednesday how it went.
Have a wonderful evening!
Erin
Sadie leaped up from the barstool, screaming. She twirled around in a circle. “She liked it! She! Liked! It! Wooooo! Wooooo! Aaaaah!” Her head spun with pleasure—and also with dizziness.
She stopped whirling but the room kept spinning. “She’s taking my story to pub board, Rio! She liked my idea! She really liked it!”
The dog barely glanced her way before resuming her nap.
Sadie whooped again. She was smiling so hard her jaw ached. Erin was a senior editor and the team usually backed her recommendations based on her stellar track record (Sadie’s western novels notwithstanding). She was so blessed to be getting a second chance.
“Thank You, Jesus! I’m going to write a romance novel, Rio! Just wait and see. Woo-hoo!”
A knock sounded just before the patio door slid open. Sam stuck his head inside. “Sadie, you okay?”
“Sam! She liked my proposal!” She flung herself into his arms and squeezed him tightly. “I just got an email from my editor, and she’s taking my story to pub board tomorrow.”
“Wow, that’s great news. Congratulations.” His breath fanned the tip of her ear even as his arms tightened around her.
“I waited all day to hear from her, and the email just came in.” Her heart pressed against his chest, thudding quickly. She really should pull away, but the embrace felt so nice. So solid andcomforting. “I was afraid I’d be back to square one and I don’t have another idea. I’m so relieved and so happy.”
“I can tell.”
At his droll tone she drew back.
