Page 27 of Promise Me Never

“And?”

“Let me grab them, be right back.”

He returned and put the papers on the kitchen table, and they sat next to each other.

“Your opening sentence needs work. It’s your first chance to hook the reader, and this one is a bit too vague.” He picked up the page and read. “ ‘Darcy took a sip of her wine as she watched the news.’ It doesn’t pique my interest. Now, if it was something like ‘Darcy’s stomach tightened as she watched the news,’ I’m immediately wondering why? Did something happen to someone she knows? Or is she on the news? You see, it raises a question.”

Savannah nodded. “That’s helpful. Keep going.”

He pointed to the third paragraph. “So here is an info dump all about her backstory. It would be better to sprinkle it in gradually with some hints. The key is to keep the reader turning the pages. Always wanting to find out the answer to the subtle questions you pose.”

“Okay. Anything that is working?”

He paused, looking at her. “I’ll get to that. What’s more instructive is what’s not. But yes, on the next page Darcy’s reaction to her mother’s comment about her future is good. It’s visceral. I can feel how angry she is. Lean more into that kind of writing.”

Savannah picked up the stack of papers and leafed through. Bennett had made notes throughout. “Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to do this. I’m excited to rework it.”

“Remember, good writing is rewriting.”

“Oh, I was wondering. When I do finally finish, do you think you could reach out to a few of your writer friends for a possible blurb?”

His eyebrows shot up. “That’s a bit premature, don’t you think? Let’s talk about it when you’re finished. If you finish. Everybody thinks they have a book in them, but until it’s finished, it’s just an idea.”

Savannah’s cheeks were hot with embarrassment. “Yeah, okay.” Suddenly her mother’s words echoed in her head. Telling her she was a quitter. That she’d never accomplish anything in life. It wasn’t true. She’d already finished three other manuscripts, and she’d finish this one. She was about to say just that when he stood up.

“I’ve gotta get back to work. We’ll go furniture shopping for your office later today.”

He started to walk back to his office, then stopped and turned around. “Oh hey, can you make sure Felicia sees the grocery list I left on the counter? She’ll probably come over around nine.”

“Oh, I can do the shopping.”

“No, it’s fine. That’s her job. Look it over and add whatever you like. But I do have a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s going to rain this afternoon and I’m on a roll right now, so would you mind taking Finn on a walk? Take the Rover. Keys on the hook in the kitchen.”

“Sure.”

He smiled, walked back over to her, and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks. You’re the best.”

“No problem,” she answered as he walked away, trying to rid herself of the feeling that she’d just been dismissed. She thought of Marion’s warning to her. She wouldn’t be like those other women who’d left him. A feeling of annoyance bubbled up when she remembered Marion saying Poppy’s obsession with her work had matched Bennett’s. Savannah could be just as obsessed. She didn’t need Bennett to entertain her. She would finish her novel, and it would be amazing. She would show them all.

| Twenty-Five |

Before—Poppy

I gave notice to both my jobs, and I felt freer than I had in ages. Bennett and I were having dinner at Le Coucou to celebrate. I move in with him in a week. I’m still a bit in shock myself, but sometimes when the universe hands you a gift, it’s foolish not to grab it with both hands. And Bennett is definitely a gift. Another artist who understands the need to create: that yearning to be alone with your ideas and turn them into a tangible reality. There’s nothing else like it. And now I’ll get to do it full time while living with the man I adore.

He raised his glass. “To our life together.”

“To our life,” I echoed. The diamond on my left finger caught the light as I lifted my glass to touch his. It was beautiful and a ring I’m sure most women would swoon over: an emerald cut in platinum, ten carats, Bennett was sure to tell me. The thing is, I don’t wear fancy rings. They tend to get caught when I’m creating my sculptures. But he was so excited to give it to me that I didn’t have the heart to tell him.

He leaned back in his chair, swirling the glass of wine, and stared into it as if it held the secrets of the universe.

“What’s going on in that brilliant mind?” I asked.

He looked up, a worried look on his face. “I have something to tell you.”