Diaries in Time by Susan Reiss

Author:Susan Reiss [Reiss, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ink & Imagination Press
Published: 2022-01-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"YOU CANNOT FAIL unless you quit…”

– Abraham Lincoln

When TJ came to a stop, I jumped out of the truck. “Maureen! Here I am.”

Even casually dressed in black slacks and a black and white silk tunic, she had an elegant flair about her.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, rushing forward. “I totally forgot about the meeting. You see, we had to go to the hospital…”

She frowned as she ran her eyes up and down my body. She knew about the challenges I’d faced in recovering the use of my leg. “You didn’t hurt yourself again, did you?”

“No, no, I’m fine. TJ’s fine, too.” Her face relaxed. “We went to see Dee.”

Maureen frowned again. “That poor girl. To lose her sister like that and to get hurt herself. Is she all right?”

“Yes,” TJ answered. “They’re going to discharge her soon.”

“And she’s going to come and stay with me.” I sent a look of defiance at TJ that meant, And that’s that. “With so much going on, I’m sure you can understand that I can’t go to the meeting tonight.”

I was surprised to hear TJ say, “I don’t understand.” He looked at his watch. You still have time to get cleaned up and go.”

Maureen agreed. “TJ’s right. We don’t have to leave right away. I came early to bring you one more book. Don’t worry, it’s short.”

Looking from one to the other, I said, “But I wouldn’t want to put you out.”

“It’s no bother,” Maureen said with a smile.

TJ raised his eyebrows. “She’s willing to take you. You’d better get moving.”

I knew I could flat out refuse to go, but here were two people eager to help me work toward my dream. That didn’t mean I had to like it, but I couldn’t turn my back on their support. I went inside to get ready for the meeting, but on the steps where no one could hear me, I let out a long, low groan. Dreams could take so much work.

It didn’t take me long to get all cleaned up, as TJ put it. I scurried down the steps as fast as I dared and burst out the front door to discover Maureen leaning against her car enjoying the surroundings. TJ’s truck was gone.

“Oh, good, you’re ready,” Maureen said as she tucked a soft wave of her thick silver hair behind her ear. There were some lines on her face, but she’d earned every one of them as the creative director of a successful advertising agency in New York. She probably could teach me everything I needed to know about writing. “I told TJ he didn’t have to wait and that he didn’t have to pick you up. I’ll bring you home. I got the impression he was a little relieved.”

How did I feel about that? Glad that he’d have the evening to himself …and a little hurt that he’d given up so easily on the opportunity of driving me home. He probably didn’t want to chance a repeat performance. I’d been an

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