"I'll talk to you in a couple of days," he says, leaning down to kiss me. "Be careful driving home."
"I will. Tell Tony that if anything happens to you, I'm coming after him."
Vin starts laughing. "I will."
I watch as the plane takes off and heads towards LA, then drive home to find Melkor waiting on me. As soon as I open the door, he's all around my legs. Closing the door, I pick him up and sit on the couch with him for a little while. "Well, boy. It's just you and me for awhile," I say while scratching under his chin.
A little while later, I get up to unpack and do a load of laundry, then call Jennifer to let her know that I was back. We talked for a little while, then I decided to go to bed early. Melkor enjoyed having his side of the bed back, but I didn't sleep well because Vin wasn't with me. Funny how you get used to things like that in such a short time.
I got up Sunday morning and spent the day at my sister’s house, playing with my niece. We made a picnic lunch and then hopped on the four-wheelers and rode out to their lake and played there all afternoon. They have an old tire swing tied to a huge oak tree limb, and we would swing out over the water and let go, seeing who could make the biggest splash. Then we'd get in the inner-tubes and float around the lake, watching the fish swim below us. It reminded me of the lake at Vin's cabin in Colorado, just not quite as cold. Before leaving, I talked to my sister and my niece, Mandy, was going to spend the next weekend with me. When I got home, I took a shower and collapsed on the bed.
The next thing I know, my alarm is going off Monday morning for work. Well, back to reality now.
Things weren't too bad when I got to the office. A couple of minor problems came up with the projects last week, but my assistant took care of them. I was looking for something in my purse when I came across the name of the publisher Vin had given me to contact. Luckily she was going to be in town at the end of this week, so we could meet then.
The week flew by. I stayed busy with the new projects I was working on, and Friday finally arrived. I met with the publisher and after a lengthy conversation, I finally made my decision that this is something that I really want to do. But I'm not quitting my job. I have to have a steady income, but this just moves my writing to the front of the line for outside activities. We're going to start of slow, and when I feel comfortable with it, then pursue it full time.
The following week, the publishing contract arrived and I called a lawyer friend of mine to see if she would look it over. It all looks good and she tells me to go for it. I call Vin and give him the news.
"So, you're going to be a writer?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far."
"Why not? That's what you're going to be doing."
"In my spare time. Vin, I can't quit my job just because this happened. I have to support myself and the money I'm going to make right now won't pay for everything. I have to do this my way. One small step at a time."
"But, it's a step in the right direction."
"We'll see."
"What if I hired you to work for me?"
