through until the end of the school year, I’d
appreciate it.”
“I’ll do what I
can,” she said, a begrudging tint to her voice.
“Thank you.”
Trish hurried to where Bo sat, his eyes pinned on her. She bent down to give
him a hug. “I have to go.”
He frowned, his
dark eyes moist. “Mommy, please.”
Her stomach
churned. This was for his own good. “After school I’ll take you for ice cream
and a trip to the park.” Trish ran from the room before he caused a scene.
Behind her Little
Bo started to sob. Not only was she a horrible businesswoman, she was a
horrible mother. She pushed through a line of children and out the door,
shaking and crying. Only when she reached the privacy of her car did she give
in to her tumultuous emotions. She cried all the way to the store.
As she unlocked
the door to Designs By Trish, her stomach grumbled. She set down her things in
the musty-smelling building, grabbed a package of saltines, and gulped down
three or four to appease her growling belly. Okay, she could do this. She had
to for Bo’s sake. Trish opened her desk drawer and retrieved the phone book.
A while later she
clicked her phone shut. The last call had been made, and no one needed their
store fronts decorated. Now what? Call people to see if they wanted their
living rooms redone? She rested her forehead against the heel of her palm. God,
I don’t know what to do. I’m trying to trust You, but when the checking account
is overdrawn and we need groceries, it’s kind of hard. Help me.
Trish checked the
time. Already two o’clock. She nibbled at another cracker until it was
half-gone, then stared at the other half in disgust. She was tired of crackers.
Tired of being hungry. Her cell phone buzzed as she placed the uneaten half
back in the waxy paper. “Hello.”
“Hi, Trish. It’s
Andy.”
She slumped in
her chair. “Hi.”
“Bad day?”
“No worse than
any other, I guess.”
The line grew
quiet. “You okay?”
“Peachy.”
“Uh, I wanted to
let you know I’ve decided to make the move.”
Great. Just what
she needed—someone else who felt compelled to rescue her. She had nothing. No
words to say. Nothing to encourage him the way he’d encouraged her.
“I’m going to set
up a temporary office in City Hall while I build my living quarters and office
across from the train depot.” He sounded excited about his plans. “I need your
help.”
Trish snorted.
“Are you asking or telling?”
“Neither. I’m
begging. I have to stay in Dallas this week to tie up loose ends, but I’d like
my temporary office ready when I arrive Friday evening.” He let out an audible
sigh. “Look, Trish, I know this is short notice and I know you’re busy, but I
really need your help.”
She sat up
straighter. Why not take the job? Her main concern had been to keep distance
between her and Andy, but he wouldn’t even be here. “I’ll need money for
purchases.”
“Set up an
account, and I’ll wire whatever you need.” He shuffled papers in the
background, and she imagined him cradling the phone between his shoulder and
sandy curls. “I’ll also send you half of whatever price you set up front, and
pay you the second half this weekend.”
A burden the size
of Texas rolled off her chest. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Tyler.”
After they
straightened out the details, Trish clicked her phone shut, her mood suddenly
buoyant. Her first real client. And not a wedding, but an actual office space.
Maybe other businesses would see the benefit of her services. Sure it was only
one job, but at least it would help pay the bills and give her portfolio a
boost.
Amazing how life
could turn around in a heartbeat. She grabbed her purse and keys and headed for
the door with a jauntiness in her step she hadn’t experienced in ages. First
she’d set up Andy’s expense account. Then she’d treat herself to a nice lunch.
Later that
afternoon when she picked up Little Bo from school, she felt like a
appreciate it.”
“I’ll do what I
can,” she said, a begrudging tint to her voice.
“Thank you.”
Trish hurried to where Bo sat, his eyes pinned on her. She bent down to give
him a hug. “I have to go.”
He frowned, his
dark eyes moist. “Mommy, please.”
Her stomach
churned. This was for his own good. “After school I’ll take you for ice cream
and a trip to the park.” Trish ran from the room before he caused a scene.
Behind her Little
Bo started to sob. Not only was she a horrible businesswoman, she was a
horrible mother. She pushed through a line of children and out the door,
shaking and crying. Only when she reached the privacy of her car did she give
in to her tumultuous emotions. She cried all the way to the store.
As she unlocked
the door to Designs By Trish, her stomach grumbled. She set down her things in
the musty-smelling building, grabbed a package of saltines, and gulped down
three or four to appease her growling belly. Okay, she could do this. She had
to for Bo’s sake. Trish opened her desk drawer and retrieved the phone book.
A while later she
clicked her phone shut. The last call had been made, and no one needed their
store fronts decorated. Now what? Call people to see if they wanted their
living rooms redone? She rested her forehead against the heel of her palm. God,
I don’t know what to do. I’m trying to trust You, but when the checking account
is overdrawn and we need groceries, it’s kind of hard. Help me.
Trish checked the
time. Already two o’clock. She nibbled at another cracker until it was
half-gone, then stared at the other half in disgust. She was tired of crackers.
Tired of being hungry. Her cell phone buzzed as she placed the uneaten half
back in the waxy paper. “Hello.”
“Hi, Trish. It’s
Andy.”
She slumped in
her chair. “Hi.”
“Bad day?”
“No worse than
any other, I guess.”
The line grew
quiet. “You okay?”
“Peachy.”
“Uh, I wanted to
let you know I’ve decided to make the move.”
Great. Just what
she needed—someone else who felt compelled to rescue her. She had nothing. No
words to say. Nothing to encourage him the way he’d encouraged her.
“I’m going to set
up a temporary office in City Hall while I build my living quarters and office
across from the train depot.” He sounded excited about his plans. “I need your
help.”
Trish snorted.
“Are you asking or telling?”
“Neither. I’m
begging. I have to stay in Dallas this week to tie up loose ends, but I’d like
my temporary office ready when I arrive Friday evening.” He let out an audible
sigh. “Look, Trish, I know this is short notice and I know you’re busy, but I
really need your help.”
She sat up
straighter. Why not take the job? Her main concern had been to keep distance
between her and Andy, but he wouldn’t even be here. “I’ll need money for
purchases.”
“Set up an
account, and I’ll wire whatever you need.” He shuffled papers in the
background, and she imagined him cradling the phone between his shoulder and
sandy curls. “I’ll also send you half of whatever price you set up front, and
pay you the second half this weekend.”
A burden the size
of Texas rolled off her chest. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Tyler.”
After they
straightened out the details, Trish clicked her phone shut, her mood suddenly
buoyant. Her first real client. And not a wedding, but an actual office space.
Maybe other businesses would see the benefit of her services. Sure it was only
one job, but at least it would help pay the bills and give her portfolio a
boost.
Amazing how life
could turn around in a heartbeat. She grabbed her purse and keys and headed for
the door with a jauntiness in her step she hadn’t experienced in ages. First
she’d set up Andy’s expense account. Then she’d treat herself to a nice lunch.
Later that
afternoon when she picked up Little Bo from school, she felt like a
Similar Books
