The Noel Letters (The Noel Collection #4) - Richard Paul Evans Page 0,47
People like it. It’s antiquarian.”
“Well, I’m not into astrology. I just want the book with normal, smooth edges.”
“I’m sorry, but the publisher doesn’t make it that way.”
“Then I’d like a discount for a damaged book.”
* * *
The rest of the day seemed to follow the same flow. I was glad when Grace came in, but even she seemed a little quiet. The book she bought was below her usual standards. “It’s not for me,” she said, as if embarrassed to be seen with the book. “It’s a gift.”
As I rang her up, she abruptly asked, “When did your relationship with your father sour?”
“How did you know it soured?”
“Your father and I were close,” she reminded me.
“I suppose when I was old enough to know the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That my father wasn’t who I thought he was.”
She let my words sit for a moment, then replied, “I think that’s still true.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. Curious, perhaps.” She took her book and walked out of the store.
CHAPTER thirty–four
The Agee woman told us for three quarters of an hour how she came to write her beastly book, when a simple apology was all that was required.
—P. G. Wodehouse
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1
It was a little before ten o’clock and I’d just finished ringing up a customer when my phone rang. I looked down to check the number. It was a New York area code.
“Hello.”
“Noel. It’s Natasha. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
I don’t know what surprised me more, hearing her voice or her voice’s pleasant lilt.
“No, I’m at work.”
“You’ve already got a job?”
“I’ve got a bookstore. And yes, I got my things, if that’s why you’re calling.”
“Not why I called,” she said. “It turns out that I shouldn’t have been so efficient in cleaning your office. I have good news. I’m calling to offer you your job back.”
Now this really wasn’t making sense. “You’re rehiring me?”
“You know, I never felt good about letting you go. So I talked to HR, and saner heads prevailed. If you’re amenable to coming back, we’ll just keep your arrangement as is and consider your absence paid leave.”
Now we were entering the Twilight Zone. “What about my authors?”
“There will probably be a few changes, but we’ll sort that out once you’re back. When will you be back in New York?”
“I don’t know,” I said. My mind was still reeling. “Why are you really calling?”
Natasha hesitated. “It’s just what I said. I called to offer you your job back.”
“Five weeks ago you tossed me like a bad query letter. I know this world. Everything happens for a reason, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because you missed me. So what really happened?”
Natasha groaned. “I always said you were smart. I’m sure you’ll eventually find out, so here’s the deal. Ms. Bradley didn’t like the editor we gave her. In fact, she didn’t want to work with any editor but you. She informed us that she would either work with you at our imprint or find another publishing house to hire you and she’d publish with them.”
“Jerica said that?”
“Word for word. And you know Jerica. It’s her way or the highway.”
I shook my head. “So the Tin Woman has a heart.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Natasha said. “So, when can we expect you back?”
“I’m not sure I’m coming back.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m thinking of staying in Utah.”
Long pause. “You can’t be serious.”
“I need to think this over. But considering the circumstance, I’d say a raise is a good place to start.”
“I can make that happen.”
“All right, I’ll let you know.”
“You let me know,” she repeated. “The sooner the better. Jerica wants an answer yesterday.”
“Like I said, I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you,” Natasha said. “And Noel, Jerica aside, I’m glad you’re coming back. You really are a good editor.”
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone. Never saw that coming.
Dear Noel,
There are real dangers in this life, far too many to enumerate. Fortunately for all of us, we were blessed with the gift of fear. Fear acknowledged is a gift. It sharpens our senses, heightens our awareness, and strengthens our muscles. It is the warning bell before the crash.
Fear-mindedness is a curse. The greatest shackles in our lives have always been those forged by our own fears.
Courage is not the opposite of fear, as courage cannot exist without it. Courage is the decision to proceed in spite of fear. You have shown great courage in your life. But sometimes the things we fear most are not demons, but angels. Know the difference. Do