I, Gracie - Sharon Sala Page 0,66

how to operate the register tomorrow."

"Thank you for the opportunity," Gracie said.

"This has worked out great for both of us," Donna said. "Let's get the paperwork finished, and then we'll be done here until tomorrow. There's a place to park in the back. I'll be here, so ring the bell. Someone will let you in."

"Okay," Gracie said, and then filled out the paperwork and handed it back.

Donna scanned it quickly.

"Okay, girl. We're good to go." Then she looked at the paper again and frowned. "Hey...that address is familiar."

"It's a garage apartment at Lucy Bedford's place," Gracie said.

"Are you serious? She hosts one of the hottest parties in town on New Year's Eve. She's the best. Tell her I said, hello."

Gracie nodded. "Yes, I will."

"Okay... I think that's all I need," Donna said. "Have a great evening, and I'll see you tomorrow morning. And thank you for such amazing work. Both clients are going to be elated with your artistry."

"That makes me happy," Gracie said, and then stood. "Don't get up. I'll see myself out."

"Much appreciated," Donna said, and then as soon as Gracie walked out, she let out a little whoop. This was her lucky day.

But Donna wasn't the only one celebrating.

Gracie was beside herself. She had phone calls to make and good news to share, but she was suddenly starving. She drove until she found a fast food drive-through, got a Coke and fries, and headed home, eating as she went.

Back in Austin, Joel and Mamie's first session in couples counseling was proving difficult. Expressing their emotions and talking about what had gone wrong left both of them feeling vulnerable and scared.

Their counselor was a sixty-something woman with a no-nonsense attitude, which made Mamie anxious. While Joel was ambivalent about how she looked and what she said to them, he didn’t care about any of that as long as she could get him and Mamie back to where they'd been.

They were on their way home from their first session and had been in the car for over thirty minutes navigating city traffic without having said a word to each other.

Joel finally broke the ice.

"You're awfully quiet. What are you thinking?"

Mamie shrugged.

Joel saw the jut of her chin and the red splotches on her face. She was pissed. He sighed.

"I'm not going to fight with you if that's what you're amping up to do," he said. "I was going to ask if you wanted to go out to dinner, but it doesn't appear to be a good idea."

Mamie blinked. "I would like to go out."

"Well, obviously so would I. But I don't intend to sit at a table with you if you're going to act like this."

Mamie glared.

"Act like what?"

"Sulled up like a pissed-off possum, is what," Joel said. "What I don't get is why you're mad at me. We both agreed to go do this."

Mamie sniffed. "You said terrible things about me."

"We were supposed to tell the truth," Joel said. "Nothing I said was a lie."

Mamie slapped both hands on her knees. "I know that!" she shrieked. "But maybe I don't want the world to know how awful I am."

Joel sighed. "Honey. You aren't awful. Your actions were appalling, but you're not a bad person. There is a difference. I didn't get mad at you when she asked you questions about me being gone on business so much. I knew you were probably lonely sometimes, but I had no idea to what extent. I didn't know I was making you feel abandoned."

Mamie sniffed. "Well, you do."

"I understand that now. So, the answer to that is I cut back on work, we cut back on our lavish lifestyle, and spend more time together."

Mamie's eyes widened. "Cut back on what?"

"Travel, expensive gifts, expensive clothes, fancy vacations," he said.

Mamie gasped. "But I don't want to do without that."

Joel resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Well, sugar, I cannot be in two places at once. Either I work to provide your ritzy lifestyle, or we cut back and spend more time together. This will be your choice now, and you can no longer feel abandoned if you are the one who decides if stuff is more important than us."

"Oh my God! That is so unfair!" Mamie cried.

"Or you could get a part-time job... or start volunteering somewhere to fill your days when I'm gone."

Mamie's eyes widened in sudden panic.

"I can't get a job! I don't have any skills."

Joel frowned. "That is so not true. You know clothes and style like the back of