Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 18: Diner Time

9 years later

      "Ms. Stone, I understand, but it just isn't ready yet." I twirled the pen in my hand while looking out the window of the café talking to my editor.

      "I still want to see what you have so far, and then we can go from there. Writers always think their work is not ready when at the end of the day, it is exactly what everyone wants." She huffed. I liked her but she could be pushy sometimes. "Tell you what, I will give you till New Years. I expect you to be sitting in my office here in the city the day after with your draft."

      I ran some ideas through my head, trying to figure out where I wanted to go from here, the truth is a tough pill to swallow, and I am not sure I am ready to get there just yet. Or maybe I could change the ending, no one would know, right? It's almost Halloween, so that gives me over two months to get this done. "That will work, I do believe I can do that."

      "Perfect Lexi, now I must go, our publishing company has been bought and I have a meeting with the new owners in fifteen."

     "Thank you for everything Ms. Stone."

      "Honey, I am the lucky one. We truly found a diamond in the rough. Now tootles." And she hung up the phone just like that.

      I turned to Marie sitting across from me with her nose stuck in the latest writing I just finished this morning. "So, what do you think?"

     She furrowed her brows and looked up; I swear I think I saw tears ready to spill out. "You know it gets worse after this, right?" I nodded my head and turned my attention back out to the busy but unpopulated street in our little country town. "So where does it go?"

      I knew what she meant; she already knew this was all risky. "I am thinking about changing the ending. Or what if I tell the truth, I mean what's the worse that could happen right?"

      I was really talking to myself, me and my stupid mouth can never keep quiet. I felt Marie's hand on my arm, and I turned to see her staring blankly out the window with me. "I think a changed ending would be nice, give the reader's what they want. However, this is your story to tell, and if it was me, I would tell it all. Don't hold anything back, don't change names, just lay it all out there. This has been going on for far too long." I nodded my head and we continued staring out the window.

      Finally, she cleared her throat, obviously over her thought process. "So, what did she say?" She pointed at my phone.

      "I have until the day after New Year's, then I have to be sitting in her office the day after with my draft." I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. Why oh why did I decide to sign a contract and pull all the band aids off at once.

      "You have to go to New York on New Years?" I wasn't sure if she was excited or scared of something.

      "Yes."

      "Ms. Fields, we are catering the party for the bar in two weeks, would you mind if we borrow you for a minute?" We looked to see one of the waitresses standing next to the booth, she was in her mid-thirties, single mom, the bags under her eyes, and posture, screamed exhaustion. I offered her a smile.

      "Please Paige, call me Amy. And I will be right there." Marie didn't want to get too far away from her original name, so she settled for simplicity in Amy. "Well duty calls."

      I turned back to watch the people as they passed by the windows. It was getting cooler weather now, and most of the migrant workers were getting ready to pack up and head back to their homes, which I learned they lived everywhere. I even met someone from Alaska once, I thought that was so cool. I was one of the lucky ones, Marko stayed year long, he never left, I was grateful I could always depend on him. Halloween always marked the start of them leaving, some left around Labor Day, but the majority always stayed till the end of October. I think mainly because the town all came together and always threw them a going home party at Billy's, the one and only bar in this town. And Marie always catered it, I only got to see pictures, I was never brave enough to go mingle. My heart just wasn't ready yet.

      "Sorry about that," Marie apologized taking her seat.

      "No problem, business is business."

      "So, you are coming this year, right?" She poked at my shoulder. I nodded my head no. "Yes, you are. It has been too long; it is time to move forward with your life. Sk... I mean Lexi, it is time for you to start living, you can't walk backwards and change anything."

      She is right, and I know she is, but can I, can I let myself move forward. "Okay." I mumbled, somehow for a brief moment I felt those all too familiar flutters deep in the bottom of my stomach, things are fixing to change, and I don't know if for the good or for the bad. "But I am going as a cowgirl." I pointed at her.

      "Deal!" She screeched and the whole ten people in the diner all turned around to look at her. She looked around wide eyed, "Sorry folks, nothing to see here." She turned back to me and leaned over the table, "I heard that Old Man Pete sold his place, and some rich family bought it."

      Old Man Pete was my neighbor, well as close as neighbors were around here. He owned about ten thousand acres I think and lived on the far end of the property which didn't put him anywhere close to me. "Do you know who?" I whispered. This can't be good.

      She shook her head, "No, but I will dig around and see if I can find out." I just nodded and I am sure the color had all drained from my face. I was always a basket case when someone new moved in around here, because I just never knew. "Hey, are you done with everything?" I shook my head. "Okay, let's get you home. You look a little puked." I didn't even answer, I packed all my stuff up in my bag and never looked back making my way to Marie's car.