“Maybe we should bring George home,” Derrick says. “Let him do the website and marketing, until the big fall harvest.”
“That’s a good idea.” Matt smiles. “And here I thought we had a problem.”
“Sorry, Matt. I’m really anxious these days. I just want everything to work out. Could you talk to her? She’s doing way too much. You know how she is.”
Matt laughs. “She doesn’t listen to me either. Is she in her office?”
Derrick nods.
Matt crosses the hall and knocks on the shut door.
“Come in,” she says in a singsong voice.
Matt steps into the office. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I know, technically, it’s still writing time.”
“I’m actually finished,” Olivia says.
“For the day?”
“No, it’s done,” she says with a wide grin. “I hope it’s actually good. I can’t wait for you to read it.”
Olivia hands Matt a stack of double-spaced pages fastened with a clip.
Matt reads the title page. “People Farm, I love it.”
“It’s an allegory for our exploitative state-run system, using high school as the setting. I hope you don’t mind, but I based the main character on you.”
Matt laughs. “I hope you use a pen name. Big Brother might come looking for you.”
Olivia laughs.
“I’m flattered that you’d use me in your novel,” Matt says. “I’ll start on this as soon as I get home tonight. I’m really excited to read it. On another note, Derrick told me that you’ve been doing too much.”
Olivia exhales. “I do love that man, but he’s such a worrier.” She stands up, her arm supporting her back. Matt braces her other arm. Her stomach is round and swollen.
“Congratulations.”
“I haven’t given birth yet,” she says.
Matt grins. “On the book.”
“I knew what you meant. Thank you, honey.”
Matt gives her a brief hug. She kisses him on the cheek.
“Do you think I’ll be a good mother?” she asks.
“You already are.”
She starts to cry. “You’ve gotta be careful around your mother these days. I cry about everything.” She laughs through the tears.
“One more thing, … you’re fired for the next few months. I don’t wanna see you stocking shelves or even working at the register.”
Olivia nods and smiles with tear streaks on her cheeks.
Matt walks to his office and drops the manuscript on his desk. An old wooden desk, a dusty computer, and a metal filing cabinet complete the Spartan furnishings. He marches back to the store floor.
The lunchtime rush dies down, but two dozen shoppers still linger, mostly elderly women. A familiar face looks over the last of the root-cellar apples. His heart beats faster. Her blond hair is cut shorter now, to chin length. She wears a sundress that tugs in all the right places. She still looks young for her age, her porcelain skin showing no signs of cracking. She stands out among the sweatpants clientele, like a single rose in a field of wheat. Her movements are haphazard, like she’s not sure what to do with her arms or how she’s supposed to stand.
Matt walks across the floor, his gaze following her every movement. He catches her eye. She glances up and sees Matt walking in her direction. She smiles and blushes. She looks down at the apples. He’s only a few feet away. She looks up again, still blushing.
“How much are the apples?” Emily says.
“The price is whatever they’re worth to you.”
Dear Reader,
I’m thrilled that you took precious time out of your life to read my novel. Thank you! I hope you found it entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking. If so, please consider writing a positive review on Amazon and Goodreads. Five-star reviews have a huge impact on future sales. The review doesn’t need to be long and detailed, if you’re more of a reader than a writer. As an author and a small businessman, competing against the big publishers, every reader, every review, and every referral is greatly appreciated.
If you’re interested in reading my other titles for free or discounted, go to the following link: http://www.PhilWBooks.com. You’re probably thinking, What’s the catch? There is no catch.
If you want to contact me, don’t be bashful. I can be found at [email protected]. I do my best to respond to all emails.
Sincerely,
Phil M. Williams
Against the Grain Page 29
