Between Land and Sea

by Joanne Guidoccio

  “Even so, I’d like to see how the books were put together. It might give me some ideas for my own book.”

  “If you’re going the traditional route, you won’t have any say in the layout and packaging.”

  “But I won’t have to worry about the marketing and distribution. I won’t have to lug my books across the country when I do book readings. I’m new to this country and the writing world. I don’t have any connections.”

  “I said I could help you with that, Bella. My first three books were published traditionally. I wasn’t too thrilled with some of the publishing houses. The editors wanted to make too many changes to my artwork, so that’s why I took control and self-published the last two.”

  Barbara did not want to continue this discussion. She had a lead with an agent in Chicago, and she was looking forward to visiting with Gillian. “We’ll see how it goes with Gillian. If her agent can’t find a publisher for the book, I’ll reconsider your offer.”

  “Fair enough for now.” Graham put down the pages he was reading and picked up a muffin. He bit into the soft dough. “This is the best chocolate chip muffin I’ve ever tasted.” He joked, “Your next book should be a cookbook.”

  Barbara looked up in surprise. He was already talking about the next book. That was definitely a good sign. But she couldn’t and wouldn’t consider starting another book until this one was accepted by a publisher.

  Graham moved closer. “Don’t look so scared. I was just joking. You don’t have to start another book until you’re ready.” He looked at the pile of papers on the table. “You’ll have your hands full for a while with this one. Why don’t you take a few days off from work? I’m sure Janice won’t mind.”

  “I can’t do that, especially now. I’m taking over Carolyn’s job and—”

  “Whoa! When did that happen? I’ve only been away for a couple of days.”

  Barbara explained the progression of events at ReCareering.

  “Be careful, Barbara. There have been so many changes in your life. You don’t want to burn out.”

  Barbara bit her lip firmly.

  Graham shook his finger. “It doesn’t help to hold it in like that. You don’t always have to do everything so perfectly, you know. And don’t be so afraid to show some anger. I can take it.”

  Barbara laughed. He really was a nice man to have around, even if it was only for a short while. “So, how was your buying trip? Did you pick up any interesting pieces?” She enjoyed visiting the shop and examining the new art that came in weekly.

  “I purchased some pottery and one landscape. I was hoping to procure some pieces by an up-and-coming sculptor, but he had a family emergency and had to cancel his show. He has another show in Montreal this coming weekend. It’ll be a bit tight, but I’ll drop by after I visit my father.”

  “Does your father live in Montreal?”

  “No, he lives in the States.” His face darkened. “I don’t see him too often, but once a year, my step-mother plans a birthday party for him. It’s a command performance for me and my half sisters.” He got up and reached for his jacket. “I’m leaving early tomorrow morning and won’t be back until Sunday.”

  Barbara longed to comfort him, but she sensed his change of mood and distance.

  “I’ve got an early start tomorrow morning, and it looks like you’ve got a full day as well. Take care, Bella, and don’t work too hard. I’ll give you a call Sunday night.”

  Chapter 13

  In her new role as counselor, Barbara was busy every minute of the working day. In addition to meeting with clients, she also had to deal with Carolyn’s backlog of incomplete reports and other paperwork. Carolyn had not kept up with the demands of her job for over a month. No one, not even Lois, knew the full state of affairs. Barbara decided to be discreet and quickly bring everything up to speed. She updated all of Carolyn’s files and tied up loose ends with previous clients. She also attended two workshops facilitated by the other counselors. She signed up to lead her first workshop on the following Wednesday.

  She devoted the evenings to her book. To her surprise, it took four full evenings to make all of the corrections. The speed burst button helped with actual writing, but not with editing.

  Saturday morning, she telephoned Gillian. The phone rang at least ten times. Finally, a groggy voice answered, “Hello there, early bird.”

  “Hi, Gillian. It’s me. Barbara. Isabella from the Mediterranean kingdom.”

  “You’ve got to stop doing that, Barbara. One of these days a human will hear you.”

  “I forgot. It’s just that you sounded half asleep. I wanted to make sure you knew who I was.”

  “I’ve got call display, Barbara.” A loud yawn followed. “How are you doing?”

  “Everything is great. I’ve got a counseling job, and I finished the book.”

  “How’s your love life with Gerald?”

  “It’s Graham. And we’re fine. I told you that relationship is just for now. It’s not a permanent thing. We’re just good friends.”

  “But when will you be friends with benefits?”

  “Oh, that already happened.”

  “How was it?”

  She couldn’t believe Gillian was asking her about the sex.

  “You’re not in the kingdom anymore. It’s okay to talk about sex. Humans do it all the time.” Gillian added, “That’s all some of them talk about.”

  “I know. It’s just that I’m not comfortable about it yet. It was only one time.”

  “And you haven’t had it since? What’s wrong with him?”

  “He had to go on a couple of buying trips for his art store. He’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Hmm. Does he go on these trips very often?”

  Barbara thought about Graham’s schedule. It seemed he was always coming or going from a buying trip or workshop. But she really didn’t want him around twenty-four-seven. She would never have been able to write her book if Graham was more available. “Now that you mention it, he is away a lot. He visits artists throughout the province, and he teaches at a few colleges in Vermont and Maine.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What’s with the Hmm?”

  “Does he ever invite you to go with him?”

  “Well, no. I don’t expect that. And, anyway, I can’t just take up and leave. I have a job, you know. I’ve taken over for a counselor who has a medical issue.”

  “Sounds like you’re on your way.”

  Barbara made a mental note never to call Gillian in the morning again. “I finished writing my book. Can you still help me with this?”

  “Oh, yes, the book. I had forgotten about that. Sure, send it to me by Purolator or Parcel Express. Whatever you can find in that town of yours. I’ll pass it on to Stewart Tobin. He’s a very good friend of mine, and I’m sure he will know what to do with it.” Gillian gave her the address.

  The normally gregarious Gillian was not in the best of humor. But Barbara needed more information about the tablet. “I wanted to ask you about the Specialist Skills buttons.”

  “Be very careful with those buttons. Make sure you ask for a skill that you really need and can use in the future.” Gillian sighed deeply.

  “What did you ask for?”

  “I was so foolish. I asked for fashion sense, makeup application, and decorating ability. I wanted to be the prettiest in the land and to make sure that James would always love me.” Her voice shook a bit. “I didn’t realize that the aging process would take over and he would move on to a younger, less demanding replacement.”

  Barbara shook her head. Why would anyone ask for skills that could easily be obtained by reading magazines or frequenting shops? And such superficial skills! “If you could go back in time, what skills would you ask for?”

  “I would ask for financial acumen. I would want to know how to make money like Warren Buffett or any of those financial wizards. Have you used those buttons yet?”

  Barbara told her about the cooking and presentation sk
ills.

  “Not bad. I can see how those skills would help you in the future. But be careful with the last choice. Don’t feel you have to make that decision now. You still have time left, don’t you?”

  “I’ve got less than ten months left.”

  “Wait and see how much you can accomplish with the basic buttons.” Her voice became softer. “You don’t want to have too many regrets.”

  This was not one of Gillian’s better days. After another tense moment, Barbara decided to end the conversation. “Thanks a lot. I’ll see if I can get the manuscript out today. You should get it by Monday.”

  “Great. Take care, Barbara. I’ll give you a call after I hear back from Stewart.”

  The day loomed ahead of her. It would not take her long to send her book, and she had no other real plans. She realized just how occupied she had been with Graham and the book. She glanced at the manuscript. Once that was out of her hands, she would be playing a waiting game. Waiting for the agent to respond. Waiting for a publisher. Waiting for publication.

  Barbara stopped in her tracks. She had picked up Gillian’s bad mood. She could not afford to be so sensitive in this human world. It would definitely hold her back.

  She needed another project. She looked frantically around the apartment for inspiration. There was none. Although she enjoyed living there, she knew it was only a pit stop. She couldn’t get too excited about adding to the décor.

  But she could add to her own wardrobe. She looked down at the oversize T-shirt and baggy sweat pants that she was wearing. She could go shopping. If all went well, she would be going to Chicago very soon. And she needed new clothes. She did not want Gillian to see her looking this shabby.

  She knew exactly where she would go. The ladies in the office often spoke of the two women’s clothing stores in Carden. They joked about how limited their options were—it was either Elaine’s or Eleanor’s, only one letter of the alphabet between them. Most of them ended up at Square One in Mississauga or one of the other large malls within an hour’s driving distance.

  Barbara changed into black dress pants and a royal blue sweater. She put on her tan parka and went out the door. It was a cool, brisk day in late November. The sun was shining as Barbara walked toward the center of town. She enjoyed her daily walks and realized how much she had missed them this past week.

  Within a few minutes, she found herself in front of Elaine’s. Her eyes widened. There were no mannequins in the display window. Instead, the entire window was plastered with signs. A large ‘Going Out of Business’ notice was surrounded by smaller ‘Fifty Percent Off and More’ signs. This was definitely a good omen. If all went well, she would not have to dip into the money Andrew had given her.

  Barbara entered the shop and found herself the sole customer. An attractive, well-dressed older woman approached. She smiled and said, “Hello and welcome. I’m Elaine Johnson.” She looked puzzled. “You look familiar to me, but I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

  “I’m Barbara Davies. I’m one of the counselors at ReCareering.”

  Elaine waved her hand. “I just finished putting up the sale signs. You’re the first one in, so you have your pick of the merchandise.”

  Barbara looked around the small shop. Although the selection of clothing was limited, the pieces were of good quality. She looked hopefully at Elaine. “I’ve lost some weight and need to update my wardrobe.” She took off her parka.

  “Good heavens! You’re swimming in those clothes. I’m willing to bet you’ve gone down at least two sizes.” Elaine circled Barbara and then spoke again. “Let’s try some eights and tens.” She went over and started picking out clothes for her.

  Barbara could not believe her luck. She trusted Elaine’s fashion sense and knew that the older woman would select appropriate pieces for her. In the end, Barbara ended up buying two suits, four pairs of pants, jeans, five blouses, four sweaters, and a coat. The final total was just shy of fifteen hundred dollars. She could easily handle this expense with the money in her checking account.

  Barbara watched Elaine carefully wrap all her purchases. “Forgive me for asking, but why are you closing this lovely shop?”

  “I’ve been working for almost fifty years,” Elaine said. “I started as a salesgirl at Eaton’s in Toronto and then bought this shop when my husband and I moved to Carden. We raised our three girls here and enjoyed many wonderful years.” She paused. “My husband died three years ago and my children are scattered throughout the country. It’s time for me to leave Carden as well.”

  “Where will you go?”

  “Back to Toronto. I was born and raised there, and I still keep in touch with some of my old classmates. But I’m not going to depend upon old friends for entertainment. I’ve bought a condo in the theater district. It’s downtown and close to all the action.” Her eyes twinkled. “You never know who I’ll meet there.”

  Barbara liked Elaine. She could actually visualize the older woman’s future. She would make new friends and enjoy a more active social life in Toronto. It was a positive and proactive move on her part to leave Carden.

  Chapter 14

  Barbara spent the afternoon cleaning the apartment and organizing her closet. Afterward, she stood back and admired her new and improved wardrobe. She looked forward to wearing her stylish clothes. She made herself a cup of tea and sat down to relax. She thought of the possible meals she could have that evening and smiled. There was still a lot of food left over from last weekend’s cooking marathon.

  She was startled by the sudden ringing of the telephone. She looked over at the call display and recognized Graham’s home number. She reluctantly picked up the phone. “Hi, Graham. Welcome back. I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

  “Hello, Bella. I decided not to go to Montreal. I’ll wait for the sculptor’s next showing in Toronto.” He lowered his voice. “And I wanted to see you again. Do you have plans for tonight?”

  “I was trying to decide what to have for supper. Last weekend, I cooked up a storm. How does lasagne and a salad sound? Do you want to come over?

  “Sounds great. I’ll bring the wine and dessert. I’ve got to go over to the shop for a while. I’ll come over around six.” He said goodbye and hung up.

  Barbara looked about the apartment in approval. It was sparkling clean and everything was in order. She took out the lasagne and put it on the counter. She assembled the salad and set the table. She showered and decided to wear her new jeans with one of the fitted blouses.

  Graham arrived fifteen minutes early. His eyebrows rose in approval and he greeted her with a warm, passionate kiss. Afterward, he stepped back and said, “You look good enough to eat, Bella. Shall we skip supper?”

  They stood awkwardly for a few minutes, continuing to devour each other with their eyes. Barbara finally spoke. “No, we’re eating first.” Barbara looked questioningly at the pastry box. “Do I need to refrigerate that?”

  “Oh, yes. I forgot.” He followed Barbara into the kitchen.

  “I sent out the final draft of the book,” Barbara said. “I made an extra copy for you.”

  Graham shook his head. “I can’t believe you finished it that quickly. I read the rest of the pages you gave me last week. It was great night-time reading and helped to take the pressure off.” A sad tone had crept into his voice.

  “The lasagne should be ready in a few minutes,” Barbara said. “Let’s sit in the living area and talk for a while. Did something go wrong with your family?”

  Graham followed and sat next to her on the sofa. “I hadn’t planned on dumping any of this on you tonight.”

  Barbara rubbed the back of his neck gently with her fingers. “We don’t have to spend all evening talking about your family. But I think you need to unload some of those feelings. It’s not healthy to keep all that stress inside.” Barbara was momentarily surprised by her own words. Although she had confided very little of her own past to Graham, she spoke freely with Gillian and, to a certain degree,
even Lisa738. Barbara thought affectionately of the Numbers mermaid who wanted a closer connection with her.

  “You haven’t been all that forthcoming with your own past, Bella.”

  “It’s still painful to talk about Carl. It’s been a little over a year.” She added, “It sounds like your situation is a long-standing one.”

  “Almost fifty years.” He smiled when he saw the shocked look on Barbara’s face. “I’ve had strong feelings about my father since he left me and my mother all those years ago. Marjorie tried to bring us closer. Whenever we visited, she and the kids acted as buffers for me. Now, I have to deal with him by myself.”

  “Why don’t you limit your dealings with him?”

  “I do. It’s down to two days a year. And even that is too much. Those conversations with him are unbearable.”

  “What do you talk about?”

  “My life or, more accurately, how he thinks my life should be. He never approved of my art or the shop. He’s still waiting for me to give it up and take over his business.”

  Barbara was reminded of her own relationship with Annabella. Her grandmother had expected Isabella to follow in her footsteps and assume the role of first elder in the mermaid kingdom. When that had not happened, Annabella had retaliated and stripped Isabella of her beauty and powers. Barbara chose her next words carefully. She did not want to add fuel to Graham’s anger, nor did she want to malign his father. “He’s not going to change, Graham. Not at his age. You have to find some way to stop reacting to him so strongly. You have a whole year now before your next meeting.”

  Graham’s face darkened. “I’m not that lucky this year. He’s coming to Toronto in the spring, and he wants to meet with me again.” He looked speculatively at Barbara. “Maybe you could come with me.”

  The spring seemed so far away. Anything could happen between now and then. Barbara hesitated to commit herself, but she did not want to arouse any of Graham’s suspicions. “Of course.” She squeezed his arm reassuringly and was rewarded by the grateful look in his eyes. His body relaxed and he moved toward her. The oven timer buzzed. Barbara welcomed the reprieve and headed toward the kitchen.