She glanced at her watch. Six-fifteen. It was time for Cinderella to hail her carriage.

“Get off it!” If she continued thinking along those lines, she would have to commit herself.

Lin visualized her mental checklist. Purse, lipstick, wallet, cell phone, and keycard. All of a sudden her hands began to shake, and her stomach twisted in knots. It wasn’t like she would be the only parent there. Unsure why she was so jittery, she shrugged her feelings aside, telling herself she simply wanted to make a good impression on Will’s professors and classmates. Plus, she wasn’t on her own turf, and that in and of itself had the power to turn her insides to mush.

Instead of exiting through the turnstile doors, Lin allowed the doorman to open the door for her. Discreetly, she placed a twenty in his hand and hoped it was enough. Sally told her you had to tip everyone for everything in the city. Lin calculated she’d be broke in less than a year if she remained in New York.

“Thank you, ma’am,” the elderly man said as he escorted her to a waiting taxi.

Okay, that was worth the twenty bucks. She would’ve hated to chase down a cab in the red heels.

The inside of the taxi was warm. Lin offered up a silent prayer of thanks that there were no strange odors permeating the closed-in space. She would hate to arrive at the banquet smelling like cigarettes and onions.

More blaring horns, shouts, and tires squealing could be heard. Lin enjoyed watching the throngs of people on the streets as the driver managed to weave through the traffic. Lord, she loved the hubbub, but she didn’t think she could tolerate it on a daily basis.

Poor Will. She smiled. Not poor Will. After the slow pace of Dalton, he would welcome this. It was one of the many reasons he chose to attend NYU in the first place. He’d wanted a taste of the big city. Lin thought he was about to get his wish and then some.

Twenty minutes later, the cab stopped in front of the building where the banquet was being held. She offered up two twenties, telling the driver to keep the change.

“Do you want me to pick you up later?” the driver asked as he jumped out to open her door. Lin thought the tip must have been a tad too generous.

“Uh, I’m not sure. Do you have a card?” she asked.

He laughed. “No card, lady, but if you want a return ride, you gotta ask for it.”

“Of course. Midnight. Be here at midnight.” Now she was starting to sound like Cinderella.

“Will do.”

Her transportation taken care of, Lin stepped out into the cool night air.

A SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH FERN MICHAELS

QUESTION: With so many novels of yours published—many of which are New York Times best-sellers—did you ever imagine you would have such a prolific and successful career as a writer? How did you first get started? What put you on the path to becoming an author?