Yeah…apparently it was true. But how was it that Laura Fry could see that—from a distance—and Cassidy—up close and personal with them—could not?

Chapter Sixteen

“So you haven’t written anything?”

Laura grabbed a chip and dunked it in the bowl of salsa that had been placed in front of her. She paused before eating it, meeting her sister’s eyes.

“I have written something, yes. Just not…you know, the makings of a book.”

“No offense, but have you considered the possibility that you were only a one-hit wonder?”

Laura stared at her. “It’s been eight years. What do you think?”

“Maybe this isn’t your calling.” Laura looked at her mother, who simply shrugged. “If you’re meant to write another book, you will. I think you’re pressing too hard. Maybe you should take a break from it.”

“I’ve been breaking for eight years.”

“No, from what you’ve told me, you’ve been trying to write another book.”

That was true, of course. She had not really ever taken a break from trying. She couldn’t even begin to guess how many she’d started, then discarded. Fifty? Some she’d toss after only a few pages. Others, months’ worth of words—going nowhere—would be shelved, hoping she could someday salvage them. She never could.

“I guess maybe I could give it a rest, but that just seems wrong.”

“I think Mom is right. You’re trying too hard. Focus on something else.”

Laura snatched up another chip. “Well, I do have a part-time job.”

“Really? What?”

“She’s mowing the neighbor’s yard,” her mother supplied.

“What? Why?”

“Because she asked me. And she wants flowers.”

“What does she pay?”

“Four-fifty a month.”

“Four-fifty? That’s it?”

Laura smiled. “Four-fifty for a couple of hours of work a week…plus use of her pool. I think I got a great deal.”

“So you like this yard stuff, huh? Maybe you should start a business.”

She knew Carla was teasing, but honestly, it had crossed her mind. There were several retired and elderly couples in the area, and she’d seen them struggling to maintain their lawns. She just didn’t know if that was something she wanted to commit to. Taking care of her mother’s place and now Cassidy’s…that was enough—for now—to occupy her, given that much of the rest of her time was spent staring at her laptop, hoping words—a novel—would come to her. If she took a break, as they’d suggested, might she find that she had too much time on her hands? She smiled to herself. Of course not! She now had access to a pool. She was fairly certain she could kill multiple hours per day lounging in Cassidy’s pool.