Page 13 of Sky Full of Stars

I’m heading on a six-week book tour of the United States and that is all I can think about. I quickly call Brooke to tell her. She screams down the phone at me. She knows how much I want this and how excited I am. I think about Megan when I hang up. We trained as usual this morning, she was quieter but didn’t elaborate on what happened at the bar. I didn’t push her. When she thanked me, it seemed like it was about more than just the session but I have to wait for her to talk to me.

“Knock, knock,” Izzy taps the doorframe.

“Hey, Iz,” I look up from the computer screen, I’m going through all the hotels changing the booking from her name to mine.

“Exciting huh?” she takes a seat on my sofa, smiling tiredly.

“Very, I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”

“I know, doll. You’re gonna do great.”

I look over at her. “You okay, Iz?”

“Yes…I just can’t really go out of town right now.”

I get up and walk over to the sofa and sit beside her. I have worked with Izzy for five years. I did an internship with her while I was in college and she took me on straight after graduation. I know her and something is wrong.

“It’s Ada,” she looks over at me sadly. “She has cancer.”

My hand rushes up to my face. “Oh God, Izzy, I’m so sorry. Is it treatable, she’s going to be okay right?”

“The prognosis looks good with chemo, maybe some radiation, but it’s going to be a long road, she’s gonna get really tired, she’ll need me a lot more.”

I take her hand. “That’s good news about the prognosis.”

“Yes… yes it is. Doll, I’m going to need to rely on you quite a bit.”

“Of course, whatever you need, Iz. I’m here.”

She pats my hand. “For now, things are in the early stages, go with Elle, promote the ass out of this book and make us a ton of money,” she laughs. “I’ll look for another assistant while you’re gone and when you come back we’ll get you set up with more responsibility. You’ll be compensated.”

“I don’t need any more money, Iz. I just want to help.”

“It’s a promotion, it comes with a better package. And I love you,” she puts a hand on my cheek. “You’re the daughter I never had.” She doesn’t cry but I do. Izzy cuffs my ear and tells me to stop it then laughs and hugs me.

“Get out of here and get your shit together, you have a flight to catch on Monday.”

I watch her leaving and my heart breaks for her. I close my eyes hoping with everything I have that Ada is okay.

Chapter Five

We had been to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus and were just about ready to leave Indianapolis heading to Chicago, just over three weeks into the tour. So far it has been a whirlwind but it has been amazing, the best experience of my life. Elle is a dream client and we are having a great time on a personal level too. Her assistant researcher, Kevin, who travels everywhere with her, often came out with us. He is nice, a little stiff and nervous initially but the more time he spent actually hanging out with us, the more he loosened up and even started flirting with me.

It was nice, he was sweet and the total opposite of guys I usually date. Not that we are dating but every so often, Elle would leave us alone and go up to bed. We talk a lot, he grew up in Meriden, Connecticut and has a degree in English Literature. He met Elle early on in her career when she was a struggling writer. They became friends, nothing more, he assured me with a smile.

“Looking forward to Chicago?” he asks on our last night in Indianapolis in the hotel bar.

“Oh yeah, I can’t wait. I want to see the Sky deck and take a cruise on the Chicago River. And Millennium Park and Sears Tower. I know we don’t have much time but I want to try and squeeze in as much as I can.”

He laughs at my enthusiasm, I slap at his arm. He looks at my hand, it is the first time I have physically touched him and I can see the affect it is having.

“You know, the river cruise at night is great.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he says with a smile. “Maybe we could go together?”

“That would be nice,” I smile back.

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