ANNIE'S SONG
copyright 2007 by Sabra Brown Steinsiek
Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN
E-Book 928-1593-74-810-4 Paperback 928-1593-74-810-8
ATTENTION: Only the first nine chapters will be posted here before Annie’s Song is released by Whiskey Creek Press on November 1, 2007. Reading this excerpt may be addicting and you may feel compelled to buy the book (I hope!). No amount of whining or gifts of chocolate will make me reveal anything past the end of Chapter 9!
You’ve been warned!
Chapter 6
After the show, Annie checked her phone for messages before she started home. There was only one from a number she didn’t recognize. She was surprised to recognize Kit’s voice when she retrieved it.
“Hi, Annie, it’s Kit. I really enjoyed the show last night and dinner, too. Would you give me a call when you get a chance? I want to ask you something. I’ll be up late so call whenever. Bye.”
Annie was curious about what he wanted to ask. She could guess about it all night—or just call him back and find out what he wanted. She headed home to do just that.
* * * * *
Kit let the phone ring a couple of times so she didn’t think he’d been waiting for her to call, even though he’d been watching the clock for the last hour hoping the phone would ring. On the third ring, he finally picked up. “Hello.”
“Hi, Kit, it’s Annie. You said to go ahead and call even if it was late.”
“Hi, Annie. Yeah, I’m pretty much of a night owl so late doesn’t bother me.”
“You sounded like your question was kind of urgent.”
“Well, not urgent, exactly, but important. Could we meet for lunch or coffee or something tomorrow?”
Annie was quiet for a minute. Was Kit asking her for a date?
In her silence, he realized that what he’d said could be misconstrued.
“Uh...Annie? Just to make sure we’re clear on this, I wasn’t asking you out. Well, I guess technically I was, but not on a date.” Damn, that sounded all wrong. “Not that you’re not worth dating, but I wouldn’t...” He stopped when Annie started laughing.
“OK, Kit. Let’s start over. You’re not calling me for a date but you want to meet—to talk, I assume. How about coffee tomorrow morning at ten? There’s a shop called Genevieve’s next to the Chinese place where we picked up dinner. Can you find it?”
“Ten. I’ll be there. Thanks, Annie.”
He clicked off his phone and sank back onto the bed. That had to have been the worst phone call in the history of telecommunications. She’d never say yes now.
Chapter 7
Kit arrived early for his meeting with Annie. He’d been so relieved when she had called last night; now, a part of him worried that she wouldn’t show up. He relaxed a little when he spotted her coming toward the table.
“Good morning, Kit. Have you been waiting long?”
“Only a few minutes.”
A waitress approached their table. “Hi, Annie. The usual?”
“Afraid so, Lisa, although I’d kill for a chocolate croissant.”
“You could handle it. Live a little!”
“You haven’t met our costume mistress. She’d know and have a hissy fit that I’d ruined her costumes by gaining weight.”
“OK, the usual then. And for you, sir?”
“Just coffee for me.” He was too nervous to eat.
“Kit, you really should try one of the pastries. They make the best blueberry muffins.”
“Sure, I’ll take one,” he said to Lisa.
“Great,” Annie said. “I can steal a bite.”
“Do you really have to watch what you eat that closely?” he asked as Lisa departed to place their order.
“I have a serious sugar addiction that can get out of control if I don’t watch it. And wardrobe people do not take kindly to letting out costumes. I only allow myself the calories on Sunday night and Mondays when I’m off. The rest of the time, I’m pretty good. However, I’m not very patient, and the suspense is killing me. What was it you wanted to ask me?”
Kit took a deep breath and plunged in. “Well, you know I’m finishing up my master’s in creative writing this next year. So I’m working on my novel. The problem is that I need some peace and quiet to write, and my living situation doesn’t provide that.”
“You said something about that at the wedding. Still no luck finding something?” Annie could see what was coming.
“No, everything’s too far away and too expensive. I know that you have a room now that Dante has moved out, and I was hoping you’d consider letting me rent it. I promise it would be completely platonic, landlady-tenant, business only.”
Lisa served their food just then. Kit noted that Annie’s “usual” was a bowl of fruit with yogurt, a single slice of dry toast, and a large black coffee. She was silent for a moment after Lisa left—a moment that felt like an eternity to Kit—before she said, “I hadn’t decided yet if I was going to get another roommate. You know it’s not a big place.”
“Big enough, Annie. The room I have now is the size of a closet, and I share the house with a bunch of party types. It’s not conducive to writing, or much of anything else.”
“My hours are strange—late nights, and I sleep in most mornings.”
“The late nights won’t bother me, and I can be really quiet.”
“Kit, I really don’t know what to say. This is not something I was expecting.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“I will. I’ll call you on Monday, probably late again, and we’ll talk some more.”
“Thanks, Annie. If it doesn’t work out, I promise no hard feelings.”
“Good, ‘cause I really want a bite of that muffin,” she said with smile.
(October 22)
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