Love Sold Separately
Page 30
“You mean because you think Ari doesn’t love you enough to rearrange his work schedule for you?” Chelsea asked, smirking.
Dana stared down at her drink. “I’m glad my heartache amuses you,” she said, wishing she had something stronger than a mimosa.
Chelsea’s smile erupted into a laugh.
“What’s so damned funny?” Dana demanded.
Chelsea pointed, and Dana followed the line of her finger to the car that had just pulled up in the driveway, where one of the parking valets her father had hired stood at attention. She recognized the car first—a white Explorer. Then the driver. The door opened and he emerged, tall, dark and devastating in a trim charcoal suit and a silver tie. God’s version of the perfect wedding escort. Or Dana’s version, anyway.
Ari. Her heart seemed to stop beating.
Chelsea gave Dana’s hand a squeeze and left them. And then it was just Dana and Ari and a twenty-year-old kid earning some extra money on a Sunday afternoon. Ari tossed him his keys and approached the porch.
“You came,” she said.
He shrugged. “It was important to you so... I rearranged some things.”
Dana looked at him. She knew it couldn’t have been easy. He had a serious job. It was, literally, life and death. And yet here he was. For her.
Ari slung his arm over Dana’s shoulder and they walked into the backyard as she pressed him for details on how he had managed to get out of work. But they didn’t get to talk for long, because all at once her father and Jennifer stood before them, waiting for an introduction. Dana complied.
“You’re not an ex-con, are you?” said Kenneth, taking in Ari’s imposing height. Dana could tell he felt ready to dismiss him as unworthy.
“No, sir.”
Kenneth’s brows moved together, as if preparing his face for a scowl. “An actor?” He pronounced the word like it was something that required a dose of antibiotics.
Ari laughed. “I’m a police detective,” he said, and Dana watched her father’s face soften.
He nodded in approval, then got distracted by the band, which had just started a Motown set with its version of the Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”
“Would you excuse us?” Jennifer said, and led her new husband off. Before they were even out of earshot, though, Kenneth said to her, “Why would she choose a cop over a doctor?”
Dana looked at Ari, who seemed more amused than offended. And she was, too. Because she knew that, despite everything, her father was growing and evolving. She also knew that it was hard to change. In the end, the best you could do was try.
“Dance?” Ari asked her.
She didn’t answer. She just took his hand, and they began.
* * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s always an exciting moment when a book finds a home. But when that home is with one of the smartest senior editors in the business, it’s time to celebrate. So to Kathy Sagan, my happiest and humblest gratitude. Special thanks to editorial director Nicole Brebner, as well. I’m thrilled to be part of the MIRA Books family.
Before a book makes it to the editorial stage, writing can be sad, lonely and anxious. Sometimes all at once. That’s why it helps to have supportive writer friends. I’m so grateful to Saralee Rosenberg, whose wisdom, clarity and feedback make me a better writer and a better person. My other beta reader, Susan DiPlacido, also came to the rescue when I was feeling shaky, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.
To the other literary friends who inspire me daily, including Myfanwy Collins, Susan Henderson, Robin Slick, Amy Ferris, Debbi Honorof, Carol Hoenig, Peggy Zieran, Jordan Rosenfeld, Lydia Fazio Theys, Brenda Janowitz, Victoria Burgess, Eric Saiet, Anabel Graff, Debbie Markowitz, Mary Ellen Walsh, Alix Strauss, Dina Santorelli, Greg Correll, and Devan Burton, thank you.
I also need to acknowledge the adult writing students I’ve been working with for several years. Somehow, they think I’m the one teaching them, rather than the other way around. I’m honored by their trust, and awed by their talent and dedication. My warmest gratitude to all of them, including Louis Cornacchia, Ivan Debel, Ruth Eichacker, Keith Furino, Madeleine Ganis, Anne Kenna, Diane Lazuta, Michelle Levine, Melissa Moss, Jayne Isabel Potter, Olga Kontzias Psillis, Darlene Record, Connie Ring, Kate Shaffar, and Jeffrey Siegel.
I’m lucky enough to have dear friends who know the world of theater and acting, and were able to offer their input. Thanks, love and hugs to Wendy Baila DeAngelis and Stephen DeAngelis. Affectionate thanks to Jay Bloomrosen, too, who gleaned quite a bit of tech expertise since our junior high days.
To the hosts, staff and management at HSN, QVC and other real-life shopping channels, my humblest thanks for the inspiration and apologies for the creative license I took with your business model. I hope you can accept this fictional world as an homage to the work you do so very well.
Love and gratitude to my agent Annelise Robey, who thrilled me with her enthusiasm for this book from the very start and provided exactly what I needed to get it into shape. I couldn’t have done it without her. I’m also grateful to my other superstar agent, Andrea Cirillo, who always has such savvy advice and helpful answers. In fact, I tip my hat to the whole team at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. I’m so lucky to have you.
I don’t know what I would do without my mom, whose favorite question—when can I read it?—warms me every time.
To my kids—Max, Ethan and Rook—love and thanks for keeping me laughing and living in this actual century. And most of all, thanks to Mike, for everything.
ISBN-13: 9781488055317
Love Sold Separately
Copyright © 2020 by Ellen Meister
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
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