Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [100]
Garrett had never seen anything like it.
Their table was near the window. Deanna and Brian both rose from their seats to greet them. “You remember Garrett from brunch, don’t you?” Theresa asked, trying not to sound too ridiculous.
“Of course I do. It’s good to see you again, Garrett,” Deanna said, leaning in for a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. “I’m sorry I forced Theresa to come with me a couple of weeks ago. I hope you haven’t been too hard on her.”
“It’s okay,” he said, nodding stiffly.
“I’m glad. Because looking back, I think it was worth it.”
Garrett looked at her curiously. Theresa leaned in and asked, “What do you mean, Deanna?”
Deanna’s eyes sparkled. “I got some good news yesterday, after you left.”
“What is it?” Theresa asked.
“Well,” she said nonchalantly, “I talked to Dan Mandel, the head of Media Information Inc., for about twenty minutes or so, and it turns out he was very impressed with you. He liked the way you handled yourself and thought you were quite a pro. And best of all…”
Deanna paused dramatically, doing her best to stifle a smile.
“Yes?”
“He’s going to pick up your column in all his papers, starting in January.”
Theresa put her hand to her mouth to stifle her scream, but it was still loud enough that the people at the nearby tables turned their heads. She huddled toward Deanna, talking quickly. Garrett took a small step backward.
“You’re kidding,” Theresa cried, disbelieving.
Deanna shook her head, smiling broadly. “No. I’m telling you what he told me. He wants to talk to you again on Tuesday. I’ve got a conference call set up for ten o’clock.”
“You’re sure about this? He wants my column?”
“Positive. I faxed him your media kit along with a number of your columns, and he called me. He wants you—no doubt about it. It’s something he’s already decided.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it. And I heard through the grapevine that a couple of others are interested as well.”
“Oh… Deanna…”
Theresa leaned in and impulsively hugged Deanna, excitement animating her face. Brian nudged Garrett with his elbow.
“Great news, huh?”
It took a moment for Garrett to answer.
“Yeah… great.”
After settling in for dinner, Deanna ordered a bottle of champagne and made a toast, congratulating Theresa on her bright future. The two of them chatted nonstop throughout the rest of the evening. Garrett was quiet, not knowing quite what to add. As if sensing his discomfort, Brian leaned over to Garrett.
“They’re like schoolgirls, aren’t they? Deanna was parading around the house all day, just waiting to tell her.”
“I just wish I understood it all a little better. I don’t really know what to say.”
Brian took a drink, shaking his head. His words came out slightly slurred.
“Don’t worry about that—even if you did understand, you probably wouldn’t get a word in edgewise. They talk like this all the time. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were twins in another life.”
Garrett glanced across the table at Theresa and Deanna. “You might be right.”
“Besides,” Brian added, “you’ll understand it better when you live with it full-time. After a while, you’ll understand it almost as well as they do. I know I do.”
The comment was not lost on him. When you live with it fulltime?
When Garrett didn’t respond, Brian changed the subject. “So how long are you staying?”
“Until tomorrow night.”
Brian nodded. “It’s tough not seeing each other much, isn’t it?”
“Sometimes.”
“I can imagine. I know Theresa gets down about it now and then.”
Across the table, Theresa smiled at Garrett. “What are you two talking about over there?” she asked cheerfully.
“This and that,” Brian said, “your good fortune, mainly.”
Garrett nodded briefly without answering, and Theresa watched as he adjusted himself in his seat. It was obvious he felt uncomfortable