CHAPTER 4
Nicole sat up quickly to the sound of the alarm blaring. She leaped out of bed with childlike energy and rushed around to get dressed. She took the time to fix her hair and throw on some eye shadow, then hurried out the door. The door flew back open when she came back in to feed Salem. “Sorry, buddy, I almost forgot.” Back out the door she went and headed to work. She cranked up the radio and belted out the lyrics that she barely knew. Unlike her usual drive to work, she felt happy.
Of course, by this time word of her lunchtime date had spread around the office. So it was no surprise that Sherrie was even more cheery than usual when Nicole walked through the door.
“Good morning, Nicole! How are you on this lovely day?” Sherrie called out.
“Okay, okay,” Nicole responded with a
