The Writers Christmas Vacation

chapter 16

"Are you certain?"

Mary had asked this question at least four times in the last hour. Melissa kept answering that yes, she was certain.

Though she didn't want it to be true, deep down, Melissa knew it was.

Aliza was dead. That was a fact. An unchangeable fact. One that neither woman could face.

"Yes. Mary, what about the deadline? It's already been moved once."

"I'll see if I can get you a new editor."

"How can you think of doing such a thing so soon after Aliza's death?"

"I'm sorry. I realize how insincere that must have sounded."

"No you don't. You never really liked Aliza anyway. How do I know it's not you who hurt her? You were always jealous of her."

"That doesn't mean I would hurt her, Melissa! Come on, how can you believe I'd do anything to her?!"

"Easy. You never talked highly of her. That and I once saw you push her. Or did you forget that incident?"

"But-" Mary tried to interrupt.

Melissa stopped her before she could get any further. She pointed to her door and shouted, "Out."

"What?"

"I want you to get out of my house this minute. In fact, just get out of my life."

"But what about your deadline?"

"I'll figure it out."

There would come a time later that year when Melissa would regret having the argument with Mary.

Sadly, with all that was going on, that time would not come quickly enough. She would wind up spending most of the year along and be stuck self publishing after missing her new deadline for her story.