The Writers Christmas Vacation

chapter 6

When her mom passed and her dad disappeared, Melissa thought things couldn't get any worse. That was before the call from her agent, Mary.

"Hey, Mary. I'm in middle of typing a chapter. Can I call you back later?"

"No, Melissa. I called because I have some saddening news. The publisher won't let you get a contract with another company until this one ends." Mary explained. She sounded annoyed.

Melissa was Mary's only client. Her first client, actually. If things went bad for Melissa, Mary would seem like a terrible agent. Nobody else would want to be her client any time in the future.

"What? Did you tell them I missed the deadline? That I already started sending stuff to other publishers? I can't just tell them I'm not interested." Melissa said, exasperatedly.

A knock was heard from her front door. She let out a sigh. "Really?" She mumbled. Couldn't she get a break? It seemed a lot of people wanted her today.

"I told them. They didn't understand. I can try to schedule an appointment for you with them?" Mary suggested.

"If you don't mind."

"No, it's fine. Really. Do you need anything else?" Mary was a different kind of agent. Her and Melissa had actually been friends when they were in college. So, Mary was always offering some support and assistance to Melissa.

"Aliza mentioned a writer's retreat the other day. Can you look into it? See if you can book me for a vacation next week? Also, do you know when the new deadline is?" Melissa wondered.

She looked down distractedly at her notes. They were a mess. It looked like that would be her next big project - rewriting her story notes.

"The new deadline is April 2nd of next year. I'll look into a possible retreat. I think I know of one. I just have to see if there is any availability." Mary stated. She stifled a yawn.

"Thank you, Mary."

"No problem. Don't forget, you have a meeting with your publicist in January. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"You need to be sure, Melissa."

Melissa could her some background noise from Mary's end of the phone. It sounded like typing. "I found you something."

"What is it?"

"There's a retreat that starts next Monday and ends on January 1st."

"Is there any room for me to join?"

"Yes. I'll book you a trip right now."

"Wait!" Melissa said. But it was too late. Mary had already hung up the phone.

Melissa put the phone back on the hook. She let out a sigh. "Dang. I forgot to ask her where it was." She mumbled to herself.

Bella brushed against her leg and let out a little meow. Melissa was grateful to have the cat as company. Despite the fact that she was mad at her dad for abandoning her, Melissa couldn't help but be happy that he had given her the cat.

Her cell phone, which she had left in her office, rang. Melissa rang to answer it. She looked at the phone with an odd look. She didn't know who was calling her - couldn't recognize the number.

She grabbed her phone book to see where the area code was coming from. Massachusetts. She didn't know anyone who lived her. It couldn't even be her publisher as they were in Maryland.

She looked at the number again. Could it be....her father? She hadn't gotten a call from him since the day the mailman gave her the adoption application for Bella.

"Hello?" Melissa said. She cautiously answered the phone. If it was him, then he better have a good reason for calling her so suddenly.

"Melissa? Is that you?" The voice on the other end belonged to her brother, Perry, whom she hadn't heard from or seen since last Christmas.

"Yes." Melissa said. Then impatiently and a bit annoyed, added, "What do you want?'

She did all she could to resist hanging up the phone. That was the last thing she should do, she realized. She should probably tell him about their mother's death.

"I heard about Mom. Are you alright?" For once, Perry sounded like he actually cared how Melissa was doing. Could it be he had actually turned a new leaf? That he was being more caring about everyone he knew.

"I'm numb, Perry. I still can't believe it. How did you hear?" Melissa stated. She bit her lip to hold back the tears she could feel coming.

Perry didn't reply to her question. He had hung up on her. That was so typical of him! He never answered her questions. Not even when they were face-to-face with each other.