Free Between Land and Sea by Joanne Guidoccio

you breathing. Are you there? Barbara, are you there?”
    “Yes, hello, Graham. I’m sorry. For a minute there, I didn’t recognize your voice. I thought it was a wrong number.”
    “It can’t be the first time someone has called you Bella. Or is it?”
    “It’s been a while.”
    “Get used to it. I like the sound of it, and it suits you.” He added, “I’m glad you called. I was hoping we could get together.”
    “Why don’t you come over? I still have some of that tiramisù left, and I made chocolate chip muffins last night. We could have coffee or a drink together.”
    “Sounds great. I’ll be there in about an hour. I’m still waiting to hear from one of my suppliers. He usually calls around seven.”
    “See you later.” Barbara hung up the phone. She had finally gotten used to Barbara. And now Graham was going to start calling her Bella.
    Her eyes gravitated toward the manuscript. She could easily correct the first hundred pages before Graham arrived. If he found her hard at work on her book, it would change the course of the conversation and the evening.

Chapter 12
    She opened the door and found herself engulfed in a sensual embrace. She lost herself in Graham, entwining her arms around his neck and drawing him into her just as deeply. The door closed softly behind them as they continued to kiss passionately.
    Barbara gently detached herself. Graham continued to look at her. “It’s all right, Bella. We’re both mature adults. We can do whatever we want.”
    “I think we’re moving too quickly. I’m not ready.”
    “How long has it been since you left your husband?”
    Barbara tried to recall the details from that original file. “I kept track of the exact number of days for a while, but I don’t really know for sure anymore.”
    “That’s a good sign,” Graham said. “After Marjorie died, I waited two years before getting involved with another woman.”
    Barbara’s muscles relaxed. He understood. He would not push her too hard. “We could have that coffee now.”
    Graham had caught sight of her manuscript spread out on the coffee table. “What’s that? Are you starting to bring your work home with you?”
    “No, it’s my book.”
    “When did you do that?”
    Barbara thought carefully about her reply. If she told him the truth about how quickly she had written it, she would alert his suspicions. “I’ve been working on different pieces for a while. A few months ago, I decided to put them together and form a book. Janice edited it for me, and I’m making the final corrections now.”
    “Has anyone else read it?”
    “No, I wanted to get a professional opinion before I sent it anywhere. Janice worked as an editor for a while, and I thought she would be the best person to look at it first.”
    “So, who gets it next?”
    Barbara didn’t hesitate this time. “You do. I can give you the first hundred pages now. I’ll have the rest finished by the end of the week.”
    “Relax. Take your time. You don’t have to finish it by a certain date.” He paused. “Unless you have a self-imposed deadline.”
    “Janice didn’t make too many changes. I’d like to get it out to an agent before Christmas.”
    “Do you have anyone in mind?”
    “My friend Gillian lives in Chicago, and she knows a few agents down there.”
    “You’ve never mentioned this Gillian before.” He added, “You haven’t talked too much about your past. Your parents and siblings.”
    “My parents died in a car accident soon after I married Carl. I don’t have any siblings.” Barbara rhymed off the facts.
    “I get it. Past is off limits.” He picked up a few pages of the manuscript. “Is it a novel?”
    “No, it’s a self-help book for middle-aged woman like me. I called it On Becoming a Butterfly .” She made a face. “I was hoping Janice would come up with something better.”
    “It’s a good working title. Leave it and let the agent come up with something else.” He continued to flip through