Page 26 (2/2)

He opened his eyes and looked hard at et weird Okay?"

"Okay" I nodded and was rewarded with the first real sathered up his bag

"Play ht, ’kay?" I asked as I headed inside

"You got it," he answered, and we shut our doors

But he didn’t play ain that week

"Who peed in your chili?"

I looked up from my desk to see Jillian, conon, black pencil trousers, white silk blouse, and raspberry cashmere sweater wrap How did I knoas cashmere from across the room? Because it was Jillian

I selected one of the five pencils currently stuck in my twisted hair bun and returned my attention to the mess that wasby and dragging sis from Simon

But I hadn’t reached out to hi the last few details on the Nicholson house, ordering expensive knickknacks for Jan project I had lined up for next month It looked like chaos, but soet work done There were days that I needed neat and orderly, and days when I needed the mess on my desk to reflect the mess in my head This was that day

"What’s up, Jillian?" I barked, knocking over rabbed for my coffee

"How hed, taking the seat oppositeme the pencils that had spilled on the floor

"Hard to say…howsome papers to clear a space for her teacup The wo tea out of a bone china cup, but it worked for her

"Wow, I take it you aren’t seeing any clients today?" she asked, leaning over the desk and casually re my coffee cup I hissed at her, and she wisely put it back

"Nope, no clients," I answered, shoving the new sketches into color-coordinated folders and stuffing them into their appropriate drawers

"Okay, sister, what’s up?"

"What do you --what you payof fabric swatches and knocking my flower vase over I’d picked out dark purple, almost black tulips for this week, and they were now all over the floor I sighed heavily and forcedthrough my system, and as I sat and surveyed the state of affairs inin my eyes

"Damn," I muttered and coveredto the tick of the retro clock on the wall, and waited for Jillian to say sohby the door withme out?" I whispered as the tears launched themselves down my face She waved her arly I stood, and she draped my sweater around my shoulders and handedme lunch" She winked and pulled me down the hallway

Twenty minutes later she had me ensconced in an ornate red booth hidden partially behind two gold curtains She’d brought me to her favorite restaurant in Chinatown, ordered me chamomile tea, and waited in silence for me to explain my semi breakdown Actually, it was not entirely silent; we’d ordered the sizzling rice soup

"So, you must’ve had a helluva weekend in Tahoe, huh?" she finally asked

I laughed into my sizzle "You could say that"

"What happened?"