Page 47 of Surfside Sisters

And Keely had an agent! She had finished a novel, and sent it to an agent, and Sally Hazlitt liked it!

But would it sell? Would it get published? The chances were one in a million.

Keely wished she could send the novel to Isabelle for her opinion, and yet she didn’t want to, and she didn’t actually understand why.

—

Tonight was Tommy’s poker night with the guys. Keely would cook dinner for herself and her mother, do laundry, read one of the novels she’d taken from the library. A normal evening. She was fortunate. Anxious but fortunate.

She stepped out of the shower just as her cell rang. Wrapping a towel around her, she padded into her bedroom and answered.

“Keely? It’s Sally Hazlitt. I have some very good news for you.”

Keely’s heart skipped a beat. “You do?”

“Keely. Listen. This doesn’t happen very often. This is like a lightning bolt! Ransome & Hawkmore Publishing lovesRich Girl.They’re making a low six-figure offer—I might be able to inch them up a little—and they want you to come in and meet with them. Keely? Are you there?”

“I’m…I’m here. Wow. This is…”

Sally changed to business mode. “So. How soon can you come in? We’ve got a lot to talk about. Can you fly in tomorrow? You’ll want to stay for a few days.”

“Well, my jobs…I guess, but I guess I can take some time off—”

“Keely, did you hear what I said? They’re making a low six-figure, two-book contract—I might be able to inch them up a little.”

Keely couldn’t breathe.

“You’re good for that, right? You’ve got another book or two in you?”

Deep breaths, deep breaths,Keely told herself. She choked out, “Absolutely.”

“Okay, then, book a flight and let me know when you’ll be here.”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll get back to you right away.”

When the call ended, Keely didn’t move. Couldn’t. It was as if one twitch of her hand would disturb the universe around her, this universe so suddenly kind.

At last she took a deep breath. She stood up, and walked into the kitchen.

“Mom, I’m going to have a book published.”

Eloise was slicing a lemon. “What?”

“I’m going to have a book published.Rich Girl. Sally Hazlitt, my agent, just called me. I have to go to New York.”

Eloise gaped at Keely as if she were a puzzle. “I don’t understand. You’re going to have a book published?”

“Yes. A novel. I told you about it, you know I’ve been writing. I told you about Sally Hazlitt. She just called to say Ransome & Hawkmore are going to publish it.”

“This is amazing.”

“I know,” Keely agreed.

Eloise dried her hands on a towel and wrapped her arms around Keely. “I’m so proud of you. I’m so glad for you.”

“I wish Dad were here,” Keely said quietly, hugging her mother close. “I wish he knew.”

“Maybe he does,” Eloise said.

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