Page 12 of Healing Hearts
But as I stare at the glowing review, I can't help but wonder how long I can keep living this double life.
The shrill ring of my phone startles me out of my spiraling thoughts. I glance at the screen and see my agent, Melissa’s name flashing.
"Brooke!" Melissa's voice bursts through the speaker as soon as I answer. "Have you seen the review? It's absolutely glowing!"
"I just read it," I say, unable to keep the smile from my voice despite my lingering anxiety. "It's amazing, isn't it?"
"Amazing? It's career-defining! This could be your breakthrough moment, Sophie – I mean, Brooke." Melissa catches herself, lowering her voice. "Sorry, I know we're careful about that."
I twist a strand of hair around my finger, my earlier fears bubbling to the surface. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, Mel. I'm... I'm nervous."
"Nervous? Of what? Being rich? Being famous? Making readers drool for your nextmasterpiece?"
"Of being found out," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if someone connects the dots? What if they realize the quiet school librarian is actually writing these steamy romance novels?"
Melissa's laugh crackles through the phone. "Oh, honey. You've been doing this for years. No one suspects a thing, but so what if they do?"
"But-"
"No buts," she interrupts. "You're too good at keeping yourworlds separate. Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask you something."
I sink deeper into my armchair, bracing myself. "What's that?"
"Why don't you just write full-time now? You're making three times what you do as a school librarian. Heck, if you devoted yourself to writing full time, you could probably quadruple your income in less than a year, and you can lose this constant fear of being found out."
I open my mouth to respond, but Melissa barrels on. "Oh, and before I forget, did you get that weird email I sent you? The one from the'devoted fan'?"
"I did," I say, a chill running down my spine as I recall the message. "It was... unsettling."
Melissa scoffs. "Please. It's probably just some overzealous reader. Don't let it get to you. Now, back to my question – why not go all-in on the writing?"
I hesitate, torn between my two worlds. "I don't know, Mel. It's just...I love my job," I say, my voice softening as I think of the bright-eyed children who fill my library each day. "Working with kids... it's not just a paycheck to me, it's a calling. Every time I see a child's face light up when they discover a new story, it's like magic."
Melissa sighs, her exasperation palpable even through the phone. "I get it, Brooke. I do. But you're talented, and you could be doing so much more."
"Maybe," I concede, glancing at the clock. "But for now, this is where I need to be. Listen, I've got to run. It's the last kickball game of the season and I need to get ready. We’re all meeting at the field a bit early for a team meeting."
"Kickball?" Melissa chuckles. "Sometimes I forget you live in a literal Hallmark movie."
I laugh, already reaching for my gym bag. "Trust me, it's more 'Desperate Housewives' than Hallmark sometimes."
As I hang up, I can't help but smile. Melissa means well, but she doesn't understand. This town, these people - they're my anchor - and I can’t afford to lose any part of this because of my writing. Being found out that I’m Sophie Quinn could ruin everything and I’m just not willing to sacrifice any of it. I know I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too, but I’m willing to live like this to keep my life neatly compartmentalized.
I change quickly, throwing on a pair of yoga pants and my team's bright yellow shirt with The Bad News Babes logo on the front. As I head out the door, my phone buzzes with a text from Kendall:
Kendall: You better hurry! Sunni's already talking about next season's league!
Me: I’m on my way. Hold your horses. The meeting’s not for another half hour.
Once I park my car, I pick up my pace, jogging towards the field as it looks like I’m the last one to arrive. The late afternoon sun warms my skin, and the salty breeze tousles my hair. As I approach, I see Sunni, our eternally enthusiastic team captain, waving her clipboard like a battle flag.
"There you are!" she calls out. "Okay, team huddle! Who's in for next season's league? You should know, it’s going to be co-ed this time. Also, keep in mind, we haven’t won one game this season, so the addition of the opposite sex will probably not help our odds at winning in the slightest."
I join the circle, noting the mix of excitement and trepidation on my teammates' faces. Sunni's eyes are gleaming with that manic energy that always makes me wonder if she's hadtoo much coffee or if she's plotting world domination via amateur sports.
I’m going for world domination. She’s an ER nurse and I can totally see her taking over the world before lunch.
"Co-ed?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "Are we that desperate for players?"
