Never Panic

Never Panic

by

Carla Freeman

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: 1-800-839-8640

This book is a work of fi ction. People, places, events, and situations

are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual

persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.

© 2010 Carla Freeman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 8/16/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4343-3222-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7286-9(ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2007907257

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

Contents

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

DAY 5

DAY 6

DAY 7

DAY 8

DAY 9

DAY 10

DAY 11

DAY 12

DAY 13

THURSDAY

I would like to dedicate this book to my friends and neighbors who gave me the courage to take the road to publication.

Thank you ladies; Pat Fuller, Judy McCowan,

Francine Grant, Genny Irwin and last but not least Susan Robie.

This would not have been possible without you.

DAY 1

Sara Bentley rushed from her office. She had received a phone call this morning from Patsy. Now she was running late for their lunch meeting. Damn! She muttered to herself as she looked at her watch.

Sara, I need your help. Please meet me at 2:00 downtown at Henry’s, pleaded Patsy. I can’t explain over the phone. I’ll be waiting, she hung up.

Not much to go on, Sara wondered why such a mysterious call, that wasn’t like Patsy. She was usually so bubbly and talkative.

Sara sat back and tried to remember the last time she had seen Patsy. Oh my gosh, it’s been almost 2 years. How horrible to go so long without seeing your own sister. Sara suddenly felt ashamed; they used to be so close. They knew each other’s thoughts and feelings and shared every secret. Of course, she’d meet Patsy and of course, Patsy knew that.

All morning Sara sat at her desk and finished up her last report. It hadn’t been a very hard assignment. Barely got her out of the office, most of the tracing could all be done by phone or computer. But a job was a job and as long as people were basically lazy she would collect their money. An extra $500.00 never hurt her bank account.

Sam, I need you to take this report over to Bay City Café. Give it to the owner in person. I have an appointment this afternoon, so I won’t be back after lunch.

How will I get in touch? asked Sam.

You can’t. I’ll call you.

Aren’t you going to fill me in? I can’t help if I’m left in the dark. He sounded worried. Sara usually was more open with her appointments.

Not yet Sam, I’m not sure what this is all about. Stay in the office, I’ll call, I promise. Again Sara tried to reassure him. She was afraid she was falling for Sam. But she just couldn’t, not yet. It was too soon. She wanted to be closer. She wondered if the time would ever come when she could feel whole again? To love again?

You’re the boss. I’ll drop off this report, go to lunch and be back to man the office all afternoon. Somehow he had to get her to trust him completely. She was getting better but not fast enough to suit him.

Sara smiled as she thanked him. She was lucky to have Sam as her employee. She couldn’t survive without him. He was her friend, confidant, messenger, and her all around guy Friday. He cared about her and she knew how he felt. But he hadn’t meet Patsy yet, and Patsy’s call had set Sara’s warning bells off. Better keep this to herself until she knew more.

Sara still had an hour until time to meet Patsy. She leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on her desk. She let herself go back to their last meeting. She had been away at college, UNLV. Patsy had married and moved to Reno. City life was a change for both girls, since they had grown up on a ranch in the middle of absolutely nowhere, the Nevada desert.

Patsy had married her high school sweetheart soon after graduation. They set up housekeeping and appeared happy. Come fall, Harold insisted they move to Reno so he could go to college there. Reno had been an odd choice but no one could talk sense into Harold. Patsy agreed to work, supporting them and putting Harold through school.

Patsy got a job cocktailing in one of the local casinos. She made good tips, the work was fun and she met a lot of people. She could easily put Harold through school and still keep up their apartment.

Harold became jealous of the late night shifts and the men making passes at his beautiful wife. He soon started accusing Patsy of all kinds of things that she swore was untrue. Now he accused her of ruining his grades because he was constantly worrying about her. Their marriage was going from bad to worse.

Patsy agreed to start looking for other jobs, but none paid as well as cocktailing. Where could she find a job that she could make several hundred dollars a shift? Then one day during a very depressing week, she walked into a lawyer’s office. She had planned on asking about a divorce.

As she pushed through the door, a cute, young receptionist greeted her, Hello, are you applying for the job?

Patsy taken by surprise wondered what job? Instead she answered, Yes, I am. May I ask about the requirements?

Yes of course, the receptionist smiled. There’s no experience necessary. Mr. Short prefers to train his secretaries himself. He would like this form filled out, then an interview. Do you have time to wait this afternoon?

I’ll make the time. Patsy answered as she took the application. Have very many people applied?

Only about seven or eight so far. We will be taking applications all week.

Patsy smiled as she took a seat and waited her turn.

Mr. Short will see you now, Mrs. Taylor.

Patsy was ushered through a massive mahogany door. Behind a desk the size of a double bed, was a plate glass window overlooking Virginia Street, a magnificent view. She wondered what it would look like when all the casino lights were on. As she walked forward a tall, blond, well-built, handsome man turned to face her. Patsy!

Hank!

What are you doing here?

I’m applying for the secretary job.

You’re Mrs. Taylor? Well, I’m certainly surprised or should I say pleasantly surprised. How about you? Patsy only nodded, not really sure what she should say. You’ve brought drinks to me for months, all I ever heard was Patsy. I’m sorry, Mrs. Taylor, will you please have a chair.

Hank, Mr. Short, I too am surprised. I was so nervous, I really have no experience in this kind of work.

Is it all right if I call you Patsy? Hank Short smiled.

Yes, I would prefer Patsy to Mrs. Taylor. Being called Mrs. always makes me feel old.

Fine, then let’s get started. Why are you applying for this job? I got the impression you liked your other job.

My husband doesn’t want me to cocktail anymore, she blushed; she was embarrassed to admit this to someone else.

Do you have children?

No.

If I needed extra hours during a trial, could you stay late?

Yes.

Can you type?

It’s been a long time, I’m probably pretty rusty.

Well, Patsy, that’s all I really need to know. I have interviewed several other girls. I was going to interview all week, but if you want the job, it’s yours. Hank suddenly made a snap decision. He was sure Patsy was what he wanted.

Really?

Yes, he laughed, Really.

I need to quit my other job. How long do they usually give notice around here?

For a cocktail job, a week would be long enough. Ask Bob tonight when you get to work. He’ll help you.

Thank you, Mr. Short, I appreciate this. I promise to work hard. And Patsy meant what she said.

You’ll be fine. You can continue to call me Hank.

It won’t be proper when you become my boss.

Whatever makes you feel comfortable. Hank if no one is around or Mr. Short during meetings, you choose. I’m fine with either. We will have you start the first of the month. Is that fine with you? That’s ten days.

That will be great. I’ll talk to Bob tonight. Thank you, Hank, she stood to shake his hand. She was excited about her new job. No more working nights, no more cocktail outfits and no more men making passes. Now maybe, Harold would be a better husband. They would have their evenings and nights together, like normal married couples.

This, too, proved to be too much for Harold. Now, she was in his way, constantly under foot. Making dinner, cleaning up, watching television, something was always disturbing his peace and quiet. How did she expect him to get his homework done? She just couldn’t seem to win. If she was gone he was unhappy, if she was home he was unhappy. Maybe, he was just the unhappy type?

That’s it, she decided. She thought back over their relationship. Even in high school, he was happy only when doing what he wanted. He pouted or threw a fit waiting for her to do something. One of their largest fights was over drama class. She got the lead part in the school play; he got mad because she was at practice or at performance. They fought on opening night when he wanted to go to the movies instead.

As she thought back over their past, she was embarrassed to be so gullible and naïve with her first real boyfriend. Or what she thought was her first real boyfriend. She had had crushes, she had had dates, but not a steady. Not someone who had given her his ring and ask her to be his and only his. But now she realized they never really did have a relationship, she had just been following him around, picking up after him, and making things easier for him. Where was the fun for her? She couldn’t think of any, not even one situation. Now she must decide if this was how she wanted to continue. Never, she vowed, never again.

She had lost herself and let some jerk change her into something she hated. But what should she do and how?

Her new job was exciting, something new and different everyday. A lot of divorces in Nevada, last will and testaments, not too many criminal cases, but it was all interesting to Patsy. She was learning fast.

Her typing was improving, she loved working days and her boss was an angel. She saw very little of him actually. He came and went, leaving files and taped messages on her desk. She went about her job like she owned the joint. Made coffee if she felt like it, listened to her tapes and did what was instructed. When she was done she turned on the answering machine and locked the door. Some days she was done at 3:00PM or 4:00PM, some days not until 6:00PM or 7:00PM, all depending on the workload.

One Friday, she had finished her work, turned on the answering machine and was ready to go home. She sat at her desk, as the tears started to flow down her cheek. She reached for a Kleenex, just as Hank walked into the office.

I’m sorry, am I disturbing you? he asked, not really knowing what to say and a little embarrassed to catch her crying.

No, I’m fine, really, she answered, wiping away the tears.

Well frankly, you don’t look fine. People just don’t cry for nothing.

Haven’t you heard, all women cry. She took a deep breath and dabbed her eyes.

Yes, but not usually around me, he admitted. He looked so dumb founded; she started to giggle at him.

She realized he really had no idea what to do. To make it easier on him she changed the subject. What are you doing back here? You usually never show up on Fridays.

I’m waiting for a client, he says it’s very important. It better be, because this will cost him a bundle.

She giggled again, Yes, Friday is overtime for you.

He smiled at her, Okay, okay, now that you’re feeling better, tell me why you were crying. You’re not leaving until you do.

She sighed, I just didn’t want to go home, she admitted. Then she looked him directly in the eyes. Hank, do you want to know why I came to your office the day you hired me?

Yes, of course, I thought you wanted the job. That wasn’t the reason?

No. I came to inquire about a divorce. I never even knew you were taking applications. Your secretary just assumed. Then I was too embarrassed to correct her, so I applied. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. You are a wonderful boss. If it hadn’t been for this job these past few months, I would have gone crazy.

So now you’re thinking about that divorce again.

Yes.

I assume that since you never followed through with the first attempt at divorce, you went home and tried to make it work, he questioned.

Yes.

What happened? he continued.

He’s not willing to change and I guess, neither am I.

Well that was certainly honest enough. Do you want me to draw up the papers?

Yes. Would you? Patsy smiled and Hank knew he was in trouble, his heart melted.

Of course, I can’t have my best secretary crying all over the office. What would people think? Come on in my office. She followed him through the door. He fixed them both a cocktail. They sat on the couch. Now, tell me what you want.

I want out. It’s been a big mistake. I guess I was just too young.

What does he do?

He’s a college student. She knew she must answer all questions. The sooner she got this over with, the sooner she would be free.

Does he work?

No.

Does he have any income, student loans, scholarships, anything? Hank asked.

No, I make all the money, pay all the bills, and do all the work at home, too. Patsy suddenly heard her answer; she was such a fool.

Have you bought furniture or cars or any property since your marriage?

No.

Well Patsy, he smiled. This is going to be easy, since there’s no children or property. I’ll draw up the papers all you have to do is sign and move. I’d start looking for an apartment if I were you.

Thank you, Hank. That will give me something to do this weekend. What if he won’t sign?

Doesn’t matter, he has nothing to contest.

How long will it take?

How long does it take you to type the papers, after all you’re the secretary. They both laughed. How funny to type her own divorce papers. The thought made her giggle and giggle.

Go wash your face, powder your nose and I’ll take you to dinner, he interrupted her. She started to shake her head, I won’t take no for an answer.

What about your client? she protested.

I’ll try to reach him while you’re gone. Besides, he’s already late, too late. He winked, as he pushed her towards the door.

After freshening up, Patsy returned to Hank’s office. He had reached his client, setting up another appointment, and was waiting patiently. He opened the door and escorted her to his car. He drove to his favorite restaurant, Henry’s. When they were seated he said, No more talk about divorce or anything else at the office. Let’s be casual and really get to know one another. Hello, my name is Hank Short. He stood to shake her hand. She giggled. That’s better, he sat down and smiled at her.

You have a beautiful smile, she said.

So do you. I love your giggle.

I’m sorry, I do that when I’m nervous, she confessed.

Don’t be sorry, it’s you. Now, what shall we order? Here comes the waiter.

Would you like a drink before dinner, sir? the waiter asked.

Yes, we would. I’ll have a martini, what would you like Patsy?

She hesitated for a moment, then, I think I’ll have ice tea.

Oh come on, we’re celebrating, have a drink.

She smiled at the waiter; I’ll have a margarita, please.

As the waiter left, Hank asked, Why did you hesitate?

She leaned towards him and whispered, I’m not twenty-one and I thought he would card me. I didn’t want to embarrass you.

You’re what? How did you ever get a cocktail job in the casino?

I lied, no one checked, it’s called slipping through the cracks. It does happen sometimes. I was just surprised that it happened to me, I really needed the job.

It could have caused them a lot of trouble. How old are you? He looked at her carefully; he certainly wouldn’t venture to guess. All he knew was that she looked good. Damn good.

I’ll be twenty-one next month.

Then I shall give you a divorce for your birthday present. You will be twenty-one and free. How’s that sound?

It sounds great, but you don’t have to give me a present.

I know I don’t. That’s why it’s so much fun. Now, don’t worry about the waiter here, he better not card you while you’re at my table.

Do you usually bring under age girls here?

NO, never, but I tip well, he smiled. Again she giggled.

The next morning she got up early and began apartment hunting. Harold would soon be out of her way for good. This would be the first time she would be on her own, not answering to anyone. She would do, as she liked, to hell with what other people thought.

The very next week, she was divorced. Harold tried to protest, he just didn’t understand. Didn’t he make her happy? What went wrong? Who would take care of his bills? His parents wouldn’t. He’d have to get a job. Now, he had no time to study. He was lost.

She had packed and was gone. She called her mom to give her new address and phone number.

Darling, I’m so glad you called. I just got off the phone with Sara. We thought we should get together for the big 21st birthday. What do you think?

Oh Mom, I’d love to. It would be lonesome without all of you.

Well, Sara has spring break, so we could all meet in Reno, if that’s easier for you. Or would you rather come home?

You know I’d rather come home, but I have a couple big meetings here that I just can’t get out of. Hank has a criminal trial coming up and we are both just swamped. I know you understand, could we make arrangements to meet in Reno?

Patsy hung up with a smile on her face. How easy her parents were. They were so gullible; they would do anything she asked them to do. And Sara was no different. She had the entire family wrapped around her little finger. Yes, she was spoiled. Yes, she was smart. Yes, she was coming up in the world.

Sara was to arrive first. She hadn’t been in Reno for years and hadn’t seen Patsy since she had moved. The girls were so excited to get together. They could spend a few days gossiping and shopping before meeting their parents. Get all the girl talk out of the way.

During this same time of Patsy’s move, Sara also spread her wings and left the nest. Only she chose college at Las Vegas. The first year she took her core classes and settled down to life on campus. It was a big change from a one-room schoolhouse in the middle of a desert and then to a small high school in Fallon. But she loved every minute of every experience, even the difficult ones.

Sara was out going and friendly. People immediately liked her and frequently claimed her as their friend before she really even knew them. Adjustment was easy. Everyone helped her feel welcome. She never had time to really be lonesome, except for Patsy. She missed her sister desperately, this was the first time the girls had ever been apart.

Sara and Harold had never gotten along. Harold was a male chauvinist, as far as Sara was concerned. He tried to keep Patsy under his thumb. Sara and he had several rowels during high school. Patsy always stood up for Harold and Sara always backed down so Patsy’s feelings wouldn’t get hurt.

After Patsy and Harold got married, Sara left them alone. She called Patsy but never went over to visit. Patsy would just have to learn what an ass he was, in her own good time. No one could tell her a thing. Sara only hoped it wouldn’t take too long and wouldn’t break Patsy’s spirit. She could be such fun and Sara missed hanging out with her sister.

College kept Sara busy. She met a lot of new friends, and dated every weekend. She was cute and fun to be with so the guys flocked around her. One guy in particular drove her crazy. She dreamed about him constantly. She meet him her first day in orientation. She sat next to him, my god, those eyes, she thought. Wonder who he is? No nametag, anywhere, she tried to read his registration card, no luck. She accidentally bumped into him, Oh, excuse me, she said.

That’s all right, he answered.

Well he’s not overly friendly, Sara thought, this might take more time than I planned. Why is it you always like the elusive ones?

When orientation was over, she tried to follow him, but the crowd was too large and she lost sight as he turned down the hall.

Next day in her English class, there he was three rows over. She had no opportunity to speak. It was several days before she saw him again, this time in science lab. Well, at least he had two classes a week with her. Some how she would learn his name. She wondered who the good-looking stranger could be, but had no time to pursue this matter. Not yet.

College was not like high school, the homework was immediate and the professors relentless. Most of her classes and homework seemed unnecessary. Why did she need these courses? They had no bearing on any career. Soon she began to wonder whether college was really what she wanted or needed.

She lived in a sorority house, which was always hopping with things to do and people coming and going. Sometimes it was too much. Sara needed quiet time and privacy. Another thing she missed. Living at home had taught her that peace and quiet was precious. It shouldn’t be taken for granted.

She began to search for places she could get away from the crowd. Her favorite spot was Downtown City Park. She took popcorn and a book to read. When she didn’t feel like reading anymore, she would feed the geese, they loved popcorn and she loved birds.

During fall finals, she went to her bench to feed her geese. There sat the handsome blue-eyed stranger. Hello, do you come here often? she said as she sat down next to him.

He looked up surprised to see her here. Hello. Yes, it’s my favorite spot. How about you?

I come as often as possible, she confessed. I need the quiet. It saves my sanity. She turned and smiled at him. I’ve seen you around, my name is Sara Brown. She held out her hand to shake.

He stared for a few minutes before taking her hand. I’m Tom Bentley. You’re in a couple of my classes, he admitted.

She immediately knew she could trust this stranger. She could feel the vibes he sent as she held his hand. I haven’t seen you around lately, I thought maybe you dropped out.

No, I had a scheduling conflict. It took a few changes to get what I wanted. You know colleges, the freshman are at the bottom of the heap. We get what’s left over. He sounded depressed, as if the college had chosen him and him alone to pick on.

You sound like you missed out on something you really wanted or needed.

Yeah, come back this summer at twice the price. She could hear the anger touch his words. She couldn’t help but laugh. What’s so funny? Their eyes locked.

You are. You make it sound like it’s the end of the world. Don’t let it get you down, that’s life. If it were easy, who would care about anything? They aren’t picking on you on purpose. We all have to put up with it.

He stared not quite sure what to make of this woman. You have a different attitude than I’m used to. Where are you from, anyway?

"A very large ranch in the middle of absolutely no where. I went to a very small school, one room, for eight years, one teacher. She’s practically my second Mom. I’m sure all the kids feel the same