DISTRACTED

“I’m here. I’m here.” I bat her hand away. “Would you stop doing that?”

“Well, if you will get distracted…”

“I’m fine.” I take a deep breath and pick up my bag from the bed, slinging it over my shoulder. “Okay, let’s go. I want to get this over with, and I’m going to be late if we don’t get a move on.”

“At least the snow’s melted enough so we can travel.” Helen leads the way to the door, shrugging on her coat and slinging her scarf around her neck. “And that you don’t need to go far. It would be tough if you made that appointment and couldn’t get there unless you started walking yesterday.”

“With tennis rackets strapped to my feet as well,” I grunt, putting my bag down long enough to put my thick duffel coat on. It’s not exactly professional attire, but in this weather, I don’t give a damn. “I just hope he doesn’t dismiss me almost immediately.”

“Of course, he’s not going to do that.”

“You sound very sure of yourself.”

Helen smiles as she opens the door.

“Someone’s got to be optimist