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Slowly she scrolled down the list of e-mails and noticed that the agency had responded. She took a deep breath before opening the message. Yes! They had requested the entire manuscript. Excitedly, and now truly hopeful, she attached her novel in its entirety to her reply, saying a little prayer before she clicked send. Assuring herself that there were many more agents to try if this agency turned her down, she made dinner for Adam and hoped he would show up before it was overcooked and as tasty as shoe leather.
    Adam surprised Jill by being on time that night. Over dinner Jill got up the courage and casually mentioned that she’d written a novel and that an agent was interested in it. Adam was filling his mouth with mashed potatoes and nearly choked. After gulping down water to clear his throat, he managed to squeak, “You wrote a novel?”
    “Why are you so surprised?”
    “Well, this is the first I’m hearing of it. Why shouldn’t I be surprised?”
    “Can’t you be happy for me? Not everybody finishes a book.”
    “Writing a book is one thing, but selling it and getting it into print is another,” Adam said sipping some more water.
    Thanks for the support , Jill thought wondering why she bothered to tell him in the first place.
    ***
    Three days later, while Jill was on her lunch break at work, she received the call from Joan Wilson of the Slattery Book Agency. She loved the book and her agency wanted to represent Jill! When Jill agreed, the woman faxed the paperwork to the bank where Jill worked. Much to Jill’s surprise, Ms. Wilson had wanted to get the process started ASAP.
    Excitedly, Jill called Adam to tell him about the great news. In less than three minutes, he pricked her balloon of happiness, and again she wondered why she even bothered to call him in the first place.
    “Sounds good, Jill, but getting someone to represent you is not actually selling the book. When the book is sold and in print, then it’ll be time to celebrate,” he said abstractedly.
    Thanks for your feel-good speech , she mused as her bubbly mood fizzled. Suddenly a knot of rage that had begun deep within her shot to the surface. It was as if Adam’s words had hit an exposed nerve. “Then be prepared to celebrate. My novel will be sold—I just know it!”
    “Okay, okay. Good luck with that. I’ll see you tonight.”
    It took a beat or two for Jill to realize he’d hung up. “Great,” she said aloud to herself. “Thanks for the support, Adam.”
    To make herself feel better, she called Lynne to tell her the news.
    ***
    Jill was still upset by Adam’s nonchalant attitude on the phone by the time she’d left work that day, but she was proud that she had been able to finish the book and decided she wasn’t going to allow him to rain on her parade.
    When Adam came home she didn’t bring up the subject of her book. Obviously he’d forgotten all about it, as well, because he made no reference to it. She kept her bruised feelings inside and went to bed early. The last conscious thought she had was that completing the book and signing with an agent was truly an achievement—no matter what anybody thought.
    ***
    Nearly two months later, Joan Wilson called Jill. Even though the woman sounded upbeat, Jill, remembering Adam’s words, didn’t get her hopes up about having her book sold.
    “Are you sitting down, Jill?”
    “Actually, I am.”
    “Good. Because I have the most wonderful news to tell you.”
    “Did a publishing company offer to buy my book?” Jill asked, suddenly finding it hard to breathe.
    Joan Wilson actually giggled. “I’d say so. I just got you a three-book deal with an advance of $20,000.”
    “What? How? Really?” Jill’s words came out in a rush as one.
    “You, my girl, are on the way to being the next best-selling novelist.”
    “I…I…I’m speechless. How is that possible?”
    Joan Wilson laughed. “Our agency went gaga over your manuscript. We knew we had a winner. And so did several