Read Online Desert Gift by Sally John - Free Book Online

a three-day weekend this year.”
    Jill felt the proverbial crush of being between a rock and a hard place. She was booked through next Tuesday. The day after would begin a week off. It was to have been her and Jack’s vacation at the beach and the anniversary of the first day they met, twenty-five years ago when their paths crossed in Hollywood. She had hotel and restaurant reservations.
    Now what? Should she try to get a ticket for home tomorrow and not bother telling her publisher and all those other people who were expecting her? Or should she leave Jack alone for a week to wallow in the throes of midlife crisis?
    “Hey.” Gretchen nudged a chair against the back of her knees. “Sit before you keel over.”
    “I’m fine.” She sank onto the padded seat, put her forearms on the table, and ducked behind two stacks of She Said, He Heard . By closing one eye, she blocked the huge bookstore from view.
    It was a crowded place, people in every aisle and at the coffee shop, but the steady stream toward her had finally ceased. The whole scene felt unreal.
    Gretchen sat next to her. “You’re doing great, Jillie, just great.”
    “Can we leave?”
    “The manager asked us to stay a little longer. He’s ecstatic. Do you have any idea how many books have sold tonight?”
    “No.”
    “I don’t either.” She chuckled. “But the manager is ready to throw his arms around you. He said he’s never seen such a turnout for a first-time author.”
    “That’s all your doing, Ms. PR.”
    “Well, yeah, I am pretty good with advance work.” She grinned. “But that was a cakewalk. You’re the one who blazed the trail. Eight years on the radio, syndicated out here for three, interviewing well-known personalities. People know you. Of course they want to meet you in person. Of course they want you to sign their books.”
    “I’m just a curious, high-strung loudmouth who wanted to put some new handles on some tired old principles and then tell everybody.”
    “And surprise! You struck a chord with a lot of us. We needed new handles.”
    “I made up guarantees. I messed with God’s teaching.”
    “You stayed true to it, Jill. You did! Our Sunday school class has prayed forever that you not stray from God’s message of love and healing in marriage. We’ve had you covered through your entire career, sweetums, and God is faithful.”
    Jill leaned toward her friend and lowered her voice to a hiss. “Then why does my husband want a divorce?”
    “Oh, Jillie.”
    “We need a new subtitle. Want to chase hubby out the door? Try this version of discourse. ”
    At the sound of a discreet cough, they both turned. Across the table stood a middle-aged woman. Thankfully she was not close enough to have overheard Jill’s anxious whispers in Gretchen’s ear.
    She smiled at Jill. “Excuse me, are you Mrs. Galloway?”
    “Uh, yes.”
    “Are you still signing books?”
    Jill nodded.
    Gretchen said, “Yes. Yes, she is.”
    “That’s wonderful! I have a few friends with me.” She moved aside. About six women stood in line behind her. They smiled and waved. “We’re members of a book club, and since we all listen to you on the radio, we planned to read your book next. Then when we heard you were going to be just an hour from us, we were thrilled. We thought, why not treat ourselves to our own signed copies? So here we are!”
    Jill said, “You drove an hour to see me?”
    “More like two. Freeway traffic.” Her eyes glistened.
    Jill knew what was coming. How many women had she seen that day whose eyes glistened with unshed tears? There had been countless at the luncheon where she spoke earlier and several more at this table since five o’clock. Next came the gratitude.
    “Thank you, Mrs. Galloway.”
    “Jill.”
    “Jill.” The stranger smiled. “Thank you for changing my life and my husband’s. We’d been married thirty years when I first heard your teaching. Honestly, until then we were not on the same page at