Read Online Solid Foundation by J. A. Armstrong - Free Book Online Page A

not
funny. She’s scarier than my mother.”
    Dana
patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll find there are a lot of us who wish we had
a mother like Candace Fletcher,” Dana said honestly.
    Jason
nodded. He had just been lectured and effectively put in time-out. In some ways, he felt
like a chastised child. Usually , that
would have infuriated him. Somehow, he had emerged from the experience more
determined than ever to please Candace Fletcher. “How does she do that?”
    “What’s
that?” Dana asked.
    “Reduce
you to a two year old and make you want her approval at the same time,” he
said.
    Dana
and Susan shared an understanding glance. “She’s the real deal, Jason. I’ve met
a lot of people in this town, worked or a few, and with many more. Candy is a
rarity. People love her. People loathe her. Either way, they tend to respect
her. Take my advice, listen at least as much as you advise. You’ll learn a lot
more than how to run a campaign.” she told him. Dana hopped from her perch and headed for Candace’s door.
    “She
wanted you to…”
    “I
know,” Dana said. “Go nurse your wounds,” she laughed. “I’ll check on the beast
that lies within.”
    Jason
laughed. “I’ll come back after feeding time,” he said.
    “Just remember, Jason; never mess with mama
bear’s cubs or her mate. You’ll earn quickly how sharp her claws can be.” Jason
nodded his understanding and left.
    “Think
he’ll make it?” Susan asked.
    “Possibly,”
Dana said. “If he’s smart he’ll win over Jameson and Pearl. If he does that?
He’s learned.”
    “If
he doesn’t?”
    “He
better just not piss them off. I learned about Pearl my first month on the job.
He’s got double the trouble,” she laughed heartily.
    “You
are enjoying this; aren’t you?” Susan asked.
    “Every,
single, solitary second,” Dana admitted. “This is going to be an awesome year.”
    Dana
disappeared through Candace’s office door and Susan shook her head. “It’s going
to be a year all right. I just wonder how we’ll all survive it.”
    ***
    Jameson collapsed her
head into her hands on her desk. There simply were not enough hours in the day.
She had four projects that she needed to oversee. She had three meetings that
had run long and put her behind. Now, she was supposed to go shopping, of all
things, with Michelle and her mother. She pounded her desk lightly in silent
defeat.
    “See
you for dinner?” she heard a familiar voice outside her office.
    “Wouldn’t
miss it. Seven still good ?” she heard
Michelle’s voice answer.
    “Seven
is perfect,” Melanie responded. Jameson picked her head up slowly and strained
to listen. She could hear the faint sound of their voices, but they had dropped
to a whisper and she could not make out the words.
    Jameson
shook her head. “What are those two up to?” she wondered.
    “Hey,”
Michelle called as she opened the door slightly. “You okay?”
    Jameson forced a smile. “Great.”        
    “Uh-oh. Bad time? I thought we were supposed to
meet here?”
    “No…I
mean, yes. We were supposed to meet here. Lately, there is no good time,” Jameson said.
    “J.D.
you look like shit. What is wrong?” Michelle asked.
    “Just
tired. I really need to wrap two of these projects before next week. I just
have no idea how I am going to do it. Probably going to have to inconvenience
you and crash at your place all weekend. Sorry.”
    Michelle
laughed. “J.D., my place is actually your place; remember?”
    “Nah.
You pay rent,” Jameson said.
    “Uh-huh.
Like half what the place is worth. Don’t worry about me. I probably won’t be
home this weekend anyway.”
    “Really?
Why’s that?”
    Michelle
grinned. “Actually, celebrating the end of the school year with friends,” she
said.
    “What
kind of friends?” Jameson asked suspiciously. “Oh…this is that mum’s the word
thing of yours. When do we meet her?”
    “Friends,
J.D. Just friends.”
    “Yeah…You
have that