Set on Cape Cod, this novel of a modern day Cinderella, two Fairy God Angels, a Prince and surprise ending, helps Diana decide what she should do with her life!
Excerpt
Prologue
“Hi Liz! Over Here!” Diana smiled and waved a tiny wave as Liz came threading her way through the other tables to the booth where Diana was sitting. Shrugging off her winter coat, Liz slid in on the seat across from Diana and dumped her coat and purse on the seat beside her. Best friends since childhood, Liz and Diana usually tried to meet at least once a week in spite of their busy working schedules.
“This is only February, right? Baby, it’s cold out there!” Liz shivered and started to pull off her scarf. “Spring is coming? Isn’t it?”
February on Cape Cod was usually still blustery cold and here in this little village of Mashpee, Massachusetts, the winds from the Northeast were biting tonight, clawing their way straight across Cape Cod Bay bringing with it plummeting, frigid temperatures. The streets, covered with a dusting of the three inches of snow that fell earlier in the afternoon were now slick with frozen slush in spite of being treated with sand and salt during the day making the driving at night when the temperatures dropped not only challenging to the best of drivers but dangerous to those who were not fully attentive.
Liz piled her gloves and scarf on top of her purse. Rubbing her hands together to warm them up a little, she was glad of the coziness here in the pub at Dino’s Sports Bar.
“Phew! It was a day! That should give you a good indication! So, how are you doing?” Liz leaned towards Diana and looked her in the eye.
“They offered me that job working in Mr. You-Know-Who’s office as his ‘personal assistant’!” Diana rolled her eyes up and made a very un-lady-like face. “It will be a cold day in Hell. Harwich when I ever accept that position. The man is not very nice!” Diana announced and reached for the menu.
Liz laughed out loud, throwing her hands in the air. “That is the understatement of the year, girlfriend! He has driven all of his other ‘personal assistants’ right out of the company. ‘Not very nice’ is a very euphemistic description. The man just does not know how to keep his hands to himself and his temper has sent almost every one of his long line of assistants to the personnel office in tears. Why they keep him in that position is totally beyond my comprehension. Did you refuse the post?”
“Yes, I did, today. I said ‘no thanks’. I think they are going to eliminate some more positions. Have you heard anything?” Diana smiled at her friend hoping to glean a little information.
“Only rumors, nothing substantial. Let’s order, I’m starving! What are you going to order? No, wait a minute, we have been coming here to Dino’s Sports Bar every Friday night for how many years, now? Let me guess? You will probably order the big cheese pizza with vegetables. Am I right? You are spoiled, you know, Dino makes that pizza up for you special because it is not on the menu. How you rate, I have no idea, but you do. Everyone loves you! And speaking of that subject, when are you going to start dating again. I know an awful lot of younger and not so younger males in this town that are just waiting for you to give them some sort of encouragement. I also know that we come here because you feel safe and know that Dino will not let anyone step out of line. You also baby-sit for his children so that is another reason.” Liz grabbed a menu and began to scan it with unseeing eyes more as something to keep her hands occupied rather than see what looked good to order. Diana was uncomfortable with that remark and Liz knew it!
Diana laughed, not too convincingly and leaned forward to look at Liz square in the face. “Yes, I do come here for all of those reasons. With both of my parents gone, Dino has become my Guardian Angel! For that, I am very grateful. A single girl on her own needs all the protection she can get! I think I will order the big cheese pizza with the fresh vegetables.” Diana laughed and placed the menu back in the holder. “What are you going to have, Ms. Creature-of-Habit?”
Liz closed the menu with a snap and set it back in its place. “Are you ever going to make me a gourmet meal or even a gourmet sandwich? You graduated from J&W how long ago? I think I will order the burger with the fries. Don’t you dare tease me. I am well aware that I order that every time I come in here but I can’t seem to think ‘out of the box’ tonight!”
Diana smiled at her friend and nodded her head. “It must have been a VERY BAD day! Besides, the burgers are really high quality here and I should know!” Diana really laughed this time and looked up as the waitress came to take their order.
When the waitress had left the table with their order, Liz looked very seriously at her friend and asked, “Really, Diana, when are you going to leave this corporate jungle and start your own business? You have degrees and certificates and all sorts of credentials. You could be quite a success if you set your mind to it. The Governor Bradford Inn in Plymouth is advertising for chefs and the Belfry Inn and Bistro in Sandwich is expanding and in need of a head chef. I work in personnel, remember, and I know what jobs are available. Course, you could always go to work at Dunkies’ time to make the donuts” Liz waved her napkin at Diana teasing her.
Diana leaned over and swiped her napkin at Liz. “Ha, ha, very funny! Those dreams are buried in the attic. Oh, good, here comes our food! Perfect timing. Now, please, no more reminding me of the past. That time is long ago. Gosh! That burger really does look good. Look at the size of this pizza. This must be a double-double or else Jack is making the pizzas tonight. Nope, this looks like Dino’s handiwork. He wrote “Dino” in the middle with the peppers! Now is that creative or what!” Diana waved her thanks towards the kitchen and was certain that Dino could see her.
“Boy! You really are special. I didn’t get any name on mine. But I did get two very fat burgers in between this very huge roll! We are truly treated well here!” Liz waved her thanks to Dino who was in the kitchen watching two of his favorite customers through the two way mirror.
Read more about What Should You Do With Your Life? – Diana’s Story and Sharon D. Anderson, Ph.D. HERE.
Copyright 2008 Sharon D. Anderson, Ph.D.. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Post a Comment