Between Land and Sea by Joanne Guidoccio Read Free Book Online

I’m so glad you moved up here, and I am certain your other friends are as well.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got an appointment with a sales rep in a few minutes.” She patted Barbara’s shoulder. “We’ll continue this conversation later.”
    Barbara went back to her desk. She spent the rest of the afternoon working on next week’s report and reorganizing her desk. Tomorrow she would begin the second draft. With her special powers, she could easily complete it in a week, but she didn’t want to arouse Janice’s suspicions. She silently cursed the speed burst button. She was tempted to ask Lisa738 to undo it. Was that even possible?
    Don’t be silly. You will need that speed when you write full-time . Barbara was pleasantly surprised by that thought. She closed her eyes and visualized a future where she wrote prolifically and produced at least one book a year.
    She looked about the comfortable office that had become like a second home. Deep down, she knew it was only temporary, like her life in Carden. At some point in the very near future, she would be leaving this entire life behind. Graham, Hannah, Janice, Sandra, and all the other ladies in the office would become pleasant but distant memories, stepping stones to a new and more exciting life.
    She had not forgotten about her past life in the mermaid kingdom. Nor had she forgiven Annabella and Mirabella. Both mermaids had attended to their own needs and ignored hers. Mirabella had not even bothered to help her own daughter adapt to this new world or, at the very least, contact her. Her grandmother had shown her true colors when she had savagely cut off Isabella’s hair and aged her beyond recognition. She would prove to her mother and grandmother that she could flourish in this human world, even without her Bella looks and powers.

Chapter 8
    Depending on the workday, Barbara had between two and four hours to write, more than enough time to complete the second draft by the end of two weeks. With her evenings free, she decided to spend more time with Graham. So far, their relationship had been limited to a few casual outings a week. They enjoyed long hikes and were movie buffs. He was pleasantly surprised when she offered to cook dinner for him.
    She picked up the tablet and pressed the green button. Lisa738 appeared. “Greetings, Isa— Barbara. What can I do for you today?”
    “I’m giving my first dinner party and I’m not certain—”
    Lisa738 interrupted, “You need a Specialist Skills button. No problem, but I think you should know that you are only entitled to two more of these buttons during the coming year.”
    Barbara made a mental note to ask Gillian for more information regarding the tablet. “Of course. What will I be able to do with this button?”
    “You will be able to whip up any dish in any cuisine. You will also have an extensive knowledge of the ingredients and nutritional value of any meal you create.”
    “Like Martha Stewart?”
    Lisa738 laughed. “Martha Stewart. Rachel Ray. Nigella Lawson. You will be able to hold your own with any of them.” She pointed to the new button that appeared below the screen.
    Barbara picked up the button, peeled off the coating, applied it to her left temple, and waited for the unsettling sensation. This time, the experience was more intense. Barbara lost her balance and had to hold on to a nearby chair for support.
    Lisa738 winced. “I forgot to warn you about the power of the Specialist Skills buttons. You may need to lie down for an hour or so. Are you planning a large dinner party?”
    It must be very lonely for Number mermaids in the underwater kingdom. Barbara recalled her few interactions with them in the kingdom. She knew that they spent long hours in front of terminals and did not socialize with the other mermaids. She decided to be kind. “No, it will just be Graham and me.”
    Lisa738 nodded in approval. “You have a male companion. How is that progressing?”
    “We’ve been