Tina was sitting in her bed, reading a book, when she heard a soft knock at her door. She placed the book onto her nightstand, as five year old daughter Joss walked into the room, carrying her stuffed giraffe underneath her arm.

“I can’t sleep,” Joss said, and Tina pulled back the covers. Joss climbed into bed with her mother.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Tina asked, and Joss nodded her head. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Tina kissed Joss’s forehead softly.

“Promise,” Joss said.

“Promise,” Tina replied.



Present Day

I pull up to Leigh Ostin’s studio work place, and I feel my stomach start to knot up. I try to ignore the feeling of nervousness, because I’m confident in my work. I guess you could say my confidence borders on arrogance and that’s fine. I pull my portfolio out of the backseat of my car and walk over to the front entrance. I press the button labeled L. Ostin, and hold my breath.

“Hello,” Leigh replies.

“Hey, Leigh.” I say.

“Joss,” Leigh replies.

“Yeah, I brought my portfolio with me. If it’s a bad time I could come back. I know I probably should have called.” I say.

“Please,” Leigh says, and her voice drops slightly. I hear a loud sound. “Come up, I’m on the top floor.” Leigh says, and I push the door open and step inside. I take the elevator, and it finally stops on Leigh’s level, and I’m debating whether or not I should step off. The last time I saw her, I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me. She was hitting on me. Right? I can’t think about it now because she’s sliding her studio door open, and she steps out and I step off of the elevator and into the hallway.

I walk over to her and she’s absolutely gorgeous, and it’s a beauty that is entirely different from Katie Peabody. The difference being that Leigh is a full fledged woman, and Katie isn’t.

“I was thinking about you,” Leigh says, and she steps back to let me inside. She was actually thinking about me. That night at my mother’s gallery she was definitely hitting on me. At least I think she was hitting on me. “I was wondering if you were going to stop by I can’t wait to get my hands on your work.” Leigh smiles, and we walk over to a large wooden table, and I open up my portfolio, and Leigh begins to look through my work, but I’m busying looking at her. “Stunning,” Leigh says.