Chapter 29 #2
“This morning Randi’s doubts took over and ran wild,” Eden said.
“She left without us talking it through, which is unusual for her. We always talk things out. She’s afraid and will process this by letting her fears take her through the most catastrophic scenarios.
They will play over and over in her head.
” She exhaled a shaky breath and ran her fingers through her hair.
“Then she’ll let her emotions get the best of her and will make up her mind, steel herself, and not budge on her decision. ”
“She’s so sure of every strategic move she’s made on my website, with my newsletter, every ad, my entire author business,” Cari said. “But that’s not her emotions, is it?”
“Yeah, it’s her super power on her creative side, but not with her heart,” Eden explained.
“That’s kind of what happened years ago.
We toyed with the idea of dating, talked about it, and she threw all the bad things out there.
We decided against it and she stood her ground until our love became too much.
” She paused. “Until now. I tried to reassure her last night and this morning. I told her we have to count on our love.”
“You don’t think she will? She listens to you,” Analise said.
Eden shook her head. “She’s afraid. How do I make her listen to me over her fears?”
“You can’t make anyone listen,” Tennie said.
“Isn’t that what a pitch does? Gets our attention, makes it so interesting we have to listen,” Analise said.
“Yeah, and Randi’s the pitch queen,” Cari said.
“That’s it,” Tennie said, snapping her fingers. “You have to pitch her.”
“Me?” Eden sat back in her chair. “I don’t do pitches. I’m the numbers girl. I don’t give presentations.”
“You were there when Randi pitched me,” Cari said.
“Yes, to add to Randi’s pitch,” Eden said.
“Okay, okay,” Analise said. “You can do this. We’ll help you.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking!” Eden exclaimed. “She’ll come back with a contradiction for every point I try to make.”
“Then don’t let her,” Cari said. “You have to be smooth, like she is.”
“Yeah, be ready for her arguments before she can even get them out,” Tennie said with encouragement.
Eden shook her head. There was no way she could do this, but she had to. This was their life, their happiness, their chance at forever. She looked around the table as her friends threw out ideas on how to pitch Randi then she gasped.
“I have an idea. She loves when I sing,” Eden said.
“Oh yeah,” Analise said. “Do you remember several years ago when we did karaoke at the company Christmas party? You and Randi sang together, but she kept asking you to sing again for her.” She turned to the others. “Eden has a beautiful voice. She can do this!”
“Oh! We should all do karaoke sometime,” Cari said excitedly.
“Focus,” Tennie said to her.
“Right. Sorry about that.”
“But I’ve never sung by myself,” Eden said. “Randi always sings with me.”
“Are you afraid?” Analise asked. “Isn’t that what you’re asking Randi to do? Conquer her fears.”
Eden sighed and realized Analise was right. “I could sing my feelings to her,” she said. Her thoughts drifted to the music she and Randi had been listening to lately.
“Do you have a song in mind?”
Eden smiled and nodded. “I do, but where? It has to be today, tonight, before she…”
“It’s okay.” Analise grabbed Eden’s hand. “We’ll figure this out.”
Eden could feel tears pool in her eyes.
“Hold on, I may know a way,” Tennie said, furiously typing on her phone.
Eden inhaled a breath and couldn’t believe the happiness she felt last night had disappeared so quickly.
No one made her feel like Randi did. She’d never felt this way about anyone.
Honestly, she didn’t know it could be like this.
Her past relationships had never been fulfilling.
She wondered if that was all there was to look forward to which led her to believe there was something wrong with her.
Randi had quickly shut that down and now she knew what it was like to love someone, completely, with all your heart.
Yet how fleeting that sense of shared bliss had been.
“I’ve got it,” Tennie said, looking up from her phone. “I texted Kelly and she has a band playing at the brewery tonight.”
Eden looked at her with confusion on her face. “How does that help us?”
“You’re going to sing to Randi,” Tennie said with a smile.
“Perfect,” Analise added.
“I’ll make sure Randi is there,” Cari stated.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Eden said. “What do you mean I’m going to sing to Randi?”
Tennie tilted her head and blinked rapidly. “You don’t mean to sing to her here. It has to be where she’ll listen.”
“What better place than where she pitched you,” Cari said with a grin.
“It’s brilliant,” Analise agreed. “Okay, what’s the song and do you need to practice?”
Eden swallowed a lump in her throat and widened her eyes. This was really happening. “Are you sure you can get Randi there?”
“Oh yeah.” Cari leaned in. “At first, I tried to make you jealous, but Randi wouldn’t go for it. Believe me, I’ll get her there if I have to drag her there myself.”
Eden smiled. “I may have been a little jealous at the thought, but she and I quickly reviewed the workplace policy on employees dating clients.”
Cari laughed. “Oh, I’m sure you did.”
“Okay, let’s get busy,” Analise said.
Eden suddenly thought that this just might work. It had to work. Randi probably hadn’t realized it yet, but she needed Eden just as much Eden needed her. Count on our love, babe.