Bell, Book, and Scandal

bar with Felicity. They each had a glass of red wine in front of them and were sharing a bowl of potato chips and a bowl of guacamole.
    “Have you two been hiding from me?“ Jane asked.
    “Didn’t you receive my message?“ Shelley asked. “What do you think a cell phone is for?“
    Jane pulled her phone out of her purse, looked at the little screen, and asked, “Is that what this little envelope thing means?“ and added as the bartender passed, “A big glass of iced tea, please.“
    “The object, Jane,“ Shelley commented, “is to leave the phone on so you know when someone calls.“
    “I have been,“ Jane said, “but not when I’m in a seminar, and certainly not when I’m talking to an editor.“
    “Okay. You’re right,“ Shelley said. This was something she rarely admitted to. “How did it go?“
    “Wonderfully. She’s a grown-up. She took the time to really read through the outline and a bit of the first chapter. I’ve given her a copy of the house plan and the village map, and she said she loved books with things like that.“
    She’d spoken calmly but what she really wanted to do was jump up and down with glee and hug everyone in sight. She knew that kind of behavior would make her look like a fool, especially in front of a professional writer.
    “Congratulations,“ Felicity said. “I knew you’d like her.“
    “A bit early for congratulations,“ Jane said. “She also made it clear that she wasn’t making any promises. I admitted I’d learned a few things here that I thought I might consider on a final pass. She’s going to read the chapters and the outline tonight and contact me tomorrow about the changes I have in mind.“
    Jane’s drink arrived and the three women decided to sit at a table at the back of the bar to finish the discussion. They carted their drinks, book bags, purses, potato chips, and guacamole along with them.
    When they were finally seated, Shelley pulled a box out of her book bag. “Jane and I have a present for you, Felicity.“
    “Why?“
    Jane said, “Because you’ve been very nice to us.“Shelley had even had the box gift wrapped. Felicity opened it and said, “Oh, how sweet of you both. It’s a pin like Jane’s.“ She put it on her jacket and they all admired it.
    “Now tell us in detail every word and every look,“ Felicity said to Jane.
    Jane did so.
    “I’m glad to know you do know this might not work out,“ Felicity said. “Don’t fail to go to your third interview. And would you make me a copy of your manuscript when you’ve made your final revisions? I’d really like to see the whole thing. If Melody Johnson doesn’t take it for some reason, I might be able to make some other suggestions, if you’d like me to. Here’s my card.“
    Jane’s jaw nearly dropped.
    “Shelley, we should have gotten this woman a far more expensive piece of jewelry,“ Jane said. “I’d love to have your comments, Felicity. That’s so generous of you.“
    “Not really. I do like to help out unpublished writers if they’ve already had at least half a foot in a good door and show the right attitude toward what they’re doing.“ She added, “Just so you don’t tell any of the rest of the aspiring writers. I need to walk off this drink and brush my teeth or someone will start a rumor that I’m a lush,“ she finished, getting to her feet.
    Before Felicity could leave, one of the conference planners approached her and took her aside. Jane and Shelley watched as Felicity kept shaking her head and saying “No.“
    Finally she caved in to the planner’s plea and came back to the table and said, “They’ve dragged me into the reviewers’ panel. Zac Zebra has gone missing. He’s not in his room. They’ve cruised all the meeting rooms and even the shops, and there’s no sign of him. He lives nearby and they’ve even called him at home.“
    “But you’re not a reviewer, are you?“ Shelley asked. She didn’t really care much that Zac had left the conference. As far as she knew, he was only there for his nuisance value.
    “I used to be before I started writing. Then I found myself having to critique books by people who had become friends, or at least acquaintances, after I started being published. I wanted to be honest about their books. But I didn’t want to criticize when a friend wrote a clunker. Even the best writers eventually write a bad book. So I quit reviewing. I didn’t think anyone here knew about it. I was wrong about