A Perfect Day Read Online Free PDF

was a good-looking wife and chronic back pain.”
    “Funny how you combined those two in the same sentence.”
    He smiled. “Freudian. Now I’d be happy with just the millionaire part.”
    “You mean you’re not a millionaire?”
    “I guess I’m the only one not getting rich at the box ,” Mark said. He broke an oatmeal cookie in two and put the larger of the pieces in his mouth. “Where did you think you’d be?”
    “I thought I’d be churning out novels in a remote cabin somewhere.”
    “Like that Jack Nicholson movie where he types the same sentence over and over.”
    “Yeah. Just like that.” I bent my straw like a pretzel.
    “So have you actually written something?”
    “I’m halfway through my first novel. But it’s taken me almost four years. Seems whenever I get started on my book, life caves in.”
    “What’s it about?”
    “You wouldn’t be interested. It’s a love story.”
    He popped the second half of the cookie in his mouth. “You’re right. Give me something with assault rifles and stun grenades. How long until you finish it?”
    “If I did nothing else, maybe three months. At my current rate, another three years. There’s never enough time.” I glanced down at my watch. “Speaking of which, I’ve got to go. You headed back to the station?”
    “No, I’ve got some clients to visit. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    We carried our trays to the trash bin. Mark said, “Hey, after you’re promoted to sales manager, don’t forget your friends.”
    “What’s your name again?”

Chapter 4
    “This is Mick and Angel of The Breakfast Bunch , where we play the best mix of today’s hits and yesterday’s favorites. Join us at noon for the KBOX lunch box and see what we’re serving up.”
    I reached over and turned off the radio alarm, silencing the morning banter. I kissed Allyson on the forehead then went into the bathroom to shower. A half hour later I was knotting my tie in the mirror when Allyson walked up behind me. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed my neck. “Hmm, Calvin Klein. I love that smell. Dressing up for the meeting?”
    “Yep. How do I look?”
    She released me and stepped back. “Handsome. Like always. Would you like waffles for breakfast? I just opened a new bottle of that apricot jam I put up last fall.”
    “Maybe just toast. My stomach’s queasy.”
    When I walked into the kitchen, Allyson buttered my toast and brought it to the table with a cup of coffee. “So what time is your meeting?”
    “First thing.” I poured milk into my coffee and stirred it with a spoon from Carson’s bowl. “Where’s Carse?”
    Allyson looked at the vacated cereal bowl at the table and rolled her eyes. “She was at the table.” She shouted, “Carson, come back in here and finish your cereal. No cartoons before school.”
    Carson walked into the room holding a miniature violin in one hand and its bow in the other. “I was practicing my violin.”
    “With the television on?”
    “Yes.”
    “You need to eat breakfast.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “You will be. Now finish your cereal.”
    “Hey, sister,” I said, “come sit by me.”
    She scurried over and climbed up on the stool next to me, her blond hair falling over her face.
    “So how’s school?”
    She pulled her hair back from her eyes. “Good.”
    “What are you learning about these days?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Nothing?”
    She shook her head again, tossing her bangs into her face.
    “You must have the same kindergarten teacher I had,” I said. I turned back to Allyson. “So yesterday I talked to Doug about the job. He says that the sales manager makes an additional fifteen percent, plus retirement benefits and profit sharing. And, the best part is—the sales manager goes on all the media incentive trips. Next year ’s trip is to Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice.”
    Allyson’s face lit. “Oh, don’t tease me.”
    “It could happen. Assuming I’m not completely crazy and Stu actually plans on