My Soul to Keep Read Online Free PDF Page A

proposal, and we have a publisher within a month.”
    “A book … ?” Jessica asked, puzzled.
    “Honor Thy Father and Mother: America’s Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly. We keep it simple. Some overview stuff, but mostly we concentrate on two dozen or so horrific cases from around the country. We interview friends, family. We interview advocates for the elderly, health professionals. We try to find out what’s going wrong. We take a book leave for four months, even less, and then we’re out. Bam.”
    Jessica felt a mild tingling sensation sweep across the hair on her arms, equal parts exhilaration and nerves. She’d forgotten how direct Peter could be when he wanted to. He’d already published two books, one on Florida’s mob heyday, the other on a local serial murderer and rapist, and to him the process wasn’t mystifying. To her, it was a sacred dream from childhood and therefore needed to be approached with caution.
    “You don’t need me for that,” she said.
    “Don’t be crazy. Of course I do. These are your pieces. I have more experience in research, but you write with a grace I can only salivate over. Seriously. We do it together.”
    Jessica’s thoughts scattered. “Four months? I can’t stay away that long. I can’t—”
    Peter playfully slapped his palm on the tabletop, making the silverware on their empty plates clatter. “You’re afraid of success. I keep telling you that. Well, I can’t assure you this won’t get us on the talk-show circuit, because it probably will. But the important thing is that somebody needs to write this book. And that somebody might as well be us.”
    To Jessica’s relief, the waitress finally remembered them on the patio and brought out their check. Jessica tried to look like she was concentrating on figuring out her portion, but her mind was in a fit and her heart was pounding.
    First Princess, now this. Her mother always said life rolls in cycles of good and bad, but sometimes even good news could be overwhelming. She wanted to run away from it. She wasn’t even sure why. Maybe it was safer to run from both.
    “I won’t push for an answer today,” Peter said as they crossed the street back toward the newspaper building, a six-story Art Deco monstrosity that resembled a staircase, painted lemon-yellow and facing Biscayne Bay.
    “That’s a shock.”
    “You have to think about it. Talk to David, but fight him if you have to. He’s way too possessive of your time. You know that. He’s not looking out for your career, Jess. But I am. I know these things. You have to trust me.”
    Jessica stared at the sidewalk as she walked, mumbling. “It’s just that Kira’s nearly finished kindergarten… and I wanted to know her teacher better, and already …”
    Peter slipped his arm around her shoulder, and she was slightly embarrassed to realize that his lightly cologned scent was a comfort to her. She remembered how, early on, she’d mistaken his kindness for a crush, and how much that had flattered her. Not that she would ever consider another a man since she had David, but she’d always told herself she would have been nearly as lucky to end up with someone like Peter. Very nearly.
    “You can do both, Mommy. You really can. You’ll be based at home. Writing this book will be just like your job here, with a little more traveling. It’s not a two-headed dragon. I promise.”
    Jessica laughed, imagining how naive she must sound to Peter. Here he was, practically handing her the one thing she’d longed for as long as she could remember, and she was stammering with excuses. That’s the difference between us and white folks, she told herself. They don’t stop to say “I can’t” or “Should I,” they just do. And it was a skill, sooner or later, she would need to pick up despite herself. Honor Thy Father and Mother . She liked the sound of it.
    But David would be another matter.
    “I’ll talk to him,” she promised. She was already dreading her return