The Game Changer Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Marie Landry
the exit.”
Melody smiled to herself as Olivia turned her back to start the dishwasher. She was used to her friend’s long stories, and loved how excited she got while she spoke—her eyes alight, and her hands gesturing wildly. Melody kicked off her shoes and leaned back on the stool, refilling her glass of wine.
“When I got back home— home , I just love saying that,” Olivia said with a wide grin that made Melody’s lips tug up in response. “When I got back home and put the groceries away, I realized your pots and pans were in pretty rough shape, so I went down the street to that kitchenware store and bought a whole new set, plus some dishes and glasses I knew you’d like. I kept all your old stuff just in case, though.”
“You’re awesome,” Melody said, holding up the wineglass in her hand. “I love these glasses.”
“I know.” Olivia beamed as if she’d blown and shaped the glass herself. “Then when I came back—and it was not easy lugging all that stuff home and up that long flight of stairs, let me tell you—I got started on the cooking, and I loved it so much, it occurred to me that I could do this professionally.”
Ahh , Melody thought. She knew this was going somewhere. Yesterday a writer, today a chef. Tomorrow, she might decide she wanted to be a yoga instructor, or take up painting. Olivia had always had big dreams, but it was the execution that tended to be a little dodgy. Her real dream in life was to be a fashion designer. She’d started young in home economics class, had taken sewing classes during high school where she made beautiful dresses for herself and Melody, and had gone on to study fashion and design at college.
Her creations were amazing, and she was brilliant with a needle and thread, but Melody thought it was fear that held her back. She knew fashion was a tough, competitive business, and Melody thought Olivia was afraid she would fail, so she did everything but what she wanted to do most. She’d come close with her last job working in an upscale boutique where she had a say in the clothes that were ordered, and she assisted in dressing the fashionistas of Toronto, but as far as Melody knew she had set aside her dreams of ever becoming a designer.
As Olivia’s best friend, Melody felt it was her job to support her no matter what. She had given her gentle pushes over the years with varying degrees of success—Olivia had a few girls in Bellevue that she made dresses for on special occasions, thanks to Melody spreading the word—but she didn’t like to push too hard, and it was something they avoided discussing. Even though she knew fashion was Olivia’s first love, Melody also knew Olivia would be great at whatever she did because she was so passionate. She just had to hope that someday Olivia would get over her fear and pursue her dreams.
“You could do it professionally,” Melody agreed. “You’re a terrific cook. But you’d have to go back to school.”
“Ew, that’s true.” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “And I’ve heard that chefs put in crazy hours, and it’s super stressful. I could do catering, though. I could run it right out of here, or even rent a spot.”
“You could…” Melody agreed again. “If that’s what you want to do, you know I’ll support you.”
“I know you will.” Olivia’s smile was so affectionate it made Melody’s heart ache. “But it’s not really what I want to do, and we both know it.” She slumped against the counter as if all the air had gone out of her, and sighed heavily. “I just don’t know, Mel.”
“Oh, honey.” Melody reached out to run a soothing hand over Olivia’s bowed head. “You do know, you’re just not quite ready. And that’s fine. You’re in a unique situation right now. You’ve been given a chance to start over, and you have more money than you know what to do with. You can take the time to explore different things and decide if you want them to be a hobby or a
Melody smiled to herself as Olivia turned her back to start the dishwasher. She was used to her friend’s long stories, and loved how excited she got while she spoke—her eyes alight, and her hands gesturing wildly. Melody kicked off her shoes and leaned back on the stool, refilling her glass of wine.
“When I got back home— home , I just love saying that,” Olivia said with a wide grin that made Melody’s lips tug up in response. “When I got back home and put the groceries away, I realized your pots and pans were in pretty rough shape, so I went down the street to that kitchenware store and bought a whole new set, plus some dishes and glasses I knew you’d like. I kept all your old stuff just in case, though.”
“You’re awesome,” Melody said, holding up the wineglass in her hand. “I love these glasses.”
“I know.” Olivia beamed as if she’d blown and shaped the glass herself. “Then when I came back—and it was not easy lugging all that stuff home and up that long flight of stairs, let me tell you—I got started on the cooking, and I loved it so much, it occurred to me that I could do this professionally.”
Ahh , Melody thought. She knew this was going somewhere. Yesterday a writer, today a chef. Tomorrow, she might decide she wanted to be a yoga instructor, or take up painting. Olivia had always had big dreams, but it was the execution that tended to be a little dodgy. Her real dream in life was to be a fashion designer. She’d started young in home economics class, had taken sewing classes during high school where she made beautiful dresses for herself and Melody, and had gone on to study fashion and design at college.
Her creations were amazing, and she was brilliant with a needle and thread, but Melody thought it was fear that held her back. She knew fashion was a tough, competitive business, and Melody thought Olivia was afraid she would fail, so she did everything but what she wanted to do most. She’d come close with her last job working in an upscale boutique where she had a say in the clothes that were ordered, and she assisted in dressing the fashionistas of Toronto, but as far as Melody knew she had set aside her dreams of ever becoming a designer.
As Olivia’s best friend, Melody felt it was her job to support her no matter what. She had given her gentle pushes over the years with varying degrees of success—Olivia had a few girls in Bellevue that she made dresses for on special occasions, thanks to Melody spreading the word—but she didn’t like to push too hard, and it was something they avoided discussing. Even though she knew fashion was Olivia’s first love, Melody also knew Olivia would be great at whatever she did because she was so passionate. She just had to hope that someday Olivia would get over her fear and pursue her dreams.
“You could do it professionally,” Melody agreed. “You’re a terrific cook. But you’d have to go back to school.”
“Ew, that’s true.” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “And I’ve heard that chefs put in crazy hours, and it’s super stressful. I could do catering, though. I could run it right out of here, or even rent a spot.”
“You could…” Melody agreed again. “If that’s what you want to do, you know I’ll support you.”
“I know you will.” Olivia’s smile was so affectionate it made Melody’s heart ache. “But it’s not really what I want to do, and we both know it.” She slumped against the counter as if all the air had gone out of her, and sighed heavily. “I just don’t know, Mel.”
“Oh, honey.” Melody reached out to run a soothing hand over Olivia’s bowed head. “You do know, you’re just not quite ready. And that’s fine. You’re in a unique situation right now. You’ve been given a chance to start over, and you have more money than you know what to do with. You can take the time to explore different things and decide if you want them to be a hobby or a