It’s hump day, so excerpt day! Happy to be able to post this one despite being behind on schedule 🙂

Like I mentioned on the community, I might not make my Saturday deadline for early listening this week. Blame the virus that found a way into my sinuses… Ugh!

(If you’re thinking ‘Boy, does she have a cold every month?!’…that’s what I’m thinking. Starting to wonder if it’s the air pollution in this city :/)

Hope you have a wonderful last days of the week and I will see you on this blog again for the full episode ASAP!

Sigrid

“Suzy, can you come in here for a second?”

“Yeah, sure, in a minute.”

Hannah stared at her phone. The screen was off. It had been 24 long hours since Milly had hung up on her. Hannah hadn’t heard from her since.

“I can’t believe she’s doing this,” Hannah thought. She didn’t know if she was shocked, hurt, angry or all of the above.

She knew what she had done wrong. She had underestimated the impact of what she had told Milly yesterday. But did Milly really have to give her the silent treatment?

Hannah had thought she was doing the right thing. As soon as she knew her mother was coming over, Hannah had seen no other option than to tell Milly.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Suzy asked.

Hannah looked up at her assistant. “Yes. Can you close the door, please?” she asked.

Suzy raised her eyebrows. Hannah made an impatient gesture towards the door. Suzy rolled her eyes and pushed the door shut.

“Ok, I think I did something really stupid,” Hannah said before Suzy had the time to sit down.

Suzy walked over slowly, an amused grin on her face. “Business or personal?” she asked.

Hannah drummed her fingers on the phone. “Personal.”

She was starting to second-guess her decision to talk to Suzy. They were friends, sure, but maybe this topic was just too personal to discuss with her.

Suzy looked down at Hannah’s hands. She gracefully lowered herself into the chair in front of Hannah’s desk.

“Friends or family?” she asked.

Hannah sucked on her lower lip. “Milly is more than a friend,” she thought. “But what is she then? My lover? My girlfriend?”

“Ooooh,” Suzy said. “I see. It’s about a girrrrrl.”

Hannah’s nostrils flared. “Seriously, Suzy, she’s not a girl.”

Suzy sat up in excitement, clapping her hands together.

“This sounds promising. Ok, spit it out. Who is she?”

Hannah glared at her.

“Oh come on, you gotta give me some information if you want me to help you.”

Hannah raised her hands. She really did need some help or advice. “Fine, fine.”

Suzy smiled brightly and waited.

“This does not leave this room, ok?” Hannah asked.

Suzy shook her head solemnly. “Taking it to my grave.”

Hannah ran a shaky hand through her hair. “It’s Mildred North.”

Suzy grinned.

Hannah frowned. “You don’t seem surprised?”

Suzy laughed. “Seriously? You actually believe I didn’t know? I thought you were just being dramatic.”

Hannah huffed. “What? But…I…”

Suzy crossed her legs. “The only thing that surprises me is that you told me so soon. I thought I’d have to walk in on you two before you would admit to anything.”

Hannah shook her head in confusion. She looked at her phone again. A million questions raced through her mind.

“You get this crazy smile on your face when you say her name. It wasn’t hard to guess what happened in Houston. So, what did you do? Staring at your phone won’t fix it, I’m guessing.”

Hannah’s cheeks turned red. She pushed the phone aside.

“It’s kind of my mother’s fault,” she said hesitantly.

Suzy stared at her. “Seriously, Hannah?”

“Wait, hear me out, ok?!”

Suzy raised her hands and leaned back.

“Ok, so you know how I hate opera? And that my mom has this foundation? Well, I guess it’s my foundation now. Anyway, my mother came up with a plan.”

Suzy raised her finger dramatically.

Hannah frowned. “What?”

“Can I ask a question?”

“Eh, yes…” Hannah replied dumbfounded.

“Is this about Lucile selecting Milly for the grant without an audition?”