Sammy in Italy (Single Wide Female Travels #2) by Lillianna Blake
Authors: Lillianna Blake
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disappointments in stride, we’ll never miss out on new opportunities.”
“What an awesome perspective. I guess I’ll keep on trying.” He sat back down in his chair.
After a few more questions, the session ended.
I sat down at the table to sign books for each of the attendants. It occurred to me, as I scribbled my name and a short message on the front flap of each book, that I’d forgotten all about Max not being there once the book signing had started.
When I was down to the last book, I looked up to find Alistair right in front of me.
“You still want me to sign a book?” The pen hovered over the flap.
“Yes, very much. I enjoyed your reading and the question and answer session. I saw the woman I’d hoped to meet when you were speaking to people who needed you.” He pushed the book closer to me. “Please sign it. I’m sure you will go on to write many other great works.”
“Thank you.” I jotted my signature and a short note to him about the difference he’d made in the lives of women with his bold fashion. When I handed the book back to him, he caught my hand between the cover and his palm for a moment.
“Are you going to bring that person on to the runway for me, Samantha?”
“Yes, sir.” I smiled at him.
As he walked away, my heart fluttered. Could I really? It was one thing to speak to a group of people who already admired my work; it was quite another to pretend to be a model in front of people who were accustomed to actual models.
I spent a little time mingling with fans under Isabella’s watchful eye. When the room finally cleared, she walked over to me.
“That was such a success. Would you be willing to do one more book signing the day after tomorrow?”
“Of course, anything you need. Do you think it went well?” I looked around at the last few people walking out of the room.
“Oh, absolutely. I think it’s so refreshing that not only is your book amazing, you really are able to deliver that same inspiration in person.” She shook her head. “I only wish I could bottle you.”
“That might be difficult.” I laughed. “But thank you. It’s funny, before I started the session I was a mess, but once it started everything changed.”
“It’s easy to get caught up in the drama of day-to-day life. Let it roll off your back. We have to get you to the dressing room!” She tugged me down a short hallway that led to another section of the building.
If I thought the book signing was packed, the amount of people present in the next room was overwhelming. Wall-to-wall well-dressed people were gathered there.
“Oh, no! No, I don’t think so.” I started to back away.
Isabella stuck her hand firmly against my lower back and guided me forward. “You’ll be fine. Remember? Once you get up there, you’ll be great!”
Chapter 15
Isabella’s words echoed through my mind, but my eyes blurred at the sight of the runway. She rushed me behind a curtain to a makeshift dressing room. In the small space there were six models. Each one was more slender and more perfect than the last. Was I really supposed to walk with these women? My dress might as well have been an elephant costume compared to what these women were wearing.
In the flurry of the preparations none seemed very friendly.
“Here’s your dress.” Isabella pointed to where it hung beside a tall mirror. “Daniella said the alterations will be perfect.”
I recalled Daniella’s lament about wardrobe malfunctions. How was I going to face the possibility that I might end up naked on the runway?
My eyes blurred for a different reason. Tears. Where was Max? I needed him to be there with me. I needed his easy smile and his perpetually supportive advice. I grasped my phone, prepared to call him, but before I could, Sue stepped up beside me.
“Let’s go. We have to get you in your dress. You’re the third one up”
“I’m what? Third? Why?” I could barely speak, as my breath was
“What an awesome perspective. I guess I’ll keep on trying.” He sat back down in his chair.
After a few more questions, the session ended.
I sat down at the table to sign books for each of the attendants. It occurred to me, as I scribbled my name and a short message on the front flap of each book, that I’d forgotten all about Max not being there once the book signing had started.
When I was down to the last book, I looked up to find Alistair right in front of me.
“You still want me to sign a book?” The pen hovered over the flap.
“Yes, very much. I enjoyed your reading and the question and answer session. I saw the woman I’d hoped to meet when you were speaking to people who needed you.” He pushed the book closer to me. “Please sign it. I’m sure you will go on to write many other great works.”
“Thank you.” I jotted my signature and a short note to him about the difference he’d made in the lives of women with his bold fashion. When I handed the book back to him, he caught my hand between the cover and his palm for a moment.
“Are you going to bring that person on to the runway for me, Samantha?”
“Yes, sir.” I smiled at him.
As he walked away, my heart fluttered. Could I really? It was one thing to speak to a group of people who already admired my work; it was quite another to pretend to be a model in front of people who were accustomed to actual models.
I spent a little time mingling with fans under Isabella’s watchful eye. When the room finally cleared, she walked over to me.
“That was such a success. Would you be willing to do one more book signing the day after tomorrow?”
“Of course, anything you need. Do you think it went well?” I looked around at the last few people walking out of the room.
“Oh, absolutely. I think it’s so refreshing that not only is your book amazing, you really are able to deliver that same inspiration in person.” She shook her head. “I only wish I could bottle you.”
“That might be difficult.” I laughed. “But thank you. It’s funny, before I started the session I was a mess, but once it started everything changed.”
“It’s easy to get caught up in the drama of day-to-day life. Let it roll off your back. We have to get you to the dressing room!” She tugged me down a short hallway that led to another section of the building.
If I thought the book signing was packed, the amount of people present in the next room was overwhelming. Wall-to-wall well-dressed people were gathered there.
“Oh, no! No, I don’t think so.” I started to back away.
Isabella stuck her hand firmly against my lower back and guided me forward. “You’ll be fine. Remember? Once you get up there, you’ll be great!”
Chapter 15
Isabella’s words echoed through my mind, but my eyes blurred at the sight of the runway. She rushed me behind a curtain to a makeshift dressing room. In the small space there were six models. Each one was more slender and more perfect than the last. Was I really supposed to walk with these women? My dress might as well have been an elephant costume compared to what these women were wearing.
In the flurry of the preparations none seemed very friendly.
“Here’s your dress.” Isabella pointed to where it hung beside a tall mirror. “Daniella said the alterations will be perfect.”
I recalled Daniella’s lament about wardrobe malfunctions. How was I going to face the possibility that I might end up naked on the runway?
My eyes blurred for a different reason. Tears. Where was Max? I needed him to be there with me. I needed his easy smile and his perpetually supportive advice. I grasped my phone, prepared to call him, but before I could, Sue stepped up beside me.
“Let’s go. We have to get you in your dress. You’re the third one up”
“I’m what? Third? Why?” I could barely speak, as my breath was
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