Grace has not been feeling well—she took off from work yesterday. I stayed with her for a while, radiating comfort, and she seemed better in the afternoon.
Pamela has gone on two dates with Lee since their conversation. They have been nice dates, but she is in no hurry to make the relationship serious. He is aware of this and has not been pushing her. His feelings for her are true, and he has no wish to hurt her any more than she has been hurt. I think I will encourage her to talk a bit more about her history with men, so that Lee can understand why she is so wary.
I was proud of Shannon today. This morning she went into work with a thick file full of research, photographs, and information, and she thumped it down on Jace’s desk. “There,” she said. “There’s your exhibit.”
He was surprised, having forgotten about her idea, but on looking through what she had compiled, he was impressed. He asked that she draw up an official proposal so that he could present it to his supervisor, who is the one who makes decisions regarding exhibits. “It’ll probably only be a one- or two-night thing,” he said, “but if it goes over well, it would be great for both of us.”
“Do you think she’ll say yes?” Shannon asked.
Jace wasn’t going to promise anything, but I intervened, pointing out to him Shannon’s uncertainty and vulnerability as she waited for his answer. He leaned back in his chair and met her eyes. “Yes,” he said, “I do. Provided—” and he pushed the file back across his desk to her, “that you put together a rock-solid proposal.”
This was just the right thing to say. Shannon snatched up her file and bared her teeth at him in a grin. “Just you wait,” she said and stalked out of the office as if she were marching to battle.
I am glad that her energy has been restored. There is a great deal of work ahead of me if I am to make her spirit steady, but now I take to that work with a good heart. Now that I can see the good in her, I am excited to make it into something magnificent.