"I spent a few years in the trade. It was long enough to know that it wasn't something I'd be happy with long-term." I grinned. "But I've still got th... chops!" I got up, noting "Back to the trenches. Now the real work begins."I started some pans with water heating over the stove. I turned into 'Mac the Magic Bubble Dancer'. I had drying pots, pans, plates and bowls stacked over every damned place in the kitchen. I had Mark get one of the buffet tables out of the barn for more drying space. Once. .. j-just stop it!" Melinda cried, her eyes glistening. "You haven't done this since the summer! You're not like this anymore!" Oh, really? Then why am I here? Why am I doing all the things you claim I stopped doing?" Because you're not fucking real!" Melinda screamed as tears trickled down her face. "You're some sort of stupid fucking figment of my own mind! You're just a memory, that's all!"Heather laughed, and it was all Melinda could do not to pummel the vision with her fists. "I'm as real. I snapped out of it and asked her, “What is the matter?”She said that she needed to make a call to her husband and her phone had died. Well, we all men are just waiting for the opportunity to invite them in and fuck them hard. But one step at a time though.So I handed over my phone and she made her call. Later she told me that her husband was out of town for a day. I was just controlling myself from pouncing on her even though that outfit was driving me crazy.I asked her to stay for dinner and. I should get to work.I spent the next three hours updating some clients, taking their calls, making new deals and just letting my ear get warm next to the phone. I swear, sometimes I feel like an overpaid shrink listening to all their nonsense. But that's part of the job and I learned that many years ago. Now I just listen while the clock ticks and bill them for consultation time. And they pay me. Why, you ask? You see, the thing is, I always deliver. I'm worth every penny I earn.I was just.