The Tales of Nick: The Seduction of Sera by Steve Wilhelm

Posted on Friday, September 13, 2013

PART ONE

Chapter One

Traffic in downtown Seattle was congested and slow, which gave me ample time to tell Barry about my collision with the woman on the ferry.

“I’m telling ya, she was beautiful, Barry,” I said. “She was absolutely and amazingly, gorgeous!”

“So your future wife literally fell into your life. How come the cool stuff always happens to you?” Barry was putting on a show, trying to act like a jealous kid.

“Future wife, ha! Although . . . nah, I seriously doubt I’ll see her again. Chance encounters are just like that. The odds of running into her again in the big city would be . . . I’m sure, absolutely slim!”

“Well, you never know, do you?” Barry mused. “You’ve been on a pretty good roll lately. Anything could happen.”

“I definitely wouldn’t mind. I mean, seeing her again,” I said.

“Seeing her, or seeing her?” Barry asked with a wink.

“Keep your eyes on the road, Barry,” I said, with a smile. “I don’t want to be late.”

“That answers my question,” Barry said. “And not to worry, we are already here, safe and sound.”

I was amazed to see there was an open parking spot on the street in front of Elliot Bay Book Company, where the signing was being held. Barry expertly parallel parked and shut off the ignition.

“Maybe for your next book, we’ll be doing this in style, like with a limo!” Barry said.

“Hey, I just want to get through today,” I reminded him. “One day at a time, remember?”

We went inside and found the manager, who led us to the event area. There was a table set up with stacks of books and a life-size cardboard display of myself next to the table, holding a copy of the book. I thought it was downright creepy, but who was I to argue with Sue, who had put the whole thing together. If it helped to sell my book, then I was all for it.

After about an hour of signing and answering questions, I was longing for a break. I put down my Sharpie and shook my right hand with vigor, trying to get some blood circulating into my stiff fingers. It wasn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon, I thought. Better than wasting the day on a couch, playing channel surfer. Signing copies and speaking with people was relatively easy. I was selling books and marketing myself at the same time. It was also a great way to see what people thought of my work.

Most had positive things to say, though there were a few oddballs. One older couple, both excited to get my autograph, started out by telling me what a great job I had done but then began to berate me about my obvious lack of knowledge in regard to Mark Twain. I told them my book had nothing to do with Mr. Twain and they stormed away, leaving me quite perplexed and just a little dumbfounded. Go figure.

“Here, I thought you could use this,” Barry said, as he came over with a cold bottle of water.

“Don’t think I don’t appreciate it, but couldn’t you have brought me something stronger?” Barry raised his eyebrows. “With a little more of a kick? Like a Mt. Dew or a Jolt Cola?”

“Do they even make Jolt Cola anymore?” Barry asked and laughed.

“I’m just kidding,” I sighed. “The water is fine, thanks.”

“It appears things are going well, Nick. I think you’ve sold quite a few books.” Barry remarked, as he looked over the figures on the sales sheet.

“That’s the goal, my friend. That and the publicity,” I said. “So when are you planning on buying your own copy . . . oh, look! There’s one right here!” I gestured to the copies all around the table.

“I’m absolutely shocked!” Barry said, in mock defiance, “That you would even suggest that I, your best friend, not to mention your biggest supporter would have to buy a copy!” He sank to his knees in front of the table and put his head face down, pretending to sob. Then he stood back up and smiled. “Besides, in the year you were writing the book, I can say I read it at least five or six times.”

“And I appreciated it every time,” I said. “I was just kidding about you buying a copy.”

“Of course, I knew that. But, just to let you know, I already bought one.”