Page 30 of The Write Midlife

"That would be lovely, thank you," Elizabeth said, settling gracefully onto the couch.

As Melody bustled around the kitchen, she could feel Elizabeth's eyes on her. When she returned with the tea—the kind her mother used to love—Elizabeth accepted her cup with a nod of thanks.

"I imagine you're wondering why I'm here," Elizabeth began.

Melody sat across from her, clutching her own cup like a shield. "The thought had crossed my mind."

Elizabeth's lips quirked in a smile that was eerily reminiscent of Nate's. "I heard about your... disagreement with my son. And about the ghostwriting proposal."

Melody stiffened, preparing for another sales pitch. "Mrs. Carlisle, I?—"

Elizabeth held up a hand, cutting her off. "Please, call me Elizabeth. And I'm not here to convince you to take the deal. I'm here to offer you a different perspective."

Melody leaned back, intrigued despite herself. "I'm listening."

Elizabeth took a sip of her tea, her gaze sharp over the rim of the cup. "Melody, how much do you know about the history of Carlisle Publishing?"

“Not much, honestly. Just that it's been around for decades and it's one of the biggest names in the industry."

Elizabeth nodded. "It is now. But it didn't start that way. My father-in-law, Nate's grandfather, started this company with nothing but a love of books and a borrowed typewriter."

Melody found herself leaning forward, drawn in by the story. "Really? I had no idea."

"Oh yes," Elizabeth continued. "In those early days, Carlisle Publishing was known for taking risks on unconventional authors. Books that other publishers deemed too controversial or unmarketable."

"What changed?" Melody asked, genuinely curious.

Elizabeth's expression turned wistful. "Success, ironically enough. As the company grew, so did the pressure to maintain that growth. To focus on guaranteed bestsellers rather than potential literary gems."

Melody nodded, understanding dawning. "And that's where deals like this ghostwriting thing come in."

"Exactly. It's not ideal, I know. But it's a way to fund the riskier projects, the books that might not be commercial successes but are important nonetheless."

Melody chewed her lip, considering Elizabeth's words. "I get that, I do. But why me? Why not just hire actual ghostwriters?"

Elizabeth's eyes twinkled. "Because, my dear, you have a gift. A unique voice that shines through even in the most commercial of stories. Nate sees that. It's why he fought so hard for this deal."

"Nate fought for it? I thought... I thought he was just following orders."

Elizabeth laughed, a rich, warm sound. "Oh, Melody. If there's one thing you should know about my son, it's that he rarely does anything just because he's told to. He believes in you, in your talent. Perhaps more than you realize."

A wave of warmth spread through Melody as she recalled the intensity in Nate's eyes during their argument. "I... I didn't know."

"Of course you didn't," Elizabeth said gently. "Nate can be... Well, let's just say he didn't inherit his father's gift for smooth talking. But his heart is in the right place."

Melody sat back, her mind whirling. Could she have misjudged Nate so completely? "So what now? I still don't think I can do this ghostwriting thing. It goes against everything I believe in as a writer."

Elizabeth set down her cup, leaning forward. "Now, you have a choice. You can walk away, stick to your principles. There's honor in that. Or..."

"Or?"

"Or you can see this as an opportunity. A chance to learn, to grow, to reach readers you might never have reached otherwise.And who knows? You might find a way to bring your unique voice to even the most commercial of stories."

Melody let out a long breath, feeling the anger that had been fueling her all day start to dissipate. "I... I need to think about this."

Elizabeth stood, smoothing her impeccable suit. "Of course you do. Take your time. But Melody?"

Melody looked up at her, struck by the warmth in her expression. "Yes?"