HIS CHUBBY STEPDAUGHTER
All the noise around the blog… Nathan’s mockery, Celeste’s prying, my own private doubts about names and visibility… fell away under the simple fact of being seen for the work itself.
“Thoughts and work like that should be recognized and applauded,” Dr. Maximo said. “Especially in a time when negativity seems to travel faster than anything else. Which is why my team and I believe it would be fitting to have you, Michela Stewart, as one of the speakers at the forthcoming Gala Night.”
He paused, watching me carefully. “If you are interested, of course.”
The offer should have felt like a victory, like what I had wanted all this time. Part of it did. My heart felt like it had enlarged in size, a