I\u2019d politely declined, comfortable with the modest nest egg I\u2019d built through careful saving and conservative investments, but I\u2019d been touched by her concern. Or at least, I\u2019d thought it was concern.<\/p>\n
Now, driving through the Dallas twilight toward Rick Brennan\u2019s studio in the arts district, I wondered what I\u2019d missed. What signs had I been too blind or too desperate to see?<\/p>\n
Rick\u2019s studio occupied a converted warehouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed brick walls, the kind of space that screamed expensive and artistic. When I arrived, the parking lot was nearly empty, and through the windows I could see Rick pacing behind his desk, running his hands through his hair in a gesture that spoke of sleepless nights and heavy decisions.<\/p>\n
He looked up when I pushed through the door, and even from across the room I could see the dark circles under his eyes, the unkempt beard, the rumpled shirt that suggested he\u2019d been wearing it for more than one day\u201cMrs. Thompson.\u201d He stood quickly, almost knocking over his chair. \u201cThank you for coming. I\u2019ve been agonizing over whether to call you for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019d politely declined, comfortable with the modest nest egg I\u2019d built through careful saving and conservative investments, but I\u2019d been touched by her concern. Or at least,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n