You Said It Would Only Be Temporary

A Romantic Comedy

Emily’s high-flying San Francisco life collapses during the 2008 recession. Adrift, she moves to beer-and-cowboy-boots Spokane and takes a 'temporary' phone job selling pet insurance. Emily fears telemarketing will be a nightmare, fears she won’t last, fears she will. Her hostile boss, Margaret, is a thorny twit. Yet, Emily finds connection with her quirky coworkers—a wannabe comic, an obsessed medical issues matron, and a casino addict.

Romance sparks with Harry, her Texan team leader. Their bond grows. But after Harry is fired, he reneges on a loan which causes Emily heartburn. After a series of interviews that could curdle milk, Emily decides rock bottom is a nice place to rethink her life choices. She finally understands she is the problem, not everyone else.

Feeling her life is in the toilet, Emily manages to finish writing a book and at her launch party, Harry returns. Was it temporary, or is this their true second chance?

©2026 Joan Kopczynski (P)2026 Joan Kopczynski