Freelancer's Nightmare

Well, it finally happened. The thing I had heard about happening to other people but never thought would happen to me.  

My phone rang this morning from a number I didn't recognize while I was on a Facebook call with another client.  I ignored it.  They called again and I ignored it.   Then I finished the first call and they called for a third time.  

Her: "Hey, Tim.  Just checking to see if you're almost here."

Me: (pause) "I'm coming down this afternoon.  The talk is tomorrow, right?"

Her: (desperation in voice) "No.  It's today. Where are you now?"

Me: (squirming): "Oh no.  I'm at home." (doing furious travel calculations in my head)

Her: "Can you get here in an hour?"

Me: "I'm so sorry.  No, that's impossible."

Her: Ok, I.. uh.. ok... I have to.. umm.. talk to you later."

I blew it.  I missed the talk by writing the wrong day on my calendar.  She sent me the right date, I just wrote down another day and made that my reality.  I sent her a message lamely offering to Skype in but she didn't reply.  I don't blame her.  She was probably furiously (two meanings) scanning the audience for someone who could jump in and save the day.

Totally my fault.  Lost wages. Lost hotel fee.  Working on cancelling the train ticket.  But that's just money.  Will this client ever trust me again?  That's the real nightmare.