TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SCOUT" - MORE OF "TOO LATE FOR GOODBYE"

Welcome! Times for Tuesday Tales again. We have another short episode of "Too Late for Goodbye" today. The book is chugging along. I'm expecting it to be published in later March. Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by. 

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“Baseball is all Ethan can talk about since we got home from Pine Grove. He’s begging me to take him to a game.”

“Really?”

“You had quite an impact on him. I think he really misses his father.”

“Understandable. We have a local minor league team. The Jefferson Jaguars. If you want to come out, I’ll scout up tickets.”

“Really? That would be fantastic.”

“Consider it done. Just give me a couple of dates.”

“I’ll text you.”

Marty lost track of time. Playing ball with Ethan, helping with the barbecue and cleaning up afterward ate up his afternoon. By eight o’clock he was on the bus. His phone rang.

“I’ve texted you twenty times. Called you five. Where the fuck have you been?”

“Oh, Flint. I’m sorry. I had my phone in my briefcase.”

“Wonderful. I was ready to call the FBI and report you missing! Listen, you dick, don’t ever do this to me again.”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have called. I’m on the bus now.”

“I hope the sex was good. Tell me that at least the sex was good.”

“There was no sex. I played ball with her son and listened to knock-knock jokes from her daughter, Sophie, ate homemade soup, two hot dogs and a hamburger.”

“Jesus! No sex?”

“You heard me.”

Flint chuckled. “Sounds like you had a great time.”

“And I brought in some business, too. I think she’s going to use us.”

“You didn’t give her a quote yet, did you?”

“Nope, but whatever she gets, we’re going lower.”

“Oh, really?”

“Even if I have to make up the difference myself.”

He heard laughter. “From my tight-fisted brother, that’s love.”

Marty chuckled. “Can’t talk. I’m on the bus. Pulling in at ten thirty.”

“I’ll be there.”

Click. Flint hung up. Marty stared out the window, but all he saw were lights in people’s windows in large apartment buildings. Families, husbands, wives, kids –reading bedtime stories, washing up, getting ready for sleep. Men and women, preparing for love. He sighed. Loneliness washed over him. Didn’t matter what time he got home –except for his brother, no one knew where he was or even cared.

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TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT WEEK - MORE OF "TOO LATE FOR GOODBYE."

 

Welcome! This week is picture prompt week. We can only write 300 words on our stories. This is another episode of "Too Late for Goodbye."  I hope you like it. Comments are always welcome. Scrodd down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by. 

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Marty couldn’t remember the last time he’d drunk a glass of milk.

“Milk?” Jen met his gaze with her pretty blues.

“Sure.”

“Goes great with brownies.”

What the hell was he doing? Staying at her house after their meeting. Accepting an invitation to their backyard barbecue? He’d been tossing a ball with Ethan and laughing at Sophie’s knock-knock jokes. Now they’d be sharing Jen’s homemade brownies and milk.

“Milk goes so great with brownies.” She filled four glasses.

Don’t get comfortable. You’d make a lousy father. It’s a ready-made family you don’t need. 

And he could hear his brother’s words already.

“What the hell are you doing, Marty? She’s got two kids. Somebody else’s kids. I get you want to sleep with her but do it and leave.”

But he didn’t want to leave. He liked brownies and milk. Sure, she’s as hot as beach sand in August. But she’s simply so goddamn nice. Yeah, nice. Nice wears well, it lives well – you could still love nice a hundred years from now.

Stop getting ahead of yourself. Have a good time and don’t overthink it, like you usually do. She seems to like you. Eat the brownies, drink the milk, and shut up.

He vowed to listen to his inner self this time. She sat down for a moment. Marty covered her hand with his. How could a busy mom’s skin be so soft? Glancing down he saw a delicate, but strong capable hand.

A blush stole up her neck, pinking her cheeks. The warm color highlighted her beauty. A vulnerability seeped from her pores right to his heart. Damn, he wanted to kiss her.

“Everyone loves milk with brownies,” he said, almost in a whisper.

 He brought her hand to his lips.

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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "DEEPEN"

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! The word prompt is "deepen". We another episode of  "Too Late fr Goodbye"  Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by. 

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She opened the folder and displayed an eye-catching logo and front page. “This is just a mock-up done by the art director. We haven’t gotten all the articles in yet. We’re only missing like three.”

“May I?” he asked reaching for the front page.

She nodded.

Marty turned the pages carefully. He had only been polite before when he said it was brilliant. Truth was he thought it was a little wacky. Kind of like her, but in a good way. As he read the headlines each one gripped his attention, made him want to read the story. Maybe she had something? Sure, it was a little cuckoo, but who wouldn’t prefer good news with their morning coffee?

 When he reached the end, he met her gaze. Damn, she wore her heart on her sleeve. He could see anxiety in her eyes, the desire for his approval. Relieved he could do what she needed,  he spoke. “To be honest, at first I thought the idea was a little, well, strange? Odd, maybe. But after reading the headlines, well, it sucked me in. I’d definitely read this. Much better way to start my day than reading about crooked politicians and murderers, right?”

Her face lit up like someone trained a theatre spotlight on it.

“Exactly what I thought.”

“I mean, some days it’s hard enough to get out of bed. Then to face the morning paper?” Tiny lines next to her mouth deepened. “You start  your day ticked off, mad at the world. Not a good thing.”

He thought what would she know about angry? She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. And so the words slipped out, accidentally.

“What would you know about anger? You’re the most cheerful person I know.” He finished his soup.

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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "ANXIOUS" - MORE OF "TOO LATE FOR GOODBYE"

 

Welcome! This week's word prompt is "anxious." We have another episode of "Too Late for Goodbye." Marty is in Jen's home to give her a printing quote. Or is he there to ask her out? You decide. Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. 

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Jen ladled out a big bowl of soup and placed it in front of him. Then she popped some bread into the toasted.

“I love toast with soup. I’ll be right back.”  She left the room.

The steaming bowl smelled heavenly. He filled his spoon, then blew on it. The first taste was amazing. Carrots? Ginger? Whatever it was, it was delicious. Jen called in from another room, chattering away. He couldn’t make out most of what she said, which made him anxious.

“Here it is. Here. Look at this.” She held a huge folder, specially made to hold the project, he figured. She laid it on the table and opened it.

“See? It’s a newspaper.”

“A newspaper?” He raised his eyebrows. “You want me to print a newspaper?”

“Not just any newspaper. It’s only for good news. See?  The masthead? It’s says ‘Good News”.” The toast popped up.

“Did you write this?”

“Oh no. I wrote the editor’s column. My friends, parents at the kids’ school wrote the rest. It’s really good. Stories from all over. But just happy stories. Stories with good endings. Nothing negative.” She buttered it and put two more pieces in.

“A good news newspaper? Brilliant.”

She shot him a smile that would melt a glacier. He felt heat all the way to his toes.

“A lot of people thought it was dumb. But I did it anyway.” She put one piece on his plate and one on hers.  

“I don’t think it’s dumb at all.” He picked up the toast.

“Good. Then you can help me. I have money.”

‘Okay. Let’s talk specifics.”

She plopped down on a chair. “I’m glad you’re taking me seriously. Not everyone does.”

Marty ripped off a piece of toast. “Who said a beautiful woman can’t have brains, too?”

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