Tuesday Tales - Leaf

 

Howdy do! Welcome! This week we have more of the kicker's story using the word prompt "leaf". Don't forget to visit all the authors. Find their stories HERE.  Comments are always welcome. Thanks for stopping by. 

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"Tyler! Did you give that to Merrily Adams?" Uncle Charlie's tone was anything but friendly.

"Yep." Tyler cut a piece of ham and stabbed it with his fork.

"Is that real?" His mother asked, her eyebrows drawn together.

"Yep."

The sharp intake of his mother's breath drew Tyler's gaze. "How could you give away something so expensive? It must have cost a fortune."

Arrogance drained from the kicker as he realized how his mother scraped by, counting every penny. It must has seem so frivolous, so wasteful to her. Sure, she could have done a dozen more sensible things with two grand. Shame filled him.

"Please tell me you didn't buy it for Merrily's Secret Santa." His mother's stare bored into him.

"No, no, Ma. I didn't."

"You must have bought it for a young lady. I'm guessing," Charlie said.

"I did. I don't want to talk about it."

"You never told me you were seeing anyone," His mother put down her fork. "What happened to her?"

Charlie put his hand on Connie's arm. "I can guess. Left you after you got fired?"

Tyler hung his head, avoiding his mother's gaze. "How'd you guess?"

"I've been out with a few women in my time," Charlie said.

"Oh, Ty! I didn't know." His mother's concern was almost worse than her anger.

"I'm all right. Okay. Yeah. She took off before I finished cleaning out my locker."

"That bitch!" Connie's lips joined in a thin line.

"Ma!" Tyler's eyes widened.

"My sentiments exactly," Charlie said. "You probably dodged a bullet. Better not to be married to this trash. No alimony."

"Exactly, Uncle Charlie. Exactly." Even if he figured this as another failure of his, they didn't see it that way. Relief flooded Tyler.

"Her loss!" his mother sniffed. "More ham, son?" She reached for his plate.

"Thanks, Ma."

Connie smiled. "She's no more than a fall leaf in the wind, Son."

Christmas was turning out better than he'd expected. While his mother refilled his plate, he watched Merrily. He smiled to himself. At least he'd made someone's Christmas happy. That stupid necklace. Sure caused a stir. He chuckled. Who'd have guessed? He watched Merrily talk with her family and munch on a brownie, pretending she wasn't sneaking peeks of him. But he saw and it pleased him. Damn, at least he did something right.

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "NAIL"

 

Welcome! We have another episode of "The Kicker" today. Remember to read all the wonderful stories. You'll find them HERE. Thanks for stopping by. 

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Charlie nodded. "Oh, it's real all right. It's real." He shook his head. "Foolish." 

Merrily looked over at Tyler, who immediately looked away. "I get it." She nodded. Was he the guy at the lake, watching her? Her gaze ran up and down his physique. Yep. Sure looked like the guy. But why would he do that? 

"Tyler, huh?" It only took one more look to realize this guy wasn't going to admit anything. Anyone else would be clamoring to take credit for such an exquisite gift. But not Tyler Bentley. Why? And why give it to her? He barely knew her.

Intrigued, she made up her mind to find out why. What did the diamond heart mean? Surely he couldn't have bought it for her, he barely knew her. And he didn't know she'd be here. With a sharp intake of breath, she got it.

"What's wrong?" Courtney asked.

"Nothing."

Clear as ice. He must have bought it for someone else. Someone who wouldn't want it now, or maybe didn't even know about the necklace. Someone he didn't want to give it to. Maybe an ex-girlfriend who died? Or ran off with a linebacker? Merrily chuckled to herself. This necklace was meant as a token of love to someone who either wasn’t around to get it or didn't want it.

Sneaking another peek at him, she sensed warmth spread through her chest. Maybe he'd been dumped just like she had. Her heart squeezed. Tyler Bentley. Who would have thought it, right? Tyler Bentley, pro football player, tossed out like an empty pizza box? Couldn't be.

Still, why would he put an expensive piece of jewelry up as a Secret Santa gift? Did he mean it for her? Was he trying to tell her something? The heat in her chest rose to her cheeks. Damn. He must have been the guy watching her skate at the lake. Did he have a crush on her or something? No way. No way. She shook her head.

"Come on, come on. Give it to me. You gotta wear this. It's too beautiful to stay in the box." Courtney eased the necklace around her sister's neck.

"It's almost obscene," Connie said to Charlie.

"It's the givers prerogative. He can give it to whoever he wants," Charlie said.

"How do you know it's a 'he'? Maybe it's some old lady who doesn't have daughters and wanted to pass along this beautiful necklace she got from her husband? Hmm, Charlie?" Merrily narrowed her eyes and stared at him.

Charlie's colored got redder. "Connie, more eggnog?" He took her cup and hightailed it to the drink table. Then she knew she'd nailed it.

Merrily laughed.

"What have you been up to, Merrily Adams? Why is that young man giving you such a..such an intimate gift?" Connie put her hands on her hips.

"I have no idea, Mom. But I'm going to find out." She fingered the pendant.

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT

 

Welcome! This is picture prompt week. I've written another episode of "The Kicker" to this picture of a diamond heart necklace. I'm only allowed 300 words. Don't forget to visit the other authors and read their delightful stories. Find them HERE. Thanks for visiting. Don't forget to leave a comment. I love those. 

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Merrily's hair bounced as she strode over to claim her Secret Santa gift. The small box reminded her of one that might hold an engagement ring she'd hoped for from her former skating partner. Instead, he gave her two tickets to The Ice Capades.

She sighed on her way back to the table.

"What is it? Looks like an engagement ring," Courtney said reaching for it.

Merrily snatched it away, out of her reach. "It's for me."

"Secret admirer proposing to you as Secret Santa? Now there's a story line!" Courtney laughed and typed a note into her phone.

"I doubt it." Merrily ripped the paper off. She opened the white box slowly. Nestled in a bed of cotton sat a diamond heart outline pendant. The chain matched the silvery gleam of the tiny diamonds. "Oh my God! Diamonds?" Slowly, Merrily lifted the necklace from the box. 

"Can't be. Must be fake," Courtney said, grabbing the gift and holding it close to her eyes. "Looks like the real thing. Who would give this to you?"

"Secret Santa, remember? I have no idea."

Marge and Charlie wandered over. "What did ya get, Merrily?" Marge asked.

"This necklace. Looks like real diamonds."

"Can't be. Must be perfect fakes. Nobody gives anyone something like this in a Secret Santa." Marge fingered the jewel. "Not in Pine Grove, anyways."

Merrily watched as Charlie picked up the discarded wrapping. As he fingered the smooth s paper, his cheeks colored.

"You know who it's from, don't you Charlie?" Merrily put her hand on his arm.

"Nope. No idea." He looked away.

"Yes, you do. Tell me."

"Would just be a wild guess, anyway. Besides, it's supposed to be secret."

"Aw, come on Charlie. I want to know if it's real."

Merrily saw him glance at his nephew.

TUESDAY TALES - "NASTY" WORD PROMPT

 

Welcome! This week we have another excerpt from "The Kicker." Don't forget to visit all the Tuesday Tales authors HERE, Thanks for stopping by. 

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Charlie parked the car, took the plate of cookies, and Marge's elbow, helping her across the nasty, slick ice coating the firehouse parking lot. Tyler picked up the bag and followed along behind. Once inside, his mother and uncle were greeted by their friends.

When she hurried over to the dessert table, she drew a small crowd. As she placed the confections down, she laughed with her friends. Tyler watched from across the room. He loved her too much to be jealous, but his heart ached to have the same welcome from friends in his life.

His teammates weren't beating down his door to wish him happy holiday. Most of them shot him looks of disgust as he cleaned out his locker. He'd let them down big time. No one else had fucked up as badly as Tyler. In football there's no bigger pariah than a loser. He'd gone from winner to loser in a matter of minutes. From savior to saboteur, from star to the bottom of the barrel in two quarters.

For the first time he'd doubted his own talent. He'd had two teams negotiating with him before he picked the Las Vegas Gamblers. He shook his head. What a mistake! He'd thought that Las Vegas would be a much better city to live in than Pittsburgh. Hah, he'd been totally wrong.

He'd almost considered moving back to Pittsburgh and going back to Rugger's, the bar he frequented when playing for the Bulls. He discarded the idea. No matter how nice they'd be, and he knew they would try to ignore his disaster, no one wants to hang around a failure. So he'd stayed in Pine Grove. Now he'd have to face the people there.

He picked up the bag and walked quickly over to the Christmas tree. One-by-one he pulled out the Secret Santa gifts. His small package was last. He held it in his hand for a moment. Pain seared through him. He'd counted on Brittany. Another mistake. He sighed. That package had represented so many hopes for the future. Now it was simply a Secret Santa bauble. He tossed it on the pile, folded up the shopping bag and looked for a chair. He found one in the corner and plopped his sorry ass down.

"Didn't you get any food?" His mother wandered over.

He shook his head. He had no appetite.

"They have all your favorites. Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans. Even Cassie McKay's cranberry relish!"

"I'm not hungry, Mom."

"I'll get you a plate. Just wait here."

"Thanks, but I'm really not…"

"Don't think you're gonna get fed like this at home! Go on, then. Get your own plate. You can't mope around with that attitude all the time and quit eating. Whatever it is, let it go for now, will you? It's Christmas." 

He looked toward the food table. Was that Uncle Charlie? The man was laughing, gesturing, and chatting like he was thirty years younger. Tyler narrowed his eyes.

"I'll be damned," he muttered to himself as he wandered across the room. Charlie was flirting with  Madge Adams, Courtney's mother. Tyler chuckled to himself. Those Adams women held the Bentley men in the palm of their hand.