TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "BRIGHT"

 

Welcome! This week we have more of Robbie & Dale's story, though we are winding down. There will probably only be one or maybe two more episodes of this tale before it ends in a huge twist. You'll have to wait for the book to come out to find out what happens. But in the meantime, let's trot alongside Robbie & Dale during their courtship. Don't forget to visit the other authors and read their wonderful stories. Find them HERE

At the jewelry store

“Cold feet? Groom? Wait a minute…” Robbie sensed blood draining from his head. Lightheaded, he stumbled to a chair and fell in, almost knocking it over. “Groom,” he muttered.

“Of course. Of course. But if you’ve picked the right young lady, you won’t be backing out.”

“If. Yeah, if.” Robbie muttered, lowering his head between his knees.

“If she agrees,” Tuffer added. “Come on, Rob. It’s okay. You’ll be okay.”

“Do you need a glass of water?” The man asked, snatching the credit card off the counter and folding a firm grip around the ring box.

“Might be a good idea,” Tuffer said.

Robbie lay back against the chair and closed his eyes against the brilliant light from the spotlight in the ceiling. The room spun, so he opened them quickly.

“Come on, Robbie. You said you loved the girl. Think about sleeping with her every night.”

Robbie laughed. Leave it to Tuffer to come up with a practical way to jolt him out of his faint. “Yeah. Right.” He took a deep breath. 

“If you’re going to chicken out, do it now, before you break the young lady’s heart,” the man said, his voice cold.

Robbie straightened up. “No sir. Not going to chicken out. She’s the right girl. And marriage is the right way. Just got a little nervous. But I’m fine now. I’ll take the ring.”

“Good.” The man disappeared intp the back room and returned with the ring and Robbie’s credit card. “Here you go, sir. And I wish you good luck and many happy years together. I hope you’ll come back soon to choose your wedding bands.”

Robbie pocketed the small box and his card. “Thanks.”

“Can’t believe you actually did it,” Tuffer said. “Let’s celebrate. Dinner is on me.”

“Sorry. Can’t. Having dinner with Dale.”

“Going to propose tonight?” The two men strolled down the sidewalk to Robbie’s car.

“Maybe. I want to set the stage. You know. Go someplace special.”

“You worried she’s going to turn you down?”

“Maybe.” He started the motor.

“Okay. Then a drink at The Savage Beast?”

“Sure. Why not?” Robbie pulled out and did a u-turn heading for the bar. At the stoplight, he phoned Dale.

“I’m heading to The Beast with Tuffer. Can you meet me there and then we’ll go to dinner?”

“Sure,” she said. He ended the conversation and hit the gas pedal.

****

 The Beast? Oh no. No, no, no. Dale had managed to keep Robbie away from that bar while they were dating. But now he was headed there. Trunk Mahoney was sure to be hanging out. Crap! She had to get there and warn Trunk not to mention the bet. In fact, she had to cancel the bet, if it wasn’t too late.

That's all for today, folks. Thanks for stopping by. 

Tuesday Tales - Word Prompt "Dirt"

Howdy! Welcome!        

This week we have another episode of Robbie's story. He's home from his magical Thanksgiving with Dale and her family and off to shop for an engagement ring with his good friend, Tuffer Demson. Although the road to true love looks smooth from this vantage point, things may change in the near future...

Don't forget to stop by and read the fabulous stories by the other Tuesday Tales authors. Find their stories HERE. Thanks for stopping by. 

 Robbie arrive home from the airport late. He awoke at eight the next morning. He dressed,  pulling on a warmer jacket. He hurried along to the coffee shop on Main Street to meet his buddy, Tuffer Demson -- for breakfast, then ring shopping. 

When Robbie arrived, Tuffer’s large frame had already filled one side of a booth. Robbie slid into the other side and gave his order for coffee to the waitress.

“This is a fucking miracle,” Tuffer said, digging into a stack of hotcakes.

“I know, right?” Robbie added milk to his beverage.

“Yeah. Boy are the guys gonna shit bricks.” Tuffer grinned and shook his head.

“Don’t tell them. Let me surprise Dale first, okay?”

“There's already plenty of dirt going around about you and Dale., but whatever you say. You’re da man!” Tuffer added more syrup to his breakfast.

Anxiety mixed with excitement in his blood. Fear mixed with anticipation of happiness and his body didn’t know how to react – flight, adrenaline and out the door, or increased pulse and heading to the jewelry store. The love side won. Robbie hurried  down the block, dragging Tuffer behind him.

“Gotta get there when the store opens,” Robbie said, puffing from the exertion and the cold Connecticut air. When he opened the shop door, a man came out from the back.

“Good morning, Gentlemen, can I help you?”

Robbie froze. Words caught in his throat as the flight side pulled ahead.

“Yeah. Sure. My friend is looking for an engagement ring,” Tuffer said, nudging the kicker.

“For you?” The man gazed directly at the linebacker.

“No, no. For his girlfriend. He’s gonna pop the question.”

“May I ask how much you wish to spend?” The man said, pulling out a tray of small rings.

“Oh, no. Those are too small,” Robbie said, shaking his head.

“What did you have in mind?”

“How big can I get for ten grand?”

The man’s eyes widened and so did his grin. “For that amount you can get a beautiful, impressive ring. Diamond? Ruby? Emerald?”

“Diamond.” 

Robbie held his breath as he chose the diamond, not having any idea what tempest awaited him.

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT WEEK

 

Welcome! This week is picture prompt week. I picked the ring. Hint, hint, why!! Lol. Yes, Robbie and Dale's story continues. Hop on over to read the great Tuesday Tales stories and see the pictures they're writing to HERE. Thanks for stopping by!

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“Let’s see. Hmm. I don’t want to be away from you. When I am, I miss you and wonder when you’re going to be with me and hope it’s soon. I care what you think of me, so I try to improve my behavior. I think about you all the time and what I can do to make you happy. I feel totally comfortable with you. I love your honesty, even if it hurts. I trust you – which is huge for me. And I want to touch you, kiss you, and make love to you every hour of the day. Is that love?”

“Say something,” he said.

“You nailed it.”

He grinned. “Now you. How do you feel about me?”

“Ditto.”

He laughed. “Come on! A smart girl like you can do better than that.”

She pushed her chair back. “I’m not comfortable doing this.” Robbie grabbed her wrist.

“Oh no. You’re not getting away. You think I was comfortable? But you asked. Now I’m asking.

She plopped down in her chair and fidgeted with a napkin. “I admit I love you, too.”

“Really? You’re not just saying that?”

She smiled. “You know me. I’m honest. Brutal.”

“True.” He picked up their plates and headed for the kitchen. Dale followed. Upon entering, she spied Barbara and Ralph, quiet as mice, their ears to the doorway.

“Is there no privacy in this house?” Dale raised her voice.

Ralph wiped his eyes, hugged Robbie, and scooted out the back door, with Barbara right behind. Staring at Barbara’s gorgeous ring, Robbie got ideas.

He laughed. “That’s family!”

“That’s nosy parents who want to run your life.” Dale grumbled, frowning.

“Be grateful you have them.”   

“I am, most of the time,” she said, snaking her arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder.

 

TUESDAY TALES - TOUGH

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! We're back with Robbie and Dale this week.  Our word prompt is "tough". When you finished my story, hop on over to the other authors to read their works. Find them HERE. 

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Dale couldn’t believe her ears. Robbie wanted a family? When did this metamorphosis take place?“Since I see how happy a family can be, like yours,” he said.

Silence. Her parents glanced at each other over the table before making flimsy excuses to leave. They pushed to their feet, grabbed the dishes, and fled to the kitchen. Robbie kept eating. He finished his sandwich, then polished off the sweet potatoes left on his plate. Dale continued to stare.

“Is that so?”

“A guy can change his mind.”

“Really?” She raised her eyebrows.

“I’ve never seen how a normal family is. I like it.”

“Oh, and now, all of a sudden, you want one of your own? Like that ice cream cone looks good, Mommy. Buy me one, too?” Dale picked at the food remaining on her plate. 

“That’s harsh. Aren't you being a little tough on me?”

“Having a family like mine takes work. Tons of commitment. And patience. Don’t think my parents always get along. Sometimes they don’t. But they’ve stuck it out…together. Now you’re willing to do that?”

Robbie took her hand in both of his. “I could do it if I had a woman like you.”

“Me?” Her voice went up an octave.

“Yes. You’d be worth it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes wetted. “Do you mean that or are you just saying it to please my family?”

“You should know me well enough now to know I’d never do that. I don’t give a rats ass what most people think. But I do care what you think of me. What do you think of me?”

Dale freed her hand and sat back. “What do I think? I think there are many layers to you. That you’ve been dealt a bad hand in life regarding family. A winning hand in football, but a definite loser in relationships.”

“That’s pretty accurate.”

“And so? What do you think of me?” she asked.

He reclaimed her hand and held it to his lips. “I think you are a rare gem. One that comes along maybe once in a lifetime. And I’m in love with you.”

“What?” She jumped to her feet. “No way. You’ve told me you’ve never been in love.”

“Right. I haven’t. But I am now.”

“And you know that how?” She returned to her seat.

                           

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That's all. Thanks for stopping by.