TUESDAY TALES - FINISH

 

Hello, and welcome! 

This week our word prompt is "finish". I swore to myself that I would keep the excerpt from "Too Late for Goodbye" clean, heh heh. So here it is. Marty learns more important info about Jenny this week. I hope you enjoy it. When you're done, hop on over to read the fabulous pieces by the other Tuesday Tales authors HERE. Thanks for stopping by. 

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“This is just a mock-up done by the art director. We haven’t gotten all the articles in yet.”

“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 grabbed 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 finished, he met her gaze. He could see anxiety in her eyes, the desire for his approval. He spoke. “To be honest, at first I thought the idea was a little, well, strange? Odd, maybe. But after reading the headlines, it sucked me in. I’d definitely read this. Much better way to start my day than reading about crooked politicians and mass murderers, right?”

“Exactly what I thought.”

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

“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, angry at the world. Not a good thing.”

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

“Me? You have no idea. I know deep depression from the inside out.”

“How? A divorce? What idiot guy would split from you?”

Her face clouded over. Her eyes wetted and her hands fiddled with the trim on her apron. “You have no idea how low I’ve been.”

He took her hand in his. “Why?”

“My husband died in a car crash. Two years ago. I know what I’m talking about. It took me three months before I could get out of bed.”

There had been times in his life when Marty had felt like an idiot. But this time he knew he was an idiot –the biggest, dumbest kind. Of course, no man in his right mind would leave this lovely women unless taken by the Grim Reaper. How could he be so blind and stupid?

That's it. See you next week! 

TUESDAY TALES: WORD PROMPT "MIRROR" - "TOO LATE FOR GOODBYE"

 

Howdy Doodles! It's time for another episode of  "Too Late for Goodbye." Today's word prompt is "mirror." When you're done, hop on over to the other authors fabulous posts. Get there from HERE. 

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“Be right back.”  She left the room again.

Jen called in from another room, chattering away. He couldn’t make out most of what she said, so he took the minute to check his reflection in a small wall mirror, then combed his hair back with his fingers.

“Here it is. Here. Look at this.” She came in carrying a huge folder and laid it on the table. “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’.”

“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. We gathered stories from all over. Only happy stories. Stories with good endings. Nothing negative.”

“A good news newspaper? Brilliant.” He broke a piece of toast in half.

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 a second piece on each plate.

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

“Good. Then you can help me. I can pay. 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 finished chewing a piece of toast. “Who said a beautiful woman can’t have brains, too?”

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

Tuesday Tales - Picture Prompt

 

Welcome!! It's time for Tuesday Tales and more of "Too Late for Goodbye," Marty's story. This week is picture prompt week. I've chosen a picture of Cedar Lake, the lake in the town where Marty met Jenny and her kids. We are restricted to only 300 words during picture prompt week. 

When you've finished my story, hop on over to the great Tuesday Tales authors and see what they have to offer. Find them HERE. Thanks for stopping by. 

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She plunked down a big envelope on the sideboard and approached the stove. “It’s mushroom and barley. I threw in some leftover meat, too. I hope you’re not vegetarian.” She ladled out a big bowl and placed it in front of him.

“I’m not. This looks great,” he said.

She popped some bread into the toaster.

“I’ll be right back.”  She left the room again.

The steaming bowl smelled heavenly. He filled his spoon, then blew on it. The first taste was amazing. Jen returned, buttered the toast, put it on a plate, then filled her own bowl.

“Mushroom and barley is my favorite,” Marty said, crossing his fingers under the table.

“Is it? Mine, too,” she replied. “You know my kids can’t stop talking about Pine Grove.”

“Oh, really?” Marty raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah. Ethan goes on and on about Cedar Lake. Every week he doubles the amount of fish he’s going to catch when we visit next time. And Sophie…” Jen stopped and blushed.

“What did Sophie like most?” He took another spoonful of soup.

Jen filled hers and blew on it, avoiding his gaze.

“Come on. The suspense is killing me.” Marty put down his spoon.  

“She liked dancing with you best.”  Jen blushed.

“Oh, come on!” He laughed. “I’m a terrible dancer.”

“Not according to Sophie. She said she’s going to marry you when she grows up.” Jen’s face turned a deeper shade of red.

He shot her a crooked smile. “That’s the nicest proposal I’ve ever had.” He touched her hand briefly.  

She met his gaze. “It is?”

“Actually, it’s the only proposal I’ve ever had. But I’ll take it. She’s a heartbreaker, a little charmer, for sure.”

Jen shot him a warm smile. “I agree.”

“Takes after her mother.”

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That's all. Thanks for stopping by. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SOFT"

 Welcome to Tuesday Tales where authors write stories to word prompts. This week the word prompt is soft. Welcome back to the continuing story of Marty McKay in the book "Too Late for Goodbye." Click HERE to go to the other authors blogs and read their fabulous stories!

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The door swung open. Jenny stood there, wearing jeans and a snug T-shirt. Her silky blonde locks rested around her shoulders. As she pressed her phone to her ear, she gestured to him.

“Yes, yes, Roberta. I know. But I need your column by tomorrow morning, latest. The printer is here now. Yes. We’re going to go over the layout. No. I can handle it. You just get your butt in the chair and write that column!”

Clicking her phone off, she faced him. “Sorry about that. Come in, come in.” She took his arm and led him inside. Eyeing him, she remarked, “What happened? Close encounter with a mud puddle?”

He laughed. “Maybe I’d better take my shoes off.” He thanked God he was wearing new socks with no holes in them.

“Sure. We never wear shoes in the house anyway.”

He shucked his shoes and glanced down. She had slender, delicate feet with toenails painted a lovely pink. A shiver shot through him.

“Come into the kitchen. I’m making soup.” She took his arm and led him toward the back of the cozy, charming townhouse.

Something smelled damn good. Beautiful, funny, and she could cook. The trifecta. No, better yet, the Mega Millions Lottery of women. He tramped along beside her.

“Sorry if I’m late.”

She checked her watch. “Nope. Right on time. Do you like soup?”

“I do. But I thought maybe I could take you out to lunch.”

“Why? We can have soup and talk about the paper.” She shot him a soft smile.  

Marty tried to hide his disappointment. Why? Because he didn’t give a damn about her printing project, he just wanted to sit and gaze at her over a glass of wine.

“Okay. What’s the project.”

“Sit down. Be right back.”

Did he stare at her cute butt as she left the room? Damn right he did.

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That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by.