TUESDAY TALES -- WORD PROMPT "SCARY"

 

Howdy doodles and Happy Halloween. I wish I'd had time to write a Halloween story. I promise to try to do something more holiday-ish for the next holiday. In the meantime, we have another episode of "Two of Hearts." Terry runs into Jen on his morning walk with Queenie. We pick the scene up from there. 

When you're done, hop on over and read the stories from the fabulous Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE 

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Terry bent down to pet Queenie and Willie.

“Wife still away?” Jen asked.

“Yeah.”

“When is she coming back?”

“A couple of months,” he mumbled, hoping she’d drop the subject.

“Oh. That must be tough.”

“It’s her ‘chance of a lifetime’. A foot in the door to scriptwriting.”

“Wow, that’s exciting.”

Studying her face, he saw the first glimmer of anything other than sadness or nervousness since he’d met her. “You a writer?”

“Not really,” she said, glancing down at the dogs and blushing. “I mean not yet. But once Stan gets better. Well, he’s going to help me. I’ve outlined a book. Fiction. Stan’s going to help me write it.”

“He is?”

“He’s a famous writer. Maybe you’ve heard of him? Stan Hogan? His book, Destiny Becomes Her won the Pulitzer ten years ago. He’s published mostly thrillers since then.”

“I don’t read literary fiction. But thrillers. Any made into movies?”

She nodded, her face softening, her voice filled with pride. “He’s done the Miller Shade series.”

“Miller Shade? Like in Unmasked?”

She nodded, sporting a wide grin. “That’s him.”

“Oh, wow! I loved that movie. Clare will be impressed that I met you.”

“He’s a great writer. And he said he’d help me.”

“There you go. Gives him a reason to get it together and get better.”

“Sure does.”

He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go. Nice talking to you. Come on Queenie.”

Her face clouded. She grabbed his arm.

“He is, you know. He is going to get better. He is going to wake up. He is. He has to. He promised me. He is.” Her voice rose with every sentence and her eyes filled. He gripped her arms.

“Of course, he is.” He made eye contact anyway. 

She brushed at a tear, nodded, and backed out of his grasp. Tugging on the leash, she steered Willie in the opposite direction.

Terry returned home and fed Queenie then headed for the subway. As he rode to work, he thought about Jen Hogan. Her pride in her husband touched him. Does Clare feel that way about me? He hadn’t won a big prize or anything, but he pulled down a damn nice living. The blonde’s tears seemed genuine, like hope fighting with logic. Powerless to help, he wished he’d said something comforting. What could you say to a woman whose beloved husband might die? Nothing good –or meaningful, either. It was damn scary. 

That's all. Thanks for stopping by. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT - "CLEAN"

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week the word prompt is "clean." We have another episode of "Two of Hearts." It's still Terry's tale this week. Don't forget to visit the other authors and read their wonderful stories. Find them HERE. 

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After a stroll around the block, Terry opened a pint of ice cream, got a spoon, and watched baseball—anything to keep from thinking about his conversation with Clare. He’d expected her to coo words of love and go on and on about how much she missed him. He’d expected her to launch into a detailed description of a movie set, including her take on the people. He’d loved that about Clare. She could describe colleagues, acquaintances, and friends as if they were characters in her story. She’d have him riveted, enjoying the drama she spun.

But this time, the conversation was dry. Hell, sure he was jealous. He’d seen too many complacent guys taken by surprise when their women dumped them for another man. He’d vowed never to be that kind of stupid. Men undervalued their women, assumed they’d stick forever, no matter what. But divorce stats blew that notion away.

Maybe he’d become extra vigilant, maybe even over the line. No one could say he took his wife for granted. His wife wasn’t just some women, she was smart, sexy, beautiful –and his, if he didn’t act like a dumbass.

His brows knit, forming the beginnings of worry lines between his eyes. While she hadn’t said anything to alarm him or even indicate she found the men out there sexy, he couldn’t put the idea out of his mind. Even with no reason for concern, a chill settled in Terry’s spine. If anything did come up, or even threaten, what could he do about it three thousand miles away?

He stripped down, cleaned up, and climbed into bed. Queenie jumped up to join him. He switched out the light and lay awake, stroking Queenie's soft fur. 

"That's it, Queenie. The problem. She's too far away," he said. The pug snored her agreement. 

"It's bullshit." 

In the morning, he’d make a reservation and fly out to L.A. Would he tell Clare he planned to visit? Deciding to surprise her instead, he fell into a restless sleep beside his pug.  

That's it, gang. Thanks for stopping by. 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "CURLY"

Welcome! This week our word prompt is "curly". We have another short episode of "Two of Hearts." When you're done, hop on over to the other stories by our talented authors. Find them HERE. Thanks for stopping by. 

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 Friday night, Terry got Chinese food and settled down to watch the news. When he finished, he dialed Clare. This time, she answered.

“Hey, baby. How are you?”

“Terry?”

“Yeah. Your husband. Remember me?”

She laughed. “I’m good. What’s up?”

“Needed to hear your voice. That’s all.”

“Okay. I miss you, too.”

“Do you?”

“I have to turn the phone off during class. And field trips. We’re touring studios, actually going on location. They have an amazing director. He’s taking us everywhere.”

“As long as he doesn’t take you to his bedroom,” Terry said.

“Don’t be stupid, Terry.”

“Is it stupid to worry about your beautiful wife? It’s not like men don’t want to sleep with you, right?”

“I’m married.”

“So? That doesn’t stop some horny dicks.”

“I’ve always been faithful.”

“And that continues, right?” he asked, pushing to his feet.

 “You shouldn’t even have to ask.”

“But I do, Clare. You’re far away. It’s a couple of weeks. I don’t hear from you often. What can I think?”

“You can think I’m busy, learning a ton of stuff and maybe having some fun with the other writers in the class.”

“Other writers? Men?”

“Mostly women.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I swear, you see infidelity in every man who walks into my life.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a guy. A husband. With a sexy wife.”

“This conversation is going nowhere.”

“I’m sorry, Clare. I love you, baby. I’m worried. I don’t want to lose what we had.”

“Jealousy is no way to hold on to me.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I know guys.”

“Not all guys want to sleep with me,” she said.

“No, only the straight ones.”

Silence.

“That was a joke,” he said.

“A bad one.”

“I miss you.”

“I love you, Terry. You’re one in a million. Look, the writers are going out to eat. I’ve gotta run. Don’t worry. I’m still your wife.”

“Love you.”

“Back at ya,” Clare said before signing off.

Terry paced, making the curly-tailed dog bark. “I don’t know, Queenie. That didn’t go great.” 

That's all. Thanks for coming. 

TUESDAY TALES - ICY

 

Howdy do! Welcome. This week we're writing to the word promp "icy".  We have another episode of "Two of Hearts".  When you're done, hop on over to read the other stories by our talented authors. You'll find them HERE.

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Terry stood in the shadows and watched Jen walk away. She looked a helluva lot better than she had that morning. She cleaned up real nice. Wildly in love with his wife, Terry had never considered infidelity. But that didn’t rule out looking. Jen had potential. Maybe when her husband got better, she’d spruce herself up a bit.

Her story had improved his mood. Sure, he’d be going to bed without Clare again, but at least she wasn’t in the hospital in a coma. He could fly to L.A. and see her whenever he wanted. Not that he’d booked a flight yet. Geez, she hadn’t been gone a week, even, and already he was complaining.

Queenie begged for a bedtime treat before cuddling up with him on the sofa. Terry switched on the news, then searched for a porn channel. Might as well do some of the forbidden things while Clare was out of the house. He found a movie instead and settled in.

Afterward, he showered and headed for bed. Queenie was already there. She’d usurped his spot, so he eased her over. One protesting yawn and she was back to sleep.

His cell rang. It was his business partner, Paul.

“Sandy said we should invite you over to dinner. Wanna come on Friday?”

“Sure.”

“I mean, it’s not like you’re doing anything, right?”

“Go ahead. Rub it in.”

Paul laughed. “You’re making us all look bad.”

“How so?”

Paul's tone turned icy. “You’re fucking husband of the year. Let’s his wife go to L. A., the city with more horny men than any other city on the planet. And you don’t even complain. I’m not the only guy hearing about how you’re central casting’s perfect husband.”

Now it was Terry’s turn to laugh.

“How about a work out tomorrow? Lunch or six?”

“Let’s do six. Gives me something to do,” Terry replied.

“Rolling around like a lone marble in a shoe box?”

“How’d you guess?”

“Don’t quote me, but I think it’s damn, uh, well, maybe noble, you doing this. Not that I don’t want to strangle you for the shit storm you’ve created in my house. Still. Kudos, buddy.”

“Thanks. It’s not like I had a choice. I think it was L.A. or divorce court.”

“Really?”

“Clare never said that, but I saw the handwriting on the wall if I said ‘no.’ Besides, she was grateful. Very grateful. Every night for weeks,” Terry snickered.

“Bastard! You lucky son-of-a-bitch. Go ahead, rub it in.”

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