TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "BROWN"

Welcome! This week our authors are writing to the word prompt "brown." I have another episode from 

"Someone Like You.". When you're finished stop by and read the other authors' stories. You'll find them 

HERE.  

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 “It’s settled then, Martha,” Tom Anderson said, then hung up the phone. He rubbed his stubbly chin as 

he thought about how he’d break it to his daughter. He put up another pot of coffee, then paced while 

the machine brewed.

Charlotte had always been his little girl, though he treated her more like a son than a daughter. When Corey had gone off to college and Tom’s wife passed away, Charlotte and Tom had only each other. They had grown close.

Only now with the changes coming down the pike did he realize how he’d protected her, kept her from striking out on her own. He’d always been there to take care of her and she’d always been there to take care of him.

Had he stood in her way of finding a young man and getting married? Maybe. He drew his eyebrows together as guilt gnawed at him. She’d seemed content to follow along, learn carpentry, and spend her time painting walls and working with wood. He had to admit she had a talent for creating perfect furniture. Clean lines, perfect finishes, unique designs gave her work an audience of wealthy buyers.

Over the years, Tom had kept back some of the money she’d earned. It was easy to do as she left the bookkeeping up to him. He’d squirreled it away a safe investment and over the years it had grown to quite a nest egg.

He smiled for a moment at his wisdom. Now he could sell the house, keep the proceeds to live on for himself, and turn over the money he’d saved for her without feeling guilty. The time had come for them to go their separate ways. His eyes wetted at the thought of leaving Charlotte. He had no choice.

When he heard her car door slam, he steeled himself for the conversation he had to have. The coffeemaker wheezed. He poured himself a cup, then went to the cupboard and took out a bottle of rum. He added a liberal splash to the dark brown liquid in his mug, then faced the door.

Charlotte entered.

“Hi, Pop,” she said, dropping her car keys in a bowl in the kitchen. “Coffee fresh?”

“Yep,” he said, taking a mug down from the cabinet, and reaching for the sugar bowl.

“No sugar,” she said.

“Oh, yeah. Forgot.” He filled the mug and handed it to her. “Sit down, Charlie. We gotta talk.”

She chuckled. “Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you.”

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

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SANDY"

 

  Hello and welcome! 

     It's time for Tuesday Tales again. And we have another excerpt of "Someone Like You."  Don't forget to visit all the authors here and sample their wonderful stories. Find them HERE. 

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Charlotte wondered how she’d ever be able to move out of this apartment once Mary returned. She sighed.

“Not to your liking?” Mary Walden asked.

“Oh no. Not at all. I love it. It’s like a palace. I just can’t imagine ever having to leave it.”

Mary laughed. “I will be coming back, unless I meet a wealthy count who sweeps me off my feet.”

“Really?”

“I’m kidding. You do know I write romance novels under a pen name, don’t you?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“I have a romantic imagination. Please don’t blow my cover,” Mary said, patting Charlotte’s forearm.

“Oh, I won’t.”

“I have some of my books in the living room bookcase. You’re welcome to read them.”

“I think I have a romantic imagination, too,” Charlotte said.

“Perfect! You’ll see them there. My pen name is Sandy Fontaine.”

“Thank you so much!” Charlotte said, smiling.

 Mary and Charlotte worked out the price, move-day, and how to work the locks. Charlotte wrote out a check for the first two month’s rent.

“Thank you so much,” she said.

“It is I who should be thanking you,” Mrs. Walden said. “It’s a relief to have the rent covered and to know someone will be staying here, keeping an eye on the place.”

After a brief hug, Charlotte returned to her car. On the drive home, she could not stop grinning. This would be just the beginning of her independence. But she sobered up when she realized she’d have to confront her father. She’d saved enough money to be independent for over a year. She’d taken over her father’s contracts for the University’s work. She had also established some of her own clients, like the Willow Falls Inn, and a small apartment building five miles out of town.

It was time to beef up her furniture business. Now she’d have a year on her own to  find a permanent

 apartment or maybe even buy a small house. She let out a breath. Taking the first step represented a 

huge leap for her, but she had no idea what suprise awaited her at home. 

That's all for this week. Comments are most welcome. Thanks for stopping by.  

 

  Welcome! It's time for Tuesday Tales again! This week we have another excerpt from "Someone Like You."  Charlotte goes looking for her own digs. When you're done reading, don't forget to hop on over and read the wonderful works of the other Tuesday Tales authors. Find their work HERE. 

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Charlotte found three apartments looking for someone to sublet them. Mary Walden’s intrigued her because it was in an old Victorian house. She’d have the whole second floor. Itching to see it, she sent an email.

“I haven’t found anyone to take it yet. Would you like to come see it?”

“Yes, I would.”

“Can you come tonight. I’m leaving in five days and I’m dying to get the sublet sewn up.”

“Of course. What’s the address.”

Charlotte hopped in her car and drove over. From the outside, it appeared that the old house had been kept up well. It was painted a lovely yellow with white trim. She parked in the large lot behind the house and rang the bell. At the buzz, she entered and climbed a set of carpeted stairs with an old wooden banister embellished with curlicues and other intricate molding, painted white. At the top of the stairs, a large, mahogany door finished in a rich, dark brown with a fine patina greeted her.

The door opened and Mary Walden, an older woman with short gray hair, stepped aside.

“Charlotte?”

“Yes.”

‘Please come in. I’m so happy to meet you,” she said.

Charlotte entered a spacious sitting room comfortably furnished with two large sofas. There were three tall curtained windows, and a good-sized white marble fireplace and hearth. One wall sported a narrow floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookcase. A writing desk hugged one corner. The floor was a shiny wide-plank wood finished to a gleam. Two braided area rugs added warmth. Charlotte clasped her hands together and gave a small gasp.

Mary Walden’s brow furrowed. “Something wrong?”

“Oh no. Quite the opposite. It’s perfect. Like stepping back in time.”

Mary Walden smiled. “Oh, good. I’m so glad you like it. Let me show you the bedroom, kitchen and den.” 

       Her heart sped up as she followed Mary from one beautiful room to another. Was it a dream? Even if she only lived there for three months, it was so,  much more than she had hoped. 

        Visions of curling up on the sofa with her crush, maybe a small fire on a cool early fall evening floated through her mind. 

         "Dr, Garrett's going to love it," she mumbled to herself. 

        "Who?" Ms. Walden asked. 

         Charlotte bluxhedd. "Nothing."

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a comment!