Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

I'm amazed we're at the end of April. I think because the weather has been so winter-like in Ohio, it doesn't feel like we should be four weeks away from summer vacation. Even yesterday, the chilly weather felt more like a warm winter day than spring. LOL

At least the ramp up to season-enders on television seems to be worth staying inside for. That said, I have to play catch-up. The lead up to the school musical took a lot of time this week along with several editing projects.

I'm almost finished with Blindspot's second season. I have one more DVD to watch. My only complaint would be how slippery Shepherd continues to be. I truly hope the takedown is worth watching and, you know, actually happens.

I'm catching some new to me episodes of Midsomer Murders and I'm excited to see what else Acorn TV has to offer. Also caught an episode of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD and enjoyed both. Nice to see Casey move up the rank chain. Also great to have Antonio back at District 21.

I'm up to episode nine of Jessica Jones. So far, the second season has been a little slower than the first, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's given me time to really, really want to bitchslap Trish. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet. Usually it's Geri I want to smack really hard. LOL

Finally got to watch the musical episode of Riverdale. Watching Cheryl get her groove back? Excellent. I'm kind of on the fence about Hal and Alice. I had some investment in FP maybe finding some happy moments, you know? Archie and Fred being kind of on the same page made me happy, along with Betty and Veronica burying the hatchet. The ending though? Wow. Definitely some twisty shit.

I like Krypton. Seriously, the pacing is terrific so far with backstory being woven in with current plots moving forward. So far, so good. Also caught another episode of Ghost Squad and I'm a little on the fence with this one. The end of the episode threw me a little.

Endeavor is keeping my interest. I rather like seeing how Frost grew into his big shoes. Also started a subscription to BritBox and watched The Coroner. Really terrific first episode.

Today, I'm catching up on The Flash and hopefully Arrow. Also started Constantine: City of Demons. I'm gearing up for the character to be a regular on Legends next season.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella exploring how a couple comes together after the death of someone they care about.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Valerie Queen and Jay Pennyworth meet through Chad Adsworth, Jay's best friend. When Chad is killed in a plane crash, Valerie reunites with Jay after five years. When the chance meeting leads to a long discussion, they end up spending the night together… but the specter of Chad hovering between them may be more than they can overcome.

And a snippety peek…

Jay patted his stomach. "You weren't kidding about the food." He'd had a sampling of everything, which ranged from casseroles in the oven to slow cookers on her counter along with several meat and cheese trays and a cooked ham.

Valerie's lips twisted in a wry smile. "Nothing brings out the food brigade more than births and deaths. Good thing my freezer is mostly empty. I'll have plenty to fill it up." She started clearing out a few of the foil casserole pans.

Jay stepped up beside her. "You empty. I'll stack the packages in the freezer." She looked like she might argue but relented and grabbed a box of plastic containers.

Thirty minutes later, Jay put the last of the food in the freezer and Valerie stowed some of the leftovers in the fridge. She'd changed into a form-fitting T-shirt and soft, fleece warm-ups. A pair of fuzzy socks completed her outfit. He'd shed his dress jacket, but excused himself to swap his uniform for clothes similar to hers, a pair of black workout pants, a gray T-shirt, and a pair of black no-show socks. He fought the weird vibe of not having Chad there to trade barbed banter with and returned to the kitchen.

She nodded toward the living area. "Wanna watch a couple of movies?"

Jay didn't care what they did; he wanted her to relax a little. "Sure. Stream or DVD?" He followed her into the next room.

Valerie dropped down on the sofa. "Let's stream. I'm in the mood for action movies." She grabbed the remote and brought up the onscreen menu.

Jay cracked a smile and settled beside her. "Always a good choice." He didn't have a preference, but action movies sounded like a safe bet.

Valerie picked a recent superhero flick and pressed play. "Chad wanted to see this when it came out, but our schedules didn't match up and we ended up not going. I've been looking forward to watching this one." The opening credits washed over the fifty-inch television.

Not even five minutes into the movie, Jay shifted his position. He couldn't seem to get comfortable. Watching the movie without Chad's rambling play-by-play didn't feel right. He'd always offered up a random commentary when they'd had movie nights, especially during action scenes. One of the many little things Jay would miss about his friend. And if Jay struggled with the small stuff… how did Valerie cope?

He gave her a sideways glance and almost kicked himself for being an idiot. Silent tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. Obviously, Valerie had finally reached her limit. Probably a good thing, but Jay didn't know how to help.

Following instinct, he wrapped an arm around her and tugged her toward him, tucking her against his side. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs and Jay let her go with it. He didn't tell her everything would be okay… it wouldn't, not for a while. Instead, he held her, oddly comforted by having her in his arms. Other than smoothing a hand over her head and quietly handing her a box of tissues, he didn't get in the way of her grief. She needed to take the time and mourn her loss.

He'd had a ten-hour flight to work through most of his. Jay had lost friends before, but Chad's death made Jay angry. A senseless death on a mission somehow didn't compare to the twist of fate Chad suffered.

A few minutes passed before he realized Valerie had gone quiet. He glanced down, discovering she'd fallen asleep. Haven't slept more than a couple of hours since I got the call. She'd finally succumbed to the exhaustion and stress. Maybe the crying jag released enough tension for her let go and truly begin grieving and healing. Maybe his presence helped. He sure as hell hoped so.

Jay got comfortable. He didn't care if her cheek rested on his tear-soaked shirt. No way in hell would he wake her. She needed the rest.

And he wanted to give her whatever comfort he could.

I'm so pleased with the tone of this scene. I didn't know how it would turn out, but the underlying care is exactly what I wanted.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Getting Schooled

April 22, 2018

Whew. What a week. We had prom catastrophes averted and a halfway decent Saturday for the big event. My daughter's dress needed some alterations and my wonderful aunt and my next door neighbor came through like the awesome women they are and got the dress in prom-worthy shape. I'm biased, but my girl looked lovely.

Even with all the crazypants running around, I got a lot of television watched. Finished the second "season" of Vixen and enjoyed the episode. Finished up the first season and started the second of Blindspot. I like the introduction of Jane's family and having more of her background in the mix. Not sure about the addition of the NSA character, but I'll hold off on judgment. Definitely interested in who the new mole in the FBI is. I have a feeling I know who it'll end up being and not sure I like it. LOL

Got an episode of Gotham in and, seriously, season four is kicking so much ass. It's twisty and turny and I love how many levels of crazy there are. I truly hope there's another season of the insanity.

I still have so many mixed feeling about this season of The Flash. I want to love it, I really do, but I'm just not there. We'll see if how things play out in the finale. Maybe it'll have the elusive element I'm looking for to turn things around.

Missed both Black Lightning and Riverdale this week so I'll have to play catch up. I'm looking forward to both.

Arrow rocked. It's nice to get the full backstory of a villain. That said, Felicity and Diggle could use some of that love. We know a few of the things that shaped both characters and that's terrific, but each could use some additional rounding out. Just saying.

Started a new for me series called Ghost Squad. The premiere episode hooked me and I'm definitely interested in catching the full first series. Also started Endeavor and I like it. Nothing beats a good BBC crime drama.

Last but not least, I started Syfy's Krypton. Loved the first episode. Here's hoping the momentum continues and I fall in love with this series!

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Getting Schooled, a novella that features a summer camp setting. This is something I always wanted to do as a kid and never got the chance.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tamsin and Ike are resident leaders at neighboring summer camps. Tamsin works with upper crust girls and Ike has underprivileged boys. When a grant program director suggests bridging the gap, neither is very excited by the prospect, but once they meet, both get schooled in by how well the kids get along.

And a snippety peek…

Ike Kennedy finished loading the new laptops he'd purchased for this year's campers into his Jeep. His mom fussed and fretted over what the neighbors would think when he drove through the resort town where their summer home loomed over the rest of the populace. He'd filled the vehicle full and had two trunks strapped to the luggage rack on top.

Frankly, Ike didn't care. He'd volunteered as a counselor at Camp Carlson for going on eight years, mainly to get away from the stifling confines of the oversized lake house his parents inherited from his dad's side of the family. The closest neighbor couldn't see the Kennedy home unless he happened to be on his boat deck.

Which didn't give him a view of the front drive.

Closing the back of the Jeep, Ike brushed his hands off on his beat-up cargo shorts. "Can't wait to get out of here." He checked over his shoulder, making sure his mother didn't hover by the front windows.

With the coast clear, he jogged to the pool house, the place he considered his sanctuary, and grabbed his satchel, a messenger bag he used on campus. His essential lifeline, the case contained his phone, keys, wallet, and the roster of his campers this year. Ike liked to have an idea of which boys would need some extra support during their six-week stay. Most of the kids came from underprivileged homes and some through the foster care system. Ike kept a close eye on the guys who didn't have the benefit of trust funds and wealthy parents to make life easier for them.

Strolling back to the Jeep, he hopped behind the wheel and started the engine.

On cue, his mom opened the front door and ducked her head out. "You're leaving already? You don't have to be there until after seven tonight."

Ike gave her a wide smile. "I know. Thought I'd get there early and scope out the changes Hank planned to make over the winter." He also wanted to drive by the neighboring camp to see if Tamsin Kane might be back for another year.

Laurie Kennedy frowned. "I'd hoped we might have an early dinner before you left." She exited the house, walking toward his vehicle.

Ike shifted into gear. "Yeah, sorry about that, Mom. Maybe we can do something when I get back before fall?" He took his foot off the brake and rolled forward.

Laurie shook her head and lifted a hand in farewell. Ike gave a sigh of relief. He loved her, but she drove him utterly batshit sometimes. Her idea of an early dinner would be drinks on the wharf followed by a strategically reserved table close to a family with a daughter she wanted him to meet. By the time he extricated himself, he'd be scrambling to make the move-in time for counselors.

Yeah, no thanks.

He could find dates without his mother's help. And he didn't need or want a preapproved match—one designed to either increase their various stock portfolios or the chances of giving Laurie the future grandchildren she so keenly desired.

Driving through town, he grinned. The weight of being Laurie and Frank Kennedy's wonder child diminished and the mantle of being the coolest camp counselor ever settled over him. He loved the kids and more than two-thirds were returning for their second year.

Every one of them had some kind of hardship they faced and coming to camp helped expose the boys to things they'd never have a chance to do otherwise. Being a part of the process gave Ike some much-needed grounding in his life. Especially since his Grandpa Ivan had passed five years ago.

The elder Kennedy taught Ike rock-solid values, lit the fire of his thirst for knowledge, and provided balance, showing him the benefit of taking time to have fun and enjoy life while working hard for his fellow man. The old man also set up a trust fund for Ike to pursue his altruistic leanings, but not before the age of thirty. Until then, Ike planned to continue his education and figure out what he really wanted to do with his future.

He left the outskirts of town and drove along the northern edge of the lake. Camp Carlson sat about an hour north of Rockshore. Far enough from the resort town to make it an inconvenience for his mom to drop in yet close enough to the largest city for kids to be brought in for six weeks.

Ike chuckled. "Kind of perfect for me."

He slowed down when he drove past the neighboring camp for girls. Sure enough, a splash of red peeked through the woods. Grinning, Ike gave a slow nod of satisfaction.

He'd enjoyed watching her scramble during last summer's prank week. And she'd been a good sport, too.

Ike shook his head. "Can't say I'd have been as accommodating if the tables were turned."

He sobered. Which they might be. She'd had a whole year to plot revenge.

Lifting a shoulder, he sped up to drive the last few miles to Carlson. "Show me what you've got, Tamsi. I'll be ready."

Not sure if my outline is going to stay on task with this story, but I'm having fun with Ike and Tamsin.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Get a Room

Well, we had a semi-nice weekend. Today is rainy and chilly but Friday and most of Saturday was sunny and beautiful.

I got a lot of television watched this week. Dipped into CW Seed's Vixen and thoroughly enjoyed the first "season". I'm almost finished with Blindspot's first season and I'm looking forward to starting season two. Watched another episode of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD this week. Not sure how much I like seeing Hank defanged on Chicago PD but I'm in for the ride either way.

Legends of Tomorrow delivered an awesome season finale. I'm thrilled with where the characters ended up and having Constatine and Gary drop their little gift on the team made me laugh.

The Flash had a decent episode. I'm actually ready for the season to be over and Devoe to be defeated. Still need to catch up on Black Lightning. I'm hoping to find time this week to watch the episodes I've missed.

I did catch an episode of Riverdale and, yeah, talk about uncomfortable. No one is having an easy time of it right now. Definitely concerned about Cheryl. Her mother is a piece of work. Fred running for mayor… that's gonna be interesting. Just saying.

I got another episode of Gotham out of the way and things did not go where I thought they would. Sofia is a piece of work. I did love the overall theme of getting people back together. "Reunion" is a perfect title for the episode.

Arrow truly continues to amaze me. I'm saddened Oliver seems to be breaking ties with everyone so he can focus on the mission, but I'm also pretty interested in how the rest of the season plays out. I'll go out on a limb and say the councilman is on Diaz's payroll, too.

I'm almost finished with season two of Jessica Jones and I'm truly thrilled we'll have a season three. That said, I hope it's a little more cohesive. It's nice to have Jessica's backstory but I'd like to see her truly throw down with a villain. Just saying.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Get a Room, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of building a scene around a tent, an ice cube, and pretending to sleep. I didn't quite stick to the whole thing, but I got the basic vibe.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Talon and Haim have a complicated past. When she returns and asks Haim for a favor, they're ready to act on their attraction again… except they keep getting interrupted.

And a snippety peek…

Talon Lance hung up the phone. "Argh! This couldn't have happened at a worse time." She got up and paced her office. "Not good. So not good." She'd reserved a block of cabins at a state park for a writer's retreat and a fire had torn through three, leaving them short and unable to accommodate the group. "I'm going to have to move the venue, because I can't reschedule the date."

Her client, Dana Morse, would freak. Dana coordinated her group of paranormal romance writers and had at least a dozen who were flying or driving in from other states. Talon landed Dana's account based on an online workshop she'd put together for a Regency romance writers' group. Talon dreamed of expanding her reach and working with other author associations, but…

She sank down behind her desk. "That might blow up in my face." She had to call Dana, but not before Talon came up with a way to salvage the situation. "Think, Talon. Where else can we do this?"

There weren't a lot of options that didn't include hotels and the group expressly stated they didn't want to be cooped inside a big building. They wanted something kind of off the grid. Great if they could get internet access for research, but cell phone coverage could optional. Somewhat close to the airport, but far enough out to have a "away from it all" vibe.

Right, not a short order.

Talon sighed and started a quick search on her laptop for alternative locations. "Dammit, the state park was perfect." The cabins were grouped together and the main lodge had a conference room for the large group discussions Dana wanted to have.

Talon had to find a place to accommodate between fifty and seventy-five authors for a long weekend, Friday through Monday. She drummed her fingers on the desk, scrolling through results and refining her parameters. She rejected anything over budget, which trashed about eighty percent of her options. She'd received a sweet deal on the cabins because she'd booked six months in advance.

Leaning back in her seat an hour later, she closed her eyes only to snap them open when her phone rang. Checking her caller ID, she cringed. Dana. What crappy timing.

Talon answered. "Lance and Talon. Hi, Dana." She put her client on speakerphone. "What's up?"

Dana launched into a tirade. "Are you serious right now? Where are we going to hold out retreat? I called the lodge. They don't have anything else they can give us. And why didn't you call me?" Her voice rose to something short of a screech.

Talon blew out a slow breath. "Dana, I'm already working on getting a new venue. I didn't call right away because I wanted to have some options before I did." Not that she had any… yet. "How did you find out? I only got the call an hour ago." And only my contact information is listed.

Dana gave a sheepish chuckle. "I've got a google alert set up for the state park. Opened my email to see the news about the fire."

Well, that explained a few things. At least Dana calmed down a little.

Talon rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Give me the rest of the day to find something." One idea came to mind, but, no… she discounted it before letting if fully form.

Even though the place would offer exactly what Dana's group wanted. No, just… no.

Dana pushed for assurances. "Do you really think you can pull off finding another place? We're two weeks out, Talon." She paused. "Maybe I should poll the group? If we lower the numbers, we might still be able to use the lodge and—"

Talon cut her off as kindly as possible. "I already asked to have the deposit refunded, Dana. It'll be in the account by the end of business today." The judgmental "hmm" coming from Dana kicked up Talon's defenses. "It's what you pay me for. Handling the details. I'll need the funds to secure another location and the sooner we do that, the better." Nothing like a buttload of pressure.

Dana sighed. "I think I'd feel better if I knew for certain you had something lined up. This is a big deal for me—us, really—since we each have goals we're shooting for with this retreat."

The gentle but not so subtle reminder of what Talon had at stake revved her anxiety up a notch.

Dana continued along… "I mean this is my first big event and I want it to become a yearly thing. And you need a win with this if you want other associations to think about doing something similar." She paused again. "You have to make this happen, Talon."

No kidding? The image she'd been fighting popped into her head. Hell, no. She couldn't, she really—

"I might know a place." Talon bit back a groan after blurting the words.

Dana cleared her throat. "Excuse me? Why didn't you say that in the first place?"

Talon gave a brief explanation. "It's a camp located in my hometown. I used to work there in the summers." Dammit!

Dana brightened. "A true blue camp? That sounds wonderful!" Her excitement buzzed over the phone.

A ball of dread settled in Talon's stomach. "Um, yeah, it's been years since I've seen the place, but I can make some inquiries, see if it's available." And then kick herself for making the suggestion.

Dana made a high-pitched squeezing sound. "Perfect! I'm loving this idea already." The sound of typing came through over the line.

Talon had no such love for the idea. "Look, keep this between you and me for now. It might take me a day or two to finalize the details. No sense in rushing announcements until I do." If she did.

And, yeah, no guarantees there.

Dana made a noncommittal response. "Sure, yeah. No problem." Her fingers still tapped on the keyboard.

Dammit.

Talon warned her client. "Dana, I'm serious. Please hold off until you hear from me."

Dana responded, "What? Oh, right. Yeah. I'll just let you get to it then, okay?"

A dial tone met Talon's ears. "Fuck." If she couldn't secure the camp—and big ass chance of that miracle happening—she'd lose her reputation and possibly her livelihood. "What the hell possessed me to mention the camp?"

Nostalgia. Easy answer.

Aside from the fact the camp would be perfect, she'd been thinking of home lately.

Home.

The place where Haim Roosevelt lived.

And the location of Roosevelt Roost, the camp facility his family owned.

God… she'd run from Chamber Corners—and Haim—ten years ago and hadn't been back for more than a quick pitstop or two since then.

Haim.

God.

She'd have to face him—and crawl on her hands and knees—to convince him to let her use the camp.

A phone call wouldn't work. No way in hell. He'd probably hang up as soon as he heard her voice.

Rising, she left her office in the basement of her condo and walked upstairs. She ducked into her bedroom and grabbed her suitcase. Packing enough clothes for the weekend, she followed with a shower and took only a little extra care with her hair and makeup. No way would she try too hard. But she had to at least look professional and in control when she knocked on Haim's door.

A bubble of nerves burst in her stomach. She hadn't been this stressed when she'd ended things with Tim. Or when she'd married him.

Her current anxiety rivaled what hit her when she'd sent the wedding announcement home to Haim's family. Coward!

Cringing, she grabbed her bag and suitcase and ran for her car. "Ready or not, Talon. You're going home."

Kind of longer than normal preview, but I ended up being pleased with how this scene turned out.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fuel for the Fire

Ugh. It's been decades since I've had snow in April and we got two days of it last week. LOL

Anyway, television this week had a great run. Legends of Tomorrow continues to make me happy. Actually titling an episode about a guest star is brilliant. Seriously.

I missed Black Lightning's new episode but plan to catch up with everything with a binge watch in the near future. Also need to get caught up on Riverdale, but I have watched two of my saved episodes. Gotta say I'm so interested in Alice's past and who Chic's dad is. Considering she drove me insane last season, I like this newfound curiosity. Also loving the whole Blossom family drama. Seriously, Riverdale is hitting on all cylinders with me right now.

Arrow's episode ended up being better than I hoped. It's probably not a bad thing to have Oliver's leadership tested and questioned. It's not often I get to see a character actually have to progress through a moment of growth. That said, I hover on the fence with Laurel. I know what I'd like to see happen but I won't hold my breath.

Got another episode of Gotham in and rather liked having Bruce call Alfred. With so much going on, I'm always surprised how well all the plot threads mesh together.

On the other hand, Jessica Jones feels so disjointed sometimes. Not saying it's a bad thing… the overall theme of season two sort of begs for the disconnect. All in all, I'm happy with how things are playing out, with maybe the exception of Trish. My hope is season three will serve as a redemption platform for the character. If not, well… yeah.

Watched an episode of the current season of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. I'm working my way through to catching up on these. Also watched more of Blindspot. I'm up to the point of new episodes and literally cheered out loud when Jonah Fisher got his comeuppance. I loathed his character. I also wonder if anyone else kept hoping Kurt Weller would go Damien Scott on Fisher's ass? No? Just me? Okay. I can live with that. LOL

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Fuel for the Fire, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing a story set around an arson.

Here's the mini-blurb:

An arsonist wants arson investigator Sadie Kyle's attention and burns the home and business Greg DeSoto to get it. When Sadie shows up to investigate, she hits it off with Greg, which only adds fuel to the fire for her pyromaniac. When Greg gets hit a second time, Sadie digs in and calls the burner out.

And a snippety peek…

Greg Desoto struggled to breathe. He coughed, trying to drag in air. Rolling to his side, orange flickered behind his closed eyelids.

Orange? What the—

An acrid smell hit his nose and he shot up out of bed. "Fuck!" The door and part of the wall in his room were ablaze. "Shit. Fire. Gotta move." He dragged a pair of jeans on, threw a shirt over his head, and grabbed his phone.

He scrambled to find his shoes. Twenty-degree weather trumped the burning flames. Jamming his feet in the first pair he found, he dropped low and pulled the quilt from his bed. He crawled to the window, the floor warm under his hands. The lower level had to be burning too.

Putting the blanket over his head, he forced the window open and glanced outside. "Hope the damned fire escape holds." Didn't matter, he had to get out of the building.

Climbing out, he managed to get the metal steps lowered and called 911 on the way down. When he reached the pavement of the side street, he caught his first look at the fully involved blaze currently ravaging his business and his home.

Shivering in the light snow, he stared, watching it all burn. "Son of a bitch."

The wail of sirens sounded but Greg shook his head. Nothing would save the building. The quick response might keep others from succumbing to the inferno, but that would be the best he could hope for.

Numb, Greg barely heard the firefighters telling him to get back, asking him if anyone else needed to get out.

He shook his head. "No, no. I was the only one in the building." Stepping back, he got out of their way.

They dragged hoses out and entered the building, working to douse the flames.

One big thought struck Greg in the middle of his head. "Why the hell didn't the sprinklers kick on?"

I'm hoping the sages cooperate a little more on this one. I have all the broad strokes planned out but the small beats are still forming.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Forever Young

April 1, 2018

Hello, April. Nothing says spring like a very chilly Easter. According to the weather, snow might be in Ohio's forecast. Yay.

No worries, though. Cold weather makes for great television viewing. And this week didn't disappoint.

A great episode of Legends. Getting some information about Ava was kind of great. And Gary is awesome. I love that guy. I'm even kind of down with Damien being pretty funny for such a warped and twisted villain.

After griping about The Flash in my last post, I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying this week's episode. Nice to see Jessie back and also have a hint about a possible new Flash from another earth. Also great to have the team close to figuring out how the pocket 'verses work.

I'm still behind on Riverdale, but I did catch up with an episode. I like the interesting twist of having Clifford's brother added to the mix. But, yeah, Cheryl's not going to be in a good place. Someone needs to buy that girl a friend.

Arrow had a kick-ass episode. Giving Thea a dynamic out with Roy and Nyssa made me very happy. I'm not sure I'll like the John / Oliver direction, but I trust the writers to make it work. Having Curtis lament not having a good bantering partner also made the show.

Got a few episodes of Gotham in. For now, I'm trusting the new version of Ivy is a good thing. Having three different actresses play the role kind of makes me wary. We'll see if it's a plus as I get more episodes in. I loved the twists with Riddler / Ed and the direction Alfred and Butch's storylines are going in.

Finished up season five of Chicago Fire and got a start on six. Still loving it! Also started Blindspot on DVD. I'd already watched the first few episodes, but I'm glad to revisit them to get a refresher. Finished up season eleven of Murdoch Mysteries and, wow, even without a cliffhanger to end on, there's a buttload of tension to start season twelve. Gotta say I'm on the fence about the manipulations of Miss Hart. We'll see if that ends up being a good thing or not.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Forever Young, a novella that follows a couple on the day of the silver wedding anniversary.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gabe McTavish meets the woman of his dreams. Too bad she's his brother's date.

And a snippety peek…

Zak slapped Gabe on the back. "Bro, I think you're gonna owe me one for life." He dragged his phone from his pocket. "And I think we need to memorialize the moment." A quick glance toward Tara received an affirmative nod.

Zak snagged a server and asked her to take a picture. He got behind Gabe and Tara and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. Tara laughed at his antics and the server clicked the button at that moment. Gabe glanced at the image and couldn't believe the sloppy grin he wore. Zak waggled his eyebrows in the picture and, of course, Tara's laughter lit up her whole face. A perfect capture of a perfect moment in time.

I might have to do something really great for my brother.

Zak smirked. "Don't think I won't remember how you stole yet another girlfriend, dude."

Tara's eyebrows shot upward. "There's a story here, isn't there?"

Gabe rolled his eyes. "No, there isn't. Zak was in fourth grade. I was in sixth. The fifth grader he'd gone crazy for liked"—he made air quotes—"older men, meaning she preferred me over Zak."

Tara chuckled. "And how long did this great romance last?"

Zak cut in. "That whole afternoon. By the next morning, Gabe decided he'd rather play the field until he reached the exalted level of junior high."

Gabe shrugged. "She had a new sixth grader on the hook by lunch."

Tara shook her head. "You guys are amazing. Insulting each other left and right, yet the brotherly affection is definitely there."

Gabe cocked his head to one side. "No siblings?" Zak drove Gabe insane sometimes, but he'd never want to be an only child.

Tara shook her head. "Nope. Just me." She lifted a shoulder. "Honestly, it's probably better that way. My mom didn't have much of a maternal instinct." Her lips twisted in a slight grimace.

She didn't want to dive too deeply into her childhood.

Gabe did the chivalrous thing and changed the subject. "What's the weirdest call you've ever gone out on?" Crazy stories usually lightened the mood.

Zak jumped in again. "Ohh. I had one the other day. The engine got called out for a fire alarm trip in a gym." He leaned back against his seat. "Any guesses what set it off?"

Tara pursed her lips and thought a moment. "Cheese-stuffed burritos in the microwave?"

Ugh. Any kind of bean dish exploding in a microwave ended badly.

Zak made a buzzer sound. "Acccck. Wrong." He looked to Gabe. "Two guesses left, bro."

Gabe went with his usual false alarm trigger. "Someone was smoking on the premesis?"

Zak snapped his fingers. "Close… but no dice." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "Two people were in the sauna getting up close and personal and one of them kicked the temperature gauge. It set off the alarm."

Tara laughed. "Oh, man. That's embarrassing." She downed the remainder of her whiskey. "Reminds of my weirdest call on the medic. We were dispatched to a man in distress and when we arrived on scene, we were escorted through a sex club to find a guy with a chastity cup on his genitals. They couldn't find the key and he ended up with a full-blown anxiety attack, thinking he'd have to go home to his wife still wearing the thing."

Zak guffawed. "No way."

Tara lifted her chin. "Definite way."

Gabe chuckled. "Damn. That's gotta rank high on the weirdest ever list."

Zak asked the big question. "So, what happened?"

Tara placed her forearms on the table and lowered her voice. "Well, my partner distracted the patient by asking questions and monitoring his vitals. I used a pair of tweezers to pick the lock. Thank whatever rules the universe it was up by his hip." She laughed. "Seriously, I would not have wanted to be him when he called his wife from the hospital."

Gabe's eyes widened. "You transported him?"

Tara snorted. "The owner of the club insisted and the guy just wanted to get the hell out of there. He claimed to still be having trouble breathing." She leaned back again. "I had no idea I'd be on calls like that when I went through school."

Gabe wanted to know more about her. "What made you decide to go into emergency services?"

Tara tilted her head to one side. "Before I answer. How did both of you end up as firefighters?"

Zak smirked. "Boring answer. It's a family tradition."

Gabe grinned. "He's not wrong. Half our family is involved in the service. Mainly on our dad's side, but Mom's got two brothers on different departments."

Zak filled in the rest. "Besides Gabe and me, we've got Grandpa, Dad, his two brothers, the other uncles, and three cousins in the fire service. Two other cousins are nurses. So, yeah, definitely a family affair."

Tara blinked. "Wow. Well, my mom had a car accident when I was five. She had a drunk blackout and fell asleep at the wheel. She hydroplaned on the wet road surface and the car ended up flipping over, trapping us inside." She paused a moment and Gabe's heart went out to her. "My mom got out, but I was pinned. I was freaking out, calling for her, but she'd passed out again. When the ambulance and fire trucks arrived, I was sobbing and scared and cold. A truly wonderful paramedic crawled through the window and stayed with me, talking to me and helping me not be afraid while the firefighters cut through the back window to extricate me." She glanced up and held Gabe's gaze. "I decided that day what I wanted to be when I grew up."

Gabe flashed a smile. "Looks like it stuck." He lifted his glass. "To a great decision."

They clinked edges, with Zak joining in.

Zak folded his arms over his chest. "What happened to your mom?" He flinched when Gabe kicked him under the table. "If you don't mind me asking. Damn, bro." He rubbed his shin.

Tara lifted a shoulder. "No, it's okay. My mom did time. She'd already had two OVI convictions and I went back into foster care. Stayed there until I graduated."

Zak sighed. "Damn. I'm sorry, Tara." He shot Gabe a sideways glance. "You might wanna kick me again. I know how to kill a mood."

Tara laughed. "No worries, Zak. I don't live in the past but I'm not afraid to share it either." She slid her gaze to Gabe. "Haven't scared you off, have I?"

Gabe snagged her hand in his. "Nope. Not a chance."

Zak rolled his eyes. "Ugh. Sweet overload." He picked up his phone. "Okay, it's almost last call. I'm gonna call a cab so Gabe doesn't have to haul my ass home."

This one is fun to write. I know flashbacks aren't everyone's cuppa, but I love how the story is unfolding with Gabe and Tara.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin