Sunday Snippet: Late Summer Engagement (an Organic Nature short)

Wow, January is almost over and it's been a month. I'm cautiously optimistic the year will get better and crossing my fingers to be on the safe side.

Had a semi-busy week with work and I'm still on my cleaning spree. I did get some television watched. Started with another arc of Classic Who and watched the four-part Pyramids of Mars. Will probably get another arc in this week.

Started the next two episodes of Silent Witness. Oddly enough, it featured a horse race and I just finished editing a book about a thoroughbred dynasty so I understood a lot of the jargon.

Also started a new episode of Blue Heelers. There's another new cast member and I'll reserve judgment on whether I like her or not.

As usual, I caught a bunch of the Ovation mysteries and some classic Perry Mason. I also caught a marathon of Hawaii Five-0. I might be somewhat over the loss of Chin and Kono and ready to watch the final seasons. We'll see.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Late Summer Engagement, an Organic Nature short set in the month of June.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vin's ready to spend his life with Eppie, but he's not sure she wants to be the marrying kind. Instead of proposing, he suggests something a little different. As usual, Eppie surprises him with her response.

And a snippety peek…

Eppie stared through her kitchen window at the arbor. "What are you telling me, Gram?" For a full week, she'd been drawn to the sanctuary, compelled to go out and sit with the quiet and solitude.

Maybe because she had more time now—she had good part-time help—and enough time had passed since her gram's death. Memories assailed Eppie, of sitting on the bench while her grandmother tended the garden. Or helping her prune the ivy that twisted and twined all around the pergola and arched entrance to the arbor.

Vin entered the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Eppie. "What's on your mind?" He rested his chin on her shoulder.

Eppie turned in his arms. "Wondering what Gram wants me to know." She appreciated Vin not making light of her belief in messages from afar. "Maybe she wants me to restore her favorite place." She shrugged. "But we're already planning to do that and I feel like there's more she's trying to say."

Vin stepped back and nodded toward the table. "Speaking of the restoration. I've got the plans if you want to take a look." He reached over and smoothed the pages down.

Eppie made her way over and settled on one of the chairs. "This looks terrific." She glanced upward. "How long do you think we'll need?" She'd estimate a couple of weekends if she got the overgrowth cleared during the week.

Vin pretty much confirmed her guess. "Probably one weekend to fix and repair the current structure then do some prep-work and another one to add the new elements." He pulled a chair around and sat next to her. "I left the archway with the benches intact, but think we should add a lattice-work supporting wall to each side." His finger traced the gentle curved lines of the suggested addition. "More benches, probably in stone, would anchor everything." He met her gaze. "That way it'll last another fifty years."

Eppie grinned. "My gram would've loved you." His design invited a person in and included the shady spot under the pergola as well as having the added stone seating for basking in the sun. "We could add a pedestal café-sized table with wrought iron chairs on either end also." She loved the way concept came together.

A lovely area to sit and relax surrounded by nature.

She tilted her head. "You know, my grandparents used to sit and talk through their issues out there. They'd sit across from each other at first then usually ended up on the same side once they'd resolved their situation."

Vin quirked a brow. "Is that why it was their favorite place?" He folded up the pages and tucked them into a folder.

Eppie gave a slow nod. "I think that played a big part, yes. It was a different time and the arbor represented neutral ground for them." She let out a small chuckle. "Whereas you and I tend to talk about whatever we need to in the moment, they were much more deliberate about how they approached strife and conflict." She didn't think her gram wanted Eppie to use the arbor for the same purpose … but her gram wanted Eppie to learn or know something.

Maybe she'd discover the answer during the restoration.

Vin got up and held out his hand. "Speaking of communicating in the moment …" He tugged her up when she grasped his fingers. "Care to interpret this?" His mouth closed over hers and his palms cupped her ass.

Eppie moaned and eased away. "You're in the mood for hot sex and I'm right there with you." She grabbed his hand and led him through the small hallway to the stairs.

Eppie and Vin are so much fun to write. I love following the progression of their relationship one month at a time.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin