Sunday Snippet: Just Take a Moment

Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate. For me, this includes those who mentor others because being a mom isn't always about giving birth to a person or have fur babies.

Had another busy work week and I'm thrilled to have multiple projects to dig into. I love what I do and being freelance means being happy when the work is rolling in.

Had a limited viewing week with so many other things going on. I sadly lost one of my aunts I've been particularly close to and needed some quiet reflection time.

I did get the double-header of the last two episodes for the first season of Battlestar Galactica in, and they held up as being one of the most perfect season finales of all time.

I also finished up the episode of Only Murders in the Building. Gotta say I had a feeling the artist would do something creepy and she totally did.

Other than that, I watched my classic standby of Perry Mason and also caught some early seasons of Midsomer Murders.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Take a Moment, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sheila Hogan has spent eight years in the military and returns home to bury her mother. Troy Collins is the guy she left behind and, after a bumpy reunion, she realizes he's still a source of strength and calm. Sheila has thirty days to decide if she's going to sign on for another four years or muster out and explore the future with Troy.

And a snippety peek…

Sheila Hogan thanked the head of the hometown gossip brigade. "So nice of you to come, Marjorie. Mom enjoyed her Tuesday morning walks with your group." And Lydia Hogan loved the ribald breakfasts after.

Marjorie clasped Sheila's hand. "Work's not going to be the same without her. We're gonna miss her. She's gone too soon."

Sheila nodded. Car crashes would do that to a person. Especially when driving home in the wee hours of the morning after a shift at the jelly factory.

Marjorie shook her head. "I'm sorry for your loss, sweetie. You gonna be okay? When do you have to go back?"

Sheila didn't know how to answer. She had a month's leave from the navy, but she also had a decision to make. Did she reup for another stint or muster out?

Sheila gave a little shrug. "I have a month. Should be time to get mom's estate settled." And figure out what to do about the navy.

Marjorie leaned in close. "You call if you need anything. Me and the girls are here for you." After a quick hug, Marjorie moved to join the other women Sheila's mom used to work with.

Sheila inhaled slowly and readied to greet the next person in line.

Her heart stopped a moment when her gaze clashed with a familiar blue one. Troy Collins … her high school boyfriend until two days after graduation. She didn't expect to see him. Hadn't prepared for it. Eight years of carefully avoiding him, of planning quick trips in and out of town so she didn't have to face him … and now, at the worst possible time, his eyes cooly assessed her before a note of sympathy entered the clear, dark depths.

He lifted his chin. "Sheila. My condolences." He glanced toward the closed casket. "Losing a parent sucks."

Guilt filled her … because he would know. His dad, Frank, died from a massive cardiac infarction three years ago, leaving Troy and his mom to pick up the pieces and carry on. Marjorie, always with the inside scoop, mentioned Frank had left a business teetering on the brink of debt when he passed, and rumor had it the stress caused the heart attack in the first place.

Sheila sucked in a breath but couldn't speak. Memories rolled up and knocked her back. Frank and Myra had been like parents, treating Sheila like a daughter because she'd dated their son for four years.

And she'd left, never looking back. Not once during her entire enlistment. And now Troy stood before her telling her it sucked to lose a parent. The room went hot and spun wildly, and Sheila put one hand to her mouth.

She held the other out, unable to meet Troy's gaze. "Sorry. Sorry. I can't…" Turning, she fled the room, brushing past one of the funeral directors, and made a hasty exit out into the cool evening dusk, making her way along the well-manicured planters lining the edge of the building. A wave of grief hit her, and she stopped, sinking down onto the concrete ledge of the landscaping. The lush greenery blurred when tears flowed down her cheeks and her heart shattered, not only from the loss of her mom, but for everything she'd trashed and left behind.

This one is in the very beginning stages but I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin