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

Sunday Snippet: Just Dance

Had a wild week with several work projects coming in hot and taxiing on the runway. Also had some wild weather, which isn't a big shock. We're supposed to be chilly again sometime next week, which I'm not looking forward to.

Very slow week of viewing. Between the work projects, weather, and an award ceremony for my daughter's university, I didn't get a lot watched.

I did get another episode of Pennyworth watched and, ugh, it kind of broke my heart. The fallout is not going to be pretty, I'm sure.

Watched one of my very favorite episodes of Battlestar Galactica with "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down." Seriously, the acting in this episode is beyond stellar. The dinner party from hell has to be one of the funniest scenes in the entire series, which okay, might not be saying much because the subject matter of the series isn't always open to humor. But kudos to the writers for working it in whenever they could.

I also started a new episode of Wednesday and I'm definitely settling in and enjoying the wild ride. The snark is top notch and Wednesday's quest to find answers that keeps generating more questions intrigues me. I love this show.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Kevin Hale returns home to help his family put their craft brewery on the map, he has to work with Alice Frank—the girl he left behind—to launch an event to benefit local businesses in a slow summer month. Alice is wary of getting involved with Kevin again—his wanderlust is well-known and she's definitely a hometown girl—but his creativity spurs hers and she takes a chance that he'll stick around this time.

And a snippety peek…

"Happy Hills Farm Brewery, how can I help you today?"

Kevin Hale grinned at the greeting from his mom. "Mom? That's a great opening salvo. How's everything going? How's Benj working out?" He grabbed his bag from the luggage conveyor.

Brenna Hale sighed. "Oh, Kev. I'm so glad you called. Benj is actually wonderful. He's teaching your brothers all his trade secrets to brewing excellent ale." Her voice lowered. "But we need more business. I'm getting concerned about paying the property taxes."

Kevin exited the baggage claim area and made his way to the rental car kiosk. "I know, Mom. I have an idea about that. I'll fill you in when I get home. I'm picking up a rental now, so give me an hour, maybe ninety minutes." Then he'd be home for good.

Brenna's tone brightened. "You're so close. It'll be good to see you again." She chuckled. "Well, you know what I mean. FaceTime and Zoom aren't the same as having you home."

He smiled. "I know, Mom. Tell Frank and Vince I'd like to have everyone together for dinner. Maybe we can hit the Warehouse?" Nostalgia filled him … the old brick restaurant had been their favorite while growing up.

Brenna promised his brothers would be available, and Benj, who'd become an honorary family member. Kevin thanked his lucky stars Benj Heinmiller agreed to pull up stakes and move to the US and share his wealth of knowledge for brewing a smooth ale in a variety of flavors. Their chance meeting at a conference for craft beers had been the best thing to happen during Kevin's long journey to discover what he wanted from life.

Kevin ended the call and picked up his rental. Before heading out of the parking lot, he pulled up his email app and sent an inquiry to the local chamber of commerce to request a meeting with their head of event planning at their earliest convenience in the following week if possible. He included his contact information and the brewery's. If he could get the chamber on board with his idea, he'd consider it a win.

And he needed one. He wanted to start off on the right foot with his return home. Because he'd come to stay.

After traveling the world, he wanted to explore familiar surroundings again. "Long past time I put down some roots to see what sprouts."

This one is in the very beginning stages of coming together and I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: How to Win a Fair Fight

Whew. What a long week. I've got three work projects going and some movement on my possible new venture. And crazy weather that keeps hopping back and forth from super cold to very mild. I'm not a fan.

Had a somewhat decent week of television. I'm not back to my normal schedule because my work projects need solid focus. But … I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things.

I finished up the Midsomer Murders I started last week and really enjoyed the episode. I have a lot of love for Barnaby and Winters.

I caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm in season nine and what I consider the home stretch since there are three seasons left after this one. Not a bad episode but I do miss some of the recurring characters from earlier seasons.

Continued my Battlestar Galactica rewatch with my friend. Season one starts with what I consider to be one of the absolute best hours of scripted television ever. "33" is in my top ten episodes of Battlestar and probably in my top ten episodes of television. Edge of your seat viewing for the entire episode. Terrific stuff.

Watched an episode of Classic Who and finished out the arc. I have ten episodes left to finish out the full run of classic episodes. I think I'll be starting a Death in Paradise run after I conclude with Classic Who.

Started the first of the final two episodes in season twenty of Silent Witness. I'm looking forward to finishing it up and seeing where things go.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from How to Win a Fair Fight, a novella that brings polar opposites into the same orbit and lets them have some fun.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Karla and Unger are polar opposites but share a tense attraction. When a weekend discussion with their group of friends focuses on what's considered a fair fight, Karla and Unger have differing opinions, which leads to a wager about the rules and the difference between love and war.

And a snippety peek…

Karla Martin tilted her head sideways. "Hold up. Was this a girl fight or a guy fight?" How did they get on this subject again?

Right. Her brother Tom and the new guy Unger Tango got kicked out of Hatter's bar for trying to break up a physical altercation.

Unger blinked at her question. "What difference does it make?"

The group of six—siblings Karla and Tom, Tom's significant other Janie, her cousin Mark, Karla and Tom's cousin Mellie and the new guy, Unger, Mark's coworker—sat around the fire pit on the Martin family property.

Karla arched her brows. "Well, the rules are different depending on the participants."

Unger frowned. "That's stupid. A fight is a fight."

Tom let out a low whistle. "My friend, you're about to get schooled."

Karla stuck her tongue out in Tom's direction then turned to Unger. "You see, that's little sister for fuck you and perfectly acceptable during a sibling squabble, which shouldn't be confused with the greater familial fracas that usually includes cousins like Janie and Mark and, of course, our Mellie." She narrowed her eyes a little. "You're kind of the odd man out here, since you're not related to anyone." Although the way Unger hit it off with Tom and Mark, he'd have the sibling vibe very soon.

Unger grunted. "Fine, but a fight is still a fight." He folded his arms over his chest.

Mellie shook her head. "Maybe for you men, like no hitting below the belt and all that." She kicked her feet out. "But women have a whole different vibe..."

Janie gave a nod. "Yeah, like is pulling hair acceptable? How about using fingernails?" She propped her feet up on one of the coolers. "Mani-pedis can get expensive so it's something to think about."

Unger blinked and huffed out a breath. "You're not serious."

Karla leaned forward. "Why wouldn't we be? Women tend to travel in groups. Is the fight all inclusive or one on one?" She added that to push his buttons.

Unger tsked. "You're telling me, you have a list of rules that are decided on prior to making physical contact?"

Karla rolled a shoulder while Mellie and Janie bit back grins.

Unger cocked his head. "Okay then, where does biting fall on your list of rules? Is that allowed?"

Karla pursed her lips, giving her answer some thought. "What kind of fight?"

Unger clicked his teeth with his tongue. "What do you mean?"

Karla arched her brows. "Is it a fair fight or a kick a bitch to the curb fight?" Janie and Mellie nearly fell off their chairs laughing.

Unger rolled his eyes. "Consider it's a fair fight."

Karla waved a hand. "Then no teeth."

Unger grunted again. "Glad I'm not a woman."

Karla zeroed in to get the last word. "So are we…"

Mark closed his eyes and groaned.

Tom lightly punched Unger on the shoulder. "Told you."

Karla settled back in her chair and basked in the glow of victory, which would be short-lived, no doubt…

I have zero clue exactly where this story is going but it's a fun ride so far. Karla and Unger are going to push each other's buttons and I love writing them.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin