Sunday Snippet: Transference

Man. Whatever alignment the planets are in has been wrecking things in my house lately. After the washing machine saga, our coffeemaker took a crap. It's less than a year old. Seriously … not the norm. But the good news is a new washer and coffeemaker should arrive sometime this week barring any other global server outages.

Had a super busy work week. Finished the holiday manuscript and received a mystery and a romance for copy edit. Picked back up with a novella I've been working on with an author for a while now and enjoying getting back into the groove of the book. Also had an author reach out about a new twist on a previous project. Really fun week!

I didn't get a lot of screentime this week, but I watched a few shows. I'm in a weird place with viewing. I want to watch stuff, but my brain isn't settled on exactly what. Kind of want to binge something with a lot of seasons for a while to see if that will reset the needle.

I loved the episode of My Life Is Murder. Actually really twisty with an interesting outcome. Once again, Madison shined. I love that character.

Caught another Best in Paradise. This one featured the farewell to Martha, which ended up being so funny and sad at the same time. Excellent episode.

Watched another Death in Paradise with the introduction of the new DS. Not completely sure if I like her or not. Stay tuned.

Started an episode of Elementary but struggled to stay focused so I'll finish it up this week.

And that's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Transference, a novella that explores what might have been in a different way.

Here's the miniblurb:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move out of her college apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After three years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

Leslie tamped down on the burst of nervous energy coursing through her. "This is a cute cape cod." She loved the house and she definitely loved Granger inviting her.

Granger angled his head toward her. "It's obviously a work in progress. Haven't had the time I need to really make any big changes." He held up the mayonnaise and arched his brows.

She gave a nod. "Yep. Still the only thing I like on sandwiches." Thad used to tease her because he'd been a mustard man all the way.

The thought tugged a little hard. The entire reason she'd wanted to see Granger … to address the past and possible start over for the future. At least as friends if nothing more.

Granger carried two plates to the table and went back to grab two glasses of water then sat perpendicular to her. "Mayo on both sides, right?" He picked his sandwich up and took a large bite.

 Leslie grinned, touched he'd remembered. "Absolutely." She bit into the roast beef and cheddar and had a flashback to the kiss they shared after her fight with Thad.

Granger had been eating roast beef when she'd stopped at his apartment off campus, wrecked after the nasty fight with Thad. Granger took one look at her tear-streaked face and dragged her inside. Over sandwiches, she unloaded. About the issues between her and his brother. About loving him but wondering if that would be enough to see them through the rough patches. As usual, Granger listened until she stopped talking then offered to drive her back to the dorm. He'd always been easy to confide in and she appreciated how he didn't judge or take sides even when it involved his brother.

Probably why she initiated the kiss before they left Granger's apartment. A wild, crazy impulse. A safe play because she trusted Granger. And even then … even though she loved Thad with her whole heart, she'd been drawn to Granger.

And the embrace rocked her foundation. So different from Thad. By the end of the lip-lock, Granger's hands had threaded through her hair and hers found their way to cup his cheeks. But they didn't want this. To become a cliché by hurting the one person they each cared so much for.

By silent agreement, they left the apartment and Granger drove her home. Thankfully, he didn't make small talk or become awkward when they saw each other again. But something had shifted between them. An awareness of what they could have been.

And when Thad died? Her instinct had her turning to Granger. He'd been a rock during the month that followed … and she had hope they might … well, become more.

Then he wrote the letter and left.

Granger set his sandwich aside. "You're thinking about the letter, aren't you?" He let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I should've had the guts to talk face-to-face with you." He met and held her gaze.

Leslie shook her head. "Actually, I was remembering the kiss, then losing Thad, and then the letter." Her lips quirked. "Might as well roll all the way back to the beginning of when things got weird." A flurry of relief hit her because she needed to hash this out with Granger.

He settled back in his chair and put his palms on the table. "If we're going down memory lane, I have to stroll a little further." His eyes closed. "I started falling for you way before you kissed me. That's why I didn't bring it up or mention it afterward." He blinked and focused on her. "Then Thad died and my feelings for you got really tangled up with my grief over him." His fingers flexed on the smooth surface of the table. "Would've been easy to take advantage of losing him and I didn't want to be that guy. Not with my brother's girl." He looked away then back to her again. "The letter was a dick move and I really am sorry."

Leslie swallowed her shock over Granger's admission of falling for her, needing to both savor the idea and sit with it for a moment.

But she quickly absolved him over leaving the letter. "It's okay. Time and distance gave me a lot of perspective. And you're not wrong about how easy it would've been to shift what I felt for Thad over to you." Now she had a confession to make. "But it wouldn't have just been a transference. Things changed for me a little after I kissed you." When his eyes widened, she quickly continued. "I didn't love Thad less, but you took up space in my head. And I sometimes wondered, you know, what if?" A weight lifted from her heart. "I had no idea you were wondering the same thing. But you made the right call by leaving. It made me put my head down and focus on finishing my degree. And I'm not sure I would have done as well as I did if you were there as a reminder of Thad." She truly understood that now. "But … finding your letter? Hit a little sideways and I really wanted to at least see you and maybe … I don't know…" She trailed off because she sounded completely off the rails.

Granger's lips twisted in a wry grin. "Start fresh? I mean we can't forget our history or our connection to Thad, but we can forge ahead, right?" His voice turned hopeful.

Leslie nodded. "I'd like that."

I'm happy with how this one is going. Sibling rivalry is a favorite of mine, even if the sibling is no longer in the picture.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Transference

I'm so excited because for the first time in over twenty years—actually, maybe longer—I got some new furniture. It's kind of my holiday present from everyone in the family. A new small recliner and a new couch. I'll be adding a chaise at some point but haven't found one I like yet. The couch story is an entire saga and I didn't expect it until December 23, but it arrived Friday!

I also had a super-busy work schedule, which had me buried for most of the week. I'm definitely not complaining. I love to be busy.

Had a decent week of television but somewhat abbreviated. I started with the Madam Blanc Mysteries. I'm quite enjoying how the larger mystery arc is being woven into the weekly episodes.

I finished up the second part of Silent Witness and started a new episode. Gotta say I'm now into episodes I haven't seen yet. The first part left quite a cliffhanger. I'm a little freaked out.

I caught a full arc of Classic Who and, yes, the Master showed up. I started a new four-part arc and I think this is when we say goodbye to Five. I'll let you know next week.

Watched Mysteries of Apollo and this episode focused on NASA's first heroes, mainly the astronauts from Mercury and Gemini. Quite an interesting episode.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Muppet Show. Senor Wences and Bruce Schwartz and Debbie Harry were the guest stars. Both were fun episodes.

Caught another episode of Fantasy Island. I'm quite happy with this updated version. Looking forward to the holiday episode.

Watched an episode of Peak Practice. An interesting plot with this one. Kind of cool to get a little more backstory for Andrew.

Started a new MasterClass. The instructor is Bill Nye and I can't wait to dive into his classes.

Caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Season two is a lot of fun with some memorable stories.

Enjoyed a holiday episode of Chicago Med. Gotta say Dr. Charles is going through it right now. Actually, both of them are. A really great episode nonetheless.

Watched another Brokenwood Mysteries. As usual, this show makes me happy. I love the characters and their interactions. Kind of interesting to meet another one of Mike's exes.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Transference, a novella that lets my characters explore grief while finding their way to each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move into a new apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After three years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

Granger recognized the changes in Leslie when she entered the coffee shop.

He rose to greet her. "Les? Over here."

She gave him a smile and waved then went to place her order.

She'd let her hair grow out and wore it in a pert ponytail today. She'd also ditched the standard hoodie and battered jeans she'd favored the last time he'd seen her for a pair of bright leggings and willowy cardigan over a fitted T-shirt. Her soft leather ankle boots matched the cardigan in a steely gray color.

His heart rate kicked up a notch when she strolled over to the table, carrying an iced matcha if the green color indicated anything.

He stood and leaned to give her a one-armed hug. "I'm glad you called and happy we could meet."

She grinned and settled across from him. "I can't believe how lame that message was … or that you called me back." Her cheeks colored.

Granger laughed. "Honestly, it surprised me in the best possible way. Work is a grind right now and hearing your voice made my entire day." He took a long sip of his coffee.

She tilted her head. "Tell me everything that's been going on in your life…"

Two hours later, he'd fallen for her all over again. Could that be possible? He glanced in his rearview mirror to make sure she continued to follow him. She had the address programmed into her GPS but he didn't want to lose sight of her.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I can't believe she's really here." How many time had he thought about her over the last few years?

More than he would've admitted to if anyone asked before today.

Turning into his drive, he cut the engine and waited for her to pull in behind him.

He got out and met her at the sidewalk leading to his porch. "Thanks for agreeing to stop in for a while." Unlocking the door, he pushed it open and motioned for her to precede him.

She entered and glanced around. "Lovely home. How long have you been here?"

He chuckled. "Just under a year. I got lucky and bought the place when an older couple wanted to give assisted living a try." He hadn't actually been looking for a house, but a promotion came through and a realtor he played softball with told him about the place.

Eleven months later, he'd finally started getting used to the idea he owned a house.

Leslie moved into the living room. "Thanks for asking me to come. It's nice to see you found a niche and got settled." She glanced over her shoulder. "Gives me hope I'll find my way, too."

He gave a nod. "You're interviewing at three great companies. I'd love to hear more about how that came about." Setting his keys on a side table, he led her into the kitchen. "Why don't I make some sandwiches and you can fill me in."

She sat at the table and he pulled the bread and cold cuts out of the fridge to start making lunch.

My brother's former girlfriend is in my house and I don't want her to leave.

This story keeps surprising me and I'm enjoying that aspect. Leslie and Granger are rediscovering their connection and it's interesting to explore how they navigate things.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Transference

Whew. What a week. My middle kiddo—who's not really a kiddo anymore at twenty—ended up in an accident when a car turned in front of him across traffic. His car is pretty crunched up but he's thankfully okay. It's been a lot of phone calls this week to get a loaner car lined up and an insurance claim filed. I can say one thing with absolute certainty. I'm so glad we don't have many accidents or fender benders that need insurance company involvement. Yeesh.

I've been on a bit of a comfort viewing watch this past week. I stuck with more Peter Gunn episodes after watching the weekend marathon. I'm in the beginning of season two and about ten or so episodes in.

Also caught three groups of episodes with Classic Who. The six-part Web of Fear, which had some editing issues but it's better than not being available. I followed that with The Wheel in Space, another six-part arc. And then finished up with The Dominators, which is a five-part storyline. It looks like I'm in the last season of Two's run. I'm a little disappointed with how few episodes are available from his tenure.

I watched the last two episodes of series sixteen of Midsomer Murders and started the first episode of series seventeen. It's kind of odd how there was "The Flying Club" in sixteen and now "The Dagger Club" in seventeen.

I need to try to binge watch the final episodes of Riverdale to prepare for the new season starting soon. My heart is so heavy when I watch because they're the last episodes with Fred. I'm really looking forward to the premiere episode, which will be his memorial show.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Transference, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move into a new apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After three years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

"I'm such an idiot." Leslie tossed her phone on the stripped-down bed. "Why did I pack everything before I called Granger?" She could kick herself right now.

Nothing for it but to dig through a couple of boxes for something to wear that didn't involve her usual athletic shorts and tank tops—before her belongings headed for storage.

"Coffee on a Saturday morning. I need casual." Definitely not the interview clothes in her suitcase.

She grabbed one of the boxes marked with a clothing label and dragged it toward the bed. Sitting down, she paused before opening it. Holy shit. I'm having coffee with Granger.

Pulling the lid off, she shook her head. "I'm not an idiot. I'm insane." Why did she think contacting Granger would be such a great idea?

Because he's Thad brother and, dammit, that means something.

What it meant, she didn't quite know.

Yet.

But she wanted to find out because she had no one else and neither did Granger.

Digging through the container, she found three outfits she could mix and match for several days' wear. "Not that I'll need something for more than Saturday." But Ohio weather could run the gamut from bright and sunny to chilly and wet sometimes in the same hour.

Stashing the garments in her overnight bag, she snapped the lid back on when a knock sounded on her door. Perfect timing.

Her former classmate stood outside. "Hey, John. I've got everything boxed and ready."

He did a quick glance around. "Is that it?" His eyebrow quirked.

She nodded. "Yep. Ten boxes." Not much to show for almost five years in one place.

He snorted. "This is nothing. Instead of paying for storage, why don't I just take this over to Mom and Dad's? They won't mind keeping it until you get settled wherever you're going to be." He picked up the first container.

It would be nice to save the monthly rental. "If you're sure they won't mind, that'd be great." She reached down to grab one of the boxes.

John shook his head. "Just put it on top of this one. If you stack, I'll carry." He started for the door. "I kind of owe you big time for helping me get through our last year."

Leslie grinned. "You do, don't you." She followed him to the main entrance and pushed the door open. "I'm going to call and confirm my interview times, but I'll have the next two ready to go when you get back in."

She made a quick call to Maryland and verified the date, time, and location. John returned and she loaded him up again. Another call, this time to a hospital in Wisconsin to double-check the pertinent details. John made two more trips then met her in the foyer of the apartment building.

He nodded toward her suitcase and carryon. "You've got everything then?"

Her head bobbed up and down. "Yeah. Just need to drop my keys off then I'm Columbus bound."

John grabbed the handle of her suitcase. "I'll walk you to your car." He shot her a sideways glance. "What are you going to do? Park at the airport?"

She popped her trunk. "Probably. All in all, it won't even be two weeks." If she got lucky, she might be able to leave her vehicle with Granger.

No… that would be an imposition. Still, the idea had merit.

John stowed her luggage then shut the trunk.

Then he pulled her into a big bear-hug. "You've always got a place to stay if none of these jobs work out." He eased away. "Wait. That didn't come out right. What I mean is—"

Leslie laughed. "I know what you mean." She hugged him again. "And I appreciate it. If I end up in Columbus, you and Mark will have a place to hang out when you come up to see the Blue Jackets." Hockey being the couple's favorite sport.

He gave her a wide grin. "You know that's what I'm hoping for." Giving her a shoulder check, he lifted a hand in farewell. "Call me. Keep me posted. You know the drill."

She chuckled and slid behind the wheel. "Okay, Columbus. Here I come."

In a little more than twenty-four hours, she'd be seeing Granger Unger again.

I'm pretty pleased with how this story is going. I like the wrong timing turns into something better later trope.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Transference

March 19, 2017

And we had about two inches of snow this week. Mother Nature is laughing her ass off right now.

The Walking Dead had another great episode. I always love Carol and I enjoyed Morgan's journey. The Talking Dead follow up made me happy, too.

The Flash took a turn I didn't expect and I like it. Looking forward to seeing what else the speed force comes up with to throw at Barry.

Legends of Tomorrow going to the moon proved a fun ride. Personally, I want a lot more Mick and Martin scenes. Their timing is so terrific. I'm also loving the Sarah / Rip dynamic. Love this show.

Arrow upped the tension by a zillion. His past keeps coming back to haunt him in huge ways. While I love how Adrian has everything twisted in his direction, I'll enjoy seeing him go down. At least I hope he goes down. Hard. And doesn't get back up. I'm also waiting for Felicity to land on the hot seat. Something tells me she's going to get into a mess she can't get out of.

Riverdale had a bye week, which makes me sad. No new episode this week either. Grr.

I finished up the first season of City Homicide and started Luke Cage. So far, I'm enjoying the Harlem vibe and look forward to seeing how Luke comes into his hero status.

Still need to catch up on Murdoch Mysteries and X Company. Possibly this week.

And that's it for television. This week's post is from Transference, a novella that started with a scene prompt... One character is loading up their belongings for a move or transfer and they find a letter that reminds of their last time with another character.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move into a new apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After three years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

Granger tossed a ball against the wall of his office. He'd sent all the lab techs home—no one had great ideas after working twenty-four hours straight. He couldn't leave—not yet.

His team hovered on a breakthrough, so close Granger could almost see the solution in his mind. But not quite.

"Argh!" The ball hit, bounced, and returned only to roll between his trash can and file cabinets.

Rising, he dragged on a jacket and exited the office. The darkened lab cast shadows on the floor and walls. When did it get dark? The clock read just after nine. Geez, I need a life. He'd been cloistered in his office for well over three hours. But he had nothing to get home to or anyone waiting on him.

His stomach rumbled. "Okay, food I can do." He locked the lab and jogged down the steps to the first floor.

The security guard glanced up from his monitoring station. "Heading home, Granger?" He settled back in the chair and folded his hands over his belly.

Granger cracked a smile. "Not yet, Wallace. Heading out to grab a bite then coming back to work." He paused by the counter housing the camera feeds. "Can I get you something?"

Wallace shook his head. "No, thanks. The wife cooked up a storm today, trying a bunch of new recipes for her blog." He patted his stomach. "I'm her official taste tester and, man, I'm about to burst from eating so much." A satisfied grin crossed his features.

Granger lifted a hand in farewell. "Sounds terrific, Wallace. I'll be back in about thirty minutes." He waited for the guard to buzz him through the door then exited into the brisk night.

Suppressing a shiver, he strolled away from the research facility and crossed the road, heading toward an Irish pub that served excellent food in short order. The stars twinkled in the clear sky and Granger took a moment to gaze upward. He liked this time of year, but the usually mild weather of late spring hadn't arrived yet. The bite of winter lingering well after its normal run. Ohio weather never failed to amuse and amaze him.

He pulled the door open and entered the pub, the blast of warmth welcoming and full of comfort. The owner, Donal, lifted his chin in greeting then jerked his head toward the kitchen. Being a regular provided top-notch service without saying a word.

Granger gave a thumbs-up then grabbed a seat by the window. He didn't wait long, getting his order within fifteen minutes. Donal waved Granger off and suggested he come in to pay his tab this weekend.

Donal always seemed to know when Granger needed a break. He'd definitely stop in on Friday or Saturday and unwind. But first, his team needed to find their breakthrough.

Wallace nodded, the phone to his ear, when Granger walked past. He hit the stairs again, going up a floor then wandered down to the lab and back into his office. Settling behind the desk, he popped the lid on his takeout container then noticed his message light flashing.

Hitting the speaker, he keyed in his password. Maybe inspiration struck one of the techs. Nothing prepared Granger for the blast from his past.

"Hi, Granger. It's Leslie. Stupid of me to call, but, well, I finally graduated and have several interviews scheduled—God, that's not why I'm calling. I'd like to see you, if you're not too busy. I'll be in town Friday, staying through next week. If you're available, give me a call."

She signed off with her contact number.

Granger blinked and sat, hard, in the chair. Jesus. Leslie. How many times had he thought about her over the past two years? Every time he'd thought of Thad, which, granted, hadn't been as much recently. He missed his brother, especially around the holidays when Granger didn't have any family to visit.

But he'd held firm to his promise to leave Leslie alone. "And what did it get me?" A string of one-night stands and weekend relationships.

But he couldn't lay the blame at Leslie's feet. He wrote the letter. But she didn't reply or respond. You didn't leave her much of an opening. He hadn't. Not even a smidgen. How had she coped? He still got a kick of guilt over leaving that letter in her mailbox. She didn't have anyone either. Who had she turned to when she needed someone to talk to? God, he'd been such a shit. Pulling away not even a month after his brother's death. Hey, dumbass, she wants to talk to you now. Call her.

Grabbing his phone, he dialed her number.

Granger is going to kick himself for not calling Leslie sooner. But it gives him the opportunity to examine where he is and where he wants to go.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Transference

December 7, 2014

Whew. Last week's Walking Dead broke my heart. And if anyone caught The Talking Dead afterward, oh… tears were shed during that, too. Trying really hard not to spoil anything for anybody who hasn't seen the episode yet. Gotta give Chris Hardwick so many props though. The guy does much to restore my calm. LOL

Let's see… The Flash / Arrow crossover turned out to be EXCELLENT!! So much fun! Sleepy Hollow's fall finale ended up being better than I expected. Not so thrilled with one of my faves not making it, but I like it when shows don't always go where I want them to.

Which brings me to Sons of Anarchy. Oh… wow. I have a pretty solid idea of how things will shake out in the last episode, but Kurt Sutter has ways of pulling off some serious surprises, so I kind of hope I’m wrong. All in all, I'm actually pretty thrilled with the ones who are no longer around.

Enough TV talk… tonight's post is from Transference, a sexy short putting my characters together after something of a one night stand… but also delves into their history.

Here's the tagline:

Leslie Karr is packing her meager belongings to move into a new apartment and finds a letter from Granger Unger explaining why their night of shared grief over the loss of his brother can't go anywhere. After two years, Leslie still wonders if he may have been wrong and decides to test the waters by looking him up before she leaves town.

And a snippety peek…

Leslie overturned the bottom drawer of her desk, dumping the contents on the floor. Sitting down, cross-legged, she started sorting through pile. Old receipts landed in the trash can, a book of poems put aside for later reading. She picked up a stack of mail and rifled through, pitching the junk and setting letters from friends with the book of poetry. A crisp white envelope caught her attention and her heart kicked in her chest.

Granger.

She slipped the missive out and unfolded the page. His bold handwriting leapt off the paper. She'd only read the letter once, but the words still burned in her brain.

I'm sorry, Leslie. I won't tarnish Thad's good name and reputation by hooking up with and running off into the sunset with his girl. To honor his memory, I'm leaving Athens. I arranged to take my finals early and have accepted a job offer in Columbus.

I think it's best if we don't see each other again before I go. It would be so easy to work through the pain of our loss with great sex. But that's all it would be. Sex. The grief would still be there, under anything else we might have. Relationships can't be built by transferring physical pleasure for sadness. I'm truly sorry, and I hope… no, I know you'll succeed and graduate with honors. Take care of yourself, Leslie. Sincerely, Granger.

Two years later, she still had the odd combination of anger and respect for Thad's brother. She couldn't argue with Granger's position. She didn't like it, but she totally got it. She understood, on a very deep level, the guilt Granger felt. They each loved Thad and almost trashed the sentiment while he still lived.

"God, what idiots." Her shoulders slumped. "Thad didn't deserve either of us."

Okay, not quite fair. Leslie didn't forget the reason she'd shared a kiss with Granger—a volatile argument with Thad. He had faults, just like she did. But losing him made it easier to view his flaws with a softer focus. Hindsight forgave a lot. And time did heal.

Leslie pushed the letter back inside the envelope. "I came out okay." Better than.

She had graduated with honors and had several offers under consideration. One happened to be in Columbus.

She rose and stretched, and then tucked the letter into her laptop case.

Grabbing her phone, she scrolled through her contacts and hit send. "Hello, this is Leslie Karr. I'd like to confirm my interview time for next week." After making sure she had the details correct, she ended the call.

Sitting down at her desk, she opened a web browser. "Okay, Granger, let's see if you're still around. Maybe enough time has passed for a trip down memory lane."

One of my favorite tropes, sibling rivalry, but with a twist. Always fun. :D

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin