Happy

The wedding plans are coming along nicely and I’m almost done paying my portion of the event. That means I’ll be free to get rid of the second job. Once that job is gone I’ll have more time for writing again. I’ll be able to do what I love the most. Sure I’m still writing. Not as much as I want to be…but at least the words are flowing.

Spring has arrived on the calendar, but if you walk outside here in Rhode Island it tells a different tale. The temps are mid-30s. Not spring weather in my mind. Oh and then there’s snow in the forecast for today. Snow!

We’re only expecting 1-3 inches and I’m sure it’ll melt over the weekend. Seriously though, I’m so sick of this weather. I want warm temps.

Other than that I’m happy with the way things are moving along. Things can only get better from here.

WIP - The Cheater's Club A Contemporary Romance

“That low-down-dirty-rotten-cheating-son-of-a…”

“Whoa, Harlow. Slow down a moment. Take a deep breath and tell me who you’re talking about,” Jess said.

“Charlie, that’s who.” She swigged the ice cold beer and slammed the bottle on the bar.

“Charlie? As in the can’t perform, Charlie?” Harlow watched her blue eyes lit up like a Fourth of July firework display. 

“The one and only. Only he really can perform. It just depends on the participant.”

“I’m confused. Did the doctor prescribe him the little blue pill to cure his issue?”

Harlow nearly choked on her beer at the thought.

“No, it seems the only issue there is or was, was me. I went to his office to surprise him. I dressed in a sexy pink lace bra and panties, covered only by my long black coat. Oh, stop looking at me like that. I know its cliché, but what was I supposed to do? It’s been months since we’ve had sex. I was desperate.”

“So what happened?” She leaned on the edge of the bar stool, waiting for the grand finale of the story.

“I walked into his office to find his boss spread out on his desk. Charlie was pounding away at her. He wasn’t having any troubles performing.”

“What did he say?”

“Ha! What could he say? He was too busy to notice I’d walked in.”

“Oh. My. God! So did you just leave?’

“Are you serious? Me, walk away, while my boyfriend is bopping his boss on his desk? Nah. I walked right up to them and cleared my throat. When the two finally realized they weren’t alone, they stopped. It was more like Charlie froze. I think he might have had performance issues after that. His boss tried covering herself, but there wasn’t anything close by for her to grab. She demanded I get out of the building immediately.”

“Did you leave?”

“Yup. I wished them both luck and walked casually out the door.”

“You didn’t scream, yell or cry?”

“Nope.” And she hadn’t. She thought for sure once she left his office building the tears would flow like a raging river. Only they didn’t. The only thing Harlow felt since catching Charlie cheating was anger, bitterness and relief. She felt like she wasted her time with someone who just wasn’t worth it, but she was happy to realize she was free.

“I can’t believe it.” Jess blew out a low whistle. “Have you told Bev?”

Harlow shook her head. “I couldn’t get a hold of her, but I left her a message so maybe she’ll show up.

Jess turned away from Harlow. The look on her face didn’t look surprised anymore it looked – nervous.

“Jess. Is there something I should know?” They’d been friends for over twenty years. They went to grade school together. Harlow could tell when something was bothering her best friend. That and the fact that she was attempting to peel the label off the bottle, that didn’t exist.

“No. It’s just that…”

“Spill it, now!”

“There you are,” Bev gasped, plopping into the seat next to Harlow. “I’ve been scanning the inside bar for the last fifteen minutes. I even staked out the ladies room, but couldn’t find you guys anywhere. What’s the emergency?”

With the warm summer night, Harlow had chosen the bar on the deck. Not only for the magnificent view of the boats bobbing in the water or lighthouse in the distance, no she thought it only fitting given her current situation. The irony wasn’t lost as she watched the waves crashing against the shore, and then pulling back out to sea. She felt her relationship was just like the ocean, smashing against the rocks, shattering into a million pieces.

“Did we interrupt something?” Harlow asked. Bev’s short whippy red hair was more disheveled than usual.

“Nothing I didn’t need rescuing from,” she said, catching her breath. “I was knee-deep in a history project on Egyptian pyramids for Rachel’s school. I’m telling ya, if I have to see another piece of Styrofoam or a glue gun I’m gonna scream. No offense, Jess.”

“None taken,” she said, raising her beer bottle in salute.

Road Trip and Giving Up What We Love Temporarily

I’m ready for a road trip. At this time of the year hubby and I normally travel up to New Hampshire/Maine. We stay on the NH side of the border, but spent time at the outlets in Maine. We love the quaint Main Street of Portsmouth. We love visiting the little shops, cozy restaurants and the friendly atmosphere.

And then there are the outlets. Everyone needs a healthy dose of retail therapy. I’ve been working 2 jobs because my eldest is getting married this summer. On top of two full time jobs I continue my writing career. I’m not taking on as much work as I could because of the jobs, but after April 30^th that will change. I’ll leave one job and return to a heavier schedule on writing.

I miss writing as much as I used to, it’s one of those things in my blood. But having the money for the wedding takes priority. Family comes first.

It’s amazing how we as parents put others needs first before our own. For me it’s just a natural instinct.

Have you given up something you love or placed it on the backburner for your family? If so how did you feel?

I ask because I’m proposing an article to a magazine.

Thanks in advance.

WIP or Work in Progress

Today I'm sharing one of my WIP's. The tentative title is: Written in the Stars  Hope you enjoy it.

     “Sign on the dotted line and we’ll have a deal.”  Haley gazed upon Luke’s rugged finger as he pointed to the bottom line of the contract.  It seemed he couldn’t wait until she signed the lease.  He appeared standoffish, almost put out by her presence.  Didn’t he want to rent the space to her?  Haley wondered for the hundredth time since seeing the place.  Every time she came within feet of him he moved across the room as if she had the plague or something.  Haley Richards had never experienced such behavior from a man in all of her twenty-eight years.  Well, maybe that’s not totally true.  There was the time when she had kissed David Black in the sixth grade.  He had been a shy boy. Haley had fallen hard for David, even with his braces she couldn’t resist the urge to make him her boyfriend, but David wanted no part.  She tried on numerous occasions to convince him that they were meant to be, but he flat out refused.  Being the head strong person Haley Richards was she refused to take no for an answer.  So one day after the bus had dropped them off on the corner she had called David over in front of a group of friends.  Reluctantly, David had walked up to Haley.  She planted a kiss dead on his lips.  The kiss was magical to her.  Love had been in the air that day.  They would be a couple and grow up and get married.  Certain he had felt the magic too, Haley proclaimed her love for David.  Only Haley miscalculated the magic.  David ran off screaming and crying for his house.  After that day David steered clear of Haley.  He stopped taking the bus.  He had his mother pick him up from school every day.  He’d run the opposite direction in the hallway if he saw her coming.  David Black had rejected and broken her that day.  One thing was certain, he hadn’t deterred her men altogether.  David was a learning lesson every kid learns.  It wasn’t until her ex Tim that Haley had sworn off men once and for all.  She had to admit if it weren’t for Tim none of this would be happening.  Strange as it was, in a way she had Tim to thank for her future.

     Haley’s eyes trailed up the length of Luke’s arm.  She looked into his blue eyes.  Lost like a boat in the ocean, she wondered what made a man like Luke run from someone like her.  She hadn’t come on to him.  Yes, he was drop dead gorgeous which made it all the more reason for her to stay away from him.  

     Luke cleared his throat, steering her mind back to the matter at hand.

     “This is really happening, isn’t it?  I’m really finalizing this?”  Excitement filled her voice.  After months of searching for the perfect space, she finally found this one. Haley searched many cities, and looked at numerous dumps.  The flats she saw were either too small for the high prices, too dumpy, or in a bad area.

     Luke’s building was perfect.  It was in a safe neighborhood and the price was reasonable.  The four room flat would make a fabulous place to run her magazine.  After years of dreaming about owning her own magazine, she was about to make that dream reality.  In only a few moments a new life would begin.  Her dreams were coming true.

     Her heart pounded as she reached for the pen.  Was this possible?  Hadn’t Tim knocked her idea? Told her she’d never accomplish something so grand.  Said she’d be nothing without him.  Yes, he had.  But Haley was ready to prove him and anyone else who didn’t believe in her wrong.  After years of being a senior writer on the staff of Skyze Unlimited she was ready to take on new role;  editor and publisher.  Her deadlines would be more demanding now, but she’d be running the show and calling the shots.  She was

ready for the challenge.  Haley would make the decisions as to what did and didn’t grace the pages of her magazine.  This was her baby.  There was no man by her side helping her climb this ladder.  She was doing this all alone.  Haley Richards was an independent women.  She didn’t need or want a man in her life.  She was going to prove to the world just how successful and independent she was.

     Adrenaline pumping rapidly, Haley looked down at the paper Luke held under her nose.  They’d been sitting at the small card table, the only furniture in the room, for the last half hour going over every detail, until Luke stood up and walked behind her.  He bent over, leaning very close to her back.  She felt his hot breath on her neck.  The hairs stood on end, aware of his closeness.  Again, thoughts of his lips on her body filled her mind.  Desire stirred inside her.  She had to sign and get him out of this room immediately.

     “Are you ready?”  His voice barely a whisper, so seductive, she wasn’t quite sure what he was implying.  Could Luke possible be hinting innuendoes?

     “Ready for what?”  She asked nervously.  Anticipation filled her as she waited with baited-breath for his reply.

     Luke backed away cursing himself for the thoughts running through his head.  Standing that close breathing in the sweet smell of Jasmine drove him mad.  “To finalize this deal!”  He came across a bit rougher than he’d expected, but he couldn’t help it.  Haley Richards affected him in ways he didn’t like and wouldn’t stand for.

     “Let me have that pen.”  Quickly, she signed her, Haley Richards.

     “Congratulations, our deal’s complete!”  Luke extended his hand.  “As your new landlord let me welcome you to the neighborhood.”  After shaking her hand, he raked his fingers through his wavy black hair, thankful the deal was finally complete.