“Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence – a lot passes you by – simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.”-Anita Brookner CBE (16 July 1928 – 10 March 2016[1]) was a British award-winning novelist and art historian. She was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Cambridge from 1967 to 1968 and was the first woman to hold this visiting professorship. She was awarded the 1984 Man Booker Prize for her novel Hotel du Lac.
Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge
Go with the flow. #WQWWC
He hasn’t taken his eyes off me since I sat down. Even when he takes a drink his eyes stay on me over the rim of his glass. His Adam’s apple bobs above the open collar.
I try not to watch him. But his lips wet with the moist drink . . . and his pink tongue flicks out to lick a drop off his bottom lip.
His fingers dwarf the glass but hold it so gently.
I find myself linking my lips and taking my bottom lip in my teeth. His right eyebrow rises as he watches. His friends must wonder what he’s doing. He hasn’t said a word to them since I sat down.
“Smile at him, Linda,” Rebecca said.
“What?”
She laughs. “Girl, smile at him so he knows he can come over or send a drink or something.”
I look at her. Amusement is in her eyes, wicked amusement. “Who are you talking about?”
“Mister Can’t-Take-His-Eyes-Off-You over there.”
I wave my hand at her. “No one sees me like that.”
“Linda, in that dress, looking like that, you need to get a clue. You’ve worked hard to be fit like that. And I know him from work. I’ve never seen him look at anyone before. He’s always been all business at work and only talks to his friends when he’s here. He must think you’re special.”
“You think so?”
“I’m saying it ain’t I?”
Rebecca isn’t the kind to lie to me.
“Well . . .”
“Oh ye of little faith,” she said.
“Old habits.
“Remember that Psych class we took, and we had to learn all those quotes?”
“Yeah.”
“One stuck with me; ‘As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.’ It was by a Professor of Psychiatry, Emmanuel Teney.”
“So you are saying, I should just go with the flow?”
Her eyes flick over my shoulder and then back to me. “Girl, I think I should be going with the flow right now. Good luck.” With that, she takes her purse and leaves the table.
“Hello.”
I look up to see the man has moved from his table to mine.
“Hi.”
“Would you mind if we left this place and got a coffee, maybe somewhere a little quieter? Maybe you know a place you like to go to. I mean, I hope Rebecca said I was okay.”
I look past him and see Rebecca not far away, nodding and waving me to leave.
“She gave you an okay. And I know a place, not far from here. It’s a book store that’s also a coffee shop.”
He smiles and I catch my breath. “I know the place. I go there every day at lunch, just to deflate from the work day, otherwise I wouldn’t make it to the end.”
“Then let’s go.”
He pulls my chair out as I stand. Then he holds out his arm and escorts me across the room. I look back and Rebecca is standing there with her hands together in front of her and grinning. She holds up her phone and mouths ‘Call Me’.
I wink.
The theme for this weeks Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge, that I co-host with Colleen Chesebro of Silverthreading,com is Faith. Click HERE to see more entries based on the theme.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
Rebirth of a Man. #WQWWC
The difference two years can make in a persons life is beyond imagining. Blogging can end up being many things in your life. For me, it was a way to begin having something to do, something to wake up and ‘work’ at. For a man who’d worked his whole adult life, it was unusual to find himself in the land of nothingness, although in truth, I didn’t really know what that meant at the time. Amnesia can do that to you. It’s odd to think about what you do and do not remember.
I never had expectations from blogging. Maybe I wanted people to read my work. Originally this was to be a Christian site. With the first post it became a writer’s site. I still try to keep it along the lines of Christianity in tone and demeanor, but as goes a Christian life astray at times, so goes a blog post as well.
“When love awakens in your life, in the night of your heart, it is like the dawn breaking within you. Where before there was anonymity, now there is intimacy; where before there was fear, now there is courage; where before in your life there was awkwardness, now there is a rhythm of grace and gracefulness; where before you used to be jagged, now you are elegant and in rhythm with your self. When love awakens in your life, it is like a rebirth, a new beginning.” John O’Donohue
When I first began blogging I wrote some of the darkest poetry I’ve ever put pen to. I couldn’t write like that again if I were paid. It’s not in me. I’m a happy person now. I’m content with most of my life. I think friendship and having people care about me has changed me a lot.
I don’t dwell in the land of self-pity any longer. I don’t check in to depression hotel. I used to have a buy two nights get the third one free deal with the DH. Now, I don’t even get junk mail or spam for specials.
I’m so content that I have a hard time writing poetry at all. That may sound odd, the thinking being that maybe I would be able to write happy poems, but really it’s that I just do ‘think’ about things because they all go well right now. Well, maybe not all. When those things don’t go well now, they are even worse than my old bad days. Now I know what good is like so the bad moments are that much worse. However, I know there is another way of life than sadness.
My rebirth began two years ago, in June. I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back now I can tell it did. Two years later and it’s as though life has taken an even bigger leap into the good zone. By all rights I should be depressed at this moment, but I’m not. Things are good, real good. The outlook on life is good. Confirmations have happened. Affirmations. Other ‘tions’ I’m sure I can’t thing of at the moment.
Love is a wonderful thing to have. Rebirth in almost every way can be seen as the results of love, caring. If you need a new life, look for love. Love’s the best medicine you can find.
You can check out the other Rebirth entries HERE, on SilverThreading.com, Colleen Chesebro’s site, my other half for the Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. This was her week to come up with the theme.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
Rebirth of a Nation. #WQWWC
I generally like to do multiple quotes either as a list or to weave through a commentary on Wednesday to go with the Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge or #WQWWC. This week, what with all that’s happened recently in Orlando, FL here in the US, I stumbled across one quote I felt pretty much sums up how America is.
“You know Americans are obsessed with life and death and rebirth, that’s the American Cycle. You know, awakening, tragic, horrible death and then Phoenix rising from the ashes. That’s the American story, again and again.” Billy Corgan
The sad thing is, the lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins is right. But the American story needs to do away with some of those repetitive chapters, and do so soon. It may take some ugly steps to do it, some things most of us will just not like.
I’m someone who has to do things and be on the side of things and told I’m just not right a lot. It’s difficult, but I’m okay with it because I know it’s the right thing.
You can check out the other Rebirth entries HERE, on SilverThreading.com, Colleen Chesebro’s site, my other half for the Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. This was her week to come up with the theme.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
Quotes of Connection. Inspire.
Sometimes when I put together a post for some sort of challenge, I just include a list of quotes or try to link them together in some form. The form this time is simple. I’m not going to express how certain quotes are about writing or one subject.
You ever see a quote and it speaks to you? As I was putting together a group of quotes this week for my other site I ran across several that did just that, spoke to me, in different ways. All talk about Inspiration.
“Being a father has been, without a doubt, my greatest source of achievement, pride and inspiration. Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love, reinforced the importance of giving back and taught me how to be a better person.” Naveen Jain (Founder and former CEO of InfoSpace.)
“Inspiration comes from within yourself. One has to be positive. When you’re positive, good things happen.” Deep Roy (Indian Actor born in Kenya)
“Cease trying to work everything out with your minds. It will get you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be Revelation.” Eileen Caddy (Spiritual teacher and new age author.)
“To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?” Queen Elizabeth II (Queen of the United Kingdom since 1952.)
You can check out the other Inspiration entries HERE, on SilverThreading.com, Colleen Chesebro’s site, my other half for the Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. This was her week to come up with the theme.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
16 QUOTES FOR A WRITER’S OBSESSION.
Quotes can do a great many things. One is to make you think. You can think about yesterday, today, or tomorrow. The quote determines what path you take with those thoughts of yours. Which reminds me of this quote:
“I learn from thinking about the future, what hasn’t been done yet. That’s kind of my constant obsession.” John Cale
I like to focus on quotes that impress me about the life of being a writer, even if the original intent wasn’t there, and regardless of who said the words. Okay, maybe I do have a bias at times.
Take this quote as an example:
“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” Claude Monet
Obviously Monet was not talking about writing, but substitute the word “words” for “color” and you have my life. I create a new book idea at least once per week. The torment for me is captured with these words:
“I can’t read all the books I want to read, I can’t watch all the phenomena that interest me in the world. The work calls me, and sometimes I wonder whether this is an obsession and I should drop it, or it’s a necessity I’m obliged to fulfill.” James Hillman
The problem is not so much the question of whether or not I have an obsession with words or if they are a necessity. They are both. My problem is this:
“The creative habit is like a drug. The particular obsession changes, but the excitement, the thrill of your creation lasts.” Henry Moore
Some have a more negative view of obsession. I suppose even when channeled toward the arts.
“Obsession is the single most wasteful human activity, because with an obsession you keep coming back and back and back to the same question and never get an answer.” Norman Mailer
You might think Mailer is a great one to pay heed of, but no two people are the same. Perhaps with him, he just didn’t know how to channel obsession or perhaps his obsessions were not as healthy as writing. Writing isn’t only an obsession to me.
“Writing is my obsession, my passion. My relationship with it is one of the most complex and agonizing and richly vexing that I have in my life.” Julianna Baggott
But the truth is,
“The trade of authorship is a violent, and indestructible obsession.” George Sand
“Writing has to be an obsession – it’s only for those who say, ‘I’m not going to do anything else.’” Lorrie Moore
If you think about what a writer does to create a 300 page book, there must be obsession involved. Even those books that turn out not so great are the results of an obsessed mind, a fevered mind devoted to this world inside the imagination.
I can identify with the next quote:
“I’ve been called many names like perfectionist, difficult and obsessive. I think it takes obsession, takes searching for the details for any artist to be good.” Barbra Streisand
Add insane, nuts, crazy, and a few choice words to the list and you pretty much have my name calling in hand.
But you know what?
“What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.” Eugene Delacroix
Writing isn’t easy. To finish a sandwich is one thing. Even to finish reading a book is something. But to finish writing a book? How hard is it for you to finish reading a book sometimes, even one you love?
“I need my natural laziness to be counteracted by obsession in order to do anything.” Vikram Seth
I could sleep all day, and watch old movies all night. Yes, I live on an odd time schedule, even though mornings are my most creative times.
But laziness, uncertainty, and all those other things that get in the way just won’t stop a truly obsessed writer.
“You cannot write a book unless it is totally inhabiting your imagination and you are totally engrossed with it. Which is a kind word for obsession.” Kate Forsyth
Another way of saying it is,
“The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.” John Pomfret
Art is a unique profession, writing included. We are our own bosses. Some like to say we create fairy tales and make believe worlds. People don’t realize something about writing.
“When you’re working for yourself and your own obsession with finding the truth, you’re at your own mercy.” Errol Morris
You see, if a writer isn’t writing honestly, if they are putting words into the mouth of a character and they don’t ring true, everything falls apart, and they are labeled a terrible writer. Writing is a dangerous profession, a gamble.
But as the saying goes and it is so true,
“I read in order to write. I read out of obsession with writing.” Cynthia Ozick
When it all boils down, I can say this,
“I only have one obsession – not to be boring.” Michel Hazanavicius
You can check out the other Obsession entries HERE, on SilverThreading.com, Colleen Chesebro’s site, my other half for the Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. This was her week to come up with the theme.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
Renew your mind and the rest will follow.
For the “Change” theme of the Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge this week, which I chose, I wanted to share one of my favorite verses.
“2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2a)
A lot of people stop at this point in the reading. I’ve heard this partial verse preached on a number of times, but I always have my Bible out to read further. You see, I understand something many preachers don’t preach about.
The writings of the Bible were done as letters, not books, chapters, and verses. One sentence leads into the next. I like what some pastors say, if you see a “Therefore” in the Bible, it means it’s “there for” a reason. With this verse, you look at the next sentence.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2b)
Now that your mind is not polluted by the goings on of the world, you will be able to see for yourself the truth of God’s will. Polluted is a strong word. However, I’m not certain what other word to use when I think about what happens when the TV, movie, and music influences begin their work on an individual. Tiger Woods didn’t become a sex addict by watching Bugs Bunny or Andy Griffith. He became corrupted by everything around him that fed his ego and appetites.
In the Bible there have been headings added within the created chapters. This can break up meaning at times.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3)
Here you see a continuing explanation of the Romans 12:2a. Paul is reminding us that even with the renewing of our minds, our new unpolluted selves, we are still not higher than anyone else, and are only as good as we are by the faith God has given us.
We need to be on guard to not allow the pollution in. We worry about the ozone layer, climate change, and landfills, but we care little about the one true unique resource on earth, ourselves. Each of us is unique. You could have a twin and they are not exactly like you even if they look and sound like you. Perhaps they even walk and move like you do, they are still not exactly like you.
You are thinking unique thoughts. Those thoughts can be for a good reason or not. Not every thought needs to be for the betterment of the world. Dreams and fantasies exist to help our minds cope with a world that is not like we are.
There are people out there who hear the word Christian and automatically think of stereotypes brought about by a small, but visible/vocal minority. It’s kind of like when they have that local on the ground interview about a robbery or natural disaster and for some reason the news reporter picks the most illiterate and socially inept person they could find to put in front of the camera. That’s what happens with Christianity. We end up with the vocal and media seeking individuals representing us.
Christianity is a personal thing. One on one. It’s not a group think, or a group mind thing. It’s not the exact same thing for any two people. My thoughts differ from others in my own home. I have a more understanding nature than some. I look at things below the surface and don’t pass judgement. Yes, I will say something is bad when I believe it is bad. Beating a child is bad. If you say it is good, then I think you have a problem. If you say that it might be okay for the society that person doing the beating lives in, then I say that society is bad. If that is being judgemental, call me guilty. I generally take things on a person by person basis.
Change. Do you want to change how you think, what you think, what you think is acceptable? Renew your mind, however you want to. Hit your reset button about what you think is acceptable. I’m not saying become a Christian. I’m saying reset your humanity button. Do you watch porn? Do you look at images on the internet? Do you watch or listen to things promoting degradation of women? More than likely you do and don’t even think you are. That means you support it.
The rest button is a hard thing to do. You’ll hit it several times. But eventually—eventually, the habits you develop from your intentional training of your mind will lead to a permanent change in your heart as well.
You can check out my other Change post on the prompt post HERE, as well as seeing links for other entries.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
The Fantasy.
Moonlight, white silk sheets, and dark raven hair dominate my sight. She had given me a key. Maybe she’d forgotten . . . or maybe not. Once through the door I inhaled deeply and took in her expensive scent.
I fought to keep my eyes from closing, from losing sight of her curves under the silk. Mmmm, perhaps she was expecting me.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I observed her lines, her breathing. Her fingers gripped the pillow. I leaned in to her neck . . . her reactions were faster.
Lips found mine.
Hands pulled me to her.
She kissed me deep, her hand in my hair . . . while the other was searching.
“Glenn?”
“Wha?” I woke, looking up into dark eyes.
“You were gasping for breath, are you okay?”
“I was lost in a dream, a fantasy.” I smiled.
“Well, everyone needs a fantasy.”
I laughed. “Yeah.
She leaned over me her face close to mine.
“And you know what I always say.”
“Which one?” I asked.
“My single-minded aim is to give existence to fantasy.”
This is my contribution to the Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. Hosted this week by my co-host, Colleen Chesebro on SilverThreading.com. The theme is Fantasy. Click here to see other entries and to enter yourself if you like.
Find my Debut Novel on Amazon.com
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
“Everyone needs a fantasy.”
Read The Fantasy, a story I wrote after the quotes.
This is my contribution to the Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. Hosted this week by my co-host, Colleen Chesebro on SilverThreading.com. The theme is Fantasy. Click here to see other entries and to enter yourself if you like.
Find my Debut Novel on Amazon.com
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
“Credibility is a basic survival tool.” Rebecca Solnit
“Credibility is a basic survival tool.” Rebecca Solnit, American writer.
Why do I put this quote forward as my choice for the challenge today? Credibility is king to a writer. If you put forth a piece of garbage, that’s what you get in return.
I’ll put it like this:
When putting one’s self into the public eye for critique and scrutiny, one must ensure to plant their feet deeply and firmly to withstand the gale force winds that are coming.
It took a long time for me to let a work of mine see the light of day. I am overly critical of my writing. I want every line to be perfect, every plot to make sense. I want everything covered. Even to this day I see how a sentence here or there could’ve gone in another direction. Yes, I am that obsessive about wanting to put that level of quality in front of a reader.
I know the first impression you make on a reader is very important, second only to the most recent impression you make. At any moment, a reader may suddenly dislike your storytelling.
For me, I slave away at character development, plots, subplots, and continuity of story and character. If my storytelling is bad, I can understand that, but those other things, I can’t abide by. That’s my personal preference, credo, what have you.
That’s my credibility on the line, in my eyes.
As a writer, remember that what you write, the solidness of it, the quality of it, is your credibility. If you take shortcuts with your work, you care nothing for your credibility.
If you care nothing for your credibility, you care nothing for yourself.
Colleen chose Survival for this weeks theme for her week of hosting our Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. Make sure to click the link to join in and read other entries.
Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling Available on Amazon.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
10 Quotes of Trust.
“Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.” Solon (Greek: Σόλων; c. 638 – c. 558 BC) was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic Athens.[1] His reforms failed in the short term, yet he is often credited with having laid the foundations for Athenian democracy.[2][3][4] He wrote poetry for pleasure, as patriotic propaganda, and in defense of his constitutional reforms.
Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling Available on Amazon.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
The Magic in Egg Sandwiches.
“It is spring, why is it so cold?” Cora asked.
I pressed against her back and slipped my arms around her shoulders, inhaling all the scents mingling together that were her. “Cora darling, it’s the first week of spring, as in closer to winter than summer. So,” I put my hands on her shoulders and turned her around, “I’m taking advantage of every chilly moment I can.” I kissed her gently. She had lips meant for that. Gentleness, not the macho movie kisses that bruised, although, there were moments for that as well. My eyes flared at the thought of last night.
Her nails softly scratched my shirt, sending electricity through my chest and beyond. “Mhmm. Do I look like I am complaining?” Her eyes almost closed and lips turned up at the corners, she knew I loved that look. I had started something and she meant for me to follow through to the finish.
I laughed and felt the vibrations in my chest. Her fingers increased their pressure. “No, and you would complain if you didn’t like it.”
“You got that right, bub.” Her emphatic nod of the head made her silky hair shimmer and slide across her cheeks. “And you are not complaining either.”
“Never,” I said.
“Even if you hated what I was doing?”
I brushed hair away from her face with my fingers. “Even then . . . maybe . . . well not really.” I smiled.
“Maybe I’m a witch, a wizard, and have you under a spell.” Her hands slid down and around my waist.
“In a way, I guess you are. There’s just some magic in truth and honesty and openness.” I squeezed her to me.
“Yep.” She leaned her head and shoulders back. “Well, honesty with respect thrown in. Like, if you made fun of my fondness for egg sandwiches I might not be so forgiving.”
I nodded. “I would never do that. I like them too. Besides, real magic in relationships means an absence of judgment of others, and that includes an obsession with egg sandwiches.”
“Good.” She rested her cheek against my chest.
“Speaking of egg sandwiches…” My hands began to drift.
“What about them?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Glenn, we just ate.”
“I didn’t say anything about food.”
Cora squealed as my hands stopped drifting.
~~~
This is the second time Cora and Glenn have showed up here on RW. Check out The Fortunate One, where Glenn meets Cora’s family for the first time . . . and her ex-husband.
Colleen chose Magic for this weeks theme for her week of hosting our Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge.
Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling on Amazon.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2016
10 Quotes of Woman.
“The sweetest of all sounds is that of the voice of the woman we love.” Jean de la Bruyere
“One is not born a woman, but becomes one.” Simone de Beauvoir
“If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.” Charles Caleb Colton
“A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it.” D.H. Lawrence
“When in a relationship, a real man doesn’t make his woman jealous of others, he makes others jealous of his woman.” Steve Maraboli,
“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” Steve Maraboli
“After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.” Mark Twain
“Woman is sacred; the woman one loves is holy.” Alexandre Dumas
“A living poem” had always been the words that came to mind when he tried to describe her to others.” Nichols Sparks
“If a man hasn’t what’s necessary to make a woman love him, it’s his fault, not hers.” W. Somerset Maugham
This has been my participation in the Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge this week with the theme of Wisdom. I’m the host over there this week, and I picked the theme. I believe searching out inspiring quotes about women is the wisest thing I could do.
The Fortunate One.
“Men always want to be a woman’s first love – women like to be a man’s last romance.”
Oscar Wilde
Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet.
October 16, 1854-November 30, 1900
When I arrived, a dream came true. Sunlight danced in her hair, made her skin glow, and all the world combined to make my heart beat faster.
We talked over each other in the excitement of our uniting. There were no angry glances or raised voices attempting to rise over the other. Our tones relayed the truth, words did not matter, we were ecstatic. It was euphoria; at least it was for me. Light headed, walking on a cushion of air, unable to stop smiling, you name all those cliché possibilities, and they were true. Why do you think they are so cliché? It is because they are real.
Was it love at first sight? No, but it was love at first shared thought. Now, there we were, at her doorstep, Christmas Day.
“It will be fine. I promise. They don’t like any man at first.”
I smiled. “You’ve told me that or something like that, a hundred times. I think your first choice has tainted their opinions. That or they just don’t trust your judgement.”
“Okay, perhaps. Just do not worry.” She placed her hand on my chest, leaned in, and smiled up at me.
I raised my brows in mock shock at her affections. “Nope, no kisses. You know they are watching through curtains and blinds all over the house.”
“I know. They will get over it. Now kiss me or I will pout.” She stuck her lower lip out, a fail of a pout that never worked, but I loved her attempts. She knew it. She knew I wouldn’t resist that bottom lip.
Moments of electric sensations sparking through the body later, and she opened door. That’s just the frame of mind I wanted to be in when meeting her family for the first time.
I could only shake my head at that point and avoid looking down to watch her walk in. I was being as gentlemanly as I could, but I was still a red-blooded American male in love with a beautiful mind and beautiful body.
“Glenn, these are my parents.”
“Mister Allen. Mrs. Allen.” I shook both hands. “Ma’am, this is for you.”
Cora’s mother looked surprised. “Me?” Her surprise did not stop her from taking the small gift I slipped from my pocket. Cora gave me an odd look as I shook hands with her brother, who made certain I knew he would kill me if I hurt his sister. I hoped I squeezed back hard enough to make a good impression.
“Oh dear,” Mrs. Allen said. She held one hand to her chest. “It is beautiful.”
I smiled at the joy and surprise on her face. “I thought you might put a photo of each child and grandchild in the frames. There are enough for all of them. Of course, they would need tiny photos for a bracelet.”
“Buying your way in are you?” A loud voice rose broke the moment.
I thought Cora’s head would snap off she turned it so fast.
“Gary, what are you doing here?”
“How nice, I think I can visit my children on Christmas Day.”
You guessed it, Cora’s ex-husband.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Whatever, Cor. So this is the guy, is it?”
“Hello. I’m Glenn Taylor.” I extended my hand to be friendly.
“I know who you are.” He took my hand and made a feeble attempt that would have made Cora’s brother laugh.
He broke away and glared. I had never experienced a glare before. It was kind of funny and I had to smile. I don’t think he liked that. “You bring one of us a present, you must bring them for all, or you appear rude,” he said a bit too loudly.
“Sorry, they wouldn’t let me bring the coal on the plane.”
Laughs were muffled and some not. Their daughter’s giggle came out before she could bring her hand up to hold it in.
Gary’s eyes grew uglier. “Funny boy are you?”
“Only when they laugh, otherwise it’s just awkward pauses.”
“Think you’re a big man because you’re with her now, don’t you?”
I glanced down at Cora. The anger was barely contained. She was ready to unload on him at any moment. I looked back to Gary. “Actually, yes I do. I know how lucky I am.”
He laughed, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “I got lucky with her first.”
I pulled Cora to me a little tighter as I felt her move. “You were luckier than you could imagine. You are also a bigger idiot than any man could ever possibly try to be.”
“You son—“
“Don’t.” John, Cora’s brother, stepped in front of Gary.
“You gave this up. You messed a good thing up. You never would admit what she was, how important she was, or even that she existed as a unique individual that you needed in order to be whom you became.”
Cora looked up at me. I smiled and felt her ease beneath my touch.
I looked back at Gary. “Yes, you were lucky first. The important thing is that I’m fortunate last, and will be for the rest of my life.”
Thanks for reading!
This is part of the all new Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge co-hosted by Colleen Chesebro of SilverThreading.com and ME, Ronovan. Click HERE for more links to those entering and to see how easy it is yourself. It’s not only writing a short story. That was just my choice this week. A quote, poetry, haiku, story, and more!
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