The New Year began a couple of days ago. Due to some other commitments and
preparations for teaching the new college semester, I’ve fallen behind in my
blog. Blame it on the holidays, football, too much food and wine, or tackling
too many issues simultaneously. As
Chuck Berry would say C’est la Vie.
There are several projects I’ve been working on, including
revising an old short story in preparations for submission, working on a new
novella in a different genre and doing some research for the next Chene
book. It’s just a matter of which one is
going to be finished first, so I can move on to what’s next.
I’ve also been considering creating a monthly
newsletter. Several authors I know
currently have one and it may be a good method to share more information,
insight about writing and bits regarding any new releases. Once that plan has been finalized, I’ll post
details on the blog.
So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I hope that everyone had a fantastic New Year’s
Eve and that 2020 will bring us all success.
May our days be filled with laughter and love, shared with family and
friends. And peace.
New Year’s always makes me think of “Vanishing Act” the
second Jamie Richmond mystery. Here’s an
excerpt from that book. In this scene,
Jamie and Malone are going out with to welcome in the New Year with her best
friend Linda and a surprise escort.
The
limo made our next stop and picked up her date. He looked splendid in his
tuxedo, almost as good as Malone. They greeted each other warmly. I got a kiss
on the cheek. His aftershave was subdued, but sexy. We chatted quietly until
the limo arrived at Linda’s house. He stepped out and moved quickly to her
door. She opened it just as he reached the porch. Malone had put the window
down so we could see her reaction and hear their conversation.
“Linda, you become more beautiful each time
I see you.”
There was a moment of hesitation in her eyes
before her face broke into a wide smile. “Vince. You are the perfect date.”
Linda flashed me a dazzling smile as she
slid into the limousine. Vince sat beside her. I nudged Malone lightly when I
saw Linda slip her gloved hand into Vince’s and lean back to enjoy the ride. We
chatted about the holidays and what to expect for the evening while the sleek
car cruised through traffic. I felt like a fairy tale princess as our carriage
pulled up in front of the glamorous hotel. There was a flurry of activity as
the valet raced to open our doors. I watched Vince and Linda move out, and then
I took Malone’s hand and followed them.
The lavish hotel was beautifully decorated
for the holidays. The ballroom was enormous. We were escorted to a cozy table
for four near the center of the room. From here we could see the dance floor
and the orchestra. But before dancing, there would be dinner. The Westin has a
history of featuring some of the most renowned chefs in the area. I had no
doubt they would have spared no expense to put together a scrumptious dinner.
And I
was right.
The courses flowed smoothly, from
appetizers, to soup, salads, and entrees. There were two wine buckets beside
our table. One held a bottle of chardonnay for Linda and Vince. The other had
sparkling white grape juice for Malone and me. Since I found out he’s an
alcoholic, I haven’t had a drink of alcohol either. Although Malone said it
doesn’t bother him to be with other people who drink, I decided I could do
without it, too. We all opted to hold back on dessert, needing some time to let
our gourmet meal settle. At one point between courses, Linda crooked a finger
at me. We went to powder our noses.
“Jay Kay, you could have told me Vince was
going to be my date,” she said with a laugh. “I probably wouldn’t have
objected.”
“Are you kidding? I wanted to surprise you.
He looks quite dapper in his tuxedo if you ask me. I even made sure he knew you
were wearing red, so his tie would match.”
“How did you ever con Doc Schulte into
this?” she asked, leaning toward the mirror to touch up her lipstick.
“There was no con. It took me all of a
minute to tell him what I had in mind. He agreed immediately. He even insisted
on paying Malone for the tickets. And I know for a fact he’s an excellent
dancer.”
Vince Schulte has been my doctor for the
longest time. While he may not be as physically fit as Malone, he was nearly as
tall, which would work well with Linda and her high heels when they got on the
dance floor. I’ve always thought of him as a Dutch uncle. About once a month
since I graduated from high school, we’d go out to the theater or for dinner. His
presence has always been a good stabilizer for me.
“Look, I know Vince isn’t as young as
Malone, but with only three days to find you an appropriate date, I thought he
was a good choice.”
We turned away from the mirror, heading out
of the crowded ladies room. Linda looped her arm through mine and leaned close
to my ear. “Don’t worry, Jay Kay, he’s not that old.”
Buy Links:
Music this week comes from Don Henley.
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