A Little Bit of Lace

Lizzy let the sales clerk talk her in to it.  She had told the woman there was no point, yet the sales clerk insisted that she should try it.  She told Lizzy that she should do it for herself.  The persistent clerk said that she might really like the fit and that it would likely make her feel sexy simply wearing it.  Considering that as a Pretty Panties Club member it was free, Lizzy eventually gave in.  She put the hot pink, lacy thong in the drawer thinking it would live a long boring life there.  Lizzy wasn't sure exactly why she decided to try it on today but she had.  She couldn't believe it, it was actually way more comfortable than she would ever have thought.  And as for the feeling sexy part, maybe there was some truth to it.  Maybe it really did make her feel flirtatiously feminine and it was showing.  Why else would Nathan the waiter keep looking at her that way.  He seemed so "out of her league" yet he kept giving her that smile that made her insides flip flop.  She convinced herself that it was all nonsense. Notions of the hunky waiter being interested in her was crazy.  Ideas that it had anything to do with barely wearing lacy pink underwear was ridiculous.  It all seemed like utter foolishness until she opened the little black notebook to retrieve the bill. Instead of a bill there was a note that simply read "'PAID - Nathan."

Dear Reader

Tonight I decided that in lieu of a story, I would write a letter to my readers (all three of you!) Often a romance novel will have a letter from the author at the beginning or end of the book.  This is mine. 

I have always enjoyed creating. I have always enjoyed surveying my creations and taking delight in them.  I totally get Genesis 1:31 (God saw all that he had made.)  I remember making embroidery floss angels one Christmas.  Each one had a different personality.  I lined them up in a row and then would just look at them.  I would go away from them and then come back to marvel some more.  I confess that I have been doing that a bit with the Romance Novel of the Day.  I enjoy re-reading the stories.  I like to pick favorite characters, one liners, and story lines. And reading them often still makes me giggle. 

One of my favorite female characters is Starla Devine.  I love the name which was formed by two names that I  heard  in a parenting group meeting.  I liked her character.  And comments from a reader endeared her to me even more.  So the name Starla Devine occasionally floats by  in my head and I smile.  The other day when I saw some romance novels at the library,  I noticed the names of the authors.  I realized that Starla Devine was definitely the name of a romance novel author.  So in celebration of the creation of 10 romance novels, I have added a pen name to the Romance Novel of the Day.  Just one more reason to smile when I read them.

At Your Service

"AT&T, Customer Service Department. Hello, My name is Zed.  It would be my pleasure to assist you today.  Whom am I speaking with and how can I help you?" For the hundredth time that day, he had said those words and for the hundredth time that day he hadn't really meant it. Saying those words paid the bills while Zed tried to get his photography business off the ground.  Saying those words kept him from starving. And in response to those words, he had been yelled at, cursed at, and even hung up on numerous times just that day.  

Zed braced himself for the onslaught when he heard a gentle voice say, "Hi.  My name is Livy. How can you help me?  Well lets see.  You could rake the  leaves in my yard.  You could help me find an extra fifty dollars a month to cover the rent increase. You could take me to a hockey game.  You could send me flowers.  You could massage my tired feet.  But I will settle for your simply helping me get my phone line restored."

Zed was momentarily speechless. There was something about her voice.  He heard a frailness yet a strength.  There was seriousness yet humor.  She was at the end of the rope yet had hope.  For the first time that day, he meant the words.  Zed did want to help her.  It would be his pleasure.  And if he had anything to do with it, he would help her with more than just getting her phone line restored.

Just a little Blu

Indie sighed.  She couldn't help it. Could she?  She was trying to be positive really she was.  She was trying to be grateful.  But she just couldn't stop the cloud from passing by.  Indie couldn't help but feel like somehow it was her mother's doing.  Not that she was into the blame game. Yet somehow she could not help but think that she would be less prone to days of "blue" if she had not been christened Indigo Blu .  Her mother was an artist and she loved blue. Indie's mom thought it made sense to name her child after the soft, inspiring color. Sure it made sense.  Being named Blu perfectly explained why she was always sighing and could never get to the silver lining. Indie couldn't help but think that she would be more cheerful if she had been named Violet or Rose. She tried to be cheerful, really she did.  Indie tried to be excited.  She had new hip glasses, yet all she could think about was how she had needed bifocals.  She wanted to enjoy her new hairstyle but all she could see was the increasing gray.  She wanted to enjoy being free and single but all she could think about was how lonely she was.  Yeah, it was hard being Indigo Blu.

Footnote 1: yes this does not follow the rule of two characters. But sometimes rules are meant to be broken.  Sometimes there is no handsome man waiting just around the corner.  

Footnote 2; This is not all autobiographical. Yes I am getting bifocals.  Yes the gray is increasing.  The lonely part is based on a conversation I had with a friend.  Sometimes it happens.  But no one needs to worry.  I am not Blu!

Sweet Enticement

Kinsley and Madison sat on the couch each holding a steaming hot cup of coffee.  On the coffee table in front of them sat 13 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.  Madison shook her head in disbelief as she viewed the pile of calories.  "Kinsley McKay, what in the world lead to the purchase of 13 boxes of cookies!  Just yesterday you declared yourself on a wheat free and sugar free diet.  These do not look very wheat or sugar free to me!"

Kinsley gave her best friend a sheepish look as she said, "it was the man selling them."  Kinsley proceeded to tell how she had gone into the store for a few groceries. She noticed the cookie table set up outside the door and steeled herself against their enticement.  She was feeling triumphant as she headed toward the car but then she saw him.  In the midst of the bundled up giggling girls was this man, a very attractive man.  He too was bundled up to ward off the evening chill.  Kinsley was stirred by this scene of which she assumed was a father helping his daughter sell her cookies on this cold March night.  She thought the least she could do was buy one box of cookies. As she proceeded to pay for her box of Thin Mints, one of the little girls came up to hug the man and he kissed her on the forehead.  With that, Kinsley thought she should have a box of Samoas as well.  As he was handing her the change, she noticed that his left hand was bare.  So Kinsely decide that the least she could do was buy a box of each of the seven varieties.  It was at that point that he looked at her with those piercing blue eyes.  That was all it took for the cookie order to double.  

"But Kinsely, there are only 13 boxes of cookies here," Madison said with a question in her voice.  Again Kinsley gave her friend a sheepish grin. In shock over her momentary lack of sanity, Kinsley had eaten one whole box of cookies on the way home. "I hope for the purchase of 14 boxes of cookies and the invasion of a gazillion calories, you got that man's phone number," Madison said.  "No," Kinsley said, "but Zyler Williams did get mine." 

When Starla Shines

Starla Devine dashed into the room five minutes late.  

The members of the therapy group observed her entry and they knew.  

Dee Dee first noticed the glow in Starla's cheeks and the light in her eyes. The fact that her hair was swept up into a becoming twist and she was wearing dangling earrings was what Yetzo noticed. Dixie thought her outfit was rather "festive" for a mere support group session.  Joseph, although not usually very observant about his own behavior, did not miss the way Starla glided across the room and gracefully sat in her seat.  It was the keen eyes of Miss Martha that saw how she looked at him.  Yes, Starla herself may not have known it, but no doubt her fellow support group members did.  The membership of the Relationship Recovery Group knew that Starla was in love with their leader, Dr. Thad Daniels.

A Knight in the Ally

GT  and Sahara had been together forever.  They had been inseparable in preschool. He was the knight and she was his princess.  GT carried her back pack. He even let her lead him around like a puppy. GT kept following Sahara, all the way through college.  Entertaining her every whim, he was right there supporting her dreams of fame and fashion.  And his dreams?  His dreams had always included her.  Sahara had always been there and he thought she always would be.  GT never dreamed that one day he would be standing on the sidewalk, watching his princess drive away in a blue Volkswagen beetle.  

Abby Calvert kept telling herself it could be worse.  Working in a bowling ally had benefits.  The music was always good, the people were never dull and her bowling game had definitely improved.  None the less, Abby seriously doubted she would ever meet her knight in shining armor in such a place.  

Sahara had gone in search of her dreams, leaving GT behind.  Now what would he do? He stood on the side walk wondering what a knight does, when he's lost his princess?  That's when GT Holland decided he would do what any reasonable knight would do, he would go bowling.

Meeting Mr. Fabulous

Maribel Coleman's evening was turning into a disaster  She was on her second trip to her local grocery store because she forgot the item she had gone out to get in the first place. She had just sideswiped a Black SUV ripping a large gash into it's side panel. She had dumped coffee in her freshly detailed car.  And oh yeah, it was starting to rain.  Just when Maribel did not think it could get any worse, he stepped out of the damaged vehicle.  Yes, it was him.  It was Mr. "gorgeous in his suit and tie, walking his dog every evening at 6 p.m." It was Mr. "that's the reason I go out to jog at 5:45 every night." It was Mr. "I have fantasized about meeting you," that was coming her way.  And Mr. "Fabulous" currently looked more like Mr. "I am going to have your head for this."  Yes, Maribel's day had just gone from bad to worse.

Head Over Heels

"Mam, are you okay?" Kurt Brady said as he reached for the woman kneeling in the grass.  She was obviously in pain.  He had spotted her as he jogged down one of the quaint streets of Pikesville.  Thinking that she was simply tending to her yard, Kurt was about to pass the house when he realized something was amiss.  

Five minutes ago Genevieve Sears was celebrating her independence.  She was unattached, confident and strong.  Genevieve didn't need anyone to help her move the old bed frame from the house out to the street.  She didn't need anyone telling her to move to the left, move to the right, slow down or speed up.  Then as she reached down to move a rock, Genevieve slammed her head into the bed frame.  The blow to the tender spot immediately sent her to her knees.  Genevieve's head radiated pain and she found it hard to breath.  Her independence had little appeal as she hovered in the damp grass.  Then from out of nowhere he appeared and she was no longer alone.

Sweet Dreams

Excuse me, do you mind if I try out this side of the bed?

Carly Paris could not believe the words that had just come out of her mouth.  Had she actually asked the tall handsome stranger if she could share the bed?  Usually considered timid, Carly was all of the sudden struck with a boldness that surprised her.  Maybe it was the confidence that  her new running shoes gave her.  Maybe it was landing the lead role in the ballet's spring production of Cinderella.  Or maybe it was the allure of his dark eyes and  dark, wavy, thick hair.  Whatever it was that had moved her to do so, Carly was now sharing the same sample bed at the department store with the good looking stranger.  The stranger was Josh Ivey and he had insomnia.  Josh knew deep in his heart that his inability to sleep had more to do with memories from his past than his bed.  However he knew that although he couldn't change his past, he could change his mattress.  What he had not expected was that someone else was going to want his bed.

Borrowing Trouble

Ivory had promised them Rice Krispy Treats and she would make it happen even if it meant knocking on the door of her creepy neighbor.

Ivory Norton had discovered on her way out to work that morning that her roommate had eaten the marshmallows intended for a promised desert.  She could not believe that neither drugstore, which she had visited on her way home, sold marshmallows. Now there was no time to go to the grocery store and still get the Rice Krispy Treats made and delivered on time.  Ivory had one last hope.  Maybe, just maybe, her neighbor in apartment B would have a bag of marshmallows she could borrow.  She had never met the guy in B, but based on her roommate's description she had not been eager to do so. Yet this was for the kids, so Ivory headed out the door to meet the creepy guy in apartment B.

Jace Edison had been through the ringer that day and was relieved to be home at last. With the sound of Fleetwood Mac on vinyl and the aroma of burger and fries filling the air, Jace had just settled down on the couch to unwind.  That's when he heard the frantic knock at the door.   Reluctantly, he got up and walked over to look out the peep hole. First he took in the mini dress and boots.  Then he noticed the empty measuring cup. Lastly, Jace realized that it was the crazy lady from Apartment C. 

Look Out Lady!

Her birth certificate read Carol Camry Grey but she was known around Lancaster town as Lady Grey.  It was the social worker's gentile manner that had afforded her the nickname Lady, however today she felt anything but ladylike.  Her boyfriend's text had proclaimed him to be hunting just minutes after she watched him walk out of the upscale restaurant with the lovely blonde.  As she marched down the street to confront him, Lady did not see the hulk of a man that headed her way.  UPS driver, Whit Saucony was thinking about wrapping up for the day and making that evening's focus group on time.  Therefore he did not see the Lady on a mission headed his way. Whit had no idea that his focus was about to change.

Inspiration pieces: arrival of new Saucony running shoes; following a Camry down the road; a story told by a friend; a cup of Lady Grey Tea;  a conversation with my school's social worker; Driving by Carol's Closet, Lancaster Music and Whit's Salon; seeing a UPS truck; attending a Focus Group,