It is finally actually not just feeling like winter, but looking like it, too. We had a bit of snow last week, though not nearly as much as the weather-guessers told us to expect, and it is snowing again today as I write this…with more in the forecast for us this week. When I got up this morning, there were footprints in the fresh snow from the neighborhood cats, but those have since been covered up by big, fat, fluffy snowflakes to the tune of a couple inches of snow. Our local weather-guessers showed the snow would change over to rain by now, but it hasn’t, which makes me happy. Even if we don’t wind up with much more, it’s still a good day to stay inside with a cup of tea or cocoa nearby and write.
Before I go do that, I have a story snippet for you from Light the Way Home.
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Nate schooled his expression to neutrality before turning around. Hayden’s chin jutted stubbornly, and his blue eyes narrowed. “I’m saying Lucie might be busy right now,” Nate said evenly. “Maybe we’ll see her outside tomorrow.”
“I can knock on the door.” His son crossed his arms on his chest, covering the spotted blue dog graphic. “She said we’d play later, and it’s later.”
“We can check, but, buddy, you have to promise not to be upset if she’s busy. Plus it’ll be suppertime soon, so we’ll be busy here, too.”
Hayden’s chin jutted out further.
“Just don’t get your hopes up,” he said, trying to keep his tone from dropping in defeat.
Hayden bolted for the back door.
Nate followed more slowly, picking up his son’s jacket from the chair inside the door. By the time he reached the bottom step, he heard his son’s voice, then Lucie spoke in reply, though he couldn’t hear the words. When he cleared the lilac bushes, he expected to see Hayden’s shoulders droop.
He was a little surprised to see the two of them walking into the middle of the neighboring yard while Lucie bounced the big yellow ball on one hand. Huh. He would’ve bet on her putting Hayden off. He paused at the open gate between the yards to watch them. They’d stopped, and she crouched in front of Hayden, who chattered a mile a minute. She nodded as she rose.
Hayden jogged backward a few steps, grinning, then held out both hands.
Lucie gave the ball another bounce before she tossed it to him.
His son caught it, giggling. “Too easy,” he shouted. He jumped once, then moved a few more steps away from her. “Ready?”
“Ready!” She leaned forward and held out her hands.
Nate wished he could see her expression.
Hayden lobbed the ball at her, and she caught it before it hit her in the face. He smiled and shook his head when his laughing son danced backward a couple more paces. “Throw it again!”
“You sure you can catch it so far away?” The tease in her voice made Nate relax. Lucie Russo might be a nice woman. Mindi and Harry trusted her, which meant she was okay.
But she seemed to be enjoying his son, genuinely enjoying him. Maybe she had nieces or nephews–she was comfortable, chatting with Hayden as they played catch.
He leaned on the fence to watch.
“Daddy, come play with us!”
Lucie straightened and looked over her shoulder, eyes widening.
Nate felt a little kick in his gut at the appealing image–pink cheeks, green eyes that tipped up at the outer corners, full lower lip dropping a tiny bit. Lucie Russo was pretty.
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Have you read Light the Way Home yet? If you haven’t and are looking for a quick, light read, you can click on the title and find your way direct to your favorite booksellers to get a copy.
I took some unplanned time off yesterday so I could spend the afternoon watching The Sound of Music for the billionth time and see one of my favorite actors, Christopher Plummer. That was the first thing I ever saw him in, and I know I wasn’t the only little girl who fell in love with Captain von Trapp as portrayed by Mr. Plummer. The most recent thing I saw him in was Knives out, when it was released in late 2019. We saw it opening weekend and loved it so much, we saw it again in the theater early last year, before the plague shut down the world. I still love watching him on screen, and will miss seeing new movies with his familiar face. Luckily, he has quite a body of work accumulated over his long career for me to keep seeing him in.
Are any of you fans of Mr. Plummer too? What did you love him in? I know I haven’t seen everything he’s been in, so I’d love more recommendations.
Also, romance lovers, our big holiday is coming up next weekend! What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Something quiet and meaningful, or do you have a grand gesture planned for your Valentine?
