( Beach with chaise lounges – Depositphotos )
That looks like a good spot for a vacation, doesn’t it? Beach, water, no other people around.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely for most people this year. Vacations in general are almost impossible with the virus still spreading all over the place. I hadn’t really planned to go away during my week off later this month, but I can daydream, right? While I hope for an actual vacation next year.
My plans for this year are far less glamorous than a secluded beach. I am hoping to get some time-intensive household chores knocked off my to-do list, some writing time, and hopefully some reading time, too. You know, the sort of chores you put on your list but need big blocks of uninterrupted time to work on. I have a ginormous list, so I’m not aiming to clear it, that would be as impossible as a safe trip to one of my favorite beaches right now. I just want to get a couple of things done, then I can work on something else next time I have a long weekend (which will happen again the next couple of months, since I have been trying to schedule vacation time I can’t carry over into next year at the day-job).
Before I go work on a salad for this week’s dinners, I have a little snippet of story for you from Light the Way Home.
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Lucie didn’t argue when Nate refused her help with the dishes. Her insides still quivered from the realization that he was attracted to her.
“I’ll see you in the mornin’, Lucie!” Hayden shouted, hopping on one foot.
She smiled as she put her sweater on. “Yes, you will.” They’d already decided Hayden would join her after breakfast so Nate could cram in a few hours of work before he headed to the hospital to see his dad–and try to get his mother to come home rather than sleep on the less-than-ideal pull-out chair-bed in his dad’s hospital room again.
She wasn’t sure that was a battle he would win, but she understood his concern.
Hayden gave her a quick hug and then ran back to his book in the living room.
“I really do appreciate this, Lucie,” Nate said from where he stood at the sink.
“It’s nothing, Nate,” she said lightly. “Keeps me from having to spend endless hours on job search sites and getting more depressed than I already am.” She kept her head down as she buttoned her sweater up to her chin.
“It isn’t nothing to me.”
His firm, quiet tone snared her attention, and her mouth went dry. The shadows in his brown eyes made her curl her fingers around the edges of her sweater to keep from reaching out.
“I’m not accustomed to asking for help.” He cleared his throat. “I appreciate it.”
She swallowed. “It’s no problem,” she whispered. Dammit–hot, attracted to her, and vulnerable. Shit, that was trouble. She took a slow breath. “I’ll see you in the morning then.” She inched toward the door.
A hint of awareness darkened his eyes, but he stayed where he was. “Good night, Lucie.”
She took two more steps, clearing the doorway to the mud room, and a little relief sank into her belly. Until she heard footsteps behind her.
Within reach of the back door, she whirled. He stood at the open doorway of the kitchen, undisguised desire in his eyes this time. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a quick rush of excitement that she tried to squash as he stepped into the mud room. She held her breath as he took another step. One more. Until he stood a foot away, and her breath rushed out.
He studied her face for a long moment, and she wondered what he saw, what he was looking for. Impulsively, she moved closer to him, noting the way his eyes rounded, and she stretched up to brush a kiss on his mouth, lingered for a second, then stepped back.
“Good night, Nate,” she whispered, reaching behind her for the doorknob.
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So tell me what your summer vacation looks like this year. Or looked like. Did you actually manage a getaway? Or are you stuck at home, too, with a mile-long chore list? If you need a little something to read for your staycation or just on the weekend, maybe you’d like to check out Light the Way Home. It’s a quick, light read with a ghost.
Have a great week!