It's that week, when we get to officially celebrate romance (though some of us celebrate it all year round, haha). I'm still working out what I'm going to make for dinner that day, but I have a romantic card and a little gift ready for hubby. I know not everyone likes Valentine's Day, but to each their own, right?
Yesterday was the annual Love Is In the Air booksigning, and it was lots of fun, as usual. I posted a few photos over on my Facebook page if you want to see what you missed. This year, one of the four greenhouse cats took a real liking to one of my writing group friends, which provided entertainment for everyone all afternoon. I can't wait to go back and do it again next year, so you should start planning now to come join us!
I'm having a mostly lazy Sunday today since yesterday was non-stop until about suppertime, between getting to and from the signing, to set-up and tear-down, and the actual signing. Normally I would be cooking today, but I stopped and picked up some supper at our favorite local Asian restaurant, so we have leftovers. That means I'll have to toss something together tomorrow, but that's okay. I did get a couple chores done today, plus reorganizing all of my signing things--when packing up at the end of a signing, things never go back into the crate and bag the way they came out, and that's okay, because now I know what things I need to restock before the next signing at the beginning of May in New Jersey. And yes, I am going to start talking about that now, it's less than three months away.
Before I go tackle one more thing on my to-do list and then dig out my leftovers, I have a quick snippet for you this week from Hunting Medusa.
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Andi couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. She'd worked into the night after the vacuum salesman's appearance, until she couldn't see straight to continue with her beading. Then she'd sunk into a bubble bath long enough to be nearly asleep. Today, she'd repeated everything but the bubble bath. Plus she'd driven into town to ship the big order she'd finished early.
Now she sat in the dark beside the front window, watching the forest. Waiting. Trying to convince herself nothing was coming. No one.
When the phone rang, she jumped about two feet in the air, barely keeping in a shriek. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to laugh weakly as she picked up the receiver. "Hello, Aunt Lydia." She didn't need caller I.D. to know when one of her cousins or aunts was on the phone.
"I didn't mean to startle you, my dear," came the quavering voice. "I just wanted to touch base with you. It's been ages since I've seen you."
Her slightly psychic great-aunt must have spoken to Andi's mother. "I know. I've been busy working." She thought of the small stack of boxed beaded bracelets sitting on her desk upstais for another customer whose order wasn't even due for a month and a half.
"You're aware you could do that here, too, right?"
Andi smiled in the darkness. "I know. I'm not feeling much like company right now."
"You don't have to visit your parents, you know."
Her laugh escaped before she could stop it. "That isn't very nice ofyou, Aunt Lydia."
"Maybe I'm getting selfish in my old age." Her great-aunt chuckled. "But I'd like to see you."
"Maybe in a few months."
The older woman sighed. "All right. But I wanted you to know I was thinking of you. I love you."
Andi felt her eyes sting a little. "I love you, too."
"Your mother knows she wasn't there for you eight years ago, Andrea. Perhaps it's time to let her be there for you now."
Andi's eyes dried. "I need to go, Aunt Lydia."
"Of course, dear. I hope you'll come soon."
She looked back at the window and murmured, "Maybe. I've got to go, Aunt Lydia."
Something had moved outside.
Something too tall to be one of the does that frequented the clearing each evening, though not tall enough for the bull moose who came occasionally. Just the right size for a sneaky Harvester posing as a vacuum salesman.
She thumbed off the phone and sat up straighter, her other hand coming to rest on the dagger across her knees. For a long moment, she didn't see anything. Then a dark shape slid between the trees, a few yards nearer to the house.
Her heart hammered against her ribs and she curled her fingers around the dagger hilt. That was no animal. At least not of the wild variety. No, this was a two-legged animal, and she had the terrible feeling this one really was a Harvester, no matter what her mother had said yesterday.
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Out of curiosity, I'd love to hear about the most thoughtful Valentine's Day gift you've ever received. Off the top of my head, I think right now I'd say it was the big framed print of my Hunting Medusa cover that my hubs got me a long time ago. Hope you all have a great week ahead!