Sunday 12 December 2010

Crazy Holiday Blogfest!


This blogfest is kindly hosted by Christine Danek

Brief:  this birthday scene is snatched from my novel "Unbidden Billionaire Legacy" air of sadness prevailing. Tara’s boss is having a bad moment  – suffering terminal illness and knowing his time is almost up he hoped Tara might have extended a little TLC of a sexual nature in his direction. She in turn understands his sense of insecurity and impending doom, but has not succumbed to his desires despite extreme fondness toward him.

Caribbean Christmas

Darrell Easterly's yacht lies at anchor just off the beach beneath Tamlin Villa.


For the most part Tara felt sure Darrell had enjoyed having his most treasured staff and dearest friends around him, but seeking him out after his mysterious disappearance she's surprised to see him standing on the lower deck leaning on the deck rail: not looking shoreward but gazing out to sea.

She makes her way down to him, sensing something wrong.

Rather than draw attention to him by calling out, she makes to stand quietly alongside. And, for the first time ever sees tears welling in his eyes.

She places a hand on his shoulder. ‘It’s OK, you’re allowed to have a bad moment.’

He grips her hand, a kiss to it and no words are needed to express the awfulness of his plight. It's reflected in his eyes. Surrounded by people who love him, he nonetheless felt isolated, his fear of losing them and life itself unbearable.

‘I’m OK now,’ he says, a sniff, whilst wiping away tears, ‘and I’m sorry you had to see me like this.’

‘That’s what I’m here for, remember?’

He smiles, turns to face her. ‘You’ve been the best thing in my life in a long while.’

‘Flattery will get you everywhere.’

He chuckles. ‘Not where I’d like to be, though.’

She turns about and leans her lower back against the deck rail. ‘Hell Darrell, look at all the lady guests on the upper deck. Haven't you noticed them, like exotic perfumed flowers draped languidly on the deck rail in hope you might glance their way.’

’You wish.’

She ignores his deliberate input, and furthers with, ‘You mean to tell me their scanty outfits and all eyes in your direction  as they sip Krug, fails to make you want to go party with them, really party?’




Darrell glances up, and scans the array of beauties. ‘Most are married, a few too soiled by strings of lovers and . . .’

He pauses mid sentence, and Tara suspects someone has caught his eye.

‘The blonde, who did she come aboard with?’

‘Uhmm, that banker friend of yours, if I remember correctly.’

‘Did she now,’ he says, easing away from the deck rail. ‘I don’t remember being introduced.’

‘Perhaps your friend thought it a wise move to keep her out of your sights.’

Bastard,’ he says, making straight for the steps leading to the upper deck.

Sense of relief sweeps over her, for if his interest dwells elsewhere her life will be so much less complicated in the days to come.


Brief I know, but the word count is almost double Christine's recommended word count.

To see other participants' entries, go here.

17 comments:

Denise Covey said...

Francine this did indeed seem to be too short to get into the story. Love the idea of the rich poncing around like a Barbara Delinsky novel. Very entertaining!

Are you getting a tad 'blogfest exhausted' like moi? Phew! I didn't do this one but I've got that other one on my blog! Ha Ha....

Denise Covey said...

Oooh forgot to say thanks for warning re query/synopsis online. EEkk. I had my synopsis for my first novel in line online! Woops!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi D,

I couldn't get my brain into gear to write off the cuff, and 250 words is kind of a wee bit short to convey a story: I'm hopeless at flash-fiction.

Yep, tuckered on blogfesting. Mine on Sat and then I''m dropping out on blogfesting until New Year.

best
F

Christine Danek said...

I was not thinking when I posted about the word count. Silly me. I went over too. Way over. Thanks so much for participating. I loved your entry.
Have a wonderful holiday!

N. R. Williams said...

Lots of tension in a brief period. I like it.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Samantha Vérant said...

I liked it too! It was fun! Plus, you used a line an agent just used with me: flattery will get you everywhere. (Said agent referred me to a colleague...)

Brenda Drake said...

I didn't notice the word count because I enjoyed the read. You managed to pull me right in and I especially loved this bit "...like exotic perfumed flowers draped languidly on the deck rail..." Well done! :D

Summer Ross said...

I am so curious now! Way to breif....so she wants his attachments somewhere else, and I'm not sure what he wants yet...lol great piece.

Anonymous said...

Nicely done, Francine. I admire how you kept it steadily in present tense. I have an awful time with that.

Talli Roland said...

I love this entry, Francine!

Golden Eagle said...

Interesting blogfest entry! I loved reading it!

As a rule, I never post anything directly involving my novel--nothing besides a few general things. I'm always worried someone will steal my ideas.

Jessie Harrell said...

wow - such a powerful range of emotions you captured here. well done!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi everybody,

Many thanks to all of you for dropping by to comment.

best
F

Crystal Cook said...

NICE! I really enjoyed this, I'm already so sympathetic with your characters! :)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Nice! :)

Joanna St. James said...

good job Francine! but like I said today I need More! I cant wait to read a full book written by you, this teasers are torture

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Crystal, Nicole: thanks ever so for dropping in to comment.

Joanna: Who knows, maybe one day I'll get another book published. That said, I'm only looking to mainstream publishers, no more category romance for me. I prefer reading more indepth novels with nultiple characters who get embroiled in complicated love trysts and experience traumatic happenings, and I love writing same.

best
F