Meow.
Meow.
Meow.
Rolling over Jacey glanced at the clock on her night stand. 7:03 am. Ugh.
"Edgar. Why?!"
Meow.
"Okay, okay. I'm up. Happy?". Jacey flung the covers off her body and sat up in bed. Edgar was the laziest cat. She loved him dearly and wouldn't trade him for the world, but he was spoiled.
Jacey walked to the patio door and opened it slightly to let Edgar out. He rubbed up against her leg, purred like a lion and walked outside. Jacey shut the screen and let the cool morning air flow into the kitchen. She walked over to the coffee pot and pushed the automatic button. Soon the fresh aroma of her favorite Hawaiian blend was filling the kitchen.
Grabbing her grapefruit she sat down at the kitchen table and turned her laptop on. She needed to check her calendar and make a call to her editor. She got a good chunk of the third chapter of her book done late last night. Leslie was going to be happy. She hoped.
Jacey popped a piece of grapefruit in her mouth and opened up her email account. Nothing but the usual...spam...angry letter from her editor Leslie....oh...and an email from Lucas.
The email was sweet and to the point. It was a lunch invite at his house. Today.
She look to see who else is invited, but she can't see any other names.
Jacey glanced at the clock, 8:15 am. Lucas' invite said to meet at his house by noon. She felt nervous. What was that in her stomach? Wow. Is that butterflies?
Grabbing another bite of her grapefruit she read the email again from Lucas.
Hmm. Jacey's mind was working in overload now. What could Lucas want? Was she the only one invited? She was unsure how to feel about this.
Closing her email, she brought up her book and started reading it from the beginning. Jacey has had success over the past two years writing mystery books. Her recent book was going to be a romance novel about a woman who falls in love with one of her fellow AA group members. This type of writing was out of her comfort zone, but her editor tried to tell her to she needs to be more versatile.
What does an editor know anyway?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Book #4 Continued
On the drive home that evening Jacey reflected on all the stories she heard over the past two hours. Some of them were sad, some were lonely, some were funny in a twisted sort of way. But the common denominator Jacey noticed is that all of these people had met Lucas some where along their path. Either as previous drinking partners or simply as strangers at a chance meeting. Regardless, Lucas was the key.
Jacey pulled into the garage of her condo and got out of the car. Lugging her laptop inside, she stopped to pet "lucky" her pound cat. Dropping her purse off on the kitchen table, she walked over to the freezer. She looked through her selection of perfectly portioned premade frozen meals and chose chicken alfredo. Popping it in the microwave she walked over to the wine cabinet and picked a beautiful Pinot Grigio to have with dinner. Sighing to herself she poured her wine and sat down at the table.
Lucas. Luke. Teach.
He was all she was thinking about at the moment. Why was this man she barely met affecting her so quickly? The deadline for the first draft of her book was coming up soon and she barely had her plot compiled. She should be concentrating, but man, watching Lucas tonight in his element was distracting. This man really cares about these people. While Jacey should have been taking better notes on the speakers, her mind kept reaching out to Lucas. He gave off such a calm and gentle spirit. Listening to him speak tonight was the highlight of the evening. Oh boy! Jacey you are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
The microwave dinged and brought Jacey back to reality. She pulled out her laptop and powered it on. Quickly she grabbed her food and a fork and sat down at the table. Looking through her emails and responding to her editor the hundredth time that the first draft was "almost" complete, she noticed an email from Donna. They had exchanged information after class but wasn't expecting any contact so quickly. Jacey clicked on the email:
Hi Jacey,
It's me Donna. Duh, you probably knew that! LOL. Anyhow, I know the first night can be kind of tough when you are making an effort not to drink. So I just wanted you to know I am here for you. Anytime. DAY or NIGHT. I swear. You can call me. Text me (but make it after 7pm cause it's free then). You can call though anytime (cause that's always free). Anyway....just wanted to say hi! Hi! LOL.
K - bye
Donna
Jacey smiled. Donna sure did know how to write an email. What does LOL stand for anyway? Jacey reached for the laptop and googled "LOL". Huh. Laugh out Loud? Interesting. There were all kinds of these little "slang" words. If you could really call them words. Jacey hit reply and typed a short email back:
Thanks Donna,
I appreciate you checking up on me. I am fine really. Just sitting here surfing the internet and eating my dinner. I am drinking kool-aid right now! LOL.
Thanks for being available.
See you at group in a couple of days!
-Jacey
Jacey glanced over at her glass of Pinot and slowly shook her head. Grabbing the glass she headed for the sink. It's for the best she thought. How can she justify drinking wine at night when she is attending AA meetings for a pretend "alcoholic" problem?
Jacey pulled into the garage of her condo and got out of the car. Lugging her laptop inside, she stopped to pet "lucky" her pound cat. Dropping her purse off on the kitchen table, she walked over to the freezer. She looked through her selection of perfectly portioned premade frozen meals and chose chicken alfredo. Popping it in the microwave she walked over to the wine cabinet and picked a beautiful Pinot Grigio to have with dinner. Sighing to herself she poured her wine and sat down at the table.
Lucas. Luke. Teach.
He was all she was thinking about at the moment. Why was this man she barely met affecting her so quickly? The deadline for the first draft of her book was coming up soon and she barely had her plot compiled. She should be concentrating, but man, watching Lucas tonight in his element was distracting. This man really cares about these people. While Jacey should have been taking better notes on the speakers, her mind kept reaching out to Lucas. He gave off such a calm and gentle spirit. Listening to him speak tonight was the highlight of the evening. Oh boy! Jacey you are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
The microwave dinged and brought Jacey back to reality. She pulled out her laptop and powered it on. Quickly she grabbed her food and a fork and sat down at the table. Looking through her emails and responding to her editor the hundredth time that the first draft was "almost" complete, she noticed an email from Donna. They had exchanged information after class but wasn't expecting any contact so quickly. Jacey clicked on the email:
Hi Jacey,
It's me Donna. Duh, you probably knew that! LOL. Anyhow, I know the first night can be kind of tough when you are making an effort not to drink. So I just wanted you to know I am here for you. Anytime. DAY or NIGHT. I swear. You can call me. Text me (but make it after 7pm cause it's free then). You can call though anytime (cause that's always free). Anyway....just wanted to say hi! Hi! LOL.
K - bye
Donna
Jacey smiled. Donna sure did know how to write an email. What does LOL stand for anyway? Jacey reached for the laptop and googled "LOL". Huh. Laugh out Loud? Interesting. There were all kinds of these little "slang" words. If you could really call them words. Jacey hit reply and typed a short email back:
Thanks Donna,
I appreciate you checking up on me. I am fine really. Just sitting here surfing the internet and eating my dinner. I am drinking kool-aid right now! LOL.
Thanks for being available.
See you at group in a couple of days!
-Jacey
Jacey glanced over at her glass of Pinot and slowly shook her head. Grabbing the glass she headed for the sink. It's for the best she thought. How can she justify drinking wine at night when she is attending AA meetings for a pretend "alcoholic" problem?
Friday, March 5, 2010
Book #4
Jacey glanced around. The chair beneath her was the same hard, cold plastic ones from her high school days. Shifting slightly the chair made that unpleasant squeak - you know the kind that gets everyone's attention - like it did just now. Plastering a smile on her face, Jacey looked back down at her notes.
So far she's made note of the eleven people in the small room with her. Not yet knowing the names of everyone she's made little notes of each person.
The pretty brunette *note - rather large smile*.
The loud blond *note - really big chest*.
The list goes on and on.
Jacey glances back down at her cell phone. 6:05pm. This was not leaving a good first impression.
Suddenly she hears a commotion in the hall way.
"Sorry guys!", the teacher said. "I'm so sorry. I had a small issue with Carl and it needed to be handled right away". Jacey glanced around and she saw the other's with sympathetic looks on their faces. She wondered who this "Carl" person was and why everyone seemed so close. Of course she was always used to feeling a little like an outsider. Normally always keeping her nose in her books and making notes of others.
Jacey watched as the other's were suddenly overwhelming the teacher with questions. His back was to her so she hadn't yet seen his full features. From the back she could tell that he was very tall, guessing at least six foot, with dark hair that had a slight curl to it. She picked up her notebook as she continued her observations.
The dark hair teacher *note - nice butt*.
Reading this to herself, Jacey laughed out loud and noticed it quieted down. She looked up to see everyone starring at her. The teacher glanced over his shoulder. She slowly looked at everyone's faces, finally landing on the teacher. He slowly turned all the way around. Jacey was immediately captivated by his piercing green eyes. They were a green that was almost indescribable. She felt her heart do a small flutter and she dropped her pen.
The teacher walked over, never taking his eyes off Jacey. He bent down , grabbed her pen and handed it back to her.
"I think you dropped this?" he said.
"Uh, yes, yes I did." Really? That's the best come back she could think of? Ugh!
He stood up and held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Lucas. Most everyone calls me 'Teach', but Luc or Lucas are fine as well. Is this your first time at one of these meetings?"
Jacey took a slow breath. Here is her chance. She better act the part or he will be suspicious. She had to keep her cover for as long as possible.
"Yes. I have never done this before and I am a little nervous. I don't really know what to say." Jacey looked up at him and was trying to read the look in his eyes. She squinted to focus her eyes better.
"What is your name?"
Oh! Shoot! A name! Think...think...my favorite librarian in high school was Linda Frankenhymer. Linda sounded believable...right?
"Linda. My name is Linda Frank."
Lucas glanced down at this peculiar girl. With her sitting he couldn't tell her height , but he knew she wasn't too short. He noticed her curls were in a wiry little pile on the top of her head. Lucas wondered what it would look like if he pulled her clip out. Mentally shaking, he tried to focus on what she was saying. Linda, her name was Linda. Funny he didn't picture that to be her name.
"Well Linda, we want to welcome you to the meetings. I don't want you to have any high expectations. The last thing we want to do is put pressure on anyone. The important thing is to attend the meetings no matter what. Do you have a sponsor yet?"
Jacey nervously glanced around. Would anyone offer to help? She didn't even think to try to mingle or talk to anyone. Glancing down and shaking her head no, she felt out of place.
Lucas stepped to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder. It felt large and warm and comforting.
"Can I get a volunteer for sponsoring?"
Jacey kept her head down but looked up to see who would volunteer. She watched the group huddle together for a few minutes and then separate quickly. Jacey looked up then to see a rather strange looking girl. Feeling a connection instantly, Jacey smiled at her. She smiled back. "I'll do it teach. I think I am ready to accept this challenge".
Jacey looked up at Lucas and could tell he was happy. He had a huge grin from ear to ear. Jacey couldn't get over how great his mouth was. She would do anything in her power to see those smiles for the rest of her life. Whoa. What was she thinking? Focus Jacey. You are here on a mission.
"Donna, I think this is wonderful! You are more then ready to be a sponsor. You are almost done with your steps and ready to graduate soon. You are just the person I had in mind."
Donna grinned and walked over to give Lucas a hug. "Thanks teach."
"Alright everyone. Let's get settled now. Please go ahead and pick a seat."
Jacey watched everyone slowly disband and start taking seats here and there around the room. Donna walked over to the seat next to Jacey. "Hi" she whispered. "Hello" I whispered back. Donna continued "After class we will talk a little more and we will exchange phone numbers and all emergency contact information, okay?"
"Sure" Jacey said.
I noticed Lucas walking towards the front of the room.
"Hello. My name is Lucas and I'm an alcoholic."
The whole group responded "Hello Lucas."
Lucas continued, "I've been sober for seven years now and used to be a horrible drunk. Tonight we have someone new. Her name is Linda. Now we won't ask Linda to speak tonight, but Linda, you will speak at the next meeting. Now - who would like to go first?"
Jacey watched Lucas go and sit at a desk with his attention on the next person walking up. As if he could feel her watching him, he glanced back at her. Jacey could not look away. Lucas gave her a little wink and pointed his face back to the speaker. Jacey gulped and looked around. She had better come up with a believable story and quick. Just listening to the pretty brunette was making her stomach hurt.
Jacey just might be in trouble next week.
So far she's made note of the eleven people in the small room with her. Not yet knowing the names of everyone she's made little notes of each person.
The pretty brunette *note - rather large smile*.
The loud blond *note - really big chest*.
The list goes on and on.
Jacey glances back down at her cell phone. 6:05pm. This was not leaving a good first impression.
Suddenly she hears a commotion in the hall way.
"Sorry guys!", the teacher said. "I'm so sorry. I had a small issue with Carl and it needed to be handled right away". Jacey glanced around and she saw the other's with sympathetic looks on their faces. She wondered who this "Carl" person was and why everyone seemed so close. Of course she was always used to feeling a little like an outsider. Normally always keeping her nose in her books and making notes of others.
Jacey watched as the other's were suddenly overwhelming the teacher with questions. His back was to her so she hadn't yet seen his full features. From the back she could tell that he was very tall, guessing at least six foot, with dark hair that had a slight curl to it. She picked up her notebook as she continued her observations.
The dark hair teacher *note - nice butt*.
Reading this to herself, Jacey laughed out loud and noticed it quieted down. She looked up to see everyone starring at her. The teacher glanced over his shoulder. She slowly looked at everyone's faces, finally landing on the teacher. He slowly turned all the way around. Jacey was immediately captivated by his piercing green eyes. They were a green that was almost indescribable. She felt her heart do a small flutter and she dropped her pen.
The teacher walked over, never taking his eyes off Jacey. He bent down , grabbed her pen and handed it back to her.
"I think you dropped this?" he said.
"Uh, yes, yes I did." Really? That's the best come back she could think of? Ugh!
He stood up and held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Lucas. Most everyone calls me 'Teach', but Luc or Lucas are fine as well. Is this your first time at one of these meetings?"
Jacey took a slow breath. Here is her chance. She better act the part or he will be suspicious. She had to keep her cover for as long as possible.
"Yes. I have never done this before and I am a little nervous. I don't really know what to say." Jacey looked up at him and was trying to read the look in his eyes. She squinted to focus her eyes better.
"What is your name?"
Oh! Shoot! A name! Think...think...my favorite librarian in high school was Linda Frankenhymer. Linda sounded believable...right?
"Linda. My name is Linda Frank."
Lucas glanced down at this peculiar girl. With her sitting he couldn't tell her height , but he knew she wasn't too short. He noticed her curls were in a wiry little pile on the top of her head. Lucas wondered what it would look like if he pulled her clip out. Mentally shaking, he tried to focus on what she was saying. Linda, her name was Linda. Funny he didn't picture that to be her name.
"Well Linda, we want to welcome you to the meetings. I don't want you to have any high expectations. The last thing we want to do is put pressure on anyone. The important thing is to attend the meetings no matter what. Do you have a sponsor yet?"
Jacey nervously glanced around. Would anyone offer to help? She didn't even think to try to mingle or talk to anyone. Glancing down and shaking her head no, she felt out of place.
Lucas stepped to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder. It felt large and warm and comforting.
"Can I get a volunteer for sponsoring?"
Jacey kept her head down but looked up to see who would volunteer. She watched the group huddle together for a few minutes and then separate quickly. Jacey looked up then to see a rather strange looking girl. Feeling a connection instantly, Jacey smiled at her. She smiled back. "I'll do it teach. I think I am ready to accept this challenge".
Jacey looked up at Lucas and could tell he was happy. He had a huge grin from ear to ear. Jacey couldn't get over how great his mouth was. She would do anything in her power to see those smiles for the rest of her life. Whoa. What was she thinking? Focus Jacey. You are here on a mission.
"Donna, I think this is wonderful! You are more then ready to be a sponsor. You are almost done with your steps and ready to graduate soon. You are just the person I had in mind."
Donna grinned and walked over to give Lucas a hug. "Thanks teach."
"Alright everyone. Let's get settled now. Please go ahead and pick a seat."
Jacey watched everyone slowly disband and start taking seats here and there around the room. Donna walked over to the seat next to Jacey. "Hi" she whispered. "Hello" I whispered back. Donna continued "After class we will talk a little more and we will exchange phone numbers and all emergency contact information, okay?"
"Sure" Jacey said.
I noticed Lucas walking towards the front of the room.
"Hello. My name is Lucas and I'm an alcoholic."
The whole group responded "Hello Lucas."
Lucas continued, "I've been sober for seven years now and used to be a horrible drunk. Tonight we have someone new. Her name is Linda. Now we won't ask Linda to speak tonight, but Linda, you will speak at the next meeting. Now - who would like to go first?"
Jacey watched Lucas go and sit at a desk with his attention on the next person walking up. As if he could feel her watching him, he glanced back at her. Jacey could not look away. Lucas gave her a little wink and pointed his face back to the speaker. Jacey gulped and looked around. She had better come up with a believable story and quick. Just listening to the pretty brunette was making her stomach hurt.
Jacey just might be in trouble next week.
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