Lisa Worrall's Blog, page 5

GIRL CRUSH..... WHO'S YOURS?

I was watching mine the other night.  Well, I have two...

Sue Perkins is a British comedian and television presenter. Some of you may know her from The Great British Bake Off.

I adore Sue. She's down to earth, doesn't mess about and is, of course, hilarious.

I've always been attracted to humour before anything else, in men or women. Humour and intelligence, which our Sue has in spades. And when I say spades, I mean great big shovelfuls of the talent!



2nd on my list is the fantastically uber-talented Melissa McCarthy.

Again, the funny bone gets hit every time, she's beautiful and there's a very savvy mind behind those big green eyes. I think she's hugely underrated as a movie actress, but I think the right vehicle for her is just around the corner. And that will just fire her out into the tratasphere. Absolutely love her.

If, however, if I was forced to make a choice based upon beauty alone...

how could there be any other choice but one of the most beautiful women of all time?

I don't think I need any words where Audrey is concerned...

I'd have followed her anywhere.


So.... my lovelies... who's your girl crush? Let me know in the comments

REVIEW: ELEVENTH HOUR BY ELIN GREGORY

I've been a bit lax in the reading department of late. Something to do with my glamorous assistant having stolen my Kindle for her own use after she dropped her tablet! I will confess that I purchased the book I'm about to review a little while ago and, although I'd read the first few pages, I only picked it up again yesterday when my Kindle was returned! Deep joy! So, here we go....

BLURB:

Borrowed from the Secret Intelligence Service cipher department to assist Briers Allerdale - a field agent returning to 1920s London with news of a dangerous anarchist plot - Miles Siward moves into a 'couples only' boarding house, posing as Allerdale’s 'wife'. Miles relishes the opportunity to allow his alter ego, Millie, to spread her wings but if Miles wants the other agent’s respect he can never betray how much he enjoys being Millie nor how attractive he finds Allerdale.

Pursuing a ruthless enemy who wants to throw Europe back into the horrors of the Great War, Briers and Miles are helped and hindered by nosy landladies, water board officials, suave gentlemen representing foreign powers and their own increasing attraction to each other.

Will they catch their quarry? Will they find love? Could they hope for both?

The clock is ticking.

REVIEW: 

I don't usually do historicals, but loved the premise of this and am a fan of Elin's anyway so thought I'd give it a go.

I was gripped from the first few pages. The world building was exquisite. It was like being inside an Agatha Christie mystery! 

Briers and Siward were beautifully drawn and the plot believable. Even the secondary characters were marvellous, all interwoven in the story, and some playing bigger parts than others. I think I even shouted out a couple of times, which wasn't good 'cause I was in bed and it was after midnight! 

I loved every word and couldn't put it down. Bravo Ms Gregory, bravo! Could we dare to hope that we'll hear more from our two boys?

Highly recommended read.

BUY LINK: Amazon.com

                      Amazon.co.uk

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK - ANY GENRE - THE ONE YOU ALWAYS GO BACK TO AND WHY?

My son asked me what my favourite book was the other day.

He'd just finished reading the last few chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird, homework given by his English teacher. He was blown away by it (as was I when I read it at not much older than him) and declared it was his favourite to date. So what was mine?

Now that got me thinking...



I'd like to be high brow and say something like Great Expectations, or Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, somewhere in that ilk, but I'm not entirely sure I'd be telling the truth.

Not that I don't adore all three of the aforementioned titles, along with Little Women, Gone With the Wind, North and South, winners all.

Although I must confess I'm not a fan of Shakespeare.


I also grew up on my friend's mum's Mills & Boon cast offs.

I remember coming back from her house with my carrier bag full of goodies and spiriting myself away in the bedroom until I'd read the lot - sometimes twice!

Leopard in the Snow by Anne Mather was one of my favourites, I loved her!



Of course, I have my favourite MM authors, too.

Elin Gregory's pirates.
Sue Brown's basically everything.
Patricia Logan's mysteries and gorgeous men.
Sue Laybourn's attention to detail.
Chris Quinton's heart and warmth.
And I'm still awaiting the sequel to Dead Things by my lovely Meredith Russell.



But there is one book I go to every single time I need my fix.... IT by Stephen King.

I am a bit of a Stephen King freak anyway, but this is the one. The first time I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. On more than one occasion missing my stop on the way home from work so I could just squeeze in a few more pages.

He builds such worlds, such amazing worlds, that'll scare the pants off you one minute and have you laughing out loud the next. Then leave you a sobbing heap on the floor clutching the book and begging him to take back those last few words. 'Cause he doesn't pull any punches. He doesn't always give you the happy ever after you're looking for. And sometimes it doesn't matter, because he stayed true to the story and the characters you've come to love. Even if a few of those you loved most are left behind. I love this book. In fact.... I think I'm due a hit....

So, what's your favourite? Genre doesn't matter. What's the book you reach for when nothing else will do?

Tell me in the comments and make sure you leave your email, because there might be a little goodie bag in it for two lucky commenters.

GHOSTLY INSPIRATION

My husband's grandmother lives in Yorkshire, a beautiful part of England's countryside. I've been there a few times but, recently, I got to fulfill an ambition. My parents-in-law took us to Whitby for the day and I finally got to see the ruins of Whitby Abbey, up close and personal.


I think most people know Whitby Abbey was Bram Stoker's inspiration for Dracula.

Standing inside its gothic beauty, I can understand why. In Stoker's day there must have been even more Abbey to see and wandering along footpaths he may have travelled before me, gave me chills!



Here are a few more of the photos my hubby took to record our day. I got a bit emotional at some points as my imagination ran away with me. I definitely came back with a few plot bunnies I can tell you!


You can imagine monks walking the grounds, taking holy orders, watching from the cliffs as the sea pounds the rocks below.

You can also see why Dracula would have found it so appealing in its ruined state to set up his English base

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

I've been asked many times how I start writing a story.

Does the idea come first?

Does the character come first, then you fit the name to the personality?

What about the title? Is that the last thing you decide upon?

When you have the idea, do you plot, or not?

Do you listen to music while you're writing or do you need complete silence?

Or do you listen to certain types of music to write certain types of scenes?

The list goes on.

For me, I have a rough idea of what it's about and where I want it to end.

I don't plot, though sometimes I know I should, but I just pull up my big girl pants and buckle up for the ride.

The only things I have to have before I write a single word is the title and the mc's names. That's it. Can't even write the words chapter 1 before I have those down.

But where does the inspiration for the story come from? To be honest, it comes from anywhere. A line in a song, or a movie, or a TV show. Hell, it can even be a headline from the news. And it doesn't have to be a dramatic headline either. Something like, "Bed & Breakfast forced to close because of plans for retirement homes." So you've got a B&B owner, who may or may not be a hunky man in his early 30's who was left the place by his grandmother, squaring off against a sexy suit who just wants to make a ton of money and can't see the wood for the trees. A bit twee, maybe, but two opposing forces cause a lot of sparks.

And the internet.... it's such a huge playground now... with millions of images at our fingertips. Like these few I've found. Each pair of eyes sees something very different in the same picture.

What's the first thing that pops into your head with this guy?

Vampire? One of the undead who stalks his prey among the moonlit streets of gay Paris of the 1800's. Hiding in the shadows until the perfect moment to strike. Or perhaps toying with his victims, even turning them for companionship or love, his tortured soul never at peace.

Or...

His mom made his Halloween costume again? He'd tried to buy one but it makes her so happy. He knows his friends are gonna rag on him all night, but she does his washing so he knows who he'd rather keep on side. So he wears it, with the fake wig his sister had left over from last year when she was the Bionic Woman and heads to the party of the year. Which turns out to be the best night of his life because it's where he meets Spiderman in head to toe knitted glory, 'cause he's not the only one who loves his mom, and homemade costumes.


This next one is actually a still from one of my favourite movies, I won't tell you which one yet, although some of you probably already know. So... what about these two?

Nice married couple. Around about early 1900's maybe earlier. She's classically beautiful. Runs the household with an iron fist in a very velvety glove while he blusters around the house complaining he never gets any peace and quiet. The servants run from him of course, but look at how they're looking at each other. She knows exactly how to tame him. Seems like a fair enough assumption, if you didn't know the movie.

Well, the movie is The Ghost and Mrs Muir. She is a single mother, widowed of course, who has moved into his house. He blusters about all right like the rough sea captain he is, but she is the only who can see him. He's a ghost.


 And this one.... good looking chap, leaning against a tree in his backyard. Hmmm....

Well, he could be a landscape gardener who has been hired to totally renovate the backyard of an old cottage, bought by the most gorgeous guy he's ever seen. He discovers said guy has a love for gardening but no idea what he's doing. So he teaches him and, through their love of nature, they begin to fall for each other.

or...

He's leaning against the tree, taking a break. Because just out of shot, is the very large hole he's been digging and beside it, is a rolled up piece of carpet with a shock of long red hair sticking out of one end.....

I may well be babbling at this stage, but it's like I said. The idea for a story can come from anywhere, so make sure, wherever you go, you take a notebook, just in case you overhear an interesting conversation between two strangers when you're in the line at the post office!

GUEST POST: WEST AT WAR BY GEM STONE

RELEASED TODAY!

Blurb:The day Jessica West opened her bakery was the best day of her life… Well, it was supposed to be. Then Brad Hunter opened his bakery straight over the road… On the same day!
And so begins the competition, by fair means or foul, they are each determined to be the best baker in town, and neither can afford to lose.
But the line between enemy and friend is very thin, especially when you can see into each other’s homes.
With meddling families, malfunctioning appliances, and too much insight into each other’s lives, it’s easy to become a ‘West At War’

West At War is book 2 in Gem Stones West Family Series. Full of revenge, passion, and laughter. Join Jess and Brad as they steal each other's hearts... as well as their customers.
Excerpt:
“What if no one comes?” Jessica gave the counter a final wipe before she opened the doors. “Look at this place.” Tori indicated the room with a wave of her hand. “It looks amazing. Of course, people will come and, at the very least, you know every member of your family will stop by.”Jessica smiled. Tori was right. Every member of her family would make a point of stopping by, but it wouldn’t do much good if they were her only customers. She’d sunk every penny she had into the shop. It was her dream.She gazed around the shop one more time. The counters were full of freshly made sandwiches, cakes and pastries. The coffee machine at the end of the counter gave off the most inviting aromas and you could smell the fresh bread still baking in the oven. Everything was ready. Taking a deep breath, she turned the door sign over to indicate they were open. Across the road, she saw Brad put a sign outside his shop.“Do we have any binoculars?” “Not that I’m aware of,” Tori replied. “What on earth do you want binoculars for?”“I just wanted a better look at the inside of his shop,” Jessica said absently. She looked up and down the street, to see if any early morning shoppers or commuters were on their way to work.She spotted two women walking along, deep in conversation. Quickly propping the door open as they approached, she hoped the scents would invite them in. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brad eyeing the women, but they were on her side of the road.“Get ready!” she heard him shout. “We’re about to have our first customers!” He quickly removed his jacket to show off his muscles in the tight T-shirt he wore, then ran his hands through his short dark hair. When the women were two doors away from Jessica, he struck. “Good morning, ladies!” He waved them over. “Can I interest you in some breakfast, or maybe something for your lunch?”Both women glanced in his direction and Jessica fumed as he turned on a hundred-watt smile, showing off his ridiculously straight teeth. He obviously knew he looked good with his broad shoulders and narrow hips and wasn’t ashamed of using it to his advantage. They smiled back and crossed the road.“Hello, ladies,” he said, placing a hand in the centre of each of their backs as he guided them towards the door. “Let me show you what gorgeous things we have here today. Almost as gorgeous as the two of you.”As the ladies walked inside, he turned and gave Jessica a little wave.“That arsehole,” she complained. “He actually poached the customers from my side of the street!”“That was just uncalled for,” Tori agreed, joining Jessica at the door. “Oh, look, we’ll get this one.” She indicated a car that had just pulled up outside the shop.Jessica rushed to greet the very rotund, well-dressed gentleman who got out.“Hello sir,” she said brightly.“Hello there,” he replied in a cheerful voice. “I must say, I drive this way to work every morning and I’ve never noticed this shop before.”“This is our first day.” Jessica gave him her friendliest smile. “And if you would care to come in and take a look, you will be our first customer.”“I don’t mind if I do,” said the man as he entered the shop and proceeded to check out the display cabinets. Ten minutes later the man, whose name he informed them was Harold, left the shop with a promise to return. He took with him two boxes of cupcakes, a selection of pastries, enough sandwiches for his entire staff’s lunch and coffee for fifteen people. Jessica helped him to the car with his purchases.Movement across the road caught her eye and she saw Brad bidding his customers goodbye. Each of them held a coffee but no bags. He crossed his arms defiantly and glared at her as she waved Harold goodbye.
“Don’t you just love first customers?” Jessica said loudly and lifted her hand to return his earlier wave before she headed back into the shop.
Buy Links:
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

LOOKING FOR JESSE - AVAILABLE NOW!

Blurb:

Life is full of decisions and it’s the split-second ones that change your world forever.
Nick Shepherd made such a decision on the day his son, Jesse, was taken from a Christmas market in Naperville. The woman looked normal and had a son of her own, and he was only going to be a minute. But that minute was all she needed. His son was gone.
A year later, the task force is being downsized and they are no closer to finding Jesse than they were the day he disappeared. At his wits end, Nick is given a number and a name by the lead on the case.
Ex-detective Frank Ford has issues, several of them. Two steps shy of a full-blown alcoholic, all he wants is to bury himself in the bottle. He’s doing a pretty good job of it, too, when Nick Shepherd asks for his help. Does Ford want to help? No. Is Ford going to help? Hell no. Until four words resonate deep within him.

“She took my son!”
Excerpt:
Half an hour later there were only three people ahead of them and Nick sent a silent prayer of thanks heavenward. He’d stopped feeling his fingers fifteen minutes ago, and the sky had begun to darken as evening approached. After Santa, they could take one more trip around the lot, pick up a few decorations and the quilt Jesse had spotted for Nick’s mom before heading home. Nick’s stomach rumbled loudly and he suddenly realized they hadn’t eaten since the giant pretzel’s and hot chocolate when they first arrived. The Disney Channel and takeout pizza was the way to go. They were down to two in front when Jesse announced.“Aww nuts.”“Excuse me?” Nick stared down at him with a raised eyebrow. Although Jesse didn’t notice because he was too busy hunting through his pockets.“I lost my mitten!” Jesse looked up at him, one of his multi-colored Christmas mittens clutched in his fingers.Aww crap!Anna had bought him those mittens last year at this very market and Jesse had scoured his closet last night looking for them. Wearing them today had been important and Nick got it, he really did.“Where did you have them last?” Nick asked, dropping down to his haunches to look his son in the eye. His stomach rumbled again and Nick had a lightbulb moment. “Were you wearing them when we had hot chocolate?”“Yes!” Jesse exclaimed. “But I took them off to hold the cup. Maybe I left it there.”“Okay,” Nick said. “When we’ve seen Santa, we’ll go back and look for it.”“But what if someone takes it while we’re waiting?” Jesse’s voice rose and Nick could hear that tears were on their way. “We have to go now!”“Jay, we’ve been standing in line for thirty minutes, dude, and Santa’s gonna be closing up shop soon. If we go now, you’ll miss him.” Nick tried to reason but Jesse was on the verge of meltdown and people were beginning to stare at them.“I… need… my… mitten!” Jesse wailed, sobs building in his chest and he threw his arms around Nick’s waist.Double crap!Nick looked at the woman in front of them with her son, then over at the seating area where they’d had their hot chocolate and pretzels earlier—then back again. It wasn’t that far…. If he sprinted, he could get to the wooden tables, check if the mitten was there and get back before it was their turn. Jesse would be okay just for a minute—wouldn’t he—of course he wouldn’t he’s only seven—but it’s only for a minute and there are people everywhere—but—? Nick didn’t have time to finish the conversation with himself because Jesse wailed again. Tapping the woman in front of them on the shoulder, Nick made an executive decision.“Excuse me,” he said as she turned around. “My son left his mitten at the seating area over there but I don’t want him to miss his turn. Would you mind watching him for a minute while I run over and find it?”The woman’s kindly brown eyes took in Jesse’s tear-soaked face and the length of the line then smiled. “Of course,” she replied. “But be quick, I think they’re rushing the kids through so they get in as many as they can before closing.”“Like there’s fire coming out of my as—sorry, butt—sorry.” Nick stumbled over the words but she only laughed and waved her hand.“Go!”“Thanks,” Nick said gratefully and quickly hugged Jesse to him. “I’ll be right back, buddy, okay? You just stand here with this nice lady and I’ll be so quick you won’t even notice I’ve gone.”Jesse looked at him warily but the woman smiled and said, “He’ll be fine with me and Marcus, won’t you?” Jesse gave a hesitant nod and Nick hit the ground running.The mitten Gods must have been smiling down on him because he found it under the table where they’d been sitting almost immediately. He heaved a huge sigh of relief and dashed back to Santa’s Grotto, mitten held high like a victory torch so Jesse could see.Nick made good on his promise, he was back in just over a minute, if a little out of breath. Promising himself he’d tell Daisy to stop bringing in donuts to work, he headed to the front of the line. He smiled as he slowed his approach, not wanting to slip on the frozen ground. Nick was surprised to see Jesse still held the woman’s hand. Although Jesse was an affectionate kid, he was also very cautious and took a while to warm up to new people. A hand tightened around Nick’s heart. It had been a long time since Jesse had felt a motherly touch. Even when they’d sat on the couch watching TV, Jesse’s hand had always been curled around Anna’s.“I got it, dude!” Nick said jubilantly, putting his hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “It was right whe—”The words caught in his throat as the boy turned and so did the woman holding his hand. “Hey!” she yelled, pulling the boy toward her. “I’m sorry.” Nick held up his hands. “I thought you were… my….” He spun on his heel, his gaze flitting all around him. “Jesse!” His name echoed on the cold evening air. “Jesse! My son? Where’s my son?” Nick grabbed the woman’s forearm and her eyes widened in horror. “My son!” he repeated. What was wrong with her? Why was she looking at him like that?“Hey, man, take it easy.” That came from a big, bald man a couple of spaces down the line.Nick ignored him and shook the terrified woman. “My son, he was here. Right here. Where is he? You must have seen him!”“Sir, is there a problem?”Nick looked at the woman dressed in a short-skirted elf costume and the burly security guard behind her. He dropped the frightened woman’s arm and ran shaking hands through his hair. “My son,” he said again. Why was no one listening to him? “He was right here! Where is he?” He turned back to the dark-haired woman who now clasped her son to her tightly. “You saw him. You must have. He was with the other woman and the boy. I just went to find his… his mitten.” Nick waved it pathetically, the woolen mitten still clutched firmly in his fingers. “I found… it.”“The little blond boy?” the elf asked.“Yes!” Nick tried not to scream but panic, raw and heavy bubbled deep within him. He tried to push it down, but he could taste it in the back of his throat. “He was here. Right here. I was only gone—”“She left.”“She left?” Nick shook his head. “What do you mean she left?” He grabbed her forearms. Where. Is. My. Son?”The elf turned her concerned gaze on the security guard, who stepped forward and put a firm hand on Nick’s shoulder. Spots dotted Nick’s peripheral vision as his brain tried to force him to accept what she was saying.“Sh-she said there was an emergency. That they had to go.”“Go?”“I-I thought you were together,” she stuttered. “Oh, my God. I didn’t know. I thought you were toge—” “Where is my son?” Nick knew what the answer was going to be, but he had to hear it. “Where is my son!”“Sh-she took him.”
Buy Links:Amazon.comAmazon.co.uk 

GUEST POST: ELIN GREGORY - THE BONES OF OUR FATHERS

Today's guest is the wonderful Elin Gregory with her new release.... The Bones of Our Fathers.
I am a huge fan of Elin's and I cannot wait!

The Bones of Our FathersBy Elin GregoryAvailable 1st August 2017 from Manifold PressApprox 79,500 wordsISBN  9781908312549
Blurb:
Malcolm Bright, brand new museum curator in a small Welsh Border town, is a little lonely until – acting as emergency archaeological consultant on a new housing development – he crosses the path of Rob Escley, aka Dirty Rob, who makes Mal’s earth move in more ways than one.

Then Rob discovers something wonderful, and together they must combat greedy developers and a treasure hunter determined to get his hands on the find. Are desperate measures justified to save the bones of our fathers? Will Dirty Rob live up to his reputation? Do museum curators really do it meticulously?

Answers must be found for the sake of Mal’s future, his happiness and his heart.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073JM29TD/Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073JM29TD/Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-bones-of-our-fathersSmashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/733184
Excerpt:
Mal couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed an evening so much. Rob’s frank appreciation, and that it was ignored by the others apart from a few gibes at Rob’s expense, had filled Mal with a sense of confidence he didn’t normally enjoy and he played his pool with a flair that surprised him and made Betty nod approvingly. He had even held his own when the banter became more general.
“I’m not letting you upset Betty,” he’d said after an innocent question about her ‘Peaches’ nickname’ prompted a story about a house party when they were sixteen and Betty’s karaoke performance after a pint of peach flavoured schnapps.
“Knight in shinin’ armour is it?” Sion said.
“No, I have to work with her tomorrow. Besides, don’t some of the rest of you have nicknames? Dirty Rob, isn’t it?”
There was one of those tense and silent moments. It can’t have lasted more than a second, but it felt much longer and quite a lot happened. Rob’s lips thinned, Sion glared at Betty who flushed a very ugly pink and Morris emitted an anxious whine. Mal realised he had said absolutely the wrong thing.
“I—um—was called Rainbow in school,” he said. “Rainbow Brite? Like the cartoon.”
“We used to watch that.” Gary grinned. “Didn’t we, Rob?”
“Dammit, Gary!” Rob’s tone was aggrieved but his lips were easing into a smile. “Never out me as a Rainbow Brite fan, lapsed, when I’m trying to impress an attractive bloke.”


Elin's bio:
Logo by Catherine Dair

Elin Gregory lives in South Wales and has been making stuff up since she learned to talk. Writing has always had to take second place to work and family but, slowly, she is finishing the many novels on her hard drive and actually trying to do something useful with them.Historical subjects predominate. She has written about ancient Greek sculptors, 18th century seafarers but also about modern men who change shape at will and how echoes of the past can be heard in the present. Heroes tend to be hard as nails but capable of tenderness when circumstances allow.There are always new works on the go and she is currently writing more 1930s spies, adding to a series of contemporary romances and doing background reading for stories set in Roman Britain and in WW2.
Website: www.elingregory.com Blog:  http://elingregory.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elin.gregory

BACK CATALOGUE GIVEAWAY !!

I am giving five people the chance to win an ebook from my self-pub back catalogue which you can find HERE.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favourite MM book, mine is Nothing Ever Happens by Sue Brown, and my glamorous assistant will pick two winners on the 22nd July. Please don't forget to leave your email within the comment, or I won't be able to contact you if you win.

LOOKING FOR JESSE - RELEASE DATE 31 JULY 2017

Blurb:

Life is full of decisions and it’s the split-second ones that change your world forever.
Nick Shepherd made such a decision on the day his son, Jesse, was taken from a Christmas market in Naperville. The woman looked normal and had a son of her own, and he was only going to be a minute. But that minute was all she needed. His son was gone.
A year later, the task force is being downsized and they are no closer to finding Jesse than they were the day he disappeared. At his wits end, Nick is given a number and a name by the lead on the case.
Ex-detective Frank Ford has issues, several of them. Two steps shy of a full-blown alcoholic, all he wants is to bury himself in the bottle. He’s doing a pretty good job of it, too, when Nick Shepherd asks for his help. Does Ford want to help? No. Is Ford going to help? Hell no. Until four words resonated deep within him.

“She took my son!” 
Excerpt:

Tapping the woman in front of them on the shoulder, Nick made an executive decision.“Excuse me,” he said as she turned around. “My son left his mitten at the seating area over there but I don’t want him to miss his turn. Would you mind watching him for a minute while I run over and find it?”The woman’s kindly brown eyes took in Jesse’s tear-soaked face and the length of the line then smiled. “Of course,” she replied. “But be quick, I think they’re rushing the kids through so they get in as many as they can before closing.”“Like there’s fire coming out of my as—sorry, butt—sorry.” Nick stumbled over the words but she only laughed and waved her hand.“Go!”“Thanks,” Nick said gratefully and quickly hugged Jesse to him. “I’ll be right back, buddy, okay? You just stand here with this nice lady and I’ll be so quick you won’t even notice I’ve gone.”Jesse looked at him warily but the woman smiled and said, “He’ll be fine with me and Marcus, won’t you?” Jesse gave a hesitant nod and Nick hit the ground running.The mitten Gods must have been smiling down on him because he found it under the table where they’d been sitting almost immediately. He heaved a huge sigh of relief and dashed back to Santa’s Grotto, mitten held high like a victory torch so Jesse could see.Nick made good on his promise, he was back in just over a minute, if a little out of breath. Promising himself he’d tell Daisy to stop bringing in donuts to work, he headed to the front of the line. He smiled as he slowed his approach, not wanting to slip on the frozen ground. Nick was surprised to see Jesse still held the woman’s hand. Although Jesse was an affectionate kid, he was also very cautious and took a while to warm up to new people. A hand tightened around Nick’s heart. It had been a long time since Jesse had felt a motherly touch. Even when they’d sat on the couch watching TV, Jesse’s hand had always been curled around Anna’s.“I got it, dude!” Nick said jubilantly, putting his hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “It was right whe—”The words caught in his throat as the boy turned and so did the woman holding his hand. “Hey!” she yelled, pulling the boy toward her. “I’m sorry.” Nick held up his hands. “I thought you were… my….” He spun on his heel, his gaze flitting all around him. “Jesse!” His name echoed on the cold evening air. “Jesse! My son? Where’s my son?” Nick grabbed the woman’s forearm and her eyes widened in horror. “My son!” he repeated. What was wrong with her? Why was she looking at him like that?“Hey, man, take it easy.” That came from a big, bald man a couple of spaces down the line.Nick ignored him and shook the terrified woman. “My son, he was here. Right here. Where is he? You must have seen him!”“Sir, is there a problem?”Nick looked at the woman dressed in a short-skirted elf costume and the burly security guard behind her. He dropped the frightened woman’s arm and ran shaking hands through his hair. “My son,” he said again. Why was no one listening to him? “He was right here! Where is he?” He turned back to the dark-haired woman who now clasped her son to her tightly. “You saw him. You must have. He was with the other woman and the boy. I just went to find his… his mitten.” Nick waved it pathetically, the woolen mitten still clutched firmly in his fingers. “I found… it.”“The little blond boy?” the elf asked.“Yes!” Nick tried not to scream but panic, raw and heavy bubbled deep within him. He tried to push it down, but he could taste it in the back of his throat. “He was here. Right here. I was only gone—”“She left.”“She left?” Nick shook his head. “What do you mean she left? Where. Is. My. Son?”The elf turned her concerned gaze on the security guard, who stepped forward and put a firm hand on Nick’s shoulder. Spots dotted Nick’s peripheral vision as his brain tried to force him to accept what she was saying.“Sh-she said there was an emergency. That they had to go.”“Go?”“I-I thought you were together,” she stuttered. “Oh, my God. I didn’t know. I thought you were toge—” “Where is my son?” Nick knew what the answer was going to be, but he had to hear it. “Where is my son!”
“Sh-she took him.”
BUY LINKS TO FOLLOW