Chris Keniston's Blog, page 2

Traveling Still

Oh what a week it's been. 

Some of you who follow me on facebook know that we had an emergency landing on our way to Dublin and I also posted a short video on You tube - at least I think we did LOL.  I didn't even realize how serious it was until I saw t
he video another passenger took of the fire brigade following us after the plane touched down!  After a twelve hour effort we finally made it to Dublin. 

We've had a great week - we were walking about and after enjoying street musicians and getting a big kick out of the molly malone statue and how her boobs are brassy from folks rubbing them - we spotted a theater with a river dance performance so we bought last minute tickets and thoroughly enjoyed the night. Next day we met two of my husband's second cousins on his maternal grandfather's side - and had a really great time - my husband has learned how to drink Guinness! Apparently it's much better here in Ireland than in the USA - someone told us it simply doesn't travel well and the 'pour' is very important!  From Dublin we rented a car and I am happy to report that I have stayed on the wrong side of the road! Granted, my husband repeatedly warned me with 'curb' that I was getting too close, but I have now figured out where I am on the road and pretty much stay away from the curbs on the left! LOL 

anyhow first stop outside of Dublin was the pub his cousins own.  Good food, and really nice meeting family we've only heard about. We also stumbled onto the largest anglo norman castle in Ireland and learned it's where the movie Braveheart with Mel Gibson was filmed. I've also learned that I really love Irish desserts.  Not quite as sweet as the states, and the creams are amazing. I really wish the US didn't pasteurize the flavor out of everything dairy - sigh.  Today - and why this post is a little late - we visited with a different branch of the family and were taken to the remains of the house where Paul's grandmother was born and raised - wow - apparently it hasn't been lived in since 1965 and I had no idea that a house could fall apart so easily. We also went to where hubby's great grandmother and grandfather are buried and the house where his great grandmother was born and raised - all very humbling!  The tricky part of all this family history searching is everyone has different names and dates and information on everyone. The gravestone has my husband's great uncle Thomas being born in 1901 - except the 1901 Irish census has him being 4 years old that year - and another cousin has him being born in 1899 - so we are going to have to do a little more research - I am going to try and go to the county registry office and see if there are any official documents, but I don't know that one afternoon will do it ! 

And just in case anyone forgot - The new Honeysuckle Texas series released last week - so tell all your friends to pick up a copy - book one is only 99 cents! 
That's it for now!  Everyone take care and we'll meet again next week! 

Hello From Across the Pond !

​It’s been crazy trying to get ready for this trip. So much going on, so much behind schedule!  Doesn’t every intelligent human being replaster their pool days before leaving for Europe? Of course…not.  We shall be praying as the bulk of the work gets done while we’re gone. At least I love the new tiles – really hated those old art deco daisies!  I did however manage – I think – to pack everything! Our flight left a little late but since we’re spending the night in London and not connecting till today, it was no big deal.  We booked a hotel near Big Ben and got a fabulous view. Nice and comfy!
 
I love casual strolls and just looking around and there was plenty to see!
 
Lots of old red phone booths around and tons of tourists lining up to take photos – we just took it from behind lol.  Looked around Buckingham Palace and walked through St. James Park then indulged in a massive street vendor hot dog. Day one- a success!
​I even managed to write on the plane and steal a few hours sleep as well so I’m really pleased with the beginning of this adventure. So far my husband – who prefers to stay home in his favorite chair – seems to be enjoying it all too.

Will keep you posted – and hop over to my Youtube page for any videos I post! 

I need more time!

I I am not ready yet for the biggest trip my husband and I have ever taken together! 

I just hope we don't wind up walking across Ireland if I can't figure out how to rent a car or sleeping in the car if hotels are as crowded as everyone says they are all summer long! 

My editor says she'll have edits for book four of the new Honeysuckle series - Sweet Deal - in my mailbox later today - yay! Am hoping to get loose ends tied up before we leave. Remember books one and two release in two weeks!! Are you counting down or did you go ahead and buy them early from my website? 

As for me - I played hooky from responsibilities and spent the weekend with a group of friends who descend on North Texas every summer. We've dwindled down to about a dozen women, but I think after twenty years, that's pretty good!  Who knew playing Mexican Train (dominoes) could make so many people laugh so hard for two whole days ! And of course, we're watching JAG in the background. Did you know that I started writing because of that TV show? Yep - I hated what the writers were doing with the show and would write stories to fix the mess they'd made. LOL. 
The downside to a long friends' weekend... dieting is not an option! I gained a few pounds. I mean, who can resist all the delicious dips and chips and cakes and treats that everyone brought??  Maybe I can drop them again before our trip - we'll see.

For anyone who remembers my little car accident a couple of weeks ago, I am glad to report my neck is hardly giving me any trouble at all. I was hoping that I wasn't going to need to take a neck brace to Ireland with me and I'm pretty sure that by next week I'll be right as rain! (do people still use that expression?? lol) 

​Okay, I'm going to leave this a short read so I can get to work!  Who knows, maybe I'll have an excerpt from book four or five next Monday! 

​

Counting Down the Days

I have no idea what is going on with my website but this is my THIRD attempt at typing todays post - the first two are forever lost in cyber space! 

Okay - here goes - AGAIN LOL

I can not believe in less than two weeks hubby and I will be in Ireland! ​Thanks to his maternal grandmother and grandfather, he has a slew of cousins all over Ireland and we’re hoping to meet as many of them as we can!  Another thing a long trip overseas is good for is learning just how much clothing you have in your closet that don’t fit anymore and probably never will! I have a huge pile on the floor and am still picking up non-wrinkle clothes that fit comfortably. I am trying to take about two weeks worth of clothes since I have no idea how easy finding laundry facilities will be where we are.
 
The other thing I have discovered are #Crocs! My cousin bought a pair for her sister. I decided to try a pair on and see what all the fuss was about. Oh My Heavens. They were clunky and not very fashionable but the spongiest shoes I have ever owned! I bought a pair in black.  I’ve been wearing them to break them in – so to speak – so I don’t get any blisters on the trip, because I plan to wear them a lot. After all, where it’s wet and rainy, what better to wear than rubber sandals! This sent me on a hunt for the same sandals in tan for when I’m wearing lighter colored clothes. The store I bought the black ones in didn’t have any other color than orange (yuck) so today I tried a store in the next town over. Turns out the tan are really more off white. They didn’t have them in my size so I tried another discount store in another town further north. Well, they had lots of bright colors but no off white/tan. But… they had a different style in a blush pink. They look much better against my skin and are almost as comfortable. On a scale of 1-10 the black pair is an 11 and the pink a 9 – not bad! 
​Now I’m going to start packing and see what I really need and if we’re still missing anything. Hubby has put on a few pounds so he’s getting a lot of new pants and shorts. It was time. So much of his clothing was faded and worn and of course, he always kept pens in his pockets so there are a lot of dark blue stains on just about everything. I’ve banned pens from his pockets for this trip!
 
As for books, no new writing, but we’re still on time for release of my German Hart Land series this week and book one and two of the new series Sweet Beginnings and Sweet Surprise, at the end of this month. Book three is ready for release in July and book four is still at the editor’s for release in August.  I’m doing my best to get most of book five written before we leave so I only have to tinker here and there to get it finished for the scheduled September release.
 
Okay – off to sort and start packing! See y’all next week! 

What a Day!

This is coming SO late because I've been running like a crazy woman. 

I have a cousin visiting from out of state and she leaves Wednesday so today was last minute shopping day. We hit Costco - we were there for her but I went to town with all the blouses. I had a blast picking out all sorts of new affordable tops that were ideal for travel. I have plenty of tops, but they hang in my closet, not crumpled in a suitcase. These should look just as nice when I pull them out of a suitcase as when I put them in! 

then we hit Walmart, I didn't really need anything there except potato chips. We're trying to fatten my mom up who has lost 9 pounds in the last six months which is quite a lot for skinny little her. Since she wont eat well, but loves to snack, I figure chips should fatten her right up! LOL. 

Next stop was Ross Dress for Less. I picked up two dresses (how can I turn down a dress for 7.99?) that will travel well. The downside, they're a tad snug. If I can drop five pounds in the next three weeks they should be good to go. Fingers crossed. 

From there, we met up with a friend for dinner - except- on the way, while stopped at a light, the car behind me plowed into me - and I mean PLOWED. What a jolt. My head and neck began to ache immediately. And unfortunately, as is all too typical in Texas, the driver was uninsured and illegal. I gave her a good lecture on not talking on her phone, not being careless, and how lucky she was that she hit me because anyone else would call the police, which would mean her car would be impounded, and possible ICE involvement.  I don't like to get political, but this is why so many Texans are fed up. I was pretty unhappy- but - having experience with being rear ended, I arrived at my friend's and immediately took two ibuprofen. Then I took more at dinner. I enjoyed a chocolate martini - liquor should relax the muscles, except I don't like the taste so it has to be disguised with chocolate Lol- and now as I write this, I have a heated bean bag under my neck. Tonight I will sleep on my memory foam weird shaped pillow that always helps with stiff necks and pray for a positive morning outcome. If I'm still hurting, I'm putting my old neck brace on and cutting this sucker off at the pass. And yes I still have the one I had to wear for almost a year after I was rear ended when I was pregnant with my daughter - that long ago! I might even have the traction kit I had to hang over the door. It was a pretty nasty struggle and I still have shoulder pain from it, but we adapt. 

So.. if anyone is wondering how the office turned out - here are a few photos. The papers on the desks are a bit of a mess, need to be organized and find good homes (lol) but we were distracted by my grandkids visit for the weekend. 

First photo is from the doorway staring at the window - I need to change the curtain. I usually hang half curtains in the dormers to get light from the top, but it dotesn't look right here. second is the photo to the left of the room from the chair, and the third is to the right of the doorway - needs a bit of cleaning up still!  All right - time to call it a night. 

​thanks as always for joining me - 

Making Progress

I have discovered that if I skip eating all day - I can enjoy a dinner out with all the trimmings and not gain an ounce.  Now that may sound a bit drastic to everyone but I already skip breakfast - have most of my life. Started eating it when I was told I needed to in order to jump start my metabolism.  I'm not buying that one anymore. So I don't get hungry until around mid afternoon and if I'm busy, I don't even notice.  So Two nights out for dinner in a row - and no weight gain. Heck the first night I even lost a few ounces! 

These are the three meals we each had Saturday night. I had the fish - of course, I started with the warm bread and butter, then added pate (oh how I love pate - reminds me of liverwurst only better) then I had cream of asparagus soup - the absolutely delicious trout - and finished up with creme brulee.  So much food. I was so stuffed, but I loved every bite! 

My friend had the veal parmesan - I was tempted but went with the trout instead. My cousin had the grilled spinach and shrimp in some kind of Filo bowl.  Everyone loved it and the creme brulee was the best I'd ever had. 
We're making progress on the new series.  Book three is at the proofreaders and book four is with my editor. Today, I'm plotting out book five. My goal is to get well into it before we leave on vacation the end of next month.  We'll see how well that goes. With houseguests and other projects going - it will take an extra effort. We'll have to see. 

Now - hubby's office. It's still a work in progress - BUT - it's making progress. We decided his dad's old desk was just too clunky and the drawers stick, so, I'm on the hunt to find a furniture repair person who can cut it into two side tables. We think that will be easier to pass down through more generations. Fingers crossed I find the right person! 

Until then - here's what we've got going. We were gifted a beautiful dining table, but I don't need a dining table, so we are going to remove the beat up old table my husband used to use (painted with green legs! LOL) and use this lovely table. We've moved all things around and are using a smaller desk since he only needs it to pay bills and things - otherwise he uses the big table. Oh, and since I don't need another captain's chair with my set - I already have two- we're using the matching chair with the table.  Since my daughter and grand kids are coming to visit this upcoming weekend, and the bedroom in last weeks blog is where they sleep, I'm hoping to have all this straightened out by the end of the week for their arrival and have more final photos for you in the next blog. Maybe by then I'll even have a few words for you from Sweet Deal the fourth book in the new series! 

Okay, off to work on that fifth book!  Andy mayb sort through more books ! LOL. 

Running Late

Boy is this a busy few days - there is so much going on in my life. 
I have a cousin visiting who is transcribing all the short stories my grandmother wrote. When looking for something else, I found a stash of all she'd written but I couldn't read her handwriting so a cousin is visiting and typing all of it into a modern computer file.  

Then, I am helping a friend deal with the aftermath of a flood, so today was carpet shopping. 

There's also another friend who is selling their house and I'm charge of 'let's make this house likeable' before we let strangers in.  If anyone has a great idea for how to get rid of the stench of forty years of cigarette smoking fast - I'm all ears! 

Of course we having the ongoing saga of my mother and her brother - so far all is well. We found someone to help mom bathe. The downside of her age is they become afraid of the shower even if you're not climbing into a tub. 

And did I mention we're redoing my husband's office? Well, now that he's retired, we're sprucing up his office. When we bought the house, it was just a big T-shaped closet. The roof line was angled and a dormer window jetted out from the middle. Since I didn't want my kids mess in my living room and I wanted their bedroom to be a place for unwinding and sleeping, I knocked out two walls to expand the closet into the roofline, and voila, a playroom was born. Well, clearly, thirty years later, they don't need a playroom so it became my hubbies office. He didn't use it much, mostly for reading and studying his bible, but now that he's retired, he wants to do more studying. 

Since the thing still had the yellow striped wallpaper and blue wood trim from when it was a playroom, I thought it was time to make some changes - so - the wallpaper is gone, the walls are freshly painted, the trim is freshly painted, and you know what that means... the age worn vinyl floors looked awful. Which means, time for a new floor. Well, I really didn't want to spend a lot of money before our summer vacation to Ireland, so, I started shopping for bargain flooring, and then I remembered... we have leftover wooden flooring from when I did my son's room seventeen years ago. In order to get the great price, I had to buy the entire remaining lot. I'd meant to sell the leftover flooring in a garage sale or something, but just never got around to it - well - there is now a blonde wood floor in my hubbies office. It looks pretty cool! 

In these photos you'll notice the floors in my son's old room are the same as the office -you'll also see all the stuff in the bedroom that used to be in the office - needless to say, purging is going to happen when the furniture is replaced.  The second photo is the room - same floor- looks great. The desk was my father-in-law's. The third photo is the narrow side space, that used to be on both sides till I opened the walls up.  I'm getting super excited. 
It's amazing how one decision to freshen up the paint, leads to more and more and more LOL. 

As for the book works. I have finished book four of the sweets - that's Sweet Deal. I'm finishing up edits on book 3 - that's Sweet Temptation. And I'm working on getting more German and starting French translations. It's crazy hectic around here! 

Of course y'all already know books one and two are available early from my storefront, but this means book three should be available on my webstore within a couple of weeks also! How cool is that! 

​All right - Time to get back to work. 

Mother's Day Away

Have to admit - for the mother's day weekend the whole family took off for the beach so not a single word on any of the new books has been written, but I did get the edits back for Sweet Surprise, will be starting on those tomorrow!  Today is the last day on the beach with my Mom and Hubby. Son is working on the deck but he and his girlfriend go home this afternoon, my daughter and her family left last night because kids have school today - personally, I think Mother's day should be a national holiday and everyone gets Monday off just like Columbus and the presidents! 

I am going to share a few photos and if you go to my you tube page - tomorrow my assistant Lisa will be posting a little walk through the Aquarium tunnel. 

We didn't actually do anything fancy, just being at the beach was good enough. My granddaughter adores the sand and the water, my grandson not so much, but I'm sure as he gets older that will change -  I see a lot of castle building days in our future - I also may start playing the lottery - lol - they say beach property prices are coming down - probably because so many of the homes along here are losing their foundations and have had to be rebuilt. The house we're at has all new dirt and grass, though the parking pad is pretty sloppy repair - you can tell all they lost. The house next door looks ready to fall onto the beach, and I suspect this will be their second repair but it's so peaceful and a great place to relax.  All right - mom is going to be 90 this year and because of her dementia she needs a bit more guidance than she might have a few years ago - sigh - so I'm off to deal with out last day on the beach - everyone enjoy your week! 

Some Mondays are Very Long LOL

we are getting ready for our annual beach vacation beginning this thursday. I hate to confess how many hours I spent opening every closet door in the house looking for our folding camp chairs. Not once, not twice, way more often. Finally I asked my husband. The man who often misses the item directly in front of him - and he knew exactly where it was in the carport - and yes - I'd already looked there! 

So, finally, that's taken care of - except they're filthy - because they 'should' have been in the closet, but I digress.  Then I went down a rabbit hole thinking, with my son's girlfriend and my uncle possibly joining us, we don't have enough chairs for the beach - so - I went hunting for big chairs - with cup holders (two of ours don't have them, but I only paid $5 at a garage sale- for both of them, so I can't complain) and finally settled on ones I can get now - they're black, I prefer color, but they're chairs! lol. 

My mother also had an appointment today with her memory neurologist. The good news is that after four years her test score only went down one point. The sad news is we still don't have a cure for Alzheimer's. We're doing all we can, cognitive and physical therapists, taking sugar out of her diet, hubby taking her out to dinner, but a cure would be nicer. And of course - taking my mother anywhere is always more mentally exhausting than physically tiring - so I was a bit fried when I got home - which is probably why it took about four hours to get 1000 words on the page - but I got them! 

Then, I'm trying to resolve struggles with my leaking pool - that is still not resolved, though we may have a plan to drain it for the summer and replaster in the fall - we'll see - I'm still waiting to hear back. 

we're going to skip over my diet - because this week was not cooperating. Lots of dinners out, and irresistible cookies on Sunday. 

Anyhow, this is why today's blog is so late, in some time zones it's tomorrow! 

I will tell you that I am getting much closer to the end of book four - Sweet Deal.  I sure hope y'all like this new series - I'm certainly trying my best to keep things interesting and different - and let me tell you, after about fifty books, that is NOT easy! 

And now - after telling everyone they can buy it early - I've learned there's a snafu - so one more rabbit hole for the day!  

Let me tell you - I am truly looking forward to this little break - just hope the world doesn't fall apart on me when I get home! 

Okay - it's late and I'm calling it a day - or night LOL - see  y'all next week! 

Working Away

For those of you who are Farraday fans - you probably know that the Farraday sagas will continue after Ryan - there was a small - and I mean SMALL hint in Quinn as to where more Farradays will come from, but it will be obvious in Ryan - Which - I wrote the first chapter of this week - and just for the fun of it - for you guys - here it is - You can preorder on any vendor you like- Apple was finally fixed - though anyone who preordered before last week will need to go back and do it again. 
  
The air at the Farraday ranch buzzed, thick with the happy chaos only a sprawling family gathering could generate. Laughter competed with the distant sizzle of ribs on Uncle Sean’s massive grill and the joyful shrieks of children engaged in an energetic game of tag that seemed to encompass the entire back acreage. It was Aunt Eileen’s birthday, and like everything the Farradays did, the celebration was an all-out affair.

Ryan Farraday leaned against a post on the back porch, a half-empty bottle of cool beer in his hand, and surveyed the scene. He loved these moments – the easy camaraderie, the unconditional welcome extended to anyone who stepped foot on the ranch, and the sheer volume of love packed into one place. Still, a small, unfamiliar pang echoed in his chest lately. Watching Morgan and Valerie huddled close on the porch swing, Neil and Nora sharing a private smile by the steps, Owen and Connie practically attached at the hip near the drinks cooler, Paxton keeping a watchful eye on Sandra and David near the sprawling oak, and Quinn and Eloise somehow managing to make supervising the kid’s dessert table look romantic… well, it made being the last single Oklahoma brother feel distinctly… single.

“All right, all right, make way!” Quinn’s voice cut through the general hubbub. He and Eloise carefully maneuvered a stunning, handcrafted rocking chair onto the porch, its dark wood gleaming even in the fading light.

A collective gasp went through the nearby relatives, followed by appreciative murmurs. Aunt Eileen, emerging from the kitchen with a fresh platter of Toni’s famous cake balls, stopped dead in her tracks, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh, Quinn! You didn’t!”

“He most certainly did. Happy birthday, Aunt Eileen.” Eloise beamed, her eyes sparkling as she looked from the chair to Quinn.

“It’s beautiful.” Eileen ran a reverent hand over the smooth, curved armrest. “Just beautiful.” She settled into the chair, letting out a contented sigh as it began to rock gently. Her wide grin beaming brighter than sunshine. “Absolutely perfect.”

Ryan smiled. Trust Quinn to create something both practical and a work of art.

A nudge at his elbow pulled Ryan’s attention away. Mike Davis, the carpenter who’d been heading up the finish work on the restorations before aggravating an old knee injury, stood beside him wearing a stiff brace and looking decidedly uncomfortable amidst the relaxed family vibe. Mike was a good guy, a heck of a worker, but clearly out of his element here.

“Hey, Ryan.” Mike nodded as Morgan joined them by the railing. “Got a minute?”

“Sure. What’s up?” Ryan took another sip of his beer.

Mike shifted his weight, his gaze darting towards the group around the rocking chair. “It’s about my sister, Nicole. The one taking my place while I’m having surgery.”

“Right.” Morgan nodded. “Did she change her mind?”

Ryan sure hoped not. Finding high caliber workers around this neck of the woods was nearly impossible. If Mike’s kid sister was half as good as he was, she’d fit in just fine.

“No.” Mike shook his head.

“Good.” Morgan chuckled. “Hope she knows what she’s getting into. This crew can be a handful.”

“She knows,” Mike’s brow furrowed slightly, “she’s tough. And she’s good. Maybe better’n me.” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just… well, she knows how to hold her own around construction guys. I’m not worried about that.”

Ryan leaned back against the railing. “Ok. Then what?”

“I’ve told her that the filming can sometimes make getting the job done a little more challenging.”

“Tell me about it.” Morgan sighed.

“So she’s prepared for that, but what worries me isn’t the crew or the filming as much as…” Mike’s gaze sharpened. “Well, as Jet. That guy is all over women like white on rice.”

Ryan exchanged a quick glance with Morgan. Jet was a skilled worker, but Paxton had mentioned the guy having wandering eyes and hands back during the charity build. They’d kept a closer eye on him since. “Don’t you worry, Mike. Nicole will be fine.”

“We look out for everyone on our sites,” Morgan added, his tone firm but reassuring. “Consider her under Farraday protection. We’ll treat her like our own sister.”

“You don’t have a sister.” The frown on Mike’s forehead deepened.

“We have sisters-in-law and cousins. Same thing,” Ryan reassured.

Mike visibly relaxed, a grateful smile touching his lips. “Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Just… you know... kid sister.”

“We get it.” Ryan clapped Mike on the shoulder. “Seriously, no worries.”

They all shared a chuckle, the tension easing. As Mike wandered off towards the food, Morgan nudged Ryan. “Speaking of sisters-in-law, looks like Owen and Connie finally set a date.”

Ryan followed Morgan’s gaze to where Owen was showing Connie something on his phone, both of them smiling. “About time. Heard anything about the plans?”

“Fall wedding, here at the ranch. Bigger than mine and Valerie or Neil and Nora’s wedding.”
“Any wedding would be bigger than yours. You guys eloped.”

Morgan shrugged, then leaned closer. “Question is, will Mom make the trip down for Owen’s?”
Ryan sighed, swirling the beer in his bottle. That was the million-dollar question. His mom, Mariah, hadn’t exactly mellowed regarding Texas. She’d been suspiciously quiet since Patrick, their dad, had started making regular trips since his first visit with the reclaimed barn wood, but Ryan wasn’t holding his breath for a sudden change of heart. “Don’t know, Morg. Dad’s working on her, but…”

“But she’s Mom,” Morgan finished. “Stubborn as they come. Feel sorry for Dad sometimes.” He paused. “She might have held hope when Neil married that the rest of you would all move home and settle down after this reality TV gig is finished, but it’s pretty obvious that none of us are moving back there any time soon.” His expression grew more serious. “Or are you thinking of going back?”

Tuckers Bluff and Uncle Sean’s family had felt like home when they were kids and the years hadn’t changed that. With all his brothers settling in Texas, he had no real interest in returning to Oklahoma. Maybe once in a while for a project or two, or to hang out with his parents, but settling down? No. Texas was his home now. Ryan shook his head.

Morgan flipped his free hand in a there-you-go gesture. “Then if Mom doesn’t come down for Owen’s wedding, she might miss out on seeing any of her sons get married in person.”

The thought settled heavy in Ryan’s gut. Morgan was right. If their mother couldn't overcome whatever had caused the rift years ago, she was the one who’d truly be left out. He watched Eloise laugh at something Quinn said across the porch, a warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with the Texas heat or the beer. Yeah, settling down here definitely had its appeal.
* * * * 
Nicole Davis surveyed her hastily made bed and the three piles of her belongings. Definitely taking, maybe taking, and probably not. The definitely taking pile was alarmingly small compared to the maybe. How long was this temporary gig in Tuckers Bluff really going to last? Mike had said at least a few weeks, but could drag on as long as a month or two while Farraday Construction waited for his knee to heal post-surgery. If she was only needed for about a month, warm weather clothes would do, but if he took longer, cold weather could descend on residents on a whim. Even in Oklahoma, there were days she’d swear Mother Nature was bipolar. 

She held up a favorite pair of worn-soft jeans against a newer, stiffer pair. Laundry. That was another unknown. Would she have easy access? She probably should have asked Mike more about her accommodations, but he seemed so distracted and worried. Probably about his upcoming surgery, so she didn’t press him much. Surely, whatever he’d arranged would be just fine.

“Still sorting, dear?” Martha, her parents’ next-door neighbor and designated house-watcher, poked her head into the room. As always, her silver hair was perfectly coiffed.

Nicole sighed, dropping both pairs of jeans onto the definite pile. “Trying to. It’s hard guessing how long I’ll actually be gone, or what I’ll really need.”

“Oh, I know the feeling. Every time George and I go on one of those week-long cruises, I’d pack enough for a month.” Martha chuckled. “Better safe than sorry, I always say. Especially with clothes.” She peered at the piles. “Isn’t it exciting?”

“Packing?”

Martha was as good a neighbor as anyone could ask for, concerned and attentive and yet not always in your business. Or at least if she was, she hid it well. But sometimes following her train of thought was a challenge for Nicole. Maybe it was a generational thing. “No, dear. You’re going to be working for those television cousins.”

Oh. Nicole nodded. “Yes. I guess I am.” She’d been so concerned about her brother’s fall that aggravated an old football injury, leaving him unable to climb ladders or put any real weight on his bad knee, that she hadn’t really given a whole lot of thought about who she’d be working for.

“They all seem like nice people. And from what I’ve seen of that show, easy on the eyes.” Rolling her eyes in a mischievous way, she dramatically fanned herself with her hand. “Might be nice to have some nice scenery while you work.”

Nicole laughed, shaking her head. “I’m just focused on doing a good job filling in for Mike. He’ll need this job after he’s recovered from surgery.” She glanced around the room, the quiet feeling amplified now. “It’s just… strange. This house feels so empty since Mom and Dad moved to Florida.” At first she’d thought retiring in the Sunshine State would be great for her parents. The way they described the senior community, Nicole wished they’d build communities like that for young people. What she hadn’t expected was how quiet the house would seem without them.

“I know, honey. We all miss them.” Martha’s gaze grew distant for a moment. “Florida. Sunshine year-round. Sometimes I think George and I should pack it all in and head south ourselves.” She sighed wistfully. “Maybe someday.”

“You’d leave your prize-winning roses?” Nicole teased gently.

“Never!” Martha straightened, instantly back to her practical self. “Now, have you talked to Mike again? Gotten any more details about where you’re staying?”

“Not really,” Nicole added a sweater to the definitely pile. West Texas nights could get cool as fall settled in.

“I’m sure it’s going to be lots of fun.” The older woman had probably forgotten the part about Nicole working on a construction site.

Something that to this day made her own mother cringe. From the time when Nicole was a little girl, her mother had tried to interest Nicole in frilly dresses, cute shoes, and ribbons in her hair. To her mother’s chagrin, Nicole was a grade A tomboy. She’d climbed trees with the boys, could throw from left field and reach the catcher in the bread basket to tag a player out without using a cut off man, and beat any boy at arm wrestling without breaking a sweat. All things that had come in handy when she found herself working construction. She could hold her own and even be accepted as one of the guys.
​
There were always those workers who resented when a woman could work better than they could, but most of the crews just appreciated a good worker and didn’t care if they were male, female, or Martian. Hopefully, the reality show crew were just like any other crew and not full of themselves Hollywood types. Shaking her head, she reached for her steel tip boots and thought, surely her brother would have warned her if there might be any chance of trouble. Then again, he was a man, sometimes oblivious to the hand in front of his face. On a sigh, she tossed her baseball glove on the definite pile. Maybe Martha was right and there might time for some fun after all.
 
How about that? It's been ages since I've had a start of a book so far before release! 

I'm also almost a third of the way through Sweet Deal - the new series - do y'all remember you can start that series early directly from my webstore? Well you can! Otherwise the first three are up for preorder - this one will be up as soon as I'm done with it! 

and now - off to take uncle for cataract surgery!  Everyone have a great week!