It's a Party: Rachel Got the Contract! Celebration Blog Hop

It's a Party!

May 15-19

Congratulations to one of my best friends and favorite writing partner, Rachel Van Dyken! She was offered a four book contract with Grand Central Publishing for The Bet duo and her Eagle Elite duo. I am so excited for her! She deserves every bit of those accolades.

If you haven't read them yet, what are you waiting for? Here's a little info about the two books that already available:

The Bet

"I have a proposition for you..."

Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. Instead, she made a deal with the devil in hopes of putting her past behind her once and for all.

Four days.

She could do four days!

But she wasn't counting Jake’s older brother Travis being there to witness their farce of an engagement.

One thing is for certain.

One brother is right for her.

One wants a lifetime.

And one is in league with the devil.

She should have gotten Jake’s signature in blood.

Elite

When I won the annual Eagle Elite College Scholarship lottery, I was thrilled. After all, my grandma had just died and I wanted to take care of my aging grandpa — he couldn't be a farmer in Wyoming forever. And graduating from Eagle Elite meant opportunity.

But I wasn't counting on meeting Nixon.

Nor was I counting on the rules of the Elect.

1. Do not touch The Elect.

2. Do not look at The Elect.

3. Do not speak to The Elect.

And worst of all? Don't discover the secret they hide, because in the end, you may just realize... it's about you.

You can find these and Rachel's entire list of books for sale on these sites:

Amazon  Barnes and Noble

Be sure to check out the four books she and I co-authored. They're my favorite (but I might be a little biased.)

As long as you're in the market for a good read, allow me to suggest:

All We See or Seem

Gryff’s orders lay unopened on the table.

The silent tension caused Gem to bite her lip. She tucked a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear and shifted uneasily in the chair. Wide-eyed, Gryff sat stiffly beside her, regarding the envelope. He was like a statue—hands on his knees—staring interminably at the table.

Finally, Gem cleared her throat. Gryff jolted as if in a daze and turned to look at her. A look of uncertainty hung in his eyes. She swallowed the dry, sticky taste in her mouth and reached for his hand. It felt cold…clammy. Gem could feel the faint tremor of his fear radiating through his fingers. She took Gryff's hand between her own and squeezed, trying to infuse heat and reassurance at the same time.

"Sometimes they come back," Gem's voice was barely a whisper. It was a feeble attempt, but she was grasping at straws here.

Everyone knows.

They don't come back. Never whole, anyway.

All We See or Seem is a mild sci-fi, coming of age romance. Check it out!

Amazon   Barnes and Noble

Wanna free book? Leave me a comment below and I will enter you to win one of three giveaways. Your choice of any one of my ebooks, including those co-authored with Rachel Van Dyken! Make sure to leave me an email so I can contact you about your free book.

Next up on the Blog Hop: Another amazing author and friend (who happens to also be Rachel's sister), Kristin Vayden!

Need to find your way back to the blog hop list? Here you go!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas

My true love gave to me...

FROM THE COVER: 

Gryff’s orders lay unopened on the table.

The silent tension caused Gem to bite her lip. She tucked a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear and shifted uneasily in the chair. Wide-eyed, Gryff sat stiffly beside her, regarding the envelope. He was like a statue—hands on his knees—staring interminably at the table.

Finally, Gem cleared her throat. Gryff jolted as if in a daze and turned to look at her. A look of uncertainty hung in his eyes. She swallowed the dry, sticky taste in her mouth and reached for his hand. It felt cold…clammy. Gem could feel the faint tremor of his fear radiating through his fingers. She took Gryff's hand between her own and squeezed, trying to infuse heat and reassurance at the same time.

"Sometimes they come back," Gem's voice was barely a whisper. It was a feeble attempt, but she was grasping at straws here.

Everyone knows.

They don't come back. Never whole, anyway.

Merry Christmas to Tracy H., the recipient of the Fifth Day of Christmas giveaway!

****

Interested in this giveaway? Leave me a comment below, and I will draw the winner at midnight. I'll post the winner's name with tomorrow's giveaway. Be sure to come back for more chances to win during the 12 days of Christmas!

Meet & Greet: Teo

Teo

Stem 7217A

Teo spends a lot of time with Aria, the EROMI plant assigned to his social group. When Aria leaves to fulfill Dr. Admatha's mission, Teo has a difficult time understanding the difference between her mission and the orders stems usually receive, which mean they won't be coming back.

He doesn't have long to fret over her absence though. When his human counterpart is convicted of a capital crime, Teo's purpose is questioned by EROMI's powers that be. Who will Aria find in Teo's place when she returns to Endfield?

Meet & Greet: Aria

Aria Markus

#8936

Aria has lived and worked at the Endfield compound for the past several years. She lives among the stems and interacts with them on a daily basis. As far as they are concerned, she is one of them. She's been there long enough, she is starting to think she is too.

The powers that be never let her forget who she really is -- what her role at Endfield is.

But no one knows the real reason Aria came to Endfield in the first place. The one memory that haunts her and makes it impossible to trust another human being.

~ All We See or Seem (available now) and One Lonely Rose (work in progress)~

Meet & Greet: Gemini

Gemini

Stem 6418C

Gemini has lived in Endfield ever since she can remember. It is the only place she has ever been. Her entire life consists of exercise regimens, dietary regimens, community assignments, regular clinic visits, medical tests, and carefully supervised social interactions. But this strictly regulated life is all she has ever known -- her normal -- and she is perfectly content to maintain this existence and meet the expectations...

Until her closest friend gets his orders. When Gryff leaves, Gem's whole world seems to fall apart.

And that is when Gem discovers that not everything she has known her entire life is as it seems.

Sweet Saturday: Walls

She had taken them by choice—the drugs to suppress her hormones. So the connection she shared with Teo was purely emotional. A deep-seated connection between them that transcended physical interest. And she knew, with Teo, that it was the same for him. All stems were treated with the same hormone suppressing chemicals.

Teo had never needed to touch her. Never wanted to kiss her. Those thoughts were so far from his mind, she knew she was safe with him.

Completely safe.

Completely.

The way Wash was looking at her now frightened her. He was real. Real and fully aware of her effect on him.

Aria tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat, choking her.

"You seem upset," he whispered and took a step closer.

She shook her head adamantly, still unable to speak. Upset? No. Scared to death— that would be more accurate.

No one had touched her in years. Not since... No. She refused to think about it and pushed the dark memory from her mind. It was different now. This was different.

"Then what is it? You're shaking." Wash took another step, coming within reach of her. He lifted his hands and gently rested them on her shoulders, tipping his head to see into her downcast eyes.

She was trembling. She could feel it all through her and the sensation of his hands on her arms doubled the response. The pulse in her neck throbbed so loudly she swore he would hear it.

"Aria?" His deep voice swept over her, drowning her senses.

She was losing herself. Losing sight of who she was—what her life was.

"I—I can't... You can't," Aria stammered, fighting the urge to fall into his embrace. It was only Wash. She had known him for just a few days. He was nothing to her.

But no matter how she chanted that mantra, she knew —it wasn't true.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

"Yes! Yes, you will!" She stepped backward out of his reach. "Don't touch me—" Emotion stung her eyes now, and she knew she wouldn't be able to hold back the tears much longer.

She had to get away from him. Had to escape his view. No one must see her cry, know that she was vulnerable. And definitely not Wash. That would be more that Aria could bear, and she was already dangerously close to letting him beyond her carefully constructed walls.

~One Lonely Rose (work in progress, Endfield #2)

Meet & Greet: Gryffon

Gryffon Stem 7217C

"Gryff"

Fun-loving Gryff has lived in Endfield ever since he can remember. He follows the protocol just as he as always done: Exercising, working, eating right. He does everything he is supposed to do, in order to meet the expectations.

When his orders arrive, he quietly says goodbye to his group of friends, to Gem, and reports to the EROMI building... fully knowing that no one ever comes back.

~ All We See or Seem ~

Be Sure to Check It Out

Goodreads Book Giveaway

All We See or Seem

by Leah Sanders

Giveaway ends September 29, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Summer Reads

Thanks for stopping by! The giveaway for Summer Reads is All We See or Seem, a sci-fi romantic suspense and a $15 Amazon or Barnes&Noble gift card. See below to take your chance.

COVER BLURB:

Gryff’s orders lay unopened on the table.

The silent tension caused Gem to bite her lip. She tucked a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear and shifted uneasily in the chair. Wide-eyed, Gryff sat stiffly beside her, regarding the envelope. He was like a statue—hands on his knees—staring interminably at the table.

Finally, Gem cleared her throat. Gryff jolted as if in a daze and turned to look at her. A look of uncertainty hung in his eyes. She swallowed the dry, sticky taste in her mouth and reached for his hand. It felt cold…clammy. Gem could feel the faint tremor of his fear radiating through his fingers. She took Gryff's hand between her own and squeezed, trying to infuse heat and reassurance at the same time.

"Sometimes they come back," Gem's voice was barely a whisper. It was a feeble attempt, but she was grasping at straws here.

Everyone knows.

They don't come back. Never whole, anyway.

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Back to the linky list.

Tag I'm It!

I've been tagged! Amazing author April W Gardner challenged me to:

1. Go to page 77 of my manuscript.

2. Go to line 7.

3. Copy the next 7 lines/paragraphs.

4. Tag 7 other writers to do the same.

All We See or Seem page 77, line 7, 7 paragraphs:

Aaron fought the impulse to smile in recognition of his effect on the doctor. “Stems,” he repeated. “As in stem cells?”

“Precisely.”

It was difficult to tame his desire to continue in the adolescent vein by pressing the issue, and though he suppressed the urge to say it, he was still thinking, So, clones. Since the doctor was already visibly agitated, playing it safe seemed the better option.

Getting straight answers from this man was going to take some doing. Most of what Dr. Admatha had said sounded like a commercial for EROMI. And very little of it offered any more than what Aaron had already discovered through his own research. These doctors were well versed in how to paint the magnificent abstract masterpiece without any details whatsoever.

“Tell me about the stems, Dr. Admatha. Do they know?”

“No. They know only the reality we have built for them. They are content enough and, compared to most of the rest of the world, they live comfortable, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Part of your job is to keep it that way.

“Major, they are genetically engineered facsimiles. They are human-like only because their DNA is copied from humans. The stems themselves are soulless creatures. They exist only by my design and for my purpose.

My seven tags:

Lori Lapekes

Lisa Orchard

Iris Blobel

Rachel Van Dyken

Nancy Brandt

Lindsay Downs

Meg Mims

Be sure to leave me your link so I can read your excerpts too. :)

New Releases This Week

On Tuesday Upon a Midnight Dream by Rachel Van Dyken will release. On Thursday All We See or Seem by Leah Sanders will release. Both will be available for sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as on Astraea Press's site.

In honor of these occasions, Rachel Van Dyken is hosting a giveaway on her site which has multiple prizes to be awarded. Please check it out!

For my part, I'll be giving away three copies of Rachel's Upon a Midnight Dream, and two $15 Amazon or Barnes&Noble gift cards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also Enter Rachel's Giveaway for other awesome prizes,
including a copy of All We See or Seem!

COVER BLURB:

Gryff’s orders lay unopened on the table.

The silent tension caused Gem to bite her lip. She tucked a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear and shifted uneasily in the chair. Wide-eyed, Gryff sat stiffly beside her, regarding the envelope. He was like a statue—hands on his knees—staring interminably at the table.

Finally, Gem cleared her throat. Gryff jolted as if in a daze and turned to look at her. A look of uncertainty hung in his eyes. She swallowed the dry, sticky taste in her mouth and reached for his hand. It felt cold…clammy. Gem could feel the faint tremor of his fear radiating through his fingers. She took Gryff's hand between her own and squeezed, trying to infuse heat and reassurance at the same time.

"Sometimes they come back," Gem's voice was barely a whisper. It was a feeble attempt, but she was grasping at straws here.

Everyone knows.

They don't come back. Never whole, anyway.

COVER BLURB:

"I release you..." were the last words Rosalind remembered before her world went black.   Stefan, the future duke of Montmouth, no doubt thought his words were welcomed, but he couldn't have been more wrong.  Oh, he was handsome as a pagan Norse god, but that was unimportant when her life as well as those of her family hung in the balance.

With less than six weeks left, Rosalind has stopped believing in the fairy tale, the prince on the white horse, and the stolen kiss that would awaken her from her worst nightmares. Resigned to her fate, she waits for the inevitable curse to run its course.

"We must marry at once!" Stefan declared, fully expecting Rosalind to be delighted that he had come to save her, but he was sorely mistaken.  Rosalind was no simpering docile female; she was a fiery temptress with a stubborn streak matched only by his horse, Samson. Insulting, infuriating, intoxicating and alluring enough to drive a man mad.  Stefan found himself thankful for the curse that required him marry her, thankful for the betrothal contract he had so recently tried to release her from...With the fortitude of a sailor shipwrecked, abandoned, and a solider warring for his life, Stefan  decides to lay siege to the greatest prize,  Rosalind's heart.

Sweet Saturday: All We See or Seem

Today's excerpt comes from my new release (due out May 31, 2012), All We See or Seem. Enjoy!

“What are you doing here, honey?”

Gryff hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to answer.

She seemed to sense his hesitation and a look of concern leaped to her face. “Is everything okay?” His mother wiped her hands with her apron and took a step through the door.

“Yes, ma’am. Long trip. I—” He started to give her the story he had rehearsed, but she interrupted him.

“It’s a wonderful surprise, honey. It’s just that we weren’t expecting you. Did you try to call?” She moved to embrace him, glancing around the front yard and toward the driveway, seeing only the back of the blue car from around the corner. “My goodness! You drove here?”

“Yes, ma’am. Like I said, long trip.” Gryff scrutinized his mother’s nonverbal cues to determine if she was buying his line. His behavior could easily be confused with fatigue and travel tension. Her mannerisms told him she believed the story.

“You must be exhausted! Come in, I’ll call your dad.” She stepped back into the entryway and held the door for him, gesturing for him to follow.

Gryff’s throat clenched. He wasn’t ready for that yet. “It’s okay, Mom. You don’t have to do that… it can be a surprise for when he gets home,” he said almost too quickly.

“Oh, he’s not working today. He’s in the study. You know he’ll be thrilled to see you!” Her laugh was genuine, innocent. Gryff had no doubt she knew nothing of his situation. The thought of facing his father though — that was still a frightening prospect. He felt vulnerable and unable to defend his position. And Gem all alone.

The thought plagued him. He couldn’t leave her out there.

He glanced over his shoulder again toward the parked car, then back to his mother. “Just a sec, Mom. I have someone with me… in the car.”

“What? You brought someone home? A girl? Dare I hope?” A wide grin broke across her lips, and she followed him down the walkway.

As they rounded the corner of the house to the driveway, Gryff saw him. His father stood holding the door to the passenger side open, offering his hand to help Gem out. Gryff stopped in his tracks and stared at the pair of them. Gem’s eyes were wide with fear, though she had taken the man’s hand and was stepping out of the vehicle.

“And who is this young lady, son?” His father’s gaze bore into him, and the foreboding smirk, coupled with the inflection of the final word, made Gryff’s heart plummet into his shoes. He glowered back at his father. And Gryff knew — they both knew.

The icy adrenaline vibrated through him. Would his father do something right here? In the open? Gryff stared down his father as he assessed the man’s intentions.

Robert glared back at him with a hint of amusement. And Gryff watched in horror as the man’s hand tightened around Gem’s arm ever so slightly, and he pulled her closer to his side.

“I see this son of mine has lost his manners. I’m Robert. And no matter what he’s told you about me, I’m as gentle as a lamb. Just ask my wife.” He swept a hand toward Gryff’s mother. “This is Cary.” He glanced back to Gryff, shooting daggers that no one else seemed to notice.

“Aaron, aren’t you going to introduce your little friend?” his mother asked.

Gryff shook his head as if to rid his mind of anxiety. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.” He stepped toward Gem and reached for her hand, thinking to rescue her from his father. “Mom, Dad, this is Gem.”

Cary stepped between Gryff and Gem, blocking him from taking her arm. She lifted a hand to shake Gem’s. Gem looked at Cary’s outstretched hand in confusion and then glanced toward Gryff. He nodded and lifted his hand in demonstration, so she would know what to do.

The light of understanding glittered in her eyes, and she took the woman’s hand and pumped it twice hard. Surprise registered in his mother’s eyes with a hint of amusement. “It’s lovely to meet you, Gem. That’s a beautiful name. Gem — like a precious jewel,” she said with an accepting smile.

Gryff kept his gaze trained on his father.

“May I escort you inside, Gem?” Robert asked, casting a nonchalant look at Gryff.

Anger bubbled in his gut, and he turned sideways to allow the two to pass in front of him on the walkway. He knew his father wouldn’t do anything now. And not with Mom hovering over Gem like a doting mother hen.

“I’ll get our stuff,” he muttered and turned back to the car as they disappeared around the corner.

Cover Blurb:

Gryff’s orders lay unopened on the table.

The silent tension caused Gem to bite her lip. She tucked a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear and shifted uneasily in the chair. Wide-eyed, Gryff sat stiffly beside her, regarding the envelope. He was like a statue — hands on his knees — staring interminably at the table.

Finally, Gem cleared her throat. Gryff jolted as if in a daze and turned to her. A look of uncertainty hung in his eyes. She swallowed the dry, sticky taste in her mouth and reached for his hand. It felt cold… clammy. Gem could feel the faint tremor of his fear radiating through his fingers. She took Gryff’s hand between her own and squeezed, trying to infuse heat and reassurance at the same time.

“Sometimes they come back,” Gem’s voice was barely a whisper. It was a feeble attempt, but she was grasping at straws here.

Everyone knows.

They don’t come back. Never whole, anyway.

Sweet Saturday: Morning Sickness

Gem woke up with her head spinning. She'd been increasingly dizzy in the mornings, but this is the first time her stomach had also churned. She had experienced nausea in the past, usually after Level Three benchmarks, but it only plagued her for a couple hours on the same day as the testing. And she hadn't been to benchmarks in three weeks.

Rolling out of bed slowly, she mentally prepared herself for what was inevitably coming. She sat on the edge of the mattress for a moment, waiting for the dizziness to subside, then she stood unsteadily and stumbled to the bathroom, keeping close to the wall for support.

She made it just in time.

When the worst was over, Gem reached up to the counter and dragged herself to the sink. A little cold water—that's what she needed. She splashed a little on her face, then cupped her hands and brought some to her lips. What is wrong with me? The water helped, but her hands trembled weakly as she slumped back to the floor groaning.

Sweet Saturday: All We See

The party was a bust. Aaron had no idea how his parents could possibly know so many excruciatingly boring people. The only excitement the evening held for him was the anticipation of how the next person he met would outdo all the others by achieving new heights of monotony.

After enduring an exhausting hour of tedium, he started to search for an avenue of escape. His mother, seeming to sense his desire for flight had posted a vigilant watch over the stairs. Aaron would never be able to sneak by undetected.

His father, on the other hand, had made himself comfortable near the back door leading into the kitchen. Aaron considered it as an option for a moment, but he knew what his father's response would be. "I feel your pain, son. I really do. But if I have to endure it, you sure ain't getting out of it. Besides, you remember the old adage — That which does not kill you only makes you stronger." Aaron didn't know which would be worse, the party or the lecture. At any rate, the back door was not his best exit strategy.

There were the French doors in the sitting room which led out to the veranda, but to get there he'd have to run the gauntlet of senators' wives — all of whom were certain they knew of the perfect eligible young woman for him. Another escape route hardly worth the trouble, sounded like a torture straight out of the pages of one of those Regency novels Mom loved so much.

You know, for such an impressive house, there were surprisingly few exits. The front door was out of the question — his mother had a full view of it from her post by the mahogany staircase. That left only Dad's office. The buffet table was strategically situated next to the entrance. If he acted nonchalant, like he was going for the hors d'oeuvres, Aaron might be able to manage a stealthy spin move and duck in under the radar. He just prayed it wasn't locked.

Yes, he had promised his mother he would be sociable, but he had put in a good hour, and even Bobby, Mr. Social, had disappeared after only twenty minutes. Knowing Bobby, Aaron realized his escape plan had probably been worked out days in advance. After all, Bobby had been to several of Mom’s parties, and all of them more recently than Aaron’s latest subjection. Why hadn’t Bobby warned him to get out quick? Well, that was just Bobby. Not a whole lot mattered if it didn’t affect him directly.

Aaron began his journey to the food table, careful to seem purposeless as he sauntered with his hands loosely in his pockets. He smiled and made casual conversation with a few of the guests as he passed them.

“Enjoying yourself, Senator Abel? – Looks like you need a refill, Judge Williamson. – Secretary Tavish, I didn’t know you were back in town!” His parents’ circle of friends had included politicians and high-ranking officials for so long, Aaron had long since developed his own art of polite and diplomatic avoidance.

Finally he arrived at his destination. He lifted a small plate from the side table and began selecting a few of the more appetizing offerings. If he was going into hiding, he would need provisions. He caught his mother’s glance while he piled his plate with crab-stuffed mushrooms and mini-quiches, so he offered her what he believed to be an irreproachably innocent smile and pretended to inspect the fruit tarts.

When he was satisfied she had stopped watching him, he made a quick scan of the area for surveillance and then made a covert escape into his father’s office. Phew! It was unlocked.

Ah! Sweet freedom, he thought as he made his way through the unlit room to the outside door. Aaron could see through the glass it was only beginning to get dusky outside. He opened a door and stepped out onto the deck.

The evening breeze was a welcome relief in the July humidity. Of course, the climate in D.C. was nothing like his desert post, so he sure wasn’t complaining.

It was a little stuffy in the house – or was that just the guest list? Aaron leaned his forearms on the deck rail and looked over his parents’ grounds.

Sweet Saturday: Just a Dream

Gem!

Gryff? Where are you?

I'm here. Right here... I've missed you. His arms engulfed her and she sank into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. It's okay. It's going to be okay. His hand smoothed her hair in a comforting gesture. Gem buried her face in his broad chest and sobbed convulsively.

Please don't leave me again, Gryff. I can't handle it.

You're going to make it, Gem. Just keep going. I have to go now, Gem. Don't forget me. She clung tighter to him, but he began to fade from her grasp and dissipate into mist.

Gryff! Don't go! Don't leave me!

"NO!" Gem's audible scream sliced through her haze and brought her abruptly to consciousness. The pillow was drenched with her tears, and she lay there paralyzed by the fresh abandonment she felt. In her mind, she re-played the sensation of Gryff's arms around her. The comfort she had derived from his touch. His closeness. It was new to her, but it had felt so familiar and natural.

While he was still here, they rarely touched. Honestly, it never occurred to them to do so. The expectations were so strict about that kind of thing. The dream had been a vision of what might have been, and suddenly she ached for what never was — and what never would be — Gryff's touch.

Sweet Saturday: All We See or Seem

            "Ah! Mr. Gryffon, we've been looking forward to your visit," the attendant smiled warmly and extended her hand in greeting as she stood to welcome him. Gryff retreated a step and regarded her warmth with confusion. The attendant quickly dropped her offered hand, but smiled again and indicated a comfortable-looking chair. "Please, sit down. May I bring you something to drink? Perhaps a freshly baked muffin?" She noticed his hesitation, then offered again, "Please, make yourself comfortable, Sir. You have nothing to fear here. Today you are an honored guest."

            Gryff sat cautiously. Her friendly manner was unsettling. None of the regular staff had ever been this indulgent. But then again, he had never experienced a Code Green status. This must be what was meant when they said it was a great honor to be selected. His analysis allowed him to relax into the over-stuffed velvet chair.

            The attendant handed Gryff a mug of hot, creamy liquid. "Try this. It's divine!" Then she lifted a tray full of pastries, most he had never seen before. "Go ahead, choose whatever you like. My favorites are the ones sprinkled with cinnamon. I think I would eat them all day, if I were able." She laughed softly at her own joke, setting him at ease. He reached for a pastry and set it on the small plate she held out.

            "Thank you." He began with a bite of the pastry. His eyes widened in surprise. There was nothing like this on the menu at the commissary. Taking another bite, he closed his eyes to savor the sweetness. Once, he had read the definition of the word ambrosia in the dictionary. He didn't truly understand it until this moment. Before he could prevent it, a quiet moan escaped his throat. It startled him, and he opened his eyes and glanced at the attendant. She laughed.

            "I know! Right? They're so good, I could just die!" Her voice held a hypnotizing drawl he hadn't noticed before, and her easy manner soothed his misgivings. He smiled back at her contentedly and brought the mug to his lips for a deep draught of the creamy liquid.

            Oh. Sweet. Joseph.

            The soothing hot potion washed through him, and suddenly Gryff felt like he was floating. A deep contented exhaustion flooded his whole body, relaxing him further into the chair. Gem. His last tangible thought echoed in his mind, then the calming gray haze engulfed him, and his consciousness dissolved into the mist.

            Just beyond the reach of the fog, echoes of vaguely familiar voices hovered around him.

            He's all yours, Doctor.

            Fatina, my dear, you are a magician!

            Oh, please, Honey. Like taking pastry from a baby.


Back to Sweet Saturday.


Back to Sweet Saturday Samples List

All We See or Seem

"So...you and Bobby, huh? When did that happen?"

"I don't know. It just happened some time while you were gone. Bobby's...he's different, you know?"

"Oh, yeah. He's quite unique. Good. I'm glad for you two. But do you think you could do me one little favor? I mean, even though we don't owe each other anything?"

"Sure."

"Will you, please, tell Mom!?"

"Wow, Bobby was right. I'm surprised I never saw it before. You really are afraid of women," Tricia laughed and patted Aaron on the head. "I'll see you at Christmas." She turned and walked back through the portico.

Aaron rolled his eyes in disgust and murmured, "Afraid of women. Bull sh--"

"It was nice Tricia could come." Oh good, Mom was back.

"Ah. Back for another pound of flesh, Mother?"

She laughed and slipped her arm around him. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"You know that's never gonna happen, right?"

"Mmmm... Wanna hear the kicker? I already know about Tricia and Bobby." She giggled.

"What!? If you already knew, why the h--?"

"Well, I just like messing with you." She smiled mischievously. "Call it a mother's love." Aaron had to laugh then. He put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her.

"I'm going to miss you, Mom."

"Yeah, me too. Just...you know, if you meet someone out there..."

"Mom."

"Sorry. Old habits and all that." She squeezed his waist and stepped toward the portico. "Come back to the party, Aaron. Have a little fun."

Aaron raised one eyebrow at her. Fun? Right. He glanced back at the door to his father's office. It would have to wait until later. Reluctantly he followed his mother back to the veranda and death by boredom.