Happy early holidays. I hope everyone has a wonderful season full of love, laughter, and fun. If not, I hope the trauma is limited and as painless as possible.
The past week flew by with a lot of crazy running around. I did manage to get a ton of work cleared and got in some television viewing while doing so. Caught another episode of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Seriously, I love this show so much. I think I'm about halfway through the season. Also caught another episode of Strike Back and, damn, the CO pulled a twisty move I didn't anticipate. Gotta say, I'm kind of pissed and sincerely hope she gets what's coming to her. Can't wait to watch the next episode and see some familiar faces.
Caught an episode of Chicago Fire and thoroughly enjoyed. I like Christopher as the new lieutenant and it was so nice to have the weasel-like commissioner dude not around. I'm not down with that plot point at all. Caught episode nine of Luke Cage and loved the little twists. Glad to see Bushwhacker get his ass handed to him for once.
Watched Mr. 365, a Passionflix original holiday movie. I liked it a lot. Looking forward to the holiday quickie, which I might not get to until after the actual holiday. LOL
Murdoch Mysteries's sixth episode will need a rewatch. I'm not actually sure what the hell happened. LOL
I'm finished with the first season of Penny Dreadful. The last episode ended up having quite a few surprises. Good ones. I'm ready for season two. Also caught an episode of Wynonna Earp. This show never fails to throw in a crazy twist and get really messy. I like that.
Watched episode twelve of The Dresden Files and remembered this one from my original viewing. I liked having Murphy's dad in the mix. Also started episode two of Underbelly: Razor. I'll try to finish it up soon.
Watched another episode of Classic Who and finally finished the fifth episode of Doctor Who. It ended up being better than expected.
And that's pretty much it for television this week. Between work and getting the final shopping stuff done, I ran out of steam.
Tonight's post is from Unexpected Surprise, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt of write a scene where a parent shows up unexpectedly on a second anniversary. This one might turn into a novella.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Roma Dobbs and Case Havensworth, two soldiers with a long and storied history, finally tie the knot, but keep it very low-key and don't tell anyone. Case's dad shows up without warning on their second wedding anniversary and gets an unexpected surprise—a not so new daughter-in-law.
And a sneaky peek…
Roma's mind tripped back to the moment she met Case. Such an ugly scene that at least garnered something good in the end.
Her husband.
Case ran a hand through his hair. "Well, our story begins at Matt's funeral." Matt Havensworth, younger brother, Roma's former fiancé.
Cal's eyes went wide. "Wait. You've been together since your brother died? That's over five years ago." He sat up straight again, disbelief warring with agitation.
Case hand-waved his dad's concern. "No. No. You said start at the beginning. Roma and I met at Matt's funeral." Under less than stellar circumstances.
Cal grunted. "Fast forward to when you got together."
Case quirked an eyebrow. "Dad, if you want to know how we got together, you need patience." Because the story almost ended before it began.
Roma finally entered the conversation. "It's important, sir." She sobered and Case grabbed her hand, threading their fingers together.
Cal caught the vibe and nodded. "Sorry. Go on." He settled back against the chair cushion and gave them his full attention.
Roma slid Case a sideways glance. He squeezed her hand, understanding her silent request. He needed to tell the story, because the bulk of it happened out of Roma's sphere of grief.
Case put an arm around her and began the tale…
Five years ago
"I walked into the funeral home to find Miriam being Miriam. And it wasn't pretty."
"Get out. You have no business being here. I don't want you here." Miriam grasped Roma's arm in a hard clinch, pinching her skin in a death-like grip.
Roma blinked at the verbal tirade not quite certain how to respond. The woman started dragging Roma toward the exit, ready to throw her out of her fiance's funeral.
Case came around the corner and stumbled on to the scene. "Mom! What the hell are you doing?" He hissed the words as quietly as possible.
Miriam whirled on him. "Get her out of here. Escort her off the premises. She killed your brother." Her voice rose with each sentence spoken.
Scott gently removed his mother's hand from Roma and refused to do her bidding. "I don't think so, Mom." He offered Roma his elbow and guided her to her seat in the second row, ignoring Miriam's spluttered outrage. "I'm sorry for the scene she's creating. Sit tight. I'll get her calmed down. You have every right to be here." He straightened and went back to Miriam.
She all but shook with rage. "What are you doing? She doesn't belong here."
Case laid things out for his mom. "Yes, she does. Do you think Matt would approve of this? He'd never want you to trash the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with."
Miriam's lip quivered. "It's her fault that he died. Always dragging him out and about in that stupid car."
The car Miriam bought for him because he wanted something flashy.
Case didn't back down. "Don't you mean she dragged him away from you?" And out from under Miriam's thumb.
His mother's lips thinned. "She wanted him to enlist. Did you know that?"
Case lifted a shoulder. "He needed discipline, Mom." Something he'd never get living under Miriam's roof.
She rolled her eyes. "He would've outgrown his willfulness." Her lips quivered again. "He was mine. You followed in your father's footsteps joining the military. But Matty was mine to guide and influence." In other words, mold and manipulate into doing her bidding for life.
Case quietly took her hand. "None of that changes the way he felt for Roma. She stays. You can either behave with decorum or taint your son's memory. It's up to you." He held her gaze, daring her to keep creating havoc.
Miriam put her nose in the air and took his arm. She didn't say a word when Case directed her to her seat in the front row beside husband number two and settled in beside her, two seats down from his dad. She didn't utter another thing to her oldest son throughout the entire service, the ride to the cemetery, or at the graveside.
Case found Roma after the coffin had been lowered into the cold ground. "I think my mom made sure you wouldn't have a way home."
Roma glanced up at him and shrugged. "I had no idea she hated me so much."
Case shook his head. "She hates not having my brother to pin her hopes for the future on. That has nothing to do with you and everything to do with her. But she can't blame herself. She's the one who bought him a car he couldn't handle."
Roma met his gaze. "Do you blame me?"
Case frowned. "No. I'm one of the few who knew Matt's propensity for going overboard. You were good for him. Kept him grounded in a way our mother never could."
Tears welled in Roma's eyes. "Didn't do much to keep him safe. He still drove like a maniac."
Case took her hand. "Which has nothing to do with you and everything to do with his own personal demons." He nodded toward the parking lot. "Can I offer you a ride home? Seems like my mother made sure no one waited for you to say your goodbyes."
Roma blinked and looked around. They were the only two left.
She gave him a sad smile. "A ride would be lovely, thanks."
When Case walked her to the door, he apologized again. "I'm sorry about Miriam. She's got issues only she can work through. Not that she'd ever admit to being in the wrong."
Roma gave him a genuine smile. "I always wondered how your dad got tangled up with her. He's the polar opposite."
Case chuckled. "Matt and I gave up trying to figure out what brought them together for the ten years they were married. I have a feeling it was Mom being pregnant with me."
Roma laughed. "You're exactly how Matt described you." She sobered. "I'm so sorry we didn't meet before he died. He loved you so much." Her eyes welled with tears again.
Case wrapped his arms around her. "He felt the same about you. And I'm glad I finally got to meet the woman who made him happy." He eased away. "I'm just sorry my time here is short. I have to ship back out the day after tomorrow."
Roma nodded. "Will you get to spend some time with the colonel?" Meaning his dad.
Case lifted a shoulder. "I'm going there tonight. No way can I be around Miriam right now." He took a step back. "Would you keep in touch? I'll understand if you'd rather not, but I'd like to and I'm sure Matt would want me to make sure you're doing okay."
Roma fished her keys out of her purse. "I'd like that. You have my address. I'll be here at least another six months for training."
Case started down the steps leading to the sidewalk. "I'll send a letter when I get back to base."
Present
Cal shook his head. "I had no idea Miriam confronted you. How did I miss that?"
Roma's lips twisted in a sad smile. "You were grieving, sir. Case kept the uproar to a minimum. There was no need to drag you into the fray. He pretty much had everything under control." As much as anyone could control things when Miriam got involved.
Cal gave a nod; he got it. "And that's how things got started with you two?"
Roma chuckled. "If you call exchanging letters and calls for a year starting something." But it did give them the opportunity to get to know each other through their memories of Matt.
Case picked back up. "I didn't see Roma again until the anniversary of Matt's death when I bumped into her at his graveside." His lips curved in a wry smile. "We went to dinner and caught up. She was shipping out the next day."
Roma nodded. "Yeah, I'd finished up my first leg of training for off-planet assignments then followed up with a stint in the base comms center. They needed people who could translate written correspondence." The next part would blow Cal's mind. "I deployed to Armantia."
His eyes narrowed and he glanced at Case. "Did you request a transfer there?"
Case laughed. "No. Sheer dumb luck I got sent in with my unit two months later."
Roma snorted. "Sheer dumb luck he arrived when he did." Not long after everything almost went to defcon one on the clusterfuck scale.
Cal quirked an eyebrow. "I sense another story here."
Case shot her a quick look. "Oh, yeah. And it's a doozy."
I'm having a lot of fun with this story. I enjoy writing retrospectively and mixing the past with the present.
That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.
ML Skye
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