Sunday Snippet: Choice to Make

Happy Valentine week to those who celebrate. I'll throw in Galentine, friends with benefits, and all things hearts and flowers, too. February is a short but sometimes brutal month. Celebrate whatever you can.

Very busy work week with some great projects. Ran into a few glitchy things in a manuscript and that slowed my flow down. I actually enjoy that sometimes. Makes me stop and think about the story and how to suggest better changes.

Semi-decent viewing week. Made it through my shortened list of shows but had no time for my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica.

Started off with the season three opener of My Life Is Murder. Still enjoying this show so much. I think three is the last season so I'm going to savor it.

Started a new two-part Agatha Raisin. Very much enjoyed the antics of Wilkes and I'm a little bummed that Bill and Toni aren't really connecting. Also kind of wish Roy had more to do.

Watched the season twenty-five opening episode of Silent Witness. Kind of cool to see Sam Ryan again. I think this season is focused around one main case and I'm kind of excited to see where it goes. Also kind of great to see Nikki and Jack maybe get their bookmark on the same page. We'll see how that goes.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Very interesting premise for this one. Enjoyed the unraveling of the case to find out who did it.

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. I like Joan's resistance to staying with Sherlock but it would be more interesting if she actually said why she didn't want to stick around.

Watched another episode of The Batman. I'd forgotten about this one and kind of loved how Barbara figured out who Batman is then decided she had it all wrong. Fun episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of the two vignettes and rather enjoyed both.

Got another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson in and pretty much loved it. The story is moving along and I'm excited to get more details to her past.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Choice to Make, a novella where the Fates step in and offer a choice.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hallen and Will never get the timing right until the Fates step in and give them a chance. But each has a choice to make, and cosmic irony may rear its ugly head … again.

And a preview snippet…

Will dropped his pen. That's it. The final tests are complete." He gave Hallen a wide grin. "It's habitable. You found us a new home." His heart filled with pride at her accomplishment.

Hallen blinked. "You're serious?" Wonder filled her voice. "I can't believe it." She slumped back in the chair. "What's next?"

Will's stomach growled. "I don't know about you, but I'm getting some dinner. Wanna join me?" He arched a brow.

They'd spent a lot of time together over the past three days. She might need some time alone. He started for the exit.

Hallen hopped up. "I can definitely eat something. My stomach's been in knots since we made orbit." She followed Will out into the corridor.

He didn't blame her for being twitchy. No one had known if the planet she led them to would be able to support life. The big, beautiful rock could, and they all had some decisions to make. Human and clone—living together… Could they finally get things right?

The not being certain might explain the odd restlessness he'd had since they arrived at the coordinates Hallen provided. Change is coming. He didn't know why the idea calmed and terrified him in equal measure.

The dining hall had a handful of people, so they found a quiet table in a corner. Hallen tucked into her food with gusto. Some things never changed, and another layer of satisfaction rippled through him.

Hallen glanced up. "Is it weird this is like the best pasta I've ever tasted?" She swirled another forkful up.

Will cracked a grin. "Amazing how good something tastes when it's sprinkled with a victorious feeling."

Hallen nodded and they ate in silence for a while. Once each cleaned their plate, they headed to the drop-off area. Will broached a topic he'd been putting off, mainly to avoid dredging up past hurts.

But she faced a big decision about her former lover, the one she discovered to be a clone only weeks before she'd disappeared. He'd put his life on the line—in her memory—during the final days of fighting for their lost planet. Toxic exposure to a clone-specific form of radiation ravaged through him and he'd been isolated since before her return.

Will kept his tone casual. "Have you checked on James recently? How is he?"

Hallen's face fell. "He's not good. He can't communicate verbally anymore. But he's still able to write and sign." Her voice lowered when they exited the dining hall and started for quarters. "He told me he's not going down to the planet."

Will paused. "Are you okay with that?" Even if she and James weren't together anymore, she rarely let people go.

She held up a hand. "Can we talk about this inside?" Her head tilted toward her quarters.

Will nodded. "Sure, I'm done for the night." He strolled into her space and settled on the sofa beside her.

Hallen took a moment before resuming their conversation. "To answer, no, I'm honestly not all right with James staying behind." She met Will's gaze. "But he made it clear, in the nicest possible way, that I don't have a say in his decision." Her eyes welled with tears. "And I get that. I do. But he's basically choosing death because he can't care for himself." Her voice broke.

Will's heart went out to her and the bitterness he expected didn't hit him between the eyes.

He put his arms around her and drew her close. "I'm sorry, Hallen. I know this isn't what you'd want for him." Hell, Will hated the idea of James staying behind, even if they'd been closer to rivals than anything else.

Hallen sought solace with James when Will walked away from her after their one night of passion. They'd finally laid the ghost of his brother to rest, and Will had been ready for them to start a future. Hallen … not so much. Will had learned a valuable lesson from the whole debacle. Hallen had to come to him on her terms. Not his.

She snuggled into him. "Shouldn't dump this on you. I made a mess of everything and everyone." Her gaze rose to meet his. "It's selfish, but I'm glad you're here." She put her head on his shoulder.

Will wrapped an arm around her. "No place I'd rather be right now." He meant every word.

She let out a small gasp and her shoulders shook. He let her cry the cleansing tears she needed to expel. He brushed his hand over her hair and murmured soothing words until she finally fell asleep.

They'd never had such an honest conversation about their past mistakes. Something real and true with no more hiding behind angst and snark. A big step for them. His lips curved and his head lolled on the back of the couch when his drifted eyes shut.

This story is pretty much complete minus a few finishing touches. I'm so excited to get it ready for publication!

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye