Sunday Snippet: Mocking with a Side of Sarcasm

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, mentors, and mother figures out there! Enjoy the day, and if it's a hard day to celebrate, take care of you.

Another wildly busy work week but a lot of projects moved ahead and some were completed. One contrary work thing took an unexpected turn and I'll be trying to figure that one out later today.

Had a decent week of viewing despite the busy schedule. I made it through a full round of my shows, minus one—Dark Winds—because it's not on the streaming service I have anymore. I think it's on another one, but I've been too busy to track it down.

Started the week off with Brokenwood Mysteries. This one ended up being a lot of fun with a couple of interesting secrets being revealed. Truly hope to see more of Trudy and Ray's mom.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. Really not sure what Neville's DI friend is doing on the island but have a feeling it's not going to mean anything good.

Loved the Beyond Paradise holiday special for this past Christmas. I'm looking forward to diving into the rest of the season when it's available in the US.

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. Interesting to get some backstory of Sherlock's time under the influence. Also intriguing that he stayed somewhat in the background. I like that kind of character progress.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and didn't really have any recollection about this one. I did enjoy seeing Terry use his Batman moves while out of the costume.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats and enjoyed both vignettes. I didn't remember either of them so more new-to-me stuff.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Mocking with a Side of Sarcasm, a novella that explores what happens when long-held secrets come to light.

Here's the miniblurb:

Bentley Briggs is snarky on a good day, but when she becomes mocking and throws out a side of sarcasm, Vasek Barrett wants to know why. He discovers a secret Bentley doesn't want him to know and she'll elevate her vitriol to an art form, but it won't keep Vasek from lending a hand.

And a preview snippet…

Bentley entered her parents'—no … her mom and Baron's—house and purposefully let the door slam shut.

Took less than five seconds for her mother to come bustling in. "For goodness' sake. What is your problem, Bentley? You know I don't appreciate it when you shake the house to the rafters when you come in." Exasperation oozed from Mariana's pores.

Bently cut right to the chase. "Why didn't you fight for Teague?" She shrugged out of her jacket and tossed it on the back of the chair, something else her mother hated.

Mariana blinked, opened her mouth then shut it again. She shook her head and turned back toward the study.

Bentley called her mom out. "You don't get to ignore me this time, Mom. Why didn't you fight for the man you loved?" A whole lot rode on her mom's answer.

Mariana whirled around. "Because I didn't love him!" She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "More like I couldn't be sure of what I felt for him. And he left before I could figure it out." Moving forward, her shoulder slumped in resignation, she took a seat on the edge of one of her slipper chairs.

Bentley grunted. "Can you blame him?" Defending Teague didn't set completely well with her, but she understood a lot more now than she did before.

Mariana sighed. "It was a confusing time and so long ago. I didn't know how I felt after I found out … well, after I discovered his latent ability. I was angry with him for not telling me." She straightened her shoulders. "He left. At first to give me space. Then I met Baron, and I did fall in love with him. By the time Teague returned, I was planning a wedding." Her face grew wistful.

A fresh splash of rage washed over Bentley. "And let Teague suffer in silence? Way to go, Mom." She paced back and forth. "You get him to sign his parental rights away, have Baron adopt me, then keep everything, everything, from me when you knew all along what might happen." She stopped and flung her hand out. "No wonder I'm so messed up. I can't turn around without smacking into another secret." Probably why she'd become so good at keeping them herself.

Mariana tilted her head and pinned Bentley with a hard glare. "Kind of like you not telling Vasek how you really feel about him?" Her lips curved in a knowing smirk.

Dammit, Baron. I trusted you.

Bentley didn't like the twist. "Gee, Mom, I don't know. Guess I got the worst of my parents instead of the best. Lucky me." The chasm grew even wider between her and her mother.

Mariana clicked her tongue against her teeth. "You know what? Stop it. You've had a very privileged upbringing, and I didn't raise you to act like a spoiled child."

Bentley snorted then went for blood. "You didn't raise me at all. Baron did. The man I thought was my father." She started pacing again. "And it makes so much sense now. You couldn't bear to be around me, because I reminded you of your worst transgression … getting knocked up by someone you considered to be untrustworthy." She stopped mid-step. "Well, guess what, Mom? You won't have to suffer through that anymore. I'm going to fix it for you." She grabbed her coat and headed for the foyer.

Mariana reached out and clasped Bentley's shoulder. "And just how do you plan to do that?" Her fingers dug into Bentley's skin.

Bentley shrugged away from her mother. "Easily. By walking out the door and not letting it hit me in the ass on the way out. Your biggest problem—which has always been me—solved just like that." She snapped her fingers, gave her mother a mocking salute then pulled the door open and strode through, leaving her gaping mother behind.

I love writing Bentley's confrontations. She's a force to be reckoned with and her life is falling apart, but she'll get things back on track.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye