Sunday Snippet: This Is Your Life

Whew. It's been a very long week. A slow leak in one of my tires means I've been filling with a portable device every other day or so. Add in the oven going out on our stove and scrambling to find another one on top of the tire issue. We did get the range replaced and hope to have the tire situation under control this week. Bleh.

Weird weather again. Storms and some back and forth temperatures. I really hope we don't pay for the somewhat mild temperatures by having a super-hot October and November. Would also love to not have flooding from the rain. We've been very lucky so far.

Work projects were gnarly again. Started a new copy edit that, well, went okay as far as the copy edit part is concerned. The story? All over the place. I don't have to be the target audience for the manuscripts I edit, but whew! I struggled with this one because I had a hard time following the plot, which I don't run into very often at the copy-editing stage. I'm also working on a manuscript evaluation and that is going pretty well. I'm very interested in the subject matter, which always helps.

I made a little progress on getting my side project ready to go. Hopefully, I'll be able to do more this week. I'm kind of excited to see if I can make this happen before the end of the year.

Had a terrible viewing week. The copy edit needed a lot of my focus, which isn't a bad thing. I made it almost halfway through my usual shows.

Started with Marple and enjoyed the mystery. Very fun to have two Janes in the story. Also enjoyed getting a glimpse of nostalgia with Miss Marple and her childhood.

Watched another episode of Britain's Most Scenic Counties and learned more new things about Kent. I'd love to visit someday.

Caught the season two premiere of Return to Paradise and quite enjoyed being back in Dolphin Cove. Loved having Jack Mooney make an appearance again and having him kind of give Mackenzie a fatherly type of tough love. She does need to sort things out with her past before heading back to London … if she heads back.

Started an episode of Poirot but didn't get it finished. I'll pick it back up this week. I hope.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from This Is Your Life, a novella that takes some twists and turns.

Here's the miniblurb:

After a harrowing month of captivity in a rival faction's territory, Welch Harrinson can't seem to find his will to remember the past. Rina Lewes won't give up on Welch getting his memory back … even if she has to lose him in the process.

And a preview snippet…

"Hey, thanks for having our back out there."

Jack and Owen gave nods and both men glanced toward the house where they'd helped deposit Welch after the trying night in the field.

Owen's mouth thinned to a slash across his face. "You gonna be okay with him tonight?"

Rina exhaled slowly. "Yeah. He's got the hunter skill set back and has been doing well when he's scheduled to work." Her stomach twisted. "The headache and temper flare are side effects from the treatment Wiggam has been administering." She side-eyed her team. "That's gonna stop right now."

Jack grunted. "You sure? He's not fully back yet."

Rina lifted her chin. "I'm sure." She waved her phone back and forth. "Already called Wiggam and he's on the way over." Didn't make her decision any easier, but nothing would.

Owen clasped her shoulder. "We'll leave a light on. Spare room is yours whenever you're ready." His fingers squeezed gently before letting her go.

Rina nodded. She couldn't do anything else. She motioned for the men to head out. The weight of making a choice rested heavily on her heart. But she didn't question what she had to do.

The rustle of leaves from the side yard drew her attention. Wiggam emerged from the line of trees bordering the property. She had to break the news they couldn't go further with Welch's treatment.

Wiggam met her gaze with his steady one. "Is he okay?"

Rina shrugged. "He's sleeping, so for now, he's fine." She straightened her shoulders. "But it got hairy out there tonight. He started exhibiting symptoms of an overdose. The ones you told me to watch for. Headache and bouts of temper." She started up the steps to the porch. "Until then, he acted like his old self. He's got the hunter instinct again."

Wiggam followed her into the house. "That means another round of the powder could kill him." He quietly closed the door and glanced toward the bedroom.

Rina huffed out a breath. "Yeah. That's what I figured." She crossed into the kitchen and pulled out the makings for coffee. "But he knows you now, which is good." Even if she hated to admit that fact. "But … he still doesn't remember me or our past." And now he never would.

Wiggam arched his brows. "Look, can I suggest you work with Welch as he is?"

Rina snorted. "Been doing that since I found him." She dumped grounds into the filter and started the coffeemaker. "And I can't anymore. He's noticing other women and flat-out told me he wants to play the field and has a date tomorrow night." She angled around and propped her hip against the counter, crossing her arms over her chest.

Not that it helped ease the ache.

Wiggam frowned. "I'm sorry. I hope you believe that." He raked a hand through his hair.

Rina rolled a shoulder. "It doesn't matter what I believe. I said I'd risk anything, and I did. I also lost, but that's not your concern." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Welch is where you need to focus. He still needs someone to help him over the rough patches and that's gotta be you." The ache grew stronger and spread upward to her throat.

Wiggam gave a nod. "I'll be there for him."

Rina swallowed hard and lifted her chin. "Thanks for working with me. I'll be packed and out the door within twenty-four hours." She planned to travel lightly and not bring anything that would remind her of Welch.

Wiggam narrowed his gaze. "Where will you go? The house is yours."

She let out a watery laugh and shook her head. "Not anymore." Her sanctuary had become a prison of memories. "Jack and Owen have space. I'll stay there for now, at least until I figure out where I want to live." Maybe she would go full crone and find a large cave to call home.

Wiggam sighed. "It's not right. But I understand why you don't want to stay here." He turned to open the door. "If you need … well, never mind. Let me know when you leave, and I'll come over to check in with Welch." He lifted a hand in farewell and quietly left the house.

Rina blew out a long breath. She appreciated Wiggam not getting sentimental and not telling her he told her so. Because she wouldn't know what to do if he went all soft and squishy on her right now.

I'm kind of happy with how this one is coming together. The story took a weird turn and I just ran with it.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye