Tuesday Tales 2023-4-25 Bright

It’s time for Tuesday Tales, April 25, 2023, where we use word and picture prompts in the stories we’re writing. I am working on a cozy mystery. Today’s word prompt is bright. We are still back in an earlier portion of the story, when Peri returns to Georgia due to her godfather’s medical condition. When you finish reading my snippet, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

It was just as well that Robin wasn’t done with the vintner in Dahlonega until after ten. By that time, I had deposited myself in bed, exhausted from stress and the long drive. It wasn’t a restful sleep. The cemetery apparition with its bright, intense eyes swirled in my head throughout the night, interspersed with cardboard images of Jack, remote and immobile in his hospital room.

The following morning Dovie and I packed up our overnight things and checked out of the motel before heading to the hospital. Jack was the same. We had missed the attending doctor, who made rounds at the break of day. The nurse, however, informed us that he was scheduled to return later. I could tell Dovie was torn between staying to corner the doctor and ushering me to Glisten.

She wrung her hands. “It would be terrible for Jack to wake up and me not be there.”

I left it up to her. The main reason I wanted to head to the hotel was to get the initial jolt over with. My life had sure taken a weird turn.

Finally, she said, “Let’s go to Glisten and get you settled into the Augustus. We have plenty of time before evening visiting hours. I’ll relocate there as well. That is, if you don’t mind driving me back and forth to the hospital? I never missed not learning how to drive until now.”

“Of course, I don’t mind. I’ll be visiting Jack anyway. But are you sure he would want me to stay at the hotel?”

“Heavens, yes.” She massaged her forehead with fingertips, as if pressing away tension. “I’m afraid a lot of responsibility for the hotel project may fall on you, Peri, if you agree to take it on, that is. Jack didn’t let me in on a lot. He knew it was Greek to me.”

My eyes widened. “The work didn’t stop with his hospitalization?”

“No, he wouldn’t have wanted that. The plan would be with his papers in the room he set up as his study. Can you talk to the foreman and the bank and try and get a handle on things, darlin’? I need to be available for my husband.” She looked me up and down, as if inspecting me, and then nodded approvingly while patting my shoulder. “Plus, it will show Luella who’s boss.”

“Boss? You mean me?”

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the snippet inspired by the word prompt bright.

If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories

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