Jillian Chantal

This week, the authors of Tuesday Tales are writing to a picture prompt. These posts are limited to 300 words.

Be sure to check out the other tales here.

Sophronia glanced around at their surroundings. “The place is a lot bigger than I realized. The sign says the office is closed on weekends. How will we find the grave we’re looking for without a site map?”

“We’ll just roam around. Start on one side and stroll around.” Alice touched Sophronia’s arm. “If you can walk that much.”

“Walking is much easier than sitting at this point in my life.”

“Watch out for tree roots. I see a lot of oaks out here.”

“Lord knows I can’t afford to fall again.”

“You didn’t fall in the first place, doll. Remember, you were shoved by a greedy, nasty woman.”

Sophronia laughed as she stepped through the open gates. “Tell me how you really feel.”

“I really feel like I want to karate chop her into next week.” She pointed to her right. “Let’s go this way first.”

“I’ll follow you and take the next row up.” As she uttered the words, a cool breeze wafted over her. “Wait a sec.”

Alice turned, concern etched on her face. “Are you hurting, are you in pain, do we need to get you home?”

“No, no, and no. I’ve been overtaken with a strong urge to go in that direction.” She tilted her head toward the left back area of the cemetery. An overpowering sense of being right led her to quicken her pace. The urgency sent her almost flying over a tree stump.

“Slow down, Soph. You’re going to break more than a tailbone if you don’t watch where you’re going.”

It’s Tuesday Tales day again. This week, the authors in the group are writing to the word prompt push. I am still in my contemporary paranormal story.

check out the other tales here

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’ve really pulled a number on yourself. Tell you what. You and Haydn will stay at my place tonight. We’ll grab the dog, get you some clothes, his bowls and food and we’ll have a good old girl’s night. No boys allowed—except the canine kind. How’s that? It’ll give you time to decompress.”

Sophronia looked up and nodded. “You’re right. I don’t need to be alone with my thoughts of the boogeyman. It’ll be fun.”

She opened her door. “Let me get the mutt out of hock and we’ll be on our way.”

The expression on Alice’s face told Sophronia all she needed to know. Her friend was really worried about her. Her compassion made Sophronia tear up. She sniffed back the tears and headed to the daycare entrance.

By the time they made it back to the small apartment Sophronia rented over the garage of an elderly lady’s house, she was calmer and ready to stay at her own place.

“You know, I think Haydn and I will just go on up and lock the door. I was being silly and paranoid. We’ll be fine.”

The dog poked his head between the seats and panted in her ear.

“No can do. You have to take me home anyway, so might as well stay when we get there. I think there’s a bottle of Prosecco calling our names. I can hear it from here.” Alice scratched Hayden’s head. “Right, boy? You can hear it to, can’t you?”

Haydn let out a little woof.

Alice turned to Sophronia and grinned. “See, even he agrees with me. Come on. Let’s get your stuff.”

Sophronia turned off the car. When Alice was in one of these moods, it was best just to obey. “All right. A glass of wine sounds good about now.”

“Tsk, Haydn, she doesn’t want our company.  She wants to get sloshed.”

Although that wasn’t true, Sophronia let it go. “Let’s do this, then.” She opened the door and made her way to the outside staircase up to her cozy place.

Haydn followed at a gallop, almost knocking her over. “Settle down, boy. Snack time is coming.”

At the top of the stairs, Sophronia screeched to a halt. Her door was ajar.

She stopped so fast, Alice ran right into her. “What’s wrong?”

Sophronia stepped aside and pointed. “I left that closed and locked.”

“Let me go in first.”

“Shouldn’t we call the police? Let them check the inside in case whoever it was is still inside?”

“If someone was in there, don’t you think Haydn would be going nuts? I think it’s safe.” Alice looked down at the dog. “See? He’s still only interested in a snack.”

If she’d been home alone, Sophronia never would have agreed to this, but since her pet seemed content—other than impatient for his treat—and Alice was there, she shrugged. “All right, but I’ve got my phone in my hand.” She dialed 911, but didn’t push send. “If I see anything amiss, I’m calling for help.”

This week, the writers of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word, stuff. I am still working on my NaNoWriMo novel.

Check out the other tales here.

Alice wasn’t paying the least bit of attention. She was still staring at Matthew.

He was looking at her, too. “I go on break in about five minutes. Would you like to have coffee in the cafe with me?”

Before Alice could respond, Sophronia asked, “Can you please set me up with those books you mentioned before you go on break.” Leave it to Alice to make a conquest. Just when I need her to help me do this research.

“Sure, sure. Sorry.” Matthew stood and moved to the other side of his desk.

Sophronia let out a groan. Great. He’s tall and has exactly the body type Alice likes. Nice, veined forearms and a strong thigh. She’d be useless the rest of the day. Good grief. Who knew my friend’s ideal man would be hiding upstairs at the library? And be a professional researcher at that. It’d be laughable, if it wasn’t a tragic end to Sophronia’s desire to be productive in learning about her newly acquired home.

Matthew appeared concerned as he looked down his height at her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, of course. Why?”

“The way you groaned just then made it sound like you were in great pain.”

“Oh no. I’m was thinking about something and didn’t mean to verbalize that.” Sophronia tried to laugh it off, but knew she better be more careful or Alice would call her out on it. Sometimes, it wasn’t good to have been friends for so many years.  Reading each other’s minds could be hazardous. Alice wasn’t the most discreet of people and could very well blurt out that Sophronia was more worried about Alice’s actions than her own. But surely she wouldn’t. It would lead to embarrassing herself. Surely.

“Let’s find those books.” Matthew led the way to the stacks.

Alice poked Sophronia in the ribs as they followed along. “Don’t blow my chances with him,” she whispered.

“What’s that?” Matthew said over his shoulder.

Looking at Sophronia in horror, Alice shook her head.

“Nothing. Alice was just saying”—another poke in the ribs, this one harder—“she sure needs that cup of coffee you offered. She loves the stuff. It’s like the elixir of life for her.”

Even more horrified by the expression on her face, Alice sucked in a breath. “I’ll get you for that.”

Giggling to herself that now Alice would have to drink the dreaded caffeine she hated, Sophronia stepped up her pace, catching up with Matthew. Serve Alice right for abandoning their project over a man. A pretty man for sure, but she’d promised to help. Not that Sophronia begrudged a flirtation, but the call of that book in the attic was still humming in her and she wanted some answers.  Maybe the interior design book would show the room she was most interested in.

It’s Tuesday again: time for more Tuesday Tales. The word of the week for the writers of TT is sick. I am working on my contemporary paranormal and this book is taking me off on tangents like no other had ever done. I foresee a lot of tinkering with this one when I get to the editing stage. 🙂

Be sure to check out the other tales here

The library had long been one of Sophronia’s favorite places in town. It was in an old building downtown that had clearly been someone’s home in the past. It was a massive structure but still held the air of the seat of a prominent family that held vast properties but made the place where they resided into a cozy place to entertain as well as to live their day to day lives.

Each room downstairs was at least 16 x 16 in square footage and, now that the building was being used as the town library, each of the areas were lined with shelves of deep mahogany and there were numerous wooden tables and chairs placed in the open spaces.

Sophronia sighed. Content to be in this beloved building. She’d spent many an hour hear browsing and reading as she grew up. This was why she loved her job so much. The love for books was instilled in her between these very walls.

“You look like you could live here,” Alice said.

“I think I could, actually. It’s my happy place. All this knowledge just waiting for people to reach out and take it. Take it home, use it and bring it back. All free.” Sophronia grinned. “Or just to stay here and move from book to book until they close for the night. Either way, it’s as gift.”

“Girl, you are sick in the head. Who loves libraries like that beside you?”

“Look around.” Sophronia pointed to a guy with shoulder-length black hair seated at a table with a girl—with a sleeve of colorful tattoos, six earrings in the ear they could see as well as a nose ring—leaning over his shoulder. They were poring over some large book open on the table in front of them. “They look like they might love this place.” She tilted her head to an elderly man seated in one of the few leather chairs strewn about the room. “He’s studying an old newspaper. I bet he loves coming here and reading about the past.”

Alice held her hands up in surrender. “Stop. Stop. Point taken.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure about them loving it.  Maybe the guy and girl are doing a project for school and have to be here.”

“Nonsense. Look at how they’re smiling as they look at the book. I think it’s a map book. Maybe they’re planning a trip. Or honeymoon.” Sophronia sighed again. They did look happy. “And surely, you can’t think that man who is eighty if he’s a day, is studying for school.”

“You never know.” Alice laughed, drawing a “shh” from the librarian at the checkout desk.

“And that right there is why I don’t like libraries. Being chastened like a child, “Alice whispered.