Jillian Chantal

This week for Tuesday Tales, we have a picture prompt week and this one is really pretty, I think.

Be sure to check out the other posts here. These are all under 300 words.

The next day, she arrived at Amos’ place before it opened. Her car and Johnny’s were the only ones in the parking lot. She’d braided her hair again and tucked the plaits in her orange beret that matched the floral patterned knit shirt she paired with an old pair of jeans.

Amos was making burgers at the grill and Johnny was cutting onions. A bartender stood at the bar making a variety of martinis. Some were light colored and some were darker. They varied from light pink to purple. “Hey guys. Good to see you.” Kat breezed in and put on an act that everything was fine and normal. She nodded toward the bartender. “What’s up with the festive drinks?”

“We’re trying some new recipes for ladies night,” Amos said.

“Did you have a nice time on tour with Paul?” Johnny asked.

“It was cool, yeah. Interesting to see how it all works from the inside. It’s a lot more work than I ever imagined it would be for sure.”

Amos was silent but Johnny continued the conversation, “Did you get a chance to see any of the city or did you spend all the time with the crew?”

“We spent a lot of time either at the venue or at the hotel. It doesn’t seem as if a lot of sightseeing takes place. In fact, if we hadn’t gotten on his plane a couple of times, each place could’ve been the same city for all I could tell.”

“I’ve heard that from Paul before.” Johnny grabbed a tomato and starting slicing.

“I’m glad I went but I’m happy to be home.

Here we are, another Tuesday, another Tale. The word prompt this week is letter. I was going to do something really cool and use letter of the law ( I am a lawyer, after all) but I just couldn’t work it in like I wanted even though I had my characters talk about the law. This is all I could do to work in the word letter.

Be sure to check out the others here. We’ve got some really good stories going.

Kat ended the call and shoved the phone into her purse so hard she almost ripped the lining.

“Friend of yours?” Paul looked over and quirked his brows.

“Very funny. It was David. He accused me of running over his foot. He followed me when I left Amos’. When he knocked on the window of my car, I took off and it seems I may have broken his toes.”

“Do you really believe that load of rot?”

“Sounds feasible to me.”

Paul backed out of the parking space. “Do me a favor and call the hospital—better yet—call one of your mates who David would let know if he was having some medical issue. I think you’ll find the man is a liar.”

“You really think so?”

“I do but you know what really concerns me?”

“What’s that?” Kat leaned on one hip and watched Paul’s profile as he drove toward the restaurant and her car.

“He’s at your house and from what I could hear on this end, he’s not leaving. Do you have somewhere you can stay until you can take legal action to keep him away?”

“Legal action? Do you really think I need to go that far?”

“I do. He’s a walking disaster. I’d call him the British word that I really think he is but it’s not fit for your ears.”

“My ears are hardly virginal.”

“Never mind that. What about my question? Do you have a place you could stay?”

“Not really. I moved here a few years ago and have only made male friends who live bachelor lifestyles. I imagine most of them wouldn’t want me in their space. Obviously, I could go to a hotel but I really don’t want to leave my home. If I do that, he wins.”

“If he breaks in and harms you, he wins.” They arrived at the Wok and Roll parking area. Paul pulled his car next to hers. “We have plenty of room. Come stay with us. I’ll follow you home for you to pack some items.”

“No.” Kat shook her head. She wasn’t going to be a victim again. Not happening. “I’m going home and am going to sleep in my own bed.”

Paul reached across and took her hands in his. “Not to be flip, but I don’t think writing the man a letter of resignation as his friend is going to be the way to go. I believe you can’t merely brush off his behavior. He seems obsessed and people like that are dangerous and unpredictable.”

“I have a gun and I know karate. I’ll be fine.”

“Listen to me. Please. You may be able to defend yourself but how will you live with it if you have to kill someone to protect yourself? That’s a hard thing to get over.”

“How do you know that?”

“A family member. Not me but someone close to me.”

“If I don’t stand up for myself, I lose all respect and I can’t allow that.”

“Lose whose respect?”

“My own.”