Continuing with SO WONDERFUL AS WANT Ch. 15, Ex. 7 Likes, comments, shares appreciated. The lines of Tyler’s face grew rigid. “Look, I’m not going to be drawn into a discussion about the living conditions of my colored help.” “Honey, my point is, if you pay people a decent wage, they can afford to better themselves. Who owns those deplorable shacks anyhow?” “Dammit, woman! Why don’t you take up needlepoint like other women?” “Because I’m not like other women, dear. That’s why you wooed and wedded me, remember?” Giving up a grin, Tyler slid the needle from her fingers and stuck it in her pincushion. As his lips settled over hers, her mending settled on the floor. “Mmm,” she purred. “The idle rich do have a few pastimes more to my liking.” * * * As Emily’s eleventh birthday neared, Dinah thought a party on the beach would make the perfect gift. But first she needed Zach’s permission. No longer the easy-going man of years past, Zach had toughened. And just as she once was the main recipient of his generous spirit, she now bore the brunt of his bitterness. It had been two years since Drew brokered their visitation agreement. And in that time, she never once violated the terms Zach had laid down. Thus, she saw no reason for him to deny her request. Because Zach had always been more receptive on a full belly, she planned to call him after dinner. But Tyler’s meetings had run late, and dinner was delayed. Consequently, it was nearly nine before she left the table. She quickly put some sliced beef aside for tomorrow’s lunch, then sent the rest home with Patience. Although it was common practice among the well-off to throw away food not eaten at dinner, Dinah always packed the leftovers for the servants, thinking it abominable that alley cats and scavenging animals should eat better than humans. That done, she seated herself at Tyler’s desk and made her call. “Halloo,” Ginny’s thin voice chirped into the other end of the line. Dinah quickly glanced at the clock. “Ginny?” “Yeah, it’s me. Kinda late for you to be callin’, ain’t it, Dinah?” Dinah resisted the impulse to respond in kind. “Sorry. I was hoping to catch Zach. Where is he?” “Oh, he’s here. We jest went to bed.” “Excuse me?” “Now it ain’t like you’re thinkin’, Dinah. Truth is Zach an’ me were lawfully wed last week.” Taken by surprise, Dinah stumbled through an appropriate response. Then, amidst a murmur of hushed voices, she heard Ginny coax Zach to the phone. Links to all bookstores on my website, joycedebacco. Link to Amazon and B&N in comments below. New excerpt on Thursday.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:41:04 +0000