Tuesday Tales: From the Word TOUCH

Good morning. I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but summer is definitely here this year, with plenty of hot, sunny days. The humidity is high, but so far we’ve escaped the thunderstorms storms that have threatened our area. We got rain form the remnants of Beryl, but it wasn’t as bad as they’d predicted, just enough to ensure the flowers keep blooming.

This week, the TT authors are writing to the word prompt TOUCH. I continue with Listen to the Stones as we wend our way toward the climax. Enjoy.

Marina exhaled a sigh of relief. She and James would have tea, but thankfully, he would be gone before Jerome arrived home for dinner. The last thing she needed at the moment was the two of them, circling the ring like boxers in a match, one without a referee.

After James’s comments earlier on magic and the stones, she was more confused and frustrated than ever. Great-uncle Angus wouldn’t have left her the estate if he didn’t believe in her destiny, and yet James was firmly convinced there was nothing special about her and insisted she agree to that idea and not let herself be carried away by what he termed the nonsense of others.

What had he said? He only believed in what he could prove and what he could control. Could she confirm that she had some kind of magical ability? No, but she couldn’t disprove it either, since like her great-uncle, she was convinced that something was going to happen at Halloween, something her dreams had been predicting even if she didn’t recall them all.

After her little speech in the restaurant earlier today, things might be awkward between herself and Jerome. In all fairness, because she knew the world wasn’t black and white but tinged with gray and because of her sudden doubts about James’s intentions, she should give Jerome a chance to defend himself. If he had a satisfactory reason for keeping what he’d done from her, she would accept it, but unless he told the whole truth—not a portion of it or a version of it—she wasn’t going to forgive him, nor would she let him get close to her again.

Tonight would be their last night alone in Fraser Hall. The first of her guests would be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Unless he gave her a reason to trust her, cozy dinners in the games room watching the World Series would be over.

She sighed. So why did that thought sadden her?

James reached over and touched her arm. “Wool gathering?”

She smiled, the lie ready. “Actually, I was thinking about the guests coming tomorrow. I hope I’m up to the task.”

He patted her hand, that smirk still in place. “You’ll be fine. Just remember what we discussed and don’t let anyone turn your head.”

Easier said than done.

That’s it. Come back next week for more. Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.