Tuesday Tales: From the Word BUSY

I don’t know what it’s like in your little corner of the world, but we’re enjoying an unexpected return to daytime summer weather–plenty of sunshine and heat. Last week’s temps rose to the mid-eighties, and more of the same is predicted for the next two weeks. I know it won’t last, but this weather is so much kinder to my body, and as long as the humidity stays under control, I’m a happy camper.

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Things are moving along quickly as Marina is forced to deal with unsettling news. Our word prompt is BUSY. I’m continuing with Listen to the Stones. Enjoy!

Hurrying to her suite, she shut the door and locked it, leaning heavily against it, jumping when Raven pushed her way into the room through the cat door. She bent down and picked up the kitten, her purring barely loud enough to be heard over Marina’s thumping heart.

Jerome knocked on the door, and she jumped, a squeak of fear coming from deep inside her.

“Marina, please let me in. There’s so much more you need to know. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He wouldn’t leave if she didn’t answer him, but what could she say? He could be the man in her dreams, or he could be the terrifying dark shadow … could that be what had been stolen from Bronagh? Her busy mind invented scenarios faster than she could put words to them. But how could she have dreamed of something that hadn’t happened?

“Marina, please? Give me a chance to—”

She inhaled. “I need to be alone right now. I’m sure you understand this is unsettling for me. I’m tired and have the mother of all headaches. I’ll see you in the morning.”

For a second, she thought he wouldn’t answer, but then he did, his voice filled with resignation.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll leave you for now, but you need to know the rest. We’ll finish this tomorrow.”

She listened to his footsteps receding down the hallway. It was a good thing she’d put away the rest of the pot roast when she’d gotten his dessert. She couldn’t face him right now, not even if her life depended on it … and it well might. Still holding Raven, she dropped onto the sofa, reaching for her mother’s shawl folded on the arm. Raven jumped off her lap, and Marina used the opportunity to wrap the shawl around her, seeking comfort and possibly answers from it—not that it had ever happened before.

She shivered. Fear? Desire? Excitement? Possibly all three as she replayed what Jerome had told her about his vision, and the more she thought about it, the more impossible it sounded, and yet … everything within her told her he was telling the truth.

Suddenly, the walls of Fraser Hall suffocated her. She needed air. Going into her office, she was surprised to see Raven sitting in front of the patio doors as if she were waiting to be let outside.

Go. Follow Raven.

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