Spring Training

Gill looked around the large conference room.  Every available chair was filled.  Even the few places where people could stand had double occupants as well.  He glanced across the table in front of him.  Children of various ages sat on the floor.  Their eyes keen upon him.  Kids. . .and Melody had mentioned she liked them. Let her keep on liking them without him helping or parenting them either.  He had a curse to break if he ever got back to working a reversal spell.  Chaperoning Marissa and Mooney’s two hellions took up time Gill swore he’d never get back if that was possible.    Lex and his snake oil remedies could go elsewhere.  Hell had turned em down so they were back in town.

Every time Gill looked up another camera went off.  If one more flash light up the room, he’d. . .Dante stood at the back of the room with two of richest men in town.  So that was where the funding had come from for the rag tag ball fields and hastily thrown together bleachers.  Even now Serge and Mooney were overseeing the tear down and rebuild of the spectators area.  Bettina and Louie were deep into the venture as well.  Louie was working on menus and prices for the small kitchen area and vendors building.  Bettina had called in favors owed to get the equipment and maintenance materials needed for field upkeep and game play.

Gill sucked in air as emotions raced over him.  Teams, uniforms, and schedules sat before him.  Parents signed forms as kids gathered together discussing names.  Shifters and humans spoke to each other without issue.  This was peace?  Gill’s stomach flip-flopped as he gulped  and reached for the stack of papers he needed.  The clock on the back wall of the room showed twenty more minutes.  Twenty that might be the introduction to the first successful thing he’d achieved in quite a while.  Maybe just maybe things were looking up. 

Gill leafed through the rosters on top.  Four teams per age group with their coach’s name and their sponsor topped each sheet.  The last stack held three sheets that puzzled Gill the most.  Three proposed additional leagues awaited approval.  A mixed seniors league, a magic league, and a mixed interspecies league.  Could adults get along as well as the kids seemed to be?  How long  would the peace last before pieces of hide and equipment began littering the fields? 

Gill didn’t know.  He couldn’t summon up the energy to care.  Giddiness threatened to overtake him.  He stood, grabbed the megaphone next to him, and spoke into it.   “PLAY BALL!”

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Happy Weekend Gang,

The cold is not over yet. I wonder if Phil is off in Florida hiding or practicing spring training so he can get it right next time he sticks his head out of his burrow.   Snow hedges our forecast midweek here at the Spice Homestead.  I predict green grass and daffodils for Peter Rabbit by month's end.

Until then I'm going to continue working and writing away on  new stories while sharing a good book or two with my loves and spice.  Try it you might like it and so might you love and spice by sharing good books together.

Smiles,

Solara

The Colors Of Fall-Things Are Changing

Jackson pushed back his Stetson, shoved his wayward bangles out of his eyes, and sighed.  Twenty feet behind him, Abebi sat shredding leaves.   How had things gotten to this point?  Jackson turned and watched Abebi toss another leaf to the ground.

“Let me get this right. . .” Jackson drew in a deep breath before going on.   “You don’t want to marry me?”

Abebi blinked back the tears threatening to overwhelm her.  The man knew he had to ask.  That is what Sandy said he needed to do.  Abebi wanted more than the piece of paper.  She wanted commitment.  Commitment from his heart.  With wolves, also from their gut.  She didn’t expect him to be completely faithful.  Well, within the pack faithful.  Remo and the elders counsel kept track of who was off limits.  Even most of Remoor Beach’s humans snuggled and enjoyed a pleasurable afternoon with pack members.  Lupa Prime, how did she explain sharing and keeping things light for now?  

You want a courtship.  Abebi glanced over her shoulder.  Nothing.  No one was there.  Another breeze blew up and around her.

  Leaves swirled and danced in the breeze blowing in off the beach.  In the hills, fall was in full force.  The riotous colors burst forth almost overnight.  Brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges mixed with the remaining green of the tall pines and low grasses dotting the hills.  In a few weeks, the higher elevations would see snow.  The beach would thrive as the warmer waters from the south mixed with their northern cousins.  Whales and dolphins would school as they made their winter migrations.  What would her winter hold?

“No, not right now.”  Abebi licked her lips.  She pulled her sweater tighter around her.  Neither of them knew the other very well.  Her hand slid to her belly.  Almost four months along and the thrum of life pulsed beneath her hand.  These pups needed parents.  Parents who stood together regardless of their union, married or partnered.  Clear communication had to happen.

Abebi cleared her throat and stood.  “I want to talk about us.”  She closed the space between her and Jackson.  As she reached him, she laid her hand on his arm.

Jackson looked down his arm to where Abebi’s hand rested.  She hadn’t touched him in a week.  That slow dance Saturday with her in his arms had felt so good.  So hot and tempting.    And so right.  Yet, he’d held her away from him.  The space between them was barely enough to keep their clothes from brushing as they moved around the dance floor.  He wanted to pull her into his arms and crush her against him.    Remo’s parting advice rang in his mind.  Get to know Abebi.  Let folks see you with her.

“What about us?”  Jackson reminded himself to breath.  It wouldn’t look good if he passed out.  Shit, when had dating become this nerve wracking?

“Yes, please.”  Abebi ducked her head.  Her hand slipped down his arm until her hand found his.  She tried to work her fingers between his. 

 Jackson pointed to the table.  “Let’s sit down.  My head is reeling faster than a fly-fisherman’s lure.”

Abebi’s quick giggle and nod set his heart to pounding.  When had they become like a pair of bumbling teens?  She moved toward the table.

Jackson quickly caught up to Abebi.  He placed his hand in middle of her back and helped her sit.  That was how his Daddy helped his Momma right?  Christ, why couldn’t remember better?  Paid more attention? Jackson tossed his Stetson on the table, raked a hand through his hair, and dropped to one knee.  He grabbed Abebi’s hand, lacing his fingers with hers.  

“I need to know,” he barely managed to get out.  Jackson gulped, rose and sat next to Abebi.

Abebi looked the hand entwined with hers.  It was now or never.  She didn’t know if she had the words.  The ones that wouldn’t scare him off.  The ones that made sense and had him nodding yes.  Not yes in agreement, though her heart pounded every time she thought of him saying let’s go for it.  Rather a yes of understanding that they could build upon and begin a foundation that led to them and what they wanted.  Not how others thought or said it all needed to turn out.  It was their lives after all.

Abebi wrapped her other hand around Jackson’s.  “I don’t have all the words.  At times like this I use my paints and canvas to draw the picture I see.”

“We’ll take it slow and easy.  Give me the words you do have.”  Jackson’s weak smile nibbled at Abebi’s heart.  His southern draw stroked her internal heat higher each time he whispered her name or talked softly to her.  

Abebi nodded.  She inhaled, closed her eyes, and asked her heart what she wanted and needed most.  Two words flashed behind her eyes.  She willed her heart to slow and allow her clarity on speaking what those two words meant.

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 Happy Weekend Gang!

Here on the spice homestead we are keeping an eye on Sandy.  No not Abebi's best friend.  The storm that has all of the east coast scarmbling and prepparing.  We're under way too.  I've got chores and errands to run while my muse ponders what the two words are that Abebi is going to spring on Jackson.  Meanwhile, keep safe, warm and dry!  Share a few good books with your spice and loves!  

Smiles,

Solara

Welcome to Remoor Beach's Fall Sand Sculpture Festival

Abebi sat opened mouth next to Sandy.  Their table near the front of the small interior Starbucks café provided her a front seat view of Jackson and Remo exiting Agua Caliente.  Jackson held some package in his arms.  Abebi noticed the lanyard hanging around his next.  Oh no, Remo hadn’t.  Had he?

Sandy cleared her throat, sat her half-empty cup down, and leaned forward touching Abebi’s arm.  “Hon, close your mouth before half of Remoor Beach sees your reaction.”

Abebi’s quick shake of her head before she faced Sandy couldn’t hide her response.  Sandy knew about subtle signs and body language first hand.  Rowdy drunk shifters were nothing new to her.  Remo’s quick reflexes kept her safe.  And the fast actions of their two bouncers, a mutant wolf-husky hybrid mix and his boyfriend—a midnight black panther, took care of the few that pushed things too far.  Sandy smiled as an image of Lance flashed in her mind in his Halloween costume from last year.  He and his partner Scott made fabulous Chippendale dressed dancers.  Bless their hearts for putting on the evening’s entertainment complete with stripping down, way down past their skivvies.  

Abebi cleared her throat and waved her hand in front of Sandy’s face.  “I hope those thoughts are about your hubby and not Lance and Scott again.”

Sandy fanned herself.  “Ah my hubster would share in a heartbeat.  Problem is Scott isn’t bi and Lance loves me like a sister.  So no takers there.  But a woman can dream.”

Both laughed for a several moments.  Sandy picked up where her original idea left off.  “I know you got it bad for Jackson.  You talked non-stop about him since you  arrived three months ago.”

“Yes, I had hopes.  Lupa must have heard my prayers.  He’s here.  But. . .”  Abebi sipped her coffee.

“Whatever apprehensions are happening in your mind, keep them there.  I know Remo muttered something about blood before he brought Jackson inside.”  Sandy finished her coffee before biting into her vegetable filled pastry.

“Blood,” Abebi whispered.  “How could Remo know?  I mean did you. . .you know tell him?”

Sandy wiped her mouth.  “No, I know when to keep my mouth shut.  As Alpha, he’s got connections.  Besides Remoor Beach is too small to not have certain things known after a while.  Doc, I’m sure reported in at the last pack elders meeting.  Pack health and welfare are keen issues for them.”

Abebi sighed.  “Yeah, I love the tightness of our community.  Still some privacy would be nice.”

Sandy laughed as she caught sight of Remo crossing the street heading toward the café.  “I haven’t seen that much pep in Remo's step in a while.  Lupa and Goddess help you and us.  What has he gotten Jackson into?”

 

2 weeks later

Jackson looked down at his snow-white legs.  The tan walking shorts looked deep beige against the starkness of his skin.  Ah, the slathered on well sunscreen would keep him from burning.  As his gaze rose higher, loud reds and blues amongst floral prints greeted him.  

 He groaned as the lanyard holding his picture and name along with judge boldly stenciled beneath it came into view.  Jackson forced his eyes to the mirror in front of him and to the running shoes he wore.  Remo was right.  These sneakers were lighter than boots were and had bounce.  Nice padded bounce too.  Thank Lupa and her consorts, Remo hadn’t insisted on sandals.  Jackson wasn’t getting caught in no salon getting any pedicure.  When the local barber started offering them, maybe, until then wasn't any way this side or any other of the Peak he was getting that sissified.

Jackson grabbed the new hat he traded his Stetson for.  At least the baseball cap was one color and had Agua Caliente’s logo on it.  That damn thing had his name stitched on it too was a bit more than Jackson wanted, but Remo signed his paycheck.  And for now was his landlord.  The room over the bar was small but comfortable.  Jackson grinned at Remo’s parting remark last night.  Yes, Jackson would cooperate and mingle with the pack and citizens of Remoor Beach.  But keeping his hands off Abebi until they were properly hitched was another matter.

Down on the beach, most of Remoor Beach’s young and old filled the roped off section closest to the waterfront.  Several parents worked alongside their children digging in the wet sand filling buckets and building their entries.  Some worked alone and others worked in groups.  Abebi shielded her eyes with her hand.

Two groups over three of her students plopped sand down and mixed natural paint colors with it.  Nothing man made was allowed in any of the materials.  All natural and safe to the environment ranked top in the rules.  Abebi smiled as she scanned the beach further. 

 Judging would start in a few hours.  Many were doing elaborate pieces.  Some just let their imaginations run with what inspired them.  Others just wanted to have fun.  She hoped Jackson’s first pack interaction wouldn’t be his last.  Until Sandy arrived, Abebi couldn’t look for him.  Someone had to mind their spot.  Abebi wondered what Sandy’s sculpture idea was.  The twinkle in her eye as she agreed to be Abebi’s partner in the competition had her wondering what Remo had put her up to.

 

 

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Happy Weekend Gang!

Sorry this is posting a bit late.  Work was crazy this week.  Busy times around the spice homestead too.  I'm almost done with the first draft on a new book entitled Hot for Torrey.  I'll share a snippet or two perhaps once it's fit for public reading. Yes, us authors can be as bad as artist not wanting to show their artwork until it's deemed perfect and ready.  

Hope you enjoyed this week's flash and more of Abebi and Jackson's story.  Until next week and my muse decides whether Angel or our love birds puts in an appearance, share a good book or two with your spices and loves.  Happy Autumn All!

Smiles,

SOLARA