• News
  • Photographs
  • Erotic Romance
  • Paranormal Works
  • Guest Blog
  • Writing
  • Reviews
  • Book Reviews
  • Food & Treats

Tabitha Bishop Writer

~ Erotic & Paranormal Romance

Tabitha Bishop Writer

Category Archives: Writing

The Cafe

22 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by tabithabishopwriter in Short Stories, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

CleverFiction Short Story Contest, Short Stories, Writing

copyright 3

This is a rough draft for CleverFiction Short Story Contest.  I completely ran out of time.

Ros was late. Will glanced at his fitness band to check the time then glanced around for an empty table. Obliviously cafe customers with computers hogged several, empty cups and plates crowded next to their elbows. The line inched slightly forward, and he almost groaned. Where was Ros, and what the hell was she doing?

A woman with a heart-shaped face, enormous blue eyes, and a Cupid’s bow mouth smiled at him as she made an espresso.

I still have it.

Can still flirt with foxy girls.

“Love your silver hair. Looks just like my grandpa’s.”

His face fell, and he glanced away. That’s when he spotted the woman sitting at the back of the cafe. At age seventy plus he racked his brain for a clue. A pleasant looking face. Silver hair, freckled, slightly lined face. Maybe she’d worked in Houston with him decades ago. Two younger men sat with her, one blond, one auburn haired with a bushy beard. They were laughing when she turned slightly and glimpsed Will. Her eyes widened, and she came close to smiling before turned turning back.

It couldn’t be. He felt as if someone had hit him over the head with a frying pan.

“Sir, you’re next.” The tiny woman behind him sounded annoyed. The line had disappeared, and he was standing too far away from the register. He placed his order, handed over cash, and watched as the barrister made change. Still no Ros

A table opened up, and he pounced. A server scurried forward with a small tub and gathered up dirty dishes. She gave the table a quick wipe, missing most of the sticky spots and crumbs. He’d just put their things on the table when a tall, large-boned woman appeared and grabbed a chair. She piled her purse and a couple of cloth shopping bags on another chair and leaned forward to kiss Will.

Her face was a mass of wrinkles from a life outdoors and had a leathery looking texture. Even at sixty-five she still had auburn hair, although the sun had faded the color. She smiled, showing as much gum as tooth. Ros.

She leaned over and pulled her cup closer. “Thanks for ordering. It took longer than I thought and I’m starving.” From one of the sacks, she produced some brochures and fanned them out on the table. “What do you think?” She tasted her coffee and grabbed a little cream pitcher.

“I think it looks great, but we can’t afford it.” He touched one glossy pamphlet covered in pictures of sailboats. “We talked about this, didn’t we? No more expensive vacations, no more sailing. All of our friends just want to spend time with their grandchildren.”
Ros’ face clouded. The children and grandchildren bit still hurt, but he had to say it. They’d been together for thirty years, childless. He hadn’t wanted them, and she didn’t push it even though she was made to be a mother. Volunteering and helping out with friend’s kids helped, but the yearning in her eyes never left. Sometimes it leaked out when she held a newborn, kissing and coveting it like a priceless treasure.

Someone had told him many years ago she should just “slip up” and get pregnant. He found she’d repeatedly tried when he found her sobbing over a negative pregnancy test.

That month she’d gone into the edge of menopause. She got depressed and went into therapy and antidepressants. Had brought up adoption, but he’d refused. Repeated what he’d told her from the first. No children, ever.

Over the chattering, he glanced over at the other woman, and memories shoved in. Natalie. His breath caught like a punch in the gut and Ros blinked at him.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.” He managed.

Natalie. The long red hair was gone, her slender fine-boned figure fled, but it was her. The red-haired man next to her was obviously her son; the other he wasn’t so sure. There was a resemblance.

Ros started sorting out things from her tiny messenger bag, still talking, her words were almost a hum in his ears.

“Oh my gosh, is that Natalie? Where’d she come from? Who are those men with her?” She started to rise but Will gently caught her wrist.

“No. Just stay here. We’ll interrupt them.”

“But we haven’t seen her in years…”

“We’ll say hello when they get up to leave.”

Will’s ice blue eyes bored into her. She sat and scooped her belongings away as the food came. They ate in silence; Will took huge bites while Ros ate slowly and efficiently. He pushed his plate away before she’d eaten half her food, then glanced at his fitness band again.

“We’d better hurry if we’re making the matinee’.” His generous mouth curved down as he took a last sip of water.

“I’m hurrying, but I don’t want to choke, Will. Eating so fast is bad for digestion.”

He turned his snow-white topped head towards her, tipped down his prominent chin, and a pained expression flit across his ruddy, wind burned face.

“Okay.” He pushed his dishes away little too forcefully, and a hand shot out to catch as it went off the table.

“Will, Ros, wow, great to see you after all these years.”

Will let out an almost imperceptible sigh then smiled slowly.

“Natalie, good to see you.” He stood and exchanged kisses on her cheek. A familiar perfume. Her skin felt soft.

“How have you been? Are these your boys?”

The lines at her eyes deepened, and she smiled. “Aug and Phil. Mark and I are showing them around our old haunts. How have you two been?”

Ros stood and put out her hands.

“Oh, I’ve got a cold, Ros. Better not hug.” There was an alarmed expression on Natalie’s face as she folded her arms.

Ros stepped back looking pained and Will shot her a sympathetic look.

“Well, happy to see you have a great day.” Natalie smiled and patted one of her sons.

“Let’s go, boys.” Outside the three talked and Natalie animatedly gestured with her hands before laughing.

Will’s gaze followed.

“She still hasn’t forgiven me.” It was more of a statement than a question. Ros’ eyes widened as Natalie came back in, headed towards their table once more.

“Ros, I just want to say thank you. You too, Will.” Natalie had a shy smile on her face as she leaned forward.

Will had stood, tossing his napkin down and pushed his chair back. Ros was frozen.
“Ah, okay, Natalie.” Will’s eyes narrowed. “You’re welcome, for whatever.” He bit out the words.

“If you hadn’t cheated on me with Ros, I wouldn’t have the life I’ve had.” She pointed towards the window. “I wouldn’t have two wonderful sons and a husband I adore completely. So thank you. Ros, thanks for taking Will off my hands. If you hadn’t been willing to sleep with another woman’s boyfriend, I wouldn’t have moved on. I would’ve missed out on the fantastic life I’ve had.” She grinned, but there was no malice in it.

“That’s all. Have a great life, you two.” She leaned forward and planted another kiss on Will’s cheek and leaned away once more from Ros’ second attempt at a hug. She slightly waved and all but skipped out of the restaurant.

Will shoved his chair against the cafe table, the legs scraping horribly against the tile floor. The noise in the cafe stopped for a second as all eyes turned to them. “Let’s get going before we’re late for the movie.”

Ros gazed towards the window, her mouth slightly open.

“Don’t pay any attention to her. She was always crazy, Ros. Let’s go.” Will led her out of the cafe after tossing a tip on the table. They stepped out into the shade of the wrought iron balcony above them, shielding them from the blistering New Orleans sky. Ros had a bewildered expression on her face, and her eyes were teared up and promised to spill. “I love you. We’ve had a great life, and there’s plenty of it ahead of us. Don’t let someone ruin it, ruin this day because they’re crazy.

Ros gawked down the block where three figures wandered into a crowded pedestrian street. They disappeared into clusters of tourists, and she turned to Will. “I love you too. Let’s go.” She took his hand and gave it a squeeze, then gave him a kiss that left him almost breathless. Her phone began to buzz in her bag, and she went to answer it.

Will waited, a look of love and patience on his face. Natalie had left him, but he’d been the better for it. For a moment when he saw her sons, he’d wondered what might have been, if they had been his, but there was no going back. Ros had worshiped for decades, and after all, that was what he deserved and needed.

Comments About This Story Can Be Posted At Clever Fiction Short Story Challenge: 6/16 – 6/22

 

Growing Where We Find Ourselves

04 Thursday May 2017

Posted by tabithabishopwriter in Lifestyle, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Flowers, Gardening, Love

sunflower 1

I’m a lazy gardener. Part of the reason is that I live in the devil’s armpit heat-wise in Texas and weeding has no attraction. My family produced some amazing gardeners like my grandfather and mother. They could merely touch something and it would grow luxuriantly and bloom. Potted plants given as hospital gifts turned into things that outgrew the glass ceilings of greenhouses.

Me, well let’s just say if it doesn’t die from heat, drought or frost, it’s welcome. You’d be surprised how well that works most of the time.

The sunflower above was a volunteer from my birdfeeder. Its sunny face and determined stalk cheered me every time I saw it. Another volunteer is a Mexican palm which wants to grab and devour anything within its reach. My gardener swears it’ll take my fence down if it’s not moved.

We could all learn from that sunflower and palm. Often we have no control of where life puts us, whether it’s good health, employment, or love. Learning to love where we are if it’s a healthy, good place where we’re appreciated and admired is a gift. A gift I hope you have.

Hugs to all who are down today, who are struggling, who need a hug even if it’s a virtual one. May the place you find yourself be filled with love and good things.

Tabitha

Love, Writing, and Surviving

02 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by tabithabishopwriter in Writing

≈ Leave a comment

IMG_1925
I want just to put something out there in encouragement for other struggling writers. When I was younger, a family member frequently told me I would never amount to much, that I was lazy, selfish, careless and self-centered. Someone I adored said crap like that to me on a daily basis. If you tell a child those kinds of hate repeatedly, they eventually believe it, no matter that this is a form of abuse. People who love you and are healthy never tear you down to make themselves feel good.
 
I believed those words, felt so unlovable, so worthless that my life became mired in depression. Fortunately, for me, I managed to survive that abuse, the abuse of a first marriage and found counselors and doctors who saved me. I was whole enough to find the man of my dreams, marry him, have two fantastic sons.
 
My message to you is keep searching for people who accept you as the beautiful person you are, who embrace all the loveliness and goodness in your heart. Don’t give into the darkness that says you’re less, that you don’t deserve happiness. That there’s no one out there for you. Life is full of crazy, mean bullies, and you never have to put up with them, even if they are family, even if they claim to be a friend but hurt you.
 
Writing began as a way to explore the fantasy world I escaped to get away from abuse, until I let someone take even that away. Now I use my writing to create worlds where people overcome sadness and defeat, not with magical axes or mirrors, but with love and hope.
 
I hope and wish you find the muse you own, not to let the bullies and unbelievers take away your joy. Be the hero of your life and keep fighting for what makes you happy. Write in every scrap of a moment you can steal, find like-minded other writers who can help on the journey, protect the creative fire that burns brightly within you, and put words down no matter what.
← Older posts

Evernight Family Author

Passionate Ink Chapter

The Coffee Prince is a Bestseller!

The Romance Review

The Romance Review

Category Cloud

Book Reviews Erotic Romance Food & Treats Guest Blog Lifestyle NaNoWriMo News Paranormal Works Photographs Pinterest Reviews Short Stories Writing

Tag Cloud

#NaNoWriMo2015 All Romance Ebooks Erotic Contemporary Romance Erotic Romance Evernight Publishing News Paranormal Romance RomanceOnTheGo Sarah Marsh The Coffee Prince
Follow Tabitha Bishop Writer on WordPress.com
NetworkedBlogs
Blog:
Tabitha Bishop Writer
Topics:
Paranormal Erotic Romance, Erotic Romance
 
Follow my blog

Authorgraph

Get your e-book signed by TabithaBishopWriter
The Romance Reviews

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Tabitha Bishop Writer
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Tabitha Bishop Writer
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Our Cookie Policy