We all have those things we just hate to do. We put them off until the last minute, try to pass them on to someone else to make it their responsibility, ignore them and hope they’ll go away. But sometimes we have to just buckle down and get it done because if we don’t, no one will. That’s where my hero is in my new romantic suspense. As a Texas Ranger, he’s had to deliver his share of heartrending news . . . but this time it’s worse. It’s personal.
Zayn studied the list as he got back into his car, hating like hell to have to return to his friend without something, anything, to go on. All the names were familiar, a generational echo of the families he’d gone to school with at his pseudo-niece’s age. None of them spiked alarm on his professional radar, but that didn’t prevent it from kindling in his belly.He knew these people. Good, hard-working folks who paid their taxes, tended their yards and their children, and gave him and his professional brethren no reason for concern. They didn’t have criminal records beyond a few DUIs and traffic citations.They didn’t abduct young girls.But Zayn grew very afraid that someone had. If someone had taken Lenna Lupan during that school trip, the clock ticking down on his chances of finding her alive was in motion.How could he share that knowledge with his best friend’s sister?
Having a loved one go missing has got to be the worst feeling ever. I remember when I used a royalty check to take my family to Disney World when my boys were young. It was our first big trip and their first time on an airplane. Of course, you try to cram everything you can into each day but my youngest, then still in single digits, only wanted to go back to the hotel pool to swim (Hey, we’re from Michigan and left 34-degrees at home!). So, just as we were about to go to the next Epcot exhibit, he was just . . . gone. All those worst-case scenarios went through my head – the kind that give parents nightmares. And then we spotted him, hiding, watching us to see what we’d do. Ignoring my need to wring his neck for scaring the stuff out of us on purpose, I told my now ex and my older son to just go on to the next exhibit while I waited, out of sight for brat boy to get worried and come running after us. Which he did. Busted! Oh, we went back to the hotel all right but not to the pool. He spent the rest of the day under hotel room arrest while the other two enjoyed that Mayan temple water slide. Of course, being a mom means dealing out punishment that you have to suffer, too. In this case, worth it!
On my most recent adventure, I found traveling with two other adults alleviates those petty problems (well, most of the time). But almost four weeks in Ireland, most of it spent under one roof, can make for short tempers even amongst the best of friends. Fortunately, we had some fabulous touring around the Dingle Peninsula to take our minds off petty issues. (Note the Sleeping Giant out in the background!)
On my first big out of the States adventure, I was WOWed by the scenery (and the jewelry stores!) And it doesn’t hurt to spend four days in Dublin in a place that looks like they have Ghostbusters on speed dial! This place even had lighted chandeliers hanging from the trees outside!!
But now, it’s back to the reality of a home office that desperately needs cleaning, pets to feed, and a new book that just won’t write itself! And excerpts to read! I can’t wait to get caught up on what you’re doing!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Sounds like an incredible trip! I can't imagine how scary it must be to even think you've lost your child. I remember losing sight of my mom one time in a department store when I was a little girl, and I'm sure it terrified me more than her! Great excerpt, and glad to have you back! :)
ReplyDeleteGood to be back!
DeleteHard job for Zayn having to tell news like that.
ReplyDeleteProbably a lot of us who have kids have a "momentarily" missing kid story. They think hide and seek is always a fun idea.
Thank you for that quick peek at Ireland.
Tweeted.
What a once in a lifetime trip! But wouldn't want to take that flight again.
DeleteOh--a missing child. That does spike fear in me. I live very close to where a little girl went missing. It's going on 40 years now. Not a trace found.
ReplyDeleteI hope your hero, Zayn, isn't too late!
Children always spike defense mechanisms especially in we moms.
DeleteEnjoyed the snippet because his emotions came through so clearly and I really like him. Great excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean! It's always nice to now you're on the right path.
DeleteNothing scares you more than a missing child. Mine tried hiding from me in much the way you described. I quickly found out what people meant when they said their blood ran cold. This is a good beginning for your story.
ReplyDeleteIt's an instinctive panic followed by all those protective bells and whistles. Wouldn't want to experience it again.
DeleteI so envy you your trip, and am glad it was a fabulous four weeks! I love Ireland and hope to go back soon. Your hero's got his work cut out for him, searching for a missing child. It must be the worst feeling in the world, to lose a child. Great start to your book, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenna! Now, to get get butt back in chair and hands on keys . . . which is always hard to do around the holidays.
DeleteI had an incident when I thought I lost my nephew who was a toddler at the time (who is now in 11th grade), and I was terrified.
ReplyDeleteFour weeks in Ireland? That is my literal dream!